The fourth running of the best wee tournament in Stockbridge came with a record entry of 41 including, impressively, 7 women. Dean Squash club to the rescue! What sporting neighbours we have.
Click here for scores/results.
The ladies commenced battle mid-week with 16 year old Catherine de Kieviet our youngest competitor overall taking on two-time champ Elaine Inglis. Despite her attraction for the tin, Elaine managed to avoid diving into the plate.
Newcomer Danielle Fulton caused a stir by taking out ex-finalist Brydie MacLearnon 3-0. She then made life difficult for Moira Atkinson in the semi-final, taking her to five games before finally succumbing. Elaine had a giggly semi with Senga MacFie but it was like tilting at windmills with the much-capped Senga dominant. Grange woman Donna Cruickshank had to use her years of experience to beat Catherine in the plate final.
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The final saw Senga also dominate her clubmate Moira to take her debut Grange Open(GO) title.
The D-for-Dirt-trackers grade featured 10 players, none of whom would be out of place in previous years GO's C -grades. 19yo Sean Robinson proved to be no respecter of age nor reputation, by dumping out the #1 seed Dougie, almost 3 times his age. Patrick Langley showed similar disdain for rank, beating his captain & #2 seed Al Gordon. Stokesy beat Sean to avenge Dougie's defeat in their semi.
In the final, Patrick was clinical in his hitting and retrieving to take the D title. Deansters Ross Anderson & James Birkhead are contesting the plate midweek when James' posterior has recovered from Sunday's charity bike ride.
The C was dominated by the duo of Edin Uni Studs, Henry Pearce & Mahmoud Boaz El Saoud. Mahmoud had a titanic struggle with Roger Moore & then Eric Donohoe to get to the final while Henry cut loose, chopping down Robin Steel as #1 seed and then Chris Weare. Robin rescued his seeding somewhat by taking the plate from Graham Morrison while Henry had the upper-hand against a passionate Mahmoud in the final.
In the B, PKN Wilson was rolling back the years for the plate against Craig Pounder but the Dalgety Bay lefthander proved too strong to take the plate.
Mike Perring lost out to fellow Granger Allan Hamer in the B final proper.
Some classic duels in the top Grade. Grant Gray was brought comedy to sufferance, telling Peter O'Hara to "F off, Peter" as he had him floundering around in the front court only to float the ball back to make him run an extra mile or 2 rather than slot it away. Colin Grant contested well with Richard McBride before being consigned to the plate where he played out a well-disputed match with Grant Gray. Colin Grant won the entertaining plate final.
Richard McBride showed good angles, counters and kills all weekend, none more so than when getting a win against one raider from the West, Iain Logan in one semi-final. John Grindley wasn't short for fitness in the other semi against O'Hara but the magician from Newlands could make the ball disappear at will with an array of shots. In the final, McBride was up for it against O'Hara and hit plenty of winners on service return but getting a point was hard work. Work he was willing to do, he was 2 games down and worked himself to a winning position in the third at 8-6 but Peter screwed the nut down and got back to parity and won the match in straight games, his second consecutive GO.
Great competition played in a very sporting spirit, thanks to all competitors. My thanks to lunch helpers Caroline Burns, Karen, Fiona McLaren and Bill Marshall. Ross Anderson & Al Gordon for running the Dean matches and Mike Perring and Chris Mair for the Grange matches. Dave Ferguson for arranging a referee for one court throughout, as ref assessor. Most of all, TitanSport.co.uk for sponsoring the Open and logistical help. It couldn't happen without you guys. See you all next year. (Loob)
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