Squash: Life members shine in battle of Masters

Kamo Rugby and Squash Club life members - all born in the 1940s - were participants in the Northland Masters Squash Championships held at the club at the weekend.

Jenny Finlayson overcame Fay Colthurst in the battle of the female life members, for third place in the Ladies Grand Masters division; while one of the club's most recent life members, Mel Matheson, was runner-up to Bream Bay's Ian Duffield in the Men's Grand Masters. Pat Schreurs overcame Sharon Ball to win the Ladies Grand Masters competition.

In the younger, 35 and up brigade, it was a truly Northland-wide championship - with 60 entrants from Maungaturoto to Kaitaia contesting the nine divisions, although Kamo players took out the top titles.

Bruce Smith was always favoured to win the men's division one final against Kelvin Moselen, and prevailed in a hard-hitting three-set match. The pick of the matches in this draw was a first round five-set battle between Willie Halbert and Paul Sykes - the 16/14, 15/17, 14/16, 15/8, 15/12 scoreline in favour of Halbert, indicating it's closeness.

The division one ladies result, however was harder to pick, with Manaia clubmates Kathy Mortimer and Ashley Hart battling for five sets before Mortimer advanced to the final. Annie Greene's path was made easier when rival Megan Chestnut's cowshed slip meant her withdrawal. The title went to Kamo's Greene, but not before a tough four-set (15/12, 9/15, 15/12, 15/12) match.

Eighth seed Cliff Notton was a surprise finalist in the men's second division where he met top seed Alan Goodhew.

After some exhausting rallies throughout the first three games, the score sat at 2-1 to Notton. In the fourth set, match balls and game balls were traded time and again, before Notton notched a 20-18 victory.

Mangakahia finalist Annette Maley came from two sets down to beat Kamo's Cherokee Lawrence before beating Whangarei's Jacquie Hurst in the final of the ladies fourth division. Other division winners were Terry Watts of Whangarei in the men's third division, Kaitaia's Nirelle McDonald in the ladies second division, and Delwyn Houlihan of Manaia in the ladies third division

NORTHLAND MASTERS

Ladies Grand Masters: 1 Pat Schreurs, 2 Sharon Ball.

Ladies Division 1: 1 Annie Greene, 2 Kathy Mortimer; Special Plate: Ashley Hart; Plate: Marie Notton; Consolation Plate: Leah Goodhew.

Ladies Division 2: : 1 Nirelle McDonald, 2 Vicki Ferguson; Special Plate: Fiona Hailes; Plate: Alex Jones; Consolation Plate: Vanessa Jennings.

Ladies Division 3: 1 Delwyn Houlihan, 2 Michelle Salmon; Special Plate: Margaret McKenzie; Plate: Elley Mytton; Consolation Plate: Deb Pou Tito.

Ladies Division 4: 1 Annette Maley, 2 Jackie Hurst.

Men's Grand Masters: 1 Ian Duffield, 2 Mel Matheson.

Men's Division 1: 1 Bruce Smith, 2 Kelvin Moselen: Special Plate: Philip Tana; Plate: Paul Sykes; Consolation Plate: Dave Lyon.

Men's Division 2: 1 Cliff Notton, 2 Alan Goodhew; Special Plate: Gary Trail; Plate: Sean Prinsloo; Consolation Plate: Bryce Lupton.

Men's Division 3: 1 Terry Watts, 2 Hepa Stevens; Special Plate: Angus McDonald; Plate: Steve Watene; Consolation Plate: Adrian Green.