Nivea Irish Squash Open.

NEWS!

Sunday:
Vanessa Atkinson the number three seed and world No6 - originally from England but now living in the Hague - made a brilliant comeback to beat Cassie Jackman the British national champion and world no 7, 9-7 in the fifth game in just under an hour of awe-inspiring squash to take the Irish Open title at Fitzwilliam this afternoon.

Jackman took a 4-0 lead in the first game through a number of unforced errors from Atkinson who seemed to be hitting the better length in the early rallies. Atkinson fought her way back to 3-4 down before making a string of errors to go 6-3 down. Jackman then tightened the game up playing great straight length to win the first 9-3 in 7 minutes.

In the second set Jackman put Atkinson the wrong way to take the first point and Atkinson then made a number of errors to let Jackman 3-0 up. At this stage it looked as if Atkinson had played too many hard matches to get to the final and was now tired and in trouble. Jackman kept her game tight, with punishing drives and reflex volleys to keep Atkinson on the back foot. However, with a succession of god straight and cross-court drops Atkinson took the second game 9-4. Atkinson now looked as if she was settling down.

In the third Jackman tried to slow the pace of the game down and play more controlled squash but Atkinson wanted the title badly and fought hard with some tremendous retrieving at this stage both girls were starting to show signs of fatigue and made a number of unforced errors however Atkinson played some great volleys to go 7-1 up. Jackman fought back at this stage and made Atkinson cover a lot of ground before Atkinson finally came out the winner 9-5 in 12 minutes.

In the fourth game Jackman upped the pace and went 2-0 up. The two girls now started to play much tighter squash however Jackman gave a stroke away to let Atkinson back in and with the help of a number of errors she levelled at 3 all. Jackman started to take the ball much earlier putting enormous pressure on Atkinson to go 8-3 up. Atkinson played a great cross court drop to get the final point of the game, Atkinson then hit a return of serve out to give jackman the game 9-4.

In the fifth set Jackman came out fighting upping the pace once more to go 2-0 up and with the help of a couple of more errors from Atkinson she went 5-1 up. Atkinson now looked as if she was heading for deep trouble as she hit another ball into the tin to give Jackman a 6-1 lead. Jackman hit a good drop to go 7-2 up and at this stage the match looked all but over. Atkinson then started to go for broke with a number of winners which Jackman could not get back and sheslowly clawed her way back to 5-7 when she tripped. However instead of killing the ball Jackman - in a great sporting gesture - stopped the rally and asked for a let which she received. Atkinson kept going for her shots and levelled the match at 7 all with an error from Jackman. Atkinson kept the pressure on to squeeze another error out of Jackman and serve for the match at 8-7. Jackman now looked very tired and after a very short rally put the ball down to give Atkinson the title in just under an hour.

Friday:
Madeline Perry lost to Vanessa Atkinson tonight in a five set thriller lasting 65 minutes: 9-5; 9-5; 0-9; 1-9; 9-3.

Fiona Geaves beat Isabelle Stoehr 5-9; 9-5; 9-4; 9-5.

Rebecca Macree beat Vicky Botwright 9-1; 9-7; 9-0.

Cassie Jackman beat Jenny Tranfield 6-9; 9-3; 9-0; 9-1.

Semi-finals are on Saturday evening at 5pm and 6pm with the final on Sunday at 2.30 p.m. (tickets at door).

Thursday:
Nivea Irish Squash Open.
MADELINE PERRY BEAT PAMELA NIMMO TO GO THROUGH TO QUARTER FINALS!
Madeline started nervously with a number of unforced errors and was 5-0 down before she started to get any sort of length. She was 7-2 down before she started to show her true form with good length forcing Nimmo to make many unforced errors. Perry served at 8-7 and then hit a great volley to win the game.
In the 2nd game Nimmo made many errors and let a number of close referring decisions upset her while Perry played the game on her own terms - keeping Nimmo at the back of the court with great length to which Nimmo had no reply, letting Perry close the game out 9-2.
Madeline started the third at a slow pace while Nimmo attempted to force the pace and in doing so made too many errors to give Madeline a 3-0 lead which she never relinquished. Perry went on to record a historic 9-7 win.
Madeline now plays Vanessa Atkinson who beat Dominque Lloyd-Walter 3-1 in which Atkinson strength and experience shown through.
In the other first round match played this evening Jenny Tranfield of England beat Shelley Kitchen from new Zealand 9-6 9-7 9-0 in a one side match.
MADELINE PLAYS HER SECOND ROUND MATCH ON FRIDAY EVENING AT 9.15 WITH TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE FROM 01-2310606
In the first round match between Vicky Botright of England and Wendy Maitland of Scotland Botright won 9-5 9-10 9-7 9-0. Botright the no 15 in the world was pushed hard in the opening sets by the experienced Maitland however in the latter stages of the match Maitland had no answer to Botrights consistency and control.
Botright plays Rebecca Macree the world no 8 in the quarter final tomorrow evening at 7.45pm.
Macree had a very tough 4 setter winning the first set 9-6 with Tegwen Malik from Wales who had won through 2 qualifying rounds playing well.
The second set saw Malik winning 9-6 with some superb drives followed by a quick volley boast with saw Macree having to cover an enormous amount of court. Malik at this stage was getting everything back and looked in control. However Macree is not no 8 in the world for nothing and, using all her experience and guile, she won the next set 9-1. The fourth game saw Macree looking for lets and was warned by referee Jack Allen to make more effort to play the ball. Malik kept to her tactic of dragging Macree up the court with the volley boast and although Macree struggled to cover them, once she got there she countered with the drop which say her win the match 10-9.

There are still tickets available from Fitzwilliam on 01-2310606 for all sessions.

Alison Walters (England) Isabelle Stoehrer (France) Fiona Greaves (England) Annelize Naude (Netherland) Vanessa Atkinson 3/1 Dominique Lloyd Walters (England) Pamela Nimmo (Scotland) Madeline Perry 3/0 Wendy Maitland (Scotland) Vicky Botwright (England) 3/1 Tegwen Malik (Wales) Rebecca Macree (England 3/1 Sheley Kitchen Jenny Tranfield (England) 3/0 Laura Lengthorn Cassie Jackman (England)

Session 2: From 7pm to 10 pm - 4 matches - Admision €15.

Friday 4th April:-
From 7pm to 10pm - 4 matches - Admision €20.

Saturday 5th April:-
Semi finals 5pm-7pm approx. Admision €25.

Sunday 6th April:-
Final 2:30 pm. Admision €25.