A really good turnout for the Wiltshire Closed with 28 players competing for the title of Wiltshire County Champion 2016; with a high quality field including Adam Giles current champion and number 1 seed, James Ryan at number 2 with Julian Beckett and Nigel Rowe completing the top 4 seeds.

Top quality squash right from the start with a few unexpected results in the first round and some really close 3/2 battles.  Nick Palmer coming from 2 games to 1 down to take the last two against Steve Wakefield 13/11, 11/9.  Simon Williams having a great battle against John Peirce to defeat the 5/8 seed 3/2 and John Watkins coming from 2/0 down to take the next 3 games against Jacques Smits.  The biggest upset however was Calli Smith (16 years old) taking out Gary Preston in 3 games.

The 1st round plate also produced some great matches; with Nev Buckle taking a very close win 3/2 against Gary Preston; and Pam Buttifant coming back from 2/1 down to beat Dean Watkins 11/8 in the 5th.  No real surprises in the next two rounds; with John Peirce winning all his matches 3/0 on hois way to the final where he met Nev Buckle who was equally comfortable winning his way through to the final.  The final started slowly with a scrappy first game which John won 11/6, Nev took a much tighter second game and the quality of squash improved with Nev taking it 12/10.  John started really well in the third and he played a much tighter game keeping nev tucked up in the back corners John winning the 3rd and 4th to take the final 3/1.

In the main draw all the second round matches went the way of the top ranked players with one major upset when Calli Smith took out 5/8 seed Simon Lucas.  A great result for Calli his squash is really coming on and he’s becoming a real handful.

The second round plate was a straightforward 1st round with no upsets; the quarters however produced a mammoth match with Leon Haylock edging out John Walker 12/10 in the fifth to meet Simon Lucas in the final of the 2nd round plate.  Simon was the class of the field though and it was a match too far for Leon who put up a fight but lost 3/0.

In the main draw the top 4 seeds were too strong for their opponents with James beating Dave Ridgway 3/0 11/6, 11/5, 11/8.  Julian Beckett beating Simon Williams 3/0 12/10, 11/8, 11/7.  Tom Oatly was the only player to take a game of the seeds when he lost 3/1 against Nigel Rowe, 5/11, 11/9, 4/11, 8/11.  Adam in the final match was too strong for Calli who played really well and was matching Adam to the mid-point in the first two games, but Adams strength winning through 11/6, 11/6, 11/4.  Adam and James Ryan showed in the semis why they were the number 1 and 2 seeds, Adam played Nigel and whilst Nigel is always a real battler and a very good squash player Adam was too strong winning 3/1 11/7, 8/11, 11/6 and 11/3.  James played very well in his semi against Julian Beckett chopping him out in the first 2 games 11/2 and 11/5, Julian was able to get into the third but it wasn’t enough with James winning 11/8.

The final was a great match even though it was over in 3 games.  Adam played exceptionally well.  His length was superb his retrieval was awesome and he always seemed to know when to battle when to attack and when to play safe.  He didn’t game James anything and was a “comfortable” winner in the end 11/5, 11/7 and 11/3.  Adam is gathering these titles and I think its 5 senior titles he has won…….Great result and a deserved winner…………

Many thanks to the Mecure for hosting the tournament a superb venue, Brian Brock for his superb administration  and organisation; the spectators for making a great atmosphere and supporting the event and finally all the players who as always make this tournament the premier championship in Wiltshire.

Dean Watkins