23-26 January @
Tynemouth Squash Club

B Final:
John Smith (New) bt Jason Gibson (New)  3/2
C Final:
Liam Gutcher (Tyn) bt Stan Watson (Tyn)  3/0
D Final:
Andy Dodd (Bel) bt Colin Wheatley (Bel)  3/0
E Final:
Martin Kapusniak (Ash) bt Mark Reid (Tyn)  3/0
Ladies B Final:
Jan Robinson (Tyn) bt Lesley Old (Gos)  3/1

Plate finals:
A: Stuart Hovvels (Bel) bt Paul Beecroft (Tyn)  3/0
B: Steve Ross (Con) bt Mike Cherryman (Bel)  3/0
C: Jason Follin (Pri) bt Charlie Ponente (Dun)  3/1
D: Martin Andrew (Dun) bt Allan Charlton (Tyn)  3/0
E: Andy Gordon (Tyn) bt Mick Slater (Tyn)  3/0
Lad: Sue Beecroft (Con) bt Louise Robertson (Tyn)  3/1
LB: Charlotte Osborne (Tyn) bt Tracey Coates (Bol) 3/0

Beeson rolls back the years
Bryan Beeson claimed an amazing 16th Northumbria County title, seven years on from his last victory.

The former England captain and National Champion had cruised into the final, with a 3/0 semi-final victory over Steve Calvert, where he met David Barnett, who had beaten Nick Southern 3/1 to claim his third consecutive place in the final.

It was a classic experience v youth clash, with Beeson looking to add to his impressive tally of titles while young Barnett was seeking his first.

Beeson raced ahead, unleashing a barrage of trademark winners to take the first game 9/0 and a 5/1 lead in the second. Barnett looked nervous early on, but came more into it as he pegged Beeson back and made the 42 year-old work harder and harder for his points.

Beeson took the second 9/7, but David's determination was there for all to see as he whittled away Bryan's early lead in the third to pull a game back, again 9/7. But Beeson has a fierce will to win, and in a tense, sometimes argumentative fourth game he held on to collect his sixteenth title after 76 minutes of tense, enthralling squash.

"It's nice to have this trophy back," said a delighted Beeson afterwards. "Fortunately I was able to get ahead in most of the games, which put a bit of pressure on David. I'm training to defend the National Over-40 title next month, so this is a nice bonus."

Jane's up to a Dozen
There will be a familiar name on the Women's trophy too, as Jane Martin collected her 12th County title with a 9/2, 9/1, 9/1 victory over Northumbria's top junior Sarah Bowles in 33 minutes.

Martin, the former world top ten player, had beaten Sarah's mother Eleanor in the semis, while Sarah had sneaked past David's sister Emma Barnett 3/2.

"It was strange playing Jane in a competitive match," said Sarah, who had been playing in a WISPA event in Edinburgh earlier in the week. "Jane coaches me, so we play all the time but this was quite different."

Martin rarely shows mercy on these occasions, and allowed her pupil just four points as she reclaimed the title (she was injured for last year's event) and increased her tally to twelve.

"The scoreline doesn't do Sarah justice," said Martin. "That was the hardest final of any of them. I'm sure Sarah will get her name on that trophy, but not just yet - I think I've got a few more titles left in me."

Chalky's still the man
Another National Champion on show was Newbiggin's John Smith. 'Chalky' will be defending the O55 title in Manchester next month, and warmed up nicely, taking the 'B' title in a five-game thriller against Newbiggin team-mate Jason Gibson.

The 'C' event featured an all-Tynemouth youth v experience final, with Liam Gutcher's speed proving too much for Stan Watson as the youngster raced away with the title.

In the D event it was two team and work-mates contesting the final. Belle Vue's Andy Todd claimed the title, beating his boss Colin Wheatley 3/0.

The E title went to Ashington, with Martin Kapusniak beating Tynemouth's Mark Reid 3/0 and booking himself a place in a higher event next year.

The Ladies B final saw Tynemouth's Jan Robinson beat Gosforth Exile Lesley Old.

Northumbria president Roger Tames was on hand to present the trophies at the end of another successful event. See you all next year ...

Jane's dad is a dab hand too ...