Matt Bicknell, the #1 seed in the U17 Boys, did not drop a game in the tournament including winning the Final in 3 straight games over highly-skilled John Dempsey, an opponent he had never defeated in the past.
Other winners on the weekend included: Grace Huang in the U17 Girls event, Sofia Quon defeated Juliana Angel in the U15 Girls in a hard-fought 4-game Final that featured two games that went extra points, Madeline Wilson won the U13 Girls, Yu Ying Ng won the U11 Girls without dropping a game in the tournament. On the Boys side, #5 seed Gabriel Yun won the U15 in an exciting 5-game Final over rising start Jacob Lin, Yusuf Matti-Alvarez won the U13 Boys & Weihan Wang won the U11 Boys.
Head Squash Pro at the Evergreen Squash Club, Thomas Brinkman was impressed with Andrea Toth's performance in the U19 Boys event: "
no one knew how she would fair as the second highest ranked Canadian girl versus the top ranked Canadian boys. Although she didn't take a match, she got games and almost a match off each of her opponents." Brinkman was also impressed with the support shown by all the players but especially the team from St Michaels University School in Victoria: "the SMU group all clapped and cheered during each one of their teammates matches. It was great to see the team spirit alive."
Tournament Referee Mike Tooley was impressed with the sportsmanship of all players: "congratulations on their sportsmanship and fair play and many thanks for stepping in to referee at times."
The new year starts with 3 major national championships: the Masters Teams Tournament in Moncton, New Brunswick on January 12-14, 2017, the Men's & Women's Teams Tournaments in Windsor, Ontario the weekend of February 16-18, 2018.
Squash BC provides some funding for athletes interested in being a part of one of these teams. In addition, this is the first time prize money is being offered to the Men's and Women's Team Championships. Thanks to championship sponsors and enthusiastic squash supporters, the championships will be a history-making event, awarding total prize money of $21,000. The 6 gold medal finishers will each receive $2,000, $1,000 will go to each finalist and each bronze medalist will receive $500.Squash BC is now accepting applications for these teams. For more information
click here.
Here is the selection process:
Masters Teams:
i.
Selection will be based on the following:
1)
The teams will be chosen primarily by Squash BC rankings
2)
However, if players are within 25 points, head to head results over the past 12 months may be taken into account.
ii.
The team will be selected on Dec. 1st.
iii.
Selected team members will be expected to purchase their tickets to the event within two weeks of being notified they are on the team.
iv.
Players must register by Nov. 15 by notifying the Executive Director of Squash BC.
Men's & Women's Teams:
i.
Selection will be based on the following:
1)
The teams will be chosen primarily by Squash BC rankings
2)
However, if players are within 25 points, head to head results over the past 12 months may be taken into account.
ii.
All players expected to be considered for either team should plan on participating in at least one AAA tournament between Sept. and Dec. and have competed against players of their own caliber. League play may also be used. The main consideration is that you are shown to be healthy and active against your own level.
iii
The team will be selected on or near Dec.
st
.
iv.
Selected team members will be expected to purchase their tickets to the event within two weeks of being notified they are on the team.
v.
Players must register by Nov. 15 by notifying the Executive Director of Squash BC
November is the busiest tournament month in British Columbia with over ten squash tournaments scheduled throughout the province. The Jericho Open in Vancouver kicks off the monthly schedule.
The weekend of November 8-12 is the busiest weekend of the whole season with four tournaments scheduled including the only Professional tournament in the province this year, the Tree Brewing Kelowna Open. Also that weekend is a new junior tournament, the Hollyburn Junior Open. This tournament was designed for juniors who will not be travelling to the Alberta Jesters Tournament. There are two more new tournaments on the schedule: Pt Alberni's Randy Brown is proud to announce the Port Alberni Fall Classic and Carol Eberhard has created an amazing event for women with the new Queen of the Hill Weekend in Whistler.
The following weekend features the UVIC Open at the CARSA Recreation facility in Victoria. Tournament Organizer Ian Sefton has a $2400 Open draw, Saturday night "lightning round" and many other surprises.
The final weekend of the month features the Nelson Fall Classic, Western Canadian Doubles Championships at Evergreen Club and the Kamloops Women's Weekend.
Vancouver squash lost a great competitor and builder of squash with the recent passing of David Haddleton. His squash career started in England while at boarding school but Haddleton started to play on a regular basis in the 1970's when he joined Vancouver Racquets Club. Initially, he played singles when the old hardball and narrow courts were "in vogue" but his main love was the doubles game.
Haddleton played doubles tournaments in Portland and San Francisco as well as in Vancouver, winning the Pacific Coast Men's 50+ title in 1991.
He was one of the builders of the VRC Thursday Night doubles league, as well as the Gamble 100 Charity Doubles Tournament hosted by VRC. He chaired this tournament for many years, with help from other players from the doubles community with proceeds going to a variety of charities, including Canuck Place.
David enjoyed the exercise and competition squash gave him but, above all, the camaraderie the game provided.
David was married to well-known squash player Barbara (Savage) Haddleton. They had many happy years together. David will be missed by so many.
