Aycliffe squash club held their annual club championship at the Oak Leaf Sports Complex this weekend.  It was standing room only for the three finals with extra stands having to be brought in to accommodate all the spectators, who were treated to a spectacular afternoon of squash.  The ladies plate final saw Shirley Longsworth wining her first trophy in 20 years of playing squash after beating new player Steph Story in a spirited final, 3/1.  The ladies final saw twins Sara and Helen Dowson play each other in a repeat of last years final, with Sara beating her sister 3/0 despite a spirited fight back from Helen in the second and third games.

The men’s final saw last year’s winner Neil Ross play ‘young gun’ Robert Harrison.  Despite having the toughest draw, Ross had not dropped a game on route to the final and looked in menacing form in the warm up.  An upset looked on the cards after ‘Bill West ‘protégé’ Harrison took the first game with a series of stylish shots despite showing his opponent alarming signs of fatigue. The superior fitness of Ross saw him take the next two games and it looked curtains for the ‘young pretender’ but a spirited fight back in the fourth game set up a mouth watering deciding fifth game.  The superior fitness and power of Neil Ross saw him take the game and his second consecutive club Championship. Club Chairperson Jed Hodgson presented the finalists with their trophies.  Also presented was the club under 15 team junior team that won the County team trophy. 

Picture 1 Left to Right:  Helen Dowson (Runner up), Steph Story (Plate Runner up), Sara Dowson (Ladies Champion),
Shirley Longsworth (Plate Winner), Robert Harrison (Runner up) and Neil Ross (Men’s Champion).  

Aycliffe Squash-Club Championships 2007

Aycliffe squash club held its annual club championships at the Oak Leaf Sports Complex this weekend.  Both the ladies and men’s final were won 3/0 but both matches saw excellent squash played by all the finalists.  The ladies final saw a battle between Helen and Sara Dowson with the latter storming to a 1/0 game lead, before her sister could settle.  Helen regained her composure in the second game and scored winning shots with a series of tremendous backhand drives.  The pressure was taking its toil on Sara Dowson who made several alarming errors before her cleaner shots and tighter play began to pay dividends turning a losing position into a 2/0 lead.  The final game saw Sara completely dominate the tee and push Helen further and further into the back of the court before claiming her second ladies championship.

The men’s final saw Andrew Brown take a quick fire 3/0 lead in the first game over fellow finalist Neil Ross.  Both players looked sharp in the warm up with previous meetings producing close encounters of the entertaining kind.  The difference with this final was that Ross did not panic and due to magnificent retrieving slowly got himself back into the game with a dogged determination that seemed to frustrate his opponent.  The second game followed a similar pattern with both players giving 100% but Ross continually crowded his opponent causing Brown to rush shots allowing a decisive response. At 2/0 down Brown came out all guns blazing in the 3^rd game pushing Ross to all 4 corners of the court stopping his close contact tactics.  Browns cleaner shots started to pay big dividends and serving at 7/0 he looked good to pull the match back to 1/2 to set up another marathon between both players.  Ross won an epic rally which proved to be the turning point in the match and in the blink on an eye Brown was slugging it out at 7/7.  Ross went on to win his first club championship which was played in superb sprit throughout.

Club chairman, Ged Hodgson presented the trophies to all finalists, which were provided by main club sponsor, Holiways FORD of Aycliffe Industrial Estate. 

Men's Club Champion Steve Heslop.  Runner-up Graham Johnson

Ladies Club Champion Sarah Dowson.  Runner-up Julie Bowtell

Durham & Cleveland under 11s County Champions

Durham & Cleveland under 13s County Champions

Aycliffe Squash Club winners and runners-up

Aycliffe Squash Club Junior winners

Aycliffe Squash-Club Championships 2006  

Over 50 people turned up for the 2006 Aycliffe squash, club championships, which were sponsored by main Ford dealers Holiways of Aycliffe Industrial Estate. 

The preliminary rounds had been taking place over the last month with the plate and championship finals at the Oak Leaf Sports Complex on Saturday evening.  The men’s plate final was a hard fought 5 game thriller which lasted well over an hour. Club stalwart Jon Snowball eventually overcame young gun Andrew McConville, leaving a breathless crowd cheering for more.  The ladies plate final was between Meryl Graham and 15 year-old Karina Dixon.  It did not take as long as the men’s final but both competitors were equally determined with the more industrious Meryl taking the match 3/0 despite an excellent display of squash from the Aycliffe teenager.   

The ladies championship final saw squash wonder kid, Sarah Dowson meet Aycliffe ladies team captain, Julie Bowtell in a first ever competitive meeting.  Sarah had just returned from a successful Grand Prix event in Birmingham where she finished in second position against the top 16 girls in the country.  This was one of many other similar results which have seen her rise to no. 6 in the England Squash May national rankings.  Julie had beaten the other half of the Dowson squash dynasty, when she beat Helen Dowson in a 5 game marathon in the ladies semi-final.  This set up a final between the best of the new breed and the best of the more experienced lady players.  A 3-0 win for Sarah Dowson did not reflect the extremely tough match that took place.  

It was standing room only as the crowds packed in for the men’s final which was another battle of youth versus experience.  No.1 seed and previous junior under 13 & 15 County Champion, Graham Johnson was taking on previous club champion Steve Heslop.  Although Johnson was looking sharp in the warm up, Heslop had lost the final to another teenager, Lee Skinner, the last time the final was played in 2002 and he was determined not to lose his crown again.  The first match went to seed with Johnson starting off in devastating fashion, using his speed and powerful backhand to maximum effect.  It was a fatal mistake not to have pressed home the advantage in the second game as Johnson allowed Heslop to battle his way back into the match to take a well deserved second game.  At two games apiece the experience of Heslop came to the fore and he constantly forced Johnson back into all four corners causing his younger opponent to make several alarming errors.  Although both players were very tired at the end of the fifth game Heslop always looked the more determined and a 3/2 win was a just reward for a resolute performance.   

Trophies were presented by Mr Duncan Robson a Director of club sponsor Holiways Ford with Club chairperson Jed Hodgson, who thanked the large crowd for the support. Master of ceremonies, Bill West then introduced the Durham & Cleveland under 11 and 13 County championship winning sides from Aycliffe squash club to come forward and collected their trophies.