UKAEA Handicap - Season 2003-2004 - 04&05/10/03

Carole & Stephen lift Trophies....

Yes, it's that time again, put away the golf clubs, running shoes and football boots dust down that squash racquet and make your way down to Thurso & District Squash Club. Over thirty players did just that last weekend for the Annual Handicap Squash competition, once again very kindly sponsored by the UKAEA.

Players of varying standards enter the Annual UKAEA Handicap competition and a committee of experts, led by Club Chairman, Sandy Stewart, get together behind the scenes to work out fair handicaps for all the entrants.

All players are guaranteed at least two games with a special Plate Competition set up for all first round losers. In this years Plate Competition we witnessed some very tight but keenly contested matches. In the semi-final Alistair Miller (-42) the current Holder of the Main Event Trophy narrowly defeated Guy Owen (-22), a former winner of the plate. In the other semi-final match a young Stephen Bremner (+9), playing in his first serious competition won through with some excellent shots against Steven Gunn (-15), who at times could do nothing but watch in amazement. In the final of the Plate, Alistair played well hitting the ball with accuracy and power but young Stephen dug deep and kept his cool choosing his moments well hitting some good winning returns to win the Plate Competition in the decisive third game.

In the main event there was also some nail biting stuff as several matches went right down to the wire. In the quarterfinals Dougie Sinclair (-40) saw off the challenge from Davy Swanson (-42) and Jane Grant (-5) booked her place in the semi- final after defeating previous winner, David Disbury (-20). Stuart Greig (-39) emerged victorious from his match with Craig Gardiner (0) and Carole Mowat (-10) produced some great squash to defeat Donald Pollard (-38).

Spectators crammed the balcony to watch the semi-finals. In the first of these Stuart Greig could do nothing to stop Carole Mowat reaching the final with her playing some very accurate drop shots and general fine play. The second semi-final saw arguably the match of the competition, three very tight games with some miraculous play from both Jane Grant and Dougie Sinclair. Quite frankly although both players are in their 40's (sorry Jane), they played as though they were 20 years younger both covering every inch of the court playing shots with precision. At 14-14 in the decisive 3^rd set, sudden death, Dougie held his nerve and produced the decisive winner.

The final was, on paper, going to be well worth watching as could be seen from the number of spectators trying to get a view from the gallery. The spectators were not disappointed. Both Carole and Dougie were both feeling the effects of some punishing battles throughout the weekend to reach the final of this the 8^th Competition sponsored by the UKAEA. Dougie tried his heart out but Carole was producing some excellent drop shots and volleys. Dougie did manage to pull back some of the handicap differential, actually reaching positive figures in the first game, but Carole kept plugging away, took both games convincingly and duly picked up the UKAEA Challenge cup for the first time.

Guy Owen, the Head of Safety at Dounreay and himself a competition entrant, was on hand to make the presentation. He commented on how good the competition was and that he was delighted on behalf of the UKAEA to be able to support the Club in this way.

Pictured in the photograph from left to right are: Alistair Miller, Stephen Bremner, Guy Owen, Carole Mowat & Dougie Sinclair. Holding the Banner are some young stars for the future.

report by Dougie Sinclair

Photos

LtoR:- Alistair Miller (Plate R-Up)-|-Stephen Bremner (Plate Winner)-|-Guy Owen (UKAEA Rep)-|- Carole Mowat (Winner)-|-Dougie Sinclair (Runner-Up)
Carole Mowat v Dougie Sinclair - Final	Alistair Miller v Stephen Bremner - Plate Final
Carole Mowat v Stuart Greig - Semi Final	Stephen Bremner v Steven Gunn - Plate Semi Final
Dougie Sinclair v Jane Grant - Semi Final	Alistair Miller v Guy Owen - Plate Semi Final
Carole Mowat v Brian Farmer	Linda Sinclair v Stephen Bremner
Malcolm Lord v Dougie Sinclair	Alan Williamson v Steven Gunn
James Henderson v Coral Sinclair	John Sutters v David Disbury

End-of-Document