Thurso Club Championships - Season 2000-2001

PLAYERS of all ages from up-and-coming youngsters to formidable veterans ensured a high level of competition when Thurso Squash Club staged its annual championships.

The Ladies' Salver once again went to Carole Cameron - making it win number 19 for this redoubtable player. Carole had defeated Karen Campbell in the semi-finals but Karen put up a good fight and is improving rapidly.

In the other semi, Lynda Hall edged out Coral Sinclair in a match of skilful drops. Lynda managed to wrest the third game from Carole in the final but the champion buckled down to win 3/1.

Stalwarts Alan Williamson and Terry Jones faced each other yet again in the super-veteran class, with Alan winning a close match.

L to R:- Linda Hall, Carole Cameron, Colin Paterson, Donna Sinclair, Les Mackay

Sharon Sinclair, Martyn Cook, Sandy Stewart, Terry Jones, Davie Swanson

picture from J 'O' G

At the semi-final stage of the "younger" veterans' event, Sandy Stewart ousted a determined Ian McElroy in spite of some excellent returning by the latter. In the other half of the draw, Carole Cameron was again to the fore in what was one of the matches of the day. No. 2 seed Jim Cassidy had to fight right to the end of the fifth game to earn his place in the final.

Jim was still "up for it" but eventually lost out to Sandy by three games to one.

Three of last year's semi-finalists again made it to that stage in the plate competition - Duncan Ralph, Andy Smith and Davy Swanson were joined by new member Billy Johnston. Billy was picking up his racket after a long lay-off but he clearly had not forgotten how to wield it.

Davy Swanson, however, covered the court very well to win his way through to the final. Duncan Ralph saw off Andy Smith in a tight match with some powerful left-handed play.

In the final there were many quality rallies but Davy was determiaed to go one better than last year and won out by 3/0.

The boys' competition was tough this year, with all five top players improving rapidly. Louis Morrill just defeated Calum Grant only to lose out to the No. 1 seed, Martyn Cook.

In the other half of the draw, Richard Scott and Michael Henderson pushed each other to the limit with Michael emerging as the victor. He continued a rich vein of form in the final and Martyn had to use his full armoury of shots to win 3/1.

The girls' final saw Donna Sinclair defeating a courageous opponent in her younger sister Sharon. With mum and dad both reaching semi-finals, it was a hectic weekend for the Sinclair family.

There was an added buzz of interest in the men's competition this year as long-established champion James Henderson was missing because of commitments with his other racket, the badminton one.

In the top half of the draw, Colin Paterson and Torquil Clyde won through to the semi-final which Colin took in determined fashion.

The bottom half saw Dougie Sinclair facing the toughest of passages, having to survive tight five-game matches with Bruce Maitman and Sandy Stewart. Opponent Les Mackay was in no mood to allow Dougie further progress, winning 3/0, although the third game was very close.

Thus the top two seeds contested the final. Les started nervously, making uncharacteristic errors, and Colin raced through the first game. The trend was completely reversed in game two where Les was the easy victor.

Both players now began to play well and the match was thoroughly absorbing. Les looked to have a chance in the fourth game to seal the issue 3/1 but Cohn toughed it out to square at 2/2. The final game saw points exchanged evenly until Cohn finally drew away to win 15/11.

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