DVD - pro matches
DVD - instructional
HiTec Shoes
PRINCE Racquet Lineup
Also in SquashTalk eStore:
   Squash Racquets
   Shoes
   Videos - DVDs
   Books etc

Recap of Longest Running Doubles Tourney in LI, NY
By Trevor McGuinness, Jan 15, 2008    
Squashtalk Independent News; © 2008 SquashTalk LLC

Michael Ferreira, Whitten Morris, and Regart Schönborn all secured a spot on the hallowed halls of the rustic Rockaway Hunt Club, joining the select fraternity of champions whose names proudly adorn the hallway leading to the squash courts. With draw sheets from 1988 still posted boasting the legendary champions, it’s clear that this highly coveted title attracts the best amateur talent there is.

Mark Hinckley and Peter McGuire continued the tradition this year after a superb 75th anniversary last year, inviting the very best to compete in this uniquely traditional weekend.  Tournament Co-Chair Hinckley notes, “ Since 1928, when Rockaway Hunt Club member and squash enthusiast Ray Chauncey inaugurated this event, the Gold Racquet Invitational squash weekend has brought together many of the finest players for a weekend of competitive, top-flight squash.  That the club combines the competition with a schedule of festivities fit for a party weekend has made this tournament a highlight on the squash circuit.  The camaraderie and good sportsmanship it has fostered continue to this day.  Peter and I are delighted that this rich tradition lives on.”

Gold Racquet Singles Tournament

In the singles draw, 2006 champion Bernardo Samper was favored to win, with Reggie Schonborn, Jacques Swanepoel, and Gilly Lane seeded below him, respectively. The first match was indicative of the nail-biting competition to come, with Alex Preston edging out Edward Borges in a grueling five game match that left spectators eager for more. Plagued by a knee injury in the second game, third seed Gilly Lane was forced to retire, opening the draw for local pro Awicsh Jayaswal. Jayaswal, who seemed fatigued after a battle with Yale alum Josh Schwartz, worked hard for a spot in the semi finals, beating Carl Baglio. In a classic Trinity vs Princeton quarterfinal against Dent Wilkens, Bernardo Samper emerged victorious. After beating past teammate Eduardo Pereira in the first round, fourth seed Jacques Swaneopel edged out Ben Oliner for the right to play the seemingly insurmountable Samper.

Not surprisingly, the semi-finals were dominated by Trinity alumni Swaneopel, Schonborn, and Samper.

Swanepoel fought hard to upset Samper, taking the second game quickly after a scrappy first game. In the third game Swanepoel couldn’t find his groove, with mid court length, and some unforced errors. Capitalizing on this, Samper took over and captured a spot in the finals. The other semi final drew a huge crowd with Rockaway’s tenacious club pro Jayaswal working as hard as he could to overpower Schonborn. However, Schonborn proved too tough with a solid game plan that pinned Jayaswal in the back, allowing Schonborn to control the front.

Showcasing the skills they learned at Trinity, the finals this year was arguably as good as it’s ever been. Both players have been very successful in the pro circuit, with Bernardo ranked 55th  in the world, and Reggie winning the Atlanta Open recently. The match was fast paced, with both players fighting for control over the T. Schonborn absorbed all the pressure Bernardo could bring, and attacked with well-timed winners that left Bernardo on his heels. Bernardo uncharacteristically put a few open balls into the tin, which helped build Schonborn’s momentum. In top shape, Schonborn picked up all of Bernardo’s shots, leaving the crowd absolutely speechless with his display of athleticism. Schonborn gracefully accepted his well deserved gold racquet after a long weekend of hard work.

Ray Chauncey Doubles Tournament
As it seems to be every year, the doubles event was exciting with upsets and five game matches on both sides of the draw. The first upset on Friday night put Steve Berliner and Kip Gould in the second round after a surprising win over Andrew Merrill and Hamed Anvari. Addison West and Coly Smith overpowered Dylan Patterson and Penn alum Graham Basset, who were unfamiliar with the pace West and Smith bring.  The seeded teams sprinted through the draw to the semi-finals, with the exception of Scott Butcher and Richard Sheppard, whose quarterfinal match against John McAtee and Tom Clayton was one of the closest matches of the weekend. McAtee was on fire—sniping reverse corner after reverse corner, forcing Butcher and Sheppard to develop creative strategy to combat the onslaught. Clayton’s pace, steadiness, and speed complimented McAtee, but was just slightly lacking in the fifth. Sheppard “slept well” that night after numerous dives attempting to pick up McAtees shots.

The first highly anticipated semi-finals on Sunday morning brought some of the best doubles all weekend, with Whitten Morris and Michael Ferreira playing Morris Clothier and Noah Wimmer. Down 2-1 after some great short balls by Clothier and Wimmer, Morris and Ferreira fought hard to win the fourth with timely winners by Ferreira and unmatched pace from Morris. The fifth game was quick but very intense, leaving Whitten Morris and Michael Ferreira in the finals again (they were finalists in 2005).

Long time partners Beau Buford and Geoff Kennedy knew they were going to have a tough match, having watched Butcher and Sheppard play the previous night. The fourth game saw a change of pace, as Butcher started hammering cross-courts at Kennedy, which he adores. Barely losing the fourth game 18-17, Butcher and Sheppard rallied in the fourth to take the match, but not before enduring the fatiguing points and crafty shots Buford and Kennedy are notorious for.

After a superb luncheon organized by the Hunt Club and the Gold Racquet Committee, and a classy performance by the Yale Ally Cats, the crowd quickly relocated to the doubles court gallery in anticipation of the finals.

Morris and Ferreira were keen to win after a close defeat in 2005. After capitalizing on a 15-14 win in the second game, Ferreira and Morris hit a rut that Butcher and Sheppard capitalized on. Unforced errors plagued Ferreira and Morris in the third and fourth, which Sheppard and Butcher took easily. Morris and Ferreira regrouped and played much more steadily in the fifth, and went up 14-9. Experience then took over, and Butcher and Sheppard fought back intelligently to tie the match. Ferriera and Morris picked up the pace, and it was too much for Butcher and Sheppard, as the new champions took the tie-break, 3 points to 1.

The weekend was an enormous success, as always. Thanks to superb organization by Hinckley and help from Peter McGuire and the staff at Rockaway; the Gold Racquet Invitational remains the most coveted title in amateur squash.
 

NEW ... Get the New Jonathon Power Instruction Video at the SquashTalk eStore!

\

Squashtalk.com All materials © 1999-2007. Communicate with us at info@squashtalk.com.
Published by Squashtalk LLC, PO Box 2918, Acton, MA 01720 USA, Editor and Publisher Ron Beck,
Graphics editor Debra Tessier, Pro editor Martin Bronstein, Doubles editor Rob Dinerman.
Send comments, ideas, contributions and feedback to the webmaster. Copyright © 1999-2007 SquashTalk, all rights reserved, may not be reproduced in any form except for one-time personal use
Squashtalk.com must always be explicitly credited.