Martintakes Shug trophy
Bridge of Allan Sports Club’s opening squash tournament of 2018 has been won by Martin Sanchez after the Scotland over-50 star claimed an emphatic straight sets 11-7, 11-5 victory over former Scotland A international Bert Mitchell.
The Shug Rules championship devised by club member Hugh‘Shug’ Gallagher - sees an abbreviated version of squash with play concentrated on the back court and only allows front court exchanges if the ball falls short of the cut line by accident or design with the responding player having the option to attack.
Martin was ecstatic after going one better than last year’s runner-up finish.
He said: “After last year’s defeat by Ross Vallance this is the best possible way to start the New Year.
“I must credit my opponent Bert Mitchell, who did well to survive an epic semi-final with one of our up and coming talents Jamie Campbell, but maybe he was running a bit low on the gas by the time we trod the boards!
“Hopefully, I can use this victory as a springboard for the Central Scotland Masters next month and my attempt to hold on to my Scotland shirt!”
With the winners of the four group sections meeting in the semi-finals the wily Martin defeated former winner Alan Hamilton 11-2, 11-5 to ease into the final with something to spare.
However in the other last four shoot-out Bert found his hopes of making his first BofA final since the 1985 Boys Tennis championship under severe threat when Jamie Campbell’s strong running and power-hitting edged the first set 13-11.
But experience saved the day and he regrouped to register an 11-6 second set victory and claimed his final place on points aggregate 22-19.
The final was one step too far for Bert and he admitted afterwards:“The problem with Marty Sanchez is he gives you nothing, not even a Christmas card!
“At 7-3 up in the first I thought I had a sniff but by the end of the game I needed a new pair of legs! Fair play to him he was the class act in the field and is a worthy champion.”
In the plate final John Boswell’s unorthodox but inventive stroke play proved too much for president Walter McAllister, as he claimed an 11-6,11-9 victory.
Tournament creator Hugh Gallagher was delighted by the success of his championship. He said:“Well played to all the competitors who left nothing in the locker room. I think we are all agreed this was a great way to kick-start the New Year and hopefully this success will help give Marty Sanchez the wee lift he needs to make the plane for the home internationals.”