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BSPA Grand Prix 2004 With the BSPA Grand Prix Finals coming up in Abingdon from 16-18 June, Framboise reflects on a hectic end to the Grand Prix Circuit as the players jostled for those precious places in the finals ... |
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| I do like BSPA tournaments, as we enjoy watching the “old” favourites, and discover some new faces. I also imagine it’s very good for the players too. The young ones can rub their horns on their elders, learn the tricks of the trade, how to deal (or not) with pressure, with the referees, with an audience… The “experienced” ones can still enjoy the thrill of competition without having to spend too much time or money on travelling. Long live BSPA! BUSY END OF SEASON The season started in October, Marcus Berrett and Laura Lengthorn winning the Proctor Memorial in the North East, then came Boston, Edinburgh, Grantham and Aberdeen before a hectic end of the season with 3 tournaments in 3 weeks. First the Wimbledon Cup (started in 1937); then Esporta Croydon; and to finish a brand new event, the Ilkley Open, whose organisation was of breathtaking professionalism. And only 3 players could pretend to the Grand Prix title: Peter Genever, Marcus Berrett and Steve Meads.  STEVE
MEADS:THE GRINDING MACHINE One thing is sure, Stephen Meads, 34, 1985 British Champion, is still very threatening to his opponents, especially the young wolves pressed to prove their strength against some old timers. Some of those “confrontations” have nearly finished in boxing matches (Shaun Le Roux in Edinburgh, and Alister Walker in Ilkley) due to an excess of testosterone floating around! Meads did very well indeed in Wimbledon, as he got past Stacey Ross in three games that lasted 67 minutes then beat the bubbly Irishman John Rooney to get his 3rd BSPA title. “I had to stop the PSA circuit because I was fed up of living out of a suitcase, and also because I didn’t see enough of my wife and kids (one girl, 5, one boy, 14 months). I’m doing a lot of coaching, I still play my league games, (Surrey, Middlesex) National league, BSPA. I still love squash, I still love training for it and I take one day at a time.”  STACEY
ROSS:PERFECT DROPS After his first ever victory over Meads in Esporta (4 games in 82 minutes!), Stacey Ross took a game off Adrian Grant, then nearly beat him in Ilkley, (2 all, 12/12 in the 5th). Unfortunately, in the fifth he changed his tactics. “I stopped playing squash when I was 15, and started again at 24. So, I came straight from playing every game without any game plan, just turn up and hit the ball, going for winners after two or three shots, to being an adult and having to learn patience and tactics. So when I’m under pressure, I’m trying very hard to compensate for my natural game which would be to attack every ball. Maybe in doing so, I’m playing too conservative, too negative.” It’s a shame, as in the Inter Counties Finals, Stacey beat Marcus Berrett 9/4 in the 5th after losing the first 0/9, and probably could have beaten him again in Ilkley. Also a shame that a player with splendid feel and touch qualities (and yes, I’m talking squash here…), a perfect attitude on court (Malcolm Willstrop noticed too…), whose game is varied and extremely precise, with drops that belong in the top 20, is languishing at 70 in the world. If he could just believe that he can, he would. Just believe, Stacey, just believe…  REBECCA
MACREE DOES IT IN 99 MINUTES! Rebecca Macree fought hard against Jenny Tranfield in the loooong final, finally getting her 4th Wimbledon Cup Title. By the way, have you ever imagined yourself playing squash without hearing a sound? You can’t hear the ball on the wall, not yours, not your opponent’s. Not his steps behind you. Not the ball hitting the tin, not the marker announcing the score, not the comment of the ref, not the remarks of your opponent. No applause. Not that easy, is it? Rebecca, I admire you. The match was full of interruptions, discussions with the referee from both players; but the game was beautiful to watch, and the retrieving was absolutely astonishing: they both visited the four corners of the court, upwards, backward, to Hell and back. It's not that often you see a ladies match of that quality, intensity or length. Thanks for the show, ladies!  THE
YOUNGSTERSFirst, Tom Pashley, 15, looks hardly 13, trains at East Grinstead, with Michael Harris, British U15 Champion. He has the courage and the legs, only lacks height and strength that comes with age. Quick hands, quick feet, determination, courage, good length. With the same coach, Rachel Willmott, 15 years young, from Horsham, Sussex, 6 times British Champion (U 15’s, U 17’s), who “wants to be World Number One, obviously”! She really is lovely to watch, although her forehand still needs a bit of adjusting. And to finish, “the master in retrieving”, Chris Simpson, only 16, with a great future in front of him: extremely strong game, very quick hands, excellent drops, moves wonderfully well on the court, especially from the front of the court back on the T. His “forte”? Retrieving!  IN
BRIEFPeter Genever had ups and down during these events. In Wimbledon, he lost against John Rooney in the semis, then against Adrian Grant in the final at Esporta. He confessed “When you’ve been playing for as long as I have, it’s a question of motivation within yourself. If I win this battle with myself, I can play pretty well. Also, I’m just so scared of hitting the ball! Why can’t I just let it go?” In Ilkley, he found the motivation, but got injured in the first game of the semi-final and had to retire! His opponent, Azlan Iskander admitted that without the injury Peter would probably have won. “Oh well, it’s just one of those things…” concluded Peter.  Adrian
Grant used Esporta and Ilkley to “get more back to back matches, in
preparation for Qatar”. He won Esporta, his home club, and lost in the
semi in Ilkley against the new BSPA Grand Prix Champion, Marcus Berrett,
who beat Azlan Isander in a four game final. Berrett could not be caught and finishes as Grand Prix Champion for 2003/04. Second is the discreet gentleman, Peter Genever. In the women's Grand Prix Rebecca Macree finishes top, and Jenny Tranfield is second. THE FINALS The top eight men and the top four women in the Grand Prix rankings qualify for the end of season Grand Prix Finals. This year they are being held at Abingdon Squash and Racketball club from 16-18 June. Full GP Finals coverage I do like BSPA tournaments. |
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