Last weekend saw Lexden RFC play host to the 2025 English Nationals, a prestigious tournament on the England Squash, open to any players born in England. It was a $1k prize event and featured current mens WR34 Curtis Malik, previous WR9 Daryl Selby, and a host of other homegrown talents. It was fantastic to see so many Essex players compete, alongside some big names in English squash.
The mens draw saw eight players, either born or residing in Essex, and the womens draw had five. The Thursday night was the first round on the mens side, and saw all players in action. Michael Tallentire overcame Edward Bidder in straight sets, setting up a tasty second-round tie with number two seed James Peach. In all Lexden affair, Oscar Birch came through a close-fought 3-2 battle with Mark Liversedge to lineup a immensely tough second round clash with Daryl Selby. Selby had seen off Matt Gregory in four. Stanley Sykes was the last Essex player to make it through the first round, just getting the better of Charles Keeble in five games. There were opening round losses for Neil Cross, Joel Braddock and Archie Hassett.
The Friday saw both men and women in action, with the action starting at 11am. In the women’s side of the draw, their were defeats for Jen Wright, Piper-Rose Tatum, Amelie Brooke and India Webb, all against higher seeded opposition. Lara Newton, a Lexden RFC player now studying at Loughborough University, won her opening round match 3-0 to set up a tasty tie Polly Clark (seeded two). In the men’s half of the draw it was the end of the road for Oscar Birch, with a straight-set defeat to the experienced Daryl Selby. The best match of the lunchtime session saw Michael Tallentire continue his run with a superb 3-2 victory over James Peach. Tallentire showed huge grit and determination to get the 70-minute classic over the line, against a player almost 500 places above him in the rankings.
Friday evening saw the quarter-finals of both the mens and women’s draw, with 8 matches for a large crowd to enjoy. The quarter-finals was the last we’d see of the Essex contigent of players, who had all enjoyed a good run to this stage. Daryl Selby faced Bailey Malik, one of four Malik’s competing in the tournament. Daryl fought resolutely, and even had a match ball snatched away from him as Bailey eventually got the better of him and took the fifth game 11-7. Tallentire’s exploits at lunchtime had left him understandably a little fatigued, and he lost in straight-sets to Noah Meredith. Lara Newton showed early nerves as she went two-nil down before taking the third 11-8 to bring the match to life. Polly Clark saved 4 game balls in the 4th, with a perfect drop winner to seal the match.
The semi-finals were all closely fought, with an all Malik clash seeing Perry Malik get the better of his younger brother Bailey in three games. The final would also be an all Malik affair with Curtis Malik seeing off Noah Meredith in straight sets. Mariam Eissa overcame the number one-seed Isabel McCullough in a tough 3-2 to set up a final with Olivia Besant who won her semi-final against Polly Clark 3-0.
The Malik mens final lived up to expectations with Perry Malik overcoming his higher-ranked older brother Curtis in a 3-2 epic. The women’s final provided a great spectacle too, with Mariam Eissa showing just how good she could be with a 3-1 win over Polly Clark.
The tournament was an excellent showcase of the English talent on the circuit, and as always a big thanks to the sponsors Colchester IT and Stringers World for their continued support.
