On Friday 3rd May in Fitzwilliam seventy two players from Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales started out to compete in the Masters Home Internationals Men Over 45 & over 65 and Women Over 45. By Saturday afternoon bodies were struggling with lactic acid overdoses and games of squash were terminating.
Ireland got off to a great start in the Over 45s as David Borton, egged on by his flag waving groupies (his wife and children) who created a great atmosphere, won a titanic fifth set 9/7.
Wales were strong and England even stronger. David Young was probably the stand out player in the tournament, but finally Scotland were beaten 5.0 by Ireland.
The over 65s beat Wales 12-9 thanks to an extraordinary performance from Tom Cantwell, who repeated it against Scotland on Saturday to bring Ireland into second place behind England. Captain Arthur Adair who was injured while winning his first game led the team to a very creditable second place.
The Over 45 women finished in third place behind two strong countries England and Scotland. Dympna Riordan won a very tough match, but Joan Gorham’s performance against a very good Welsh lady was probably the stand out performance. Rosie Barry should be very pleased with her team’s efforts.
David Flynn’s team won the sartorial best dressed award, while the poorer pensioners eclipsed them in the real test- winning squash matches!
TEAMS – IRELAND
Women O45
Caroline Coyle, Sheryrl Abernethy, Rosie Barry, Claire Jones, Joan Gorman, Dympna Reardon
Men O45
David Flynn, Tony Maher, Kevin O’Rourke, Kevin Ronan, Jonathan Simpson, Michael Cowhie, David Burton
Men O65
Seamus Daly, Arthur Adair, Tom Cantwell, John mc Bride, Brian ferris, Ciaran Roche, Harry Cullen
Ciarán Roche
Masters – Women O40/Men O40/O60
The above teams are playing vs Scotland, Wales & England in Nottingham the weekend of 10th/11th May.
TEAMS – IRELAND
Women O40
Jenny Dillon, Eleanor Lapthorne, Rosie Barry, Michelle Jackson, Joan Gorman
Men O40
Philip Coleman, Jonathan Simpson, David Ayerst, Ciaran McCoy, John Dillon, Adrian Lesson
Men O60
David Gotto, Martin Maher, Alf Kavanagh, John Kielty, Robert Peel, John Young
[nggallery id=26]
