Victor Jenkins just Miles ahead of rest!
A STRONG North East challenge was not enough to stop Birmingham-based professional Miles Jenkins taking the 2017 Northumbria Open men’s crown.
No 1 seed Jenkins triumphed 3-1 over home favourite Michael Andrews in the final at Jesmond’s Northumberland Club - taking the top prize in the $1000 Professional Squash Association closed satellite event.
Tynemouth’s Hannah Cliff went one better in lifting the ladies’ title with an impressive 3-1 final victory over 19-year-old Scot Katriona Allen.
The tournament attracted a bumper entry from around the country and a packed crowd to match over its three days.
In the ladies’ decider, Cliff took the first 11-6 with fast-paced squash.
However, Allen’s attacking shots helped her carve out an early lead in the second, which she hung on to for an 11-7 win - levelling the match at one game each.
The home favourite - runner-up in the Northumberland County Championship - has been in excellent form of late and her hard-running squash and consistent length allowed her to take the last two games with something to spare - 11-6 , 11-5.
Northern’s Josie Barker had done well to reach the semi-finals, losing 3-0 to Cliff, while Yorkshire’s Charlotte Jagger lost a real nail-biter in her last-four encounter, going down 13-11 in the fifth to Allen after an epic, see-saw battle.
In the men’s event, the super-fit Andrews had exceeded expectations with a fine run to the final, beating in-form shot-maker Tom Bamford of Pontefract 3-0 in a close semi-final.
However the Norton and Jesmond player did not seem quite as focused in his first PSA final and, perhaps understandably, failed to match the accuracy of his full-time professional opponent.
Jenkins took the first two games fairly comfortably, 11-3 and 11-6, before Andrews dug in well to clinch the third 11-6. The World No 221 found his range again in the fourth though, to take it 11-4 and lift the title in front of a packed crowd behind the glassback on Court One.
Northern’s Michael Mattimore prevailed in the men’s plate final after a lung-bursting clash with Pontefract’s Matt Godson. Mattimore took first blood 11-9.
However, Godson, showing off his trademark diving lunge forward on to the floor to pick up drop shots and boasts, then picked himself up to continue the rally - levelling with an 11-8 victory in the second.
The home player’s craftier racquet work eked out a 2-1 lead but Godson would not lie down and he finished the fourth much the stronger taking it 11-4 to level the match at 2-2.
However, the flame-haired dynamo was not finished yet.
He turned up the heat with great attacking squash in the fifth to get and keep an early lead taking the match 11-7 in the decider.
Jesmond’s Charlotte Cooper prevailed 3-0 in the ladies’ plate final to edge out fast-improving Northern junior Harriet Wight.
In the graded events, Newcastle University’s Chris Garner was top dog, seeing off a strong challenge in the final from Northern starlet Andrew Shipley.
The younger player almost sneaked the second game but was edged out 12-10 as his older opponent took the match three games to nil.
Shipley’s clubmate Tom Cornell gained his money’s worth in a five-set epic in the A Plate, his fitness and speed coming to the fore as he took the decider 11-5 against Neil Campbell of Northumberland Club.
Hexham’s Paul Satow took the honours in the B decider, beating Tynemouth’s Guy Eniona 3-1.
Matt Cooper made home advantage count in the plate decider.
He kept his cool in the fifth to take it 11-8 against Northern livewire John Thompson, who chased every ball and put up a strong fight.
In the C event, Eldon Leisure’s Andrew Webber was a 3-0 victor over Jesmond’s Scott Little while in the plate an all-action display from Northern’s Kieron Mahoney ensured he lifted the trophy ahead of home favourite Marcus Allsopp.
The tournament was sponsored by Kidd and Spoor Solicitors, Armstrong Campbell Accountants, Matrix Health Services, Sanderson Young, DB Glaziers, The Cherry Tree restaurant and Harrow Squash and thanks also go to the Northumberland Club for hosting the event and for the use of their courts.