Titles on the line
The climax of the squash season arrives at Bridge of Allan Sports Club on Friday with the Richardson and Starling-sponsored club championships finals night.
The short odds are on a men’s final between reigning champion Andy MacBean and former Scotland No 6 Blair Christie which would give a packed Minewood gantry the final they long for.
In the ladies championship four-time winner Sabine Mackenzie will be wary of the challenge of Sheena Logan who took her BofA colleague to five sets in the recent final of the Central Scotland Masters over-40s championships.
Men’s defending champ Andy MacBean said: “It was one of the proudest moments of my career when I won the club championships last season and I am absolutely determined to defend my title.”
He said that a possible final against Christie would require him to be at his very best. “Blair has been returning to his best form this season and I know if we meet I will need to control the tee and make sure that I keep him on tight decent length,” admitted Andy.
Blair said: “There is no doubt that Andy is the short-odds favourite to retain his title, but I feel my game has sharpened up nicely over what has been my first full competitive season back at BofA and if my basic game gives me the platform then I hope to attack him, and we will see how he responds.”
Interestingly enough, both players had a look at each other’s cards recently in a friendly meeting that saw MacBean grind out a win after five tough sets.
Sabine Mackenzie waits in the ladies final with the other semi still to be played between No 2 seed Sheena Logan if she makes it past Scotland under-15 international Lucy Murchie.
She said: “It would be great to play Sheena again particularly after the battle we had at the Central Masters, but the main thing is that I have made the final again with my game in good working order and I am determined to give it my best shot at defending once again.”
Blair Christie could be in for a busy night if he justifies his No 1 seeding in the over-40s men’s tournament while Scotland over-50 international Martin Sanchez is a red-hot favourite to retain his age group gong.
In the ladies over-40s Sabine Mackenzie is again the favourite while Alan Hamilton should prove too strong in the men’s over-60s.