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FOUR UP FOR NICOL
World no.1 Peter Nicol maintained his unbeaten record in the H & R
Insurance Open played at his club in Westhill, Aberdeen, is four game victory
over second seed Tim Garner being a repeat of the inaugural tournament three
years ago.
Nicol edged the first game 17/15 but Garner was the one to
hold his nerve in a tight second. Calling 'Set one' Garner allowed Nicol's
serve to bounce off the ball wall before nailing a backhand cross-court nick
to level things up. Nicol built up a lead in the the third before Garner
pegged him back but this time it was Nicol who held on to take the game 15/13.
The fourth was always going to be one by Nicol after he raced to an 8-3 lead
with a great combination of volleys and drops.
In taking the last 15/6 Nicol picked up his fourth
successive title at his home club.
H&R Insurance Open 2002
27-29 Sep, Aberdeen |
First
Round
Fri 27th |
Second Round
Fri 27th |
Quarters
Sat 28th |
Semis
Sat 28th |
FINAL
Sun 29th |
--- |
[1] Peter Nicol (Yorks)
15-12, 15-10, 15-13
Chris Gordon |
Peter Nicol
15-6, 15-7, 15-4
Jesse Engelbrecht |
Peter Nicol
15-6, 15-11, 15-7
Ben Garner |
Peter Nicol
17/15, 14/15, 15/13, 15,/6 (55m)
Tim Garner |
Chris Gordon
15/12, 15/6, 15/11
Innes Young |
Daniel Enahalo
15/11, 15/10, 15/9
Robert Adam |
Daniel Enahalo
11-15, 15-1, 15-11, 15-8
[5/8] Jesse Engelbrecht (Zim) |
--- |
--- |
[5/8] John Dale (N'bria)
12-15, 10-15, 15-5, 15-9, 15-4
Andrew Learoyd |
Andrew Learoyd
15-3, 15-5, 15-12
Ben Garner |
Andrew Learoyd
15/7, 15/10, 15/9
Greg Young |
Richard Davies
17/16, 15/3, 11/15, 15/2
Iain Young |
Richard Davies
15-11, 15-6, 15-4
[3/4] Ben Garner (Surrey) |
--- |
--- |
[3/4] Paul Lord (Ches)
15-12, 10-15, 15-11, 15-13
Peter Billson |
Paul Lord
15-13, 13-15, 8-15, 15-4, 15-9
Andy Whipp |
Andy Whipp
12-15, 15-9, 15-12, 15-8
Tim Garner |
Peter Billson
15/9, 15/5, 15/7
Jim Rankin |
Alastair Gorrie
15/7, 15/12, 15/10
Paul Thomas |
Paul Thomas
15-5, 15-8, 15-3
[5/8] Andy Whipp (Ches) |
--- |
--- |
[5/8] Jason Barry (Rsa)
13-15, 15-12, 15-6, 15-12
David Barnett (N'bria) |
David Barnett
15-1, 15-12, 15-9
Tim Garner |
--- |
Kevin Milne
15/8, 15/5, 10/15, 3/15, 15/9
Andy Taylor |
Andy Taylor
15-6, 15-11, 15-8
[2] Tim Garner (Sussex) |
--- |
Draw
also available as a pdf |
2001 Event
Nicol and White in Aberdeen thriller
[1] Peter Nicol bt [2] John White 15/12 14/17
15/13 12/15 17/16 80m
Peter Nicol
picked up his hat-trick of Hanson & Robertson Squash Challenges at the club
that bears his name. However, the margin of victory was the narrowest possible
... about the width of John White's racket frame! Nicol's victory in the
fifth, helped maintain his unbeaten record at his home club in both tournament
and league play.
Earlier in the tournament local lad Alistair gorrie gave taste of what may be
to come as he despatched experienced Andy Taylor to ease into the last 16.
Gorrie is now based at Connaught in London where Nicol trains under the
tutelage of Neil Harvey, and he looked to have learnt a thing or two already!
In fact, the tournament provided an excellent opportunity for the lads from
the Westhill Squash Academy, to get on court with some nationally ranked
players.
Elsewhere in the draw, Scot Stuart Cowie was looking far from in control
against Andrew Learoyd but managed to edge through before coming up against
Joey Barrington. Another to have made the move to Connaught to sharpen his
game, Barrington did not let the loss of the first game or his opponent's
antics affect him and moved into the semi-finals. He was joined by Nicol, Tim
Garner & White. Dutchman Laurens Anjema stole the first from White in the
quarters and garner was to do the same in the Semis. Neither, were able to
capitalise and White eased his big frame into final to set up a much
anticipated England v Scotland clash (though a couple of years ago it would
have been down as Scotland v Australia!).
In the end, it was the Englishman 'in waiting' who came out on top but not
before White displayed many of the skills that have taken him to 3 in the
World. Nicol saved a couple of match-balls and then at the end a despairing
White could only dive after the as it raced into the back corner and the three
generations of Nicol's that had turned up to watch could go home happy.
H&R Insurance Open 2001
09-11 Nov, Aberdeen |
First
Round - Fri 9th |
Second Round
Fri 9th |
Quarters
Sat 10th |
Semi-Finals
Sat 10th |
FINAL
Sun 11th |
Peter Nicol
bye |
Peter Nicol
15-4 15-0 15-5
Paul Thomas |
Peter Nicol
15-5 15-6 15-1
Matt Crowley |
Peter Nicol
15-9 15-1 15-4
Joey Barrington
|
Peter Nicol
15-12 14-17 15-13 12-15 17-16
John White |
Paul Thomas
15-8 15-6 15-7
Jim Rankin |
Iain Young
bye |
Iain Young
15-5 15-8 15-6
Matt Crowley |
Matt Crowley
bye |
Joey Barrington
bye |
Joey Barrington
15-7 15-5 15-4
Innes Young |
Joey Barrington
11-15 15-3 15-4 15-7 Stuart Cowie |
Innes Young
bye |
Andrew Learoyd
4-15 15-13 17-15 15-11 Nick Birt |
Andrew Learoyd
15-10 10-15 15-11 15-11
Stuart Cowie |
Stuart Cowie
bye |
Tim Garner
bye |
Tim Garner
15-9 15-6 15-9
David Barnett |
Tim Garner
15-10 15-10 15-2 Nick Wall |
Tim Garner
13-15 15-7 15-11 15-11
John White |
David Barnett
bye |
Alastair Gorrie
12-15 15-6 15-11 17-6
Andy Taylor |
Alastair Gorrie
15-6 15-9 15-2
Nick Wall |
Nick Wall
bye |
Laurens Anjema
15-2 15-2 15-6
Kevin Milne |
Laurens Anjema
15-4 15-4 15-6
Ashley Flathers |
Laurens Anjema
10-15 15-7 15-9 15-4
John White |
Ashley Flathers
15-0 15-3 15-2
Craig Riach |
Sam Miller
15-12 15-8 15-13
Greg Young |
Sam Miller
15-4 15-4 15-9
John White |
John White
bye |
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White and Nicol meet in July's Scottish Open - rematch due in Westhill
2000 Event
Nicol starts off season with home win
This year's Prince Grand Prix kicked off with
the H & R Professional Challenge held at the Peter Nicol Squash &
Fitness Centre in Aberdeen. This season's tournaments have added value
through their challenger event status, allowing young players beginning
their PSA careers to earn small but invaluable world ranking points.
All the players were warmly welcomed, with great local interest in the
event, creating a friendly background to some highly competitive
squash. This was one tournament where the seeding committee got it right,
with just one match going against the seedings in the whole event. The
anomaly was the Last 16 when Dorset no.1 Clive Ewins defeated 5/8 seed Peter
Gunter in straight games. Ewins maintained his fine form, severely testing
John Dale in the quarter finals before losing 3-1.
The top four seeds all progressed to the semi-finals, with Dale joined
in the bottom half by Paul Lord, who came through a close four-setter
with Eric McAlpine. In the top half Peter Nicol and Ben Garner progressed
with 3-0 victories over Andy Whipp and Nick Wall, respectively.
World no.1 Nicol was made to work hard in front of his home crowd by the
former England junior international, being kept on court for just over an
hour. Garner saved one match ball in the third, but Nicol proved too strong
as he came through in four tough games, 17-15, 17-14, 16-17, 15-1l. He was
joined in the final by second seed Lord, who put out Dale in straight games.
Lord won the first 2 games comfortably
against an opponent who was visibly tired from two tough four set
matches in the previous 24 hours, however, Dale made a spirited fight-back
in the third before succumbing 17-14.
In a repeat of last year's semi-final clash, Nicol faced last year's Prince
Grand Prix winner Lord. Over three closely fought games, the match ebbed and
flowed, however, it was always Nicol who was able to apply the finishing
touches to each game. After just under an hour of pulsating squash, it was
Nicol who was to add the H & R Insurance Challenge title to his early
season collection of Al Ahram International and Hong Kong Open by the 15-12,
15-13, 15-11 scoreline.
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