Last weekend saw our Mens Masters teams get their 2025 Inter-County Championships underway.
Our Over 35’s travelled to Purley to face a potentially difficult group of hosts Surrey, Middlesex and Surrey. Truth be told they made light work of their opposition, topping the group and dropping just two games in the process. String one, Gareth Naidoo, was in imperious form and didn’t drop a game as he won all three of his matches 3-0. Their weekend performance means that they head into the finals weekend next month as second seeds, and face Avon in the quarter-finals.
A late withdrawal of Suffolk saw the Over 45’s play just one match on the Saturday. Hosting Surrey at Park Drive Health Club in Maldon, wins for Martin Watts, Dave Smith & Malcolm McEwen was enough to see a 3/2 win for Essex. They also head to the finals weekend but face the tricky task of a quarter-final draw against favourites Cheshire.
The Over 55’s made the short trip to Ipswich and faced hosts Suffolk and strong-favourites Hertfordshire. Essex started strongly, recording a 5-0 win against their hosts, knowing that they faced a trickier encounter later that afternoon. Hertfordshire could only muster four players, but despite Essex’s string advantage, they still succumbed to a 4-1 defeat. Hertfordshire who boasted England internationals in their side proved too much despite worthy performances from Steve Smith, Nigel Bacon & Simon Witton. Smith was perhaps the unluckiest as he failed to convert two match balls and went down 13-11 in the fifth! Despite finishing second, the Over 55’s have also made the finals weekend but face the favourite Surrey in the quarters.
The Over 65’s made a Sunday trip around the M25 to Old Actonians Sports Club to face hosts Middlesex and Northamptonshire. Wins for John Fowles (2) and Wyn Edwards (3) was enough to see Essex beat Northamptonshire 2-1. Middlesex proved tougher opposition, with Essex losing 2-1 despite a victory for Brian Clay (3). Despite finishing 2nd in their group, the Over 65’s made it a clean sweep for the county of reaching the finals weekend next month and face second seeds Hampshire in the quarter-finals.
The full results can be found here on SportMgr.
The Finals will be held on 5th and 6th April 2025 in Manchester: The Northern Club and Grove Park Squash Club.
As well as strong representation from the mens sides, we will also have the Womens Over 40’s and 50’s side in action at the finals.
Over 35’s: Gareth Naidoo, Mike Aley, Rory Pennell, Paul Wallace, Mark McEwen (L-R)
Over 45’s: Adam Safwat, Paul Hodge, Cliff Bennett, Malcolm McEwen, Dave Smith, Martin Watts (L-R)
Over 55’s: Nigel Bacon, Mark Shildrake, Simon Witton, Patrick Osborn, Steve Smith (L-R)
Over 65’s: John Fowles, Brian Clay, John Goodfellow, Wyn Edwards (L-R)
Great work by all of our representative teams!
