FINALS TO BE PROUD OF ...
 Championships,
as excellently run as they are in Manchester under the direction of
Manchester Leisure and Jim Quigley, deserve finals to match.
Those fortunate squash enthusiasts who were at Sportcity on Sunday
witnessed the women's final, which was quality and well-contested.
 Tania
Bailey and Linda Elriani showed just how tough and competitive the
women's game has become in the last couple of years and no-one will
begrudge the modest and affable Bailey her success after her
longstanding illness problems.
She looks well again and can lead England's women players, along with
Vicky Botwright, Jenny Duncalf and Alison Waters, all four confirmed
at world level and with time on their side.
The women's final was very good, but the men's final was exceptional
by any reckoning. It was appropriate that the four outstanding
players, Nick Matthew, Lee Beachill, Peter Nicol and James Willstrop,
who gave England the World Team Championship in Islamabad last
December, all made the semi-finals, which always looked likely.
 Matthew
got by Nicol 3/1, though it was never easy, and Beachill, at 2/1 down
and 100/1 against somehow beat Willstrop, digging deep into his
reserves.
It took Beachill 85 minutes to beat Willstrop and, after an
interrupted preparation, no-one would have thought he could come up
again against someone as tough as Matthew. But come up again he did.
Matthew led 1-0 and led again 2-1, but Beachill was playing with
trademark control and the Sheffield man was getting through plenty of
work.
Nevertheless at 2/1 he too looked to have it in his favour. The first
three games had been of high quality, the last two were unbelievable,
especially as both players were stretched to their physical limits.
Somehow Beachill found more and after a game of pure class and
courage, levelled the match. Not only that, but despite Matthew's best
efforts he took marginal control of the fifth and then led 10-6. What
Matthew did from then on beggars description.
He played squash of a rare quality, holding his nerve, urging his body
on, and attacking with admirable flair.
 Don't
think that Beachill weakened for a moment. He battled every inch of
the way as he had all week, but what Matthew did from 6-10 was
perfection and sporting excellence.
There was nothing between the two throughout what was a wonderful
advertisement for the sport but perhaps Matthew deserved it for what
he did to recover in the final stages.
Dignified in victory he dedicated this prestigious win to his
grandfather, who is in hospital. As those of us who know the Matthew
family know, Nick's grandfather has been a loyal supporter of his
grandson.
Matthew and Beachill gave the championship a final to remember.
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PERSONAL REFLECTIONS
Saturday certainly didn't work out in Manchester as I had expected.
but life's uncertainties are what make it worthwhile, I suppose.
First of all Andrew Nickeas's wife was taken to hospital and I was
coerced into announcing. Having arrived in Manchester intending to
watch the squash, write, and look after the band, 'Lost for Words',
not much of that happened.
So I hope that explains my sparse offerings on the site and I hope my
few readers were not too disappointed!
THE BEST BITS ...
Apart from the marvellous squash what pleased me more than anything
was the success of the music after the semi-finals on Saturday night.
Squash, like any other sport, needs to entertain people and music is
the obvious and most accessible form of entertainment.
Sylvan Richardson and his brilliant musicians, supported by squash
stars Lee Beachill and James Willstrop and a group of singers and
musicians from the squash world, provided music of the highest
quality.
The reception they were given by the large crowd who stayed and the
formidable comments to me afterwards were proof of the success and
reward for everyone's hard work. Further testimony is that since then
I have had four clubs wanting them.
I ought specially to thank Diane Charlemagne for coming from London to
join Sylvan. What a wonderful singer and performer and she gave
encouragement to all the singers, in many cases providing backing.
AND THE WORST ...
 My
worst moment of the championship was being called 'the poor man's Andy
Nickeas' after my efforts with the microphone!
I have hardly slept since ...
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