It was “Finals Night” at Galashiels Squash and Racketball Club and there were plenty spectators for the matches.
The Alex Doherty Memorial Shield and the Club Championship were both being played for.
In the Shield tournament Veteran Andy Waddell was up against student Amir Hosny. Andy, who was a previous Club Championship finalist in the 1990s was looking to turn the clock back and prove he could still beat the young ones.
It was a great start for Waddell, as he showed his prowess by winning the first game 15-8, this was with the Stalwart playing plenty winners and keeping the ball tight to the walls so he didn’t have to run about to much.
The second game was considerably closer, Hosny knew he couldn’t match shot Placement and skill of Waddell so Amir chose to play full length shots and prolonged the rallies to try to tire Waddell out as he knew he had the edge fitness and stamina wise. But despite that Waddell took it 15-13 for a 2-0 lead.
Amir continued his tactic in the third game as he knew Waddell would start to make mistakes if he got tired. Hosny was 14-7 and serving for the game but Waddell’s head didn’t go down and fought valiantly to 14-11 but one drop shot from the Youthful Hosny took the third game.
The fans were getting treated to an awesome match now, and several rallies earned rounds of applause and cheering from the crowd. Hosny seemed to be getting into the game the more the match went on and Waddell was starting to hit the tin and make more unforced errors. Indeed this led to 15-11 to Amir for 2-2 to take it into a decider.
The fifth and final game seen Hosny improve yet again and he was getting better and better the more the match went on, in contrast the Stamina and fitness of Waddell was fading and although the game was close till 8-8, Waddell just found the going too tough and Hosny pulled away and took it 15-8. Amir Hosny 3-2 Andy Waddell.
In the Club Championship Final Andy Gill was looking to emulate Club Legend Ian Hogg by winning 4-in-a-row. Club Championship Debutant Tony Elliot was looking to win the title at his first attempt. Andy Gill had been nursing a sore back since the start of the Championship but a decisive 3-0 victory over nemesis John Sharratt in the semi-final gave Andy some confidence coming into the final.
Although the Tony took the first game it was close 15-10, and the level of squash exceptional. But Andy’s back problem persisted and his usual twisting and movement disappeared and Tony took the remaining games 15-6, 15-3. For a great 3-0 triumph.
Andy Gill acknowledged his back issue but said “Tony was just a far better player on the night, my back restricted my movement but all credit to Tony!” Tony said of his victory “I was hoping for more of a match, it would have benefitted some of the new members that were spectating.”
