On Sunday 27th April, Essex Squash held their annual Open Racketball / Squash57 Singles Championships. It was another hugely successfully day at The Woodford Wells Club with players travelling from as far afield as Manchester and Woking.
With four titles on the line and over eight competitors in each category, it promised to be a marathon day of intense pool matches, leading to high-stakes semi-finals and thrilling finals.
Over 60s: Dibattista Dominates
In the Over 60s, experience ruled the day. Pascual Dibattista (Kingswood) cruised through his pool without dropping a single game, while Alan Burrows (Park Drive Maldon) topped his own pool with equal authority. In the semi-finals, Dibattista dispatched Akhtar Khokhar (WW) and Burrows edged out Andy Bridges (Lexden), setting up a clash of the titans. In the final, Dibattista was unstoppable, maintaining his unbeaten streak and looking sharp ahead of the upcoming Inter-Counties competition.
Over 50s: A Battlefield of Titans
The Over 50s draw was stacked — featuring two recent national finalists and a former PSA pro. The competition was fierce, but Marc Thornley (WW) and Adam Beedie (Woking) battled through as pool runners-up, while Craig Wapnick (Marple Squash Club) and Patrick Osborn (WW) topped their groups. As expected, it was Wapnick and Osborn who met in the final, where Wapnick’s class and composure shone through. He clinched the title without losing a single game all day.
Open B: Dewis Claims the Crown
The biggest draw of the event was the Open B, packed with hungry competitors. In the semi-finals, Dan Carvosso (Kingswood) faced off against Adam Beedie, while John Dewis (St Ivo Racquets Club) took on Harry Best (WW). Both pool winners, Carvosso and Dewis, advanced to a gripping final — where Dewis proved too strong, capturing the Open B title in fine style.
Open A: Youth Triumphs
The Open A division was fiercely competitive, with several pool matches going the distance in tight 2-1 battles. Early drama came when Amber Marshall (Broxbourne) stunned Craig Wapnick with a commanding 2-0 win. That pool ended in a dramatic three-way tie, with Wapnick and Paul Wallace (Kingswood) advancing on a narrow margin after injury ruled Marshall out. In the other pool, familiar face Luke Bishop (Broxbourne) and John Dewis punched their tickets to the semis. The final between Wapnick and Bishop was a crowd-pleaser. In the end, it was Bishop’s youth and fresher legs that carried him to victory, capping off an unforgettable day.
Videos of some of the matches can be found in the YouTube video playlist.
A huge thank you to everyone who helped out in the build-up and on the day including our sponsors, Karakal and Reflex International.
