05-Feb, Final:
|
[2] Simon Parke
bt [1] Peter Barker |
SPECTACULAR
PARKIE
Robbie Burnett reports
...
We come to it at last.
The final of the BSPA Ilkley Squash Open.
The two finalists, current world number twenty three Peter
Barker and the former world number two Simon Parke.
With both players itching to go, the scene was set for a
spectacular event.
The first game however was a case of man and boy, as the number
one seed form Essex was by far outclassed by Parke, who took the
first 11-0. It
was a similar story in the second game, as the number two seed
played at a standard that had the crowd in awe.
Barker
managed to secure himself his first point midway through the
second game, and with a roar of appreciation from the spectators,
started to assert himself and gained another three.
However it was to no avail as Parke's touch and control was far
superior, wining him the second game. The third game was more
contested as Barker started to feel more comfortable in the
rallies and play shots of his own choosing. Both players took the
opportunity to show off their skills, as the game became closer
and closer.
However, at the end of the day, Simon Parke was always in control,
and his victory in the third game secured him his first trophy
since 2003.
It has been a spectacular tournament to watch and be involved in,
one can only hope that future events live to this exceptional
standard.
04-Feb, Semi-Finals:
|
[1]
Peter Barker bt
[3/4] Joey Barrington |
BARKER & PARKIE WIN BUT
WHAT A CONTRAST...
Robbie Burnett reports
...
Four rounds down, two to go.
With such
high quality of quarter-finals, the semi-finals had to live up to
expectations. A large crowd was gathered around the recently polished
squash court 3.
PETER VS JOEY
The first semi-final was between No 1 seed,
Peter Barker and 3/4 seed,
Joey Barrington. As both players are in the top 30 in the world, a great
sense of anticipation surrounded this match.
After going down in the first game, Peter Barker moved his game up a gear
to take the first 11-8. He continued to dominate as he went on to win the
second as well. A heated third game showed Peter was anything but afraid
to let the referees know his opinion. He looked set to win in three when a
magnificent display of determination on the part of the 3/4 seed won
Barrington the game.
A heavily contested fourth game once again went to Barrington after
Barker's frequent displays of emotion caused him to lose focus. His
continued annoyance with refereeing decisions also contributed to his
lapse in concentration.
With everything to play for, both players gave the fifth set their all.
Peter Barker demonstrated flashes of brilliance that reflected his ranking
of world no 23, taking the fifth and thus the match.
SIMON VS STEVE
The second semi-final, between former world no 2, Simon Parke and 3/4
seed, Steve Meads was a much more light-hearted affair, with the no 2 seed
controlling action despite the determined effort of Steve Meads to keep
up. With an incredibly high standard of shot-making, Simon Parke claimed
the match in 3 quick games.
04-Feb, Quarter-Finals:
|
[1] Peter Barker bt Tom Richards |
Top Four through to Semis
Robbie Burnett reports
...
Roll on 6.o'Clock, that's when the semi
finals will start, but the question is can the squash get any better?
So far we have been treated to some fantastic squash and good
sportsmanship from the players, the spectators have loved it, our sponsors
are happy (and
we haven't even got to the wine tasting yet, that's tonight) the club is a
buzz about squash.
Back to the tournament and the quarter finals, Joey Barrington and
Daryl Selby, long, hard tough first game, that could have gone either
way, which Barrington was able to take out 11-9, but after that it was all
Barrington as he moved Selby all round the court and Selby seemed to tire
quickly.
Barrington's opponent in the semi-final will be top seed Peter Barker,
who defeated Tom Richards in three hard, close games. Richards
looked a bit jaded after his long match against Sam Miller in the second
round, but he chased everything down and in the first game and had chances
to win the game, but Barker held his nerve and won it in a tie breaker.
Both players scored evenly in the games, but Barker seemed to have the
ability to win the big points when it counted.
Steve Meads had to battle hard in his match against Peter
Billson in another close encounter, winning in 4 games. Billson had to
stop for a number of minutes after he was hit on the nose by Meads racket,
luckily the bleeding stopped and the match was able to continue. The blow
do not seem to put Billson off as both players were involved in some long
and hard rallies, as they moved each other all over the court. This was a
long 4 setter taking 65 minutes.
Simon Parke will meet Meads in the other semi final, by defeating
Welshman Ricky Davis. It may not be the only result today of
English beating the Welsh!
Both players seemed content to rally the ball up and down the walls in the
first couple of games and wait for the other player to make a mistake. The
rallies were long as both players showed a lot of patience, abit like a
game of chess.
Come the third game and Parke up the tempo and stepped and took the ball a
lot earlier and took control and won the 3rd 11-4.
So tonight the stage is set for the prospect of a couple of outstanding
matches and a few wines....
Where has the day gone? No sooner has the first round finished, it's time to start the last 16, 6.00pm already.
The car park is full and the bar is empty, must mean one thing, games are on.
Joey Barrington moves into the last 8 with a hard fought win over Jonny Harford, by 3-0.
But the scores don't show what a hard match it was, with Harford chasing many balls down. A great start to the night games that had the gallery humming.
Daryl
Selby showed that in his quarter final meeting with Barrington, will
be one heck of a game, as he cruised past Richard Binks. His match was
the shortest of the tournament so far at 18 minutes.
Top
Seed Peter Barker was pushed all the way by Tom Pashley, who just
lost the 3rd game in a tie-breaker. Barker loooked to be cruising, but
in the 3rdgame Pashley opened up a 7-2 lead and after that Barker had to fight for every point.
Barker's opponent tomorrow will be Tom Richards, who caused a minor upset when he defeated higher ranked Sam Miller, in the longest match to date, 62
minutes winning 11-7 in the 5th game. Richards had a number of conduct warnings and conduct strokes, but managed to outlast Miller.
2nd seed Simon Parke looked impressive as he brushed aside the challenge of David Barnett, winning in 3 games. After a tough first game, Parke was in always looked in control.
Ricky Davis made it into the last 8 with a tough but convincing win over Shahid Khan. After a close fought 2 games, which could have gone either way, but the effort Khan had put into the first 2 games, started to show and it looked a tired Khan at the end of the 3rd game.
A
solid performance from Steve Meads, as he defeated Steve
Coppinger 3-0. After taking the first game easily, he was 10-5 down in
the 2nd, but foughthis way back to take it 12-10 and then took out the 3rd game always looking in control. Shot of the night belongs to Coppinger, during the first game, drop his racket and was able to retrieve it and carry on with the rally, only for the rally to end with a let.
Last match of the night did not and still plenty of people here enjoying the great squash on show. Peter Billson, moves into the last 8 after beating a determined Joel Hinds 3-1. Billson was push all the way by Hinds and the scores reflect what a battle Billson had.
So on to Saturday and the quarter finals, should be another afternoon of world class squash from some world class players. Pity some one has to lose!
Peter
Barker, returning to action after a lay-off with an ankle injury, is
top seed with local favourite Simon Parke, popping over from
Heaton, Bradford, where he is head coach, expected to meet Barker in
Sunday's final.