Windscale Club Finals 2011 (Sunday April 10th)

L Winder - Ladies Club Champion	I Hunter - Handicap Plate	J Holliday - Non Ranked	H Irving - Vet's over 40 Plate

Following on from the previous day Windscale Squash Club held the next four finals, starting with the Handicap plate, contested by Ian Hunter and Sam Nichol, and with both players having been given positive handicaps at the start of the season, it was obvious that both had improved their form over the intervening period. Ian has improved beyond all recognition and whilst Sam gave him a test, it was one way traffic throughout as Ian won in two straight games for the loss of only 8 points.

The next final was the Non - Ranked, a competition reserved for the lower half of the league participants, although once again both players have significantly improved their form since competition closing day. Jackson Holliday played Alan Clements and a couple of runs of points in the opener saw Jackson take it 15/7. Alan dug in a bit more in the second and pushed Jackson all the way to a tie-break, and with both of them surviving match ball against them, it was tight. Jackson prevailed however winning 18/16 to show Alan that he was going to have to win the next 3 to take the trophy. Alan had given his all to take the second and tired dramatically, as young Jackson (12 years old) took the game 15/4, to claim his first club title.

Arriving back to contest his second final of the weekend was John Messenger, who was up against Hudson 'Tut' Irving in the Vet's over 40 plate. As a previous club champion 'Tut' still has all the touch, accuracy, shot selection and determination required to create a contest, even if the legs are a bit 'over the hill', and John needed to play at the top of his game if he was to survive. Sure enough it was John who took the opener 15/8 as 'Tut' eased himself up to match speed, and he was within a whisker of repeating the same in the second as it went to a tie-breaker, even having game ball for a two love lead, but 'Tut' dug in and won the second 17/15 to level the score. John's bubble was burst and 'Tut' reeled off the next two games without any real scares 15/9, 15/8, for a 3-1 match win.

The large crowd had looked forward to the mother and daughter clash in the Ladies Club Championship, as Linda and Jessica Winder were up for battle. Jessica showed no respect for her mother's dominance of this event over the previous couple of decades, as she tore into her in the opener with a seven point salvo that showed she was here to win, after which they both swapped points until inevitably Jessica took the opener 15/7, giving Linda a little to think about over the break. Back they came and it was 'déjà-vu' for Linda as Jessica showed the opener was no flash in the pan, reeling off winner after winner to claim eight of the first nine points, and as before they swapped points until Linda got a little run going at 12/7 down to put the brakes on Jessica slightly, alas to no reward as Jess won the second for a two love game lead, giving Linda a lot to now think about. However one crucial thing had happened in this second game, in Linda's late run of points she had a couple of very long rallies which took the legs out of Jessica a little, and despite losing one of these rallies for the game, some lasting damage was inflicted. The third game saw Linda fight back as Jessica tired, with Linda tightening up her lengths and playing a smarter game, keeping Jessica away from the open front of the court, and two runs of points saw Linda on the score board with the third game 15/8. Another run of early points in the fourth inflicted similar damage to Jessica's hopes in this game and despite Jessica clawing back the lead slowly, it was too late and Linda levelled the game at two games all with a 15/10 game. Jessica was noticeably slower over the court now and despite the rest looked weary entering the court for the final game, as opposed to Linda who looked like someone up for the game with a renewed vigour, having rescued the match. Jessica hit steady shots to pressure Linda, and conserve energy and it paid off by getting her a three point lead, only for Linda to return the favour and claim the points to level the score, as before they exchanged points for a while until Linda made the decisive breakthrough at 9/8 to forge ahead without the loss of another point  to take the fifth 15/8, for a great comeback and deserved Championship win. As they say it takes two to make a final and the Winders certainly served up a treat, which also had the distinction of being refereed by Mark Winder, who has this season qualified as an England Squash tournament referee, indeed Mark was the Finals official throughout the weekend and encountered no real problems throughout, with his professional handling of anything enquired of him.