Melbourn Squash Club duo win respective titles

MELBOURN Squash Club has two members who found success at last week’s Cambs County Championships.

In the Ladies event, Kate Bradshaw produced a good semi-final performance to overwhelm a potentially dangerous opponent in Julia Dolman (Saffron Walden) 11-9 11-3 11-4. And in Saturday’s final, played at Cambridge Squash Club, Bradshaw beat Jo Scrivens (Comberton) 11-9 11-5 11-9 to become County Champion for the first time in her career.

After the match Bradshaw said: “It’s like a dream come true. I used the competition as a goal to get back in shape after having my first child 18 months ago. It was a fantastic motivator and I’m just delighted to have won.”

In the Men’s B event Dan Easton was also celebrating as he secured the title with an 11-13 11-4 11-9 12-10 victory in the final against Kane Astin (Cambridge). Melbourn’s other representative in the Men’s B competition, Ian Blows, reached the quarter-finals before going down 3-2 to Piotr Lewandowski (Cambridge).

Bradshaw was back in action on Monday evening, joining her Melbourn Ladies teammates as they were soundly beaten 4-1 at league-leaders Hunts County. Melbourn were at a disadvantage from the start, fielding only four players against a very strong Hunts team who are unbeaten this season.

Lucy Robertson and Frances Smith had their work cut out, both losing 3-0. The match was already lost before Lynne Hays went on, but she was unable to make inroads in her game, losing 3-0. That left Bradshaw to salvage some points for her team, which she did valiantly winning 3-2 in a very close and well fought contest against Wendy Bradshaw (no relation), giving a final points score of Hunts County 19-3 Melbourn.

Ladies captain Hays commented: “This win was a very important one for Katie who, having won the County Closed Championship at the weekend, also wanted her first win against Wendy. It was not a successful night for the team, but a great weekend and match for Katie.”