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Andy Gill Memorial
2004
03-05 Sep,
Rochdale,
Lancashire |
Andrew
Gill
Memorial 2004
Andrew Nickeas reports on one of the UK's longest standing and
best-loved tournaments ...
Sun 05 Sep:
Berrett's Hat-Trick
In front of a capacity and appreciative crowd, Marcus Berrett,
took his third title, in the 21st Andrew Gill Memorial Championships
with a 3-0 win over the number one seed Nick Taylor.
The professional from Queen’s Halifax upset the form book with an
outstanding display of controlled and disciplined squash. Taylor was
below par and it wasn’t the usual attacking performance we have come
to expect from the Lancashire player, but this did not detract from
the Yorkshireman’s dominance of the match. With delicate drops and
perfect controlled lobs, Taylor was always under pressure. Each time
Taylor tried to impose himself Berrett again took control of the rally
to either produce the winner or force the error.
The largely Lancashire based crowd were stunned into silence as Taylor
lost the first game 9-1, their expectancy being that the local hero
would prevail. Berrett was also prepared for more pressure in the
second, but stuck to his game constantly moving Taylor around the
court to win 9-0. At 2-2, in the third it looked that there was going
to a be response from Taylor at again Berrett started to control the
rallies and at match ball in the third finished with a delicate cross
court drop to take the game 9-2, the match 3-0 and his third Andrew
Gill Championship.
The ovation and reception he received from the crowd was well
deserved, and his comments in his acceptance speech as the champion
were gracious to his opponent, and on tonight’s performance he
deserved his hat trick.
The final of the ‘B’ Event was as expected, dominated by David
Barnett the number one seed. His opponent, the ever-popular
Glen Ragou, fought every inch of the way and ran down every ball.
He was rewarded with a 6-2 lead in the first, but then Barnett gained
control and took the game 9-5. Ragou’s retrieving in some parts of the
match was breath-taking, but Barnett’s all round game proved he was a
worthy 3-0 winner.
The ‘C’ event final saw a match of youth against experience and
experience nearly took the title. England Over 50’s international
Alan Denholm had a 2-0 love lead against 16-year-old Daniel
Turner and looked the likely winner. However Turner put on the
pressure and a 9-0 game levelled the match at 2-2. Fitness was then a
major factor and the youngster in his first year the tournament took
the match 9-4 in the fifth
The tournament was as ever, organised superbly by the tournament
director Rob Slater, and the driving force behind the scenes,
Barry King ensured that after 21 years it still remains the event to
start the season in the North West.
Bernie and Cindy Gill, Andrew’s parents, are always present at
the event and the loyalty of the players and supporters is a fitting
testimony to the affection in which their son, was, and is still held.
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Marcus Berrett
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Andy Gill Memorial 2004 |
1st Round |
Quarters |
Semis |
Final |
[1] Nick
Taylor bt Chris Truswell 3-0 |
Nick Taylor
3-0
Patrick Foster |
Nick Taylor
9/7, 9/2, 9/0
Andrew
Whipp |
Nick Taylor
9-1, 9-0, 9-2
Marcus Berrett |
Patrick
Foster bt Yawar Abbass 3-0 |
Andrew
Whipp bt Harry Leach 3-0 |
Andrew
Whipp
3-0
Derek Ryan |
Derek Ryan
bt Simon Pickering 3-1 |
Alex Stait
bt Glen Ragou 3-0 |
Alex Stait
3-2
Paul Lord |
Alex Stait
9/3, 9/0, 9/3
Marcus Berrett |
Paul Lord
bt Steve Siviter 3-0 |
Peter
Billson bt Ashley
Flathers 3-1 |
Peter Billson
3-0
Marcus Berrett |
[2] Marcus
Berrett bt David Barnett 3-1 |
Finals:
‘B’ Event David Barnett beat Glen Ragou 9-6, 9-2, 9-2
‘C’ Event Daniel Turner beat Alan Denholm 6-9, 7-9, 9-5,9-0, 9-4
Plate event Mike McDonald beat Richard Mills 9-5, 9-2, 9-0
B Event Semis:
David Barnett beat Simon Pickering 9/4 9/2 9/3
Glen Ragou beat Chris Truswell 4/9 9/7 9/1 9/1
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Reports |
Sat 04-Sep:
Taylor aims for six, but
Berrett wants a hat-trick
The top two seeds, Lancashire’s Nick Taylor and Yorkshire's Marcus
Berrett cruised through to the finals of the Andrew Gill Memorial
Championship today at Rochdale
In the first semi of the afternoon Berrett was an easy 3-0 winner
against his younger opponent Alex Stait. Stait was slightly jaded from
his punishing quarterfinal match against Paul Lord last night, but
again Berrett’s experience and consistency showed from the first game
that there would only be one winner.
The second semi provided what on paper would be an interesting match,
with a much improved Andy Whipp against the local hero Nick Taylor.
The match, as expected, started at a furious pace. Taylor looked
slightly nervous in the early part of the first game with Whipp moving
and striking the ball well, but again experience told and after
winning a close first game 9-7 Taylor made his mark and ran out a
worthy winner, 9-0 in the third.
In the ‘B’event, the number one seed Dave Barnett impressed again with
a comfortable 3-0 over Simon Pickering and in the opposite half of the
draw the ‘old campaigner’ Glen Ragou upset the seeding with a 3-1 over
his younger opponent Staffordshire’s Chris Truswell. With his
performances this week Barnett has justified his number one seeding
and it is questionable whether or not on current form that he should
have be in the starting line up of the ‘A’ Event. Lancashire’s Ragou
will have his work cut out tomorrow against the man from the North
East.
In the main final we will have the teammates from the Manchester
Pontefract National League side battling out for the honours. Twice a
winner Berrett going for his hat-trick and Taylor the local favourite
going for a record sixth title . . . It will be interesting !
Fri 03-Sep:
TOP TWO CRUISE
INTO SEMIS
The top two seeds, Nick Taylor and Marcus Berrett,
cruised into the semi-finals of the Andrew Gill Memorial Championships
tonight with Taylor taking a 3-0 over former Irish International
Patrick Foster. Patrick as ever moved well and struck the ball cleanly
and effectively, but the number one seed and five times champion was
too sharp on the ball and had too much on the night.
The Queen’s Halifax professional Marcus Berrett took his match
3-0 against Peter Billson with a typically controlled game,
consistently putting Billson under pressure. Billson responded well
and is a much improved player and but Berrett’s consistency was the
deciding factor.
In a match that finished 9-7 in the fifth, Alex Stait beat Paul
Lord in the longest match of the night. In a match that lasted over an
hour, the experience of Lord nearly saw him causing an upset after
levelling the match at 2-2. Stait was under pressure all the way until
the final point and he will be pleased to win that one, with the crowd
showing the players deserved appreciation at the end of the match
Experience was not enough for Derek Ryan, who after beating Simon
Pickering last night, came up against a strong opponent in Andy
Whipp. The work that ‘Whippy’ has put in during summer is paying
off has he looked sharp upsetting the seeding in his 3-0 win over the
Irish International.
The semi-final line up is Nick Taylor against Andy Whipp and Marcus
Berrett against Alex Stait. The younger players will be eager to make
their mark, but the experience of the number one and number two seeds
should pay off in Saturday's matches.
TAYLOR EASES
INTO QUARTERS
Nick Taylor, the number one
seed for the 21st Andrew Gill event, eased his way into the quarter
finals with a 3-0 win over qualifier Chris Truscott. Taylor played
well within himself, but the Staffordshire youngster competed well and
he will learn from his experience.
The number two seed Marcus Berrett lost the opening game
against Northumbia's Dave Barnett, but soon got back into his rhythm
and ended up a comfortable 3-1 winner.
The number two seed for the B Event and qualifier for the A event,
newly positioned resident coach at Manchester Northern Peter
Billson, upset the England Junior International Ashley Flathers
with a hard fought 3-1 win over the Yorkshireman
Former Irish International Patrick Foster came through 3-0
against his Grove Park team-mate Yawar Abbas and with all the other
seeds safely through we can look forward to some exciting and tough
matches on Friday evening
Tournament Preview:
The 21st Andrew Gill Memorial Tournament gets underway this week at
Rochdale Squash Club with its traditional format of A, B and C
events up for grabs. The number one seed, local Manchester hero
Nick Taylor will be going for a record sixth title and is
scheduled to meet Yorkshireman and National League Team-mate Marcus
Berrett in the final on Sunday
In 1983, the members of the Maple Squash Club organised a squash
tournament in memory of one of the country’s most talented young
squash players tragically taken from them when he was on the verge of
fulfilling his potential in the game. Twenty one years later the Andy
Gill, as it referred to in local circles, is as strong as ever, with
Tournament Director Rob Slater sure of a top class field.
The roll of honour features players such as Marcus Berrett,
Gary Thwaite, Derek Ryan, and 5-times Andrew Gill Champion,
National Coach David Pearson - who was a little younger and
perhaps a little lighter then, but a great talent in the game. Paul
Lord won in 1991 against a player who had entered the B Tournament and
ended up the losing finalist in the A Event . . . a talented young
man, destined for greater things . . . Peter Nicol !
Last year's winner, the player who has taken squash by storm over the
past twelve months, world junior champion, and world number 13,
James Willstrop, is on PSA duty in Cathy Pacific Hong Kong Open so
unavailable to defend his title, much to Nick Taylor’s relief, as
James beat Nick 3/0 in last year's final!
On the eve of the event, going for his sixth title, the last word from
Nick Taylor:
"It doesn’t matter where I’ve played in the fantastic events and
settings on the PSA Tour, the Andy Gill is a special tournament for
me. When I was a 12 year old junior at Maple, I looked up to Andrew,
so I want win it one more time for the record ! "
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alanbrz@yahoo.com
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