In front of a knowledgeable crowd, Fiona Reid (ex-squah professional number 25 in the World) and Paul (Knocker) Norton (current England Racketball LEGEND and Captain) contested the Racketball Championship in a high quality, keenly contested final. Both had come through the rounds well and speaking to the players they defeated, the games were enjoyable and again keenly contested.
In the first game Fiona got away to an early lead with some excellent drives and good length and good choice of shot testing Paul`s patience and positioning to take a 6-2 lead. However, Paul hit back with some fantastic play and regained the lead 8-6. Late in the game Fiona regained her composure with some breathtaking rallies to brake Pauls` resistance and took the game 11-8.
In the second game Paul started well and put Fiona him under some pressure to take an early lead but again she used her experience to weather the storm and took a number of points whilst Paul `hit the wall` – quite literally!! and started to look a little uncomfortable in the match and Fiona once more asserted herself and won the game 11– 7.
In the third game it was so good to witness the friendly rivalry between these two good mates and with the crowd anticipating a whitewash Paul showed great determination and class with a dominant performance taking an early lead with some excellent Racketball driving down the walls with real authority and not relinquishing lead to win it 11-8.
At the beginning of the fourth many of the crowd felt that Fiona was tiring and the Paul was getting stronger and putting greater depth into his shots to take an early lead. But Fiona, what a fighter, would not give up and with some inspired Racketball pulled herself back into the match and then took a commanding lead which try as he might Paul could not pull back and Fiona took the Championship with an 11-8 win.
This was a really entertaining match full of good technique and tactical play. To see both players contest the final in a competitive yet sporting manner speaks well of the sporting values put forward by North Ferriby Squash and Racketball Club. I would like to thank Glyn Saunders for umpiring the match, with his vast knowledge of Squash and Racketball competition, who better to do this. Although, as he remarked, in truth the players could have done the game themselves. Club chairman Martin Shaw was on hand to present the trophy to Fiona – a very worthy champion. Congratulations to her and also to Paul who I am sure will be contesting this final many more times in the future.
Thank you to the crowd who turned out. I am sure that we all enjoyed the fare produced by two excellent sports people – please keep and eye open for the Racketball plate competition that is nearing completion together with the Squash Knockout and Plate competitions later in the season.
| Prelim Round (by 13/4/25) |
First Round (by 27/4/24) |
Quater Finals (by 11/5/25) |
Semi Finals (by 25/5/25) |
Final (15/6/25) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Norton (3) | Paul Norton | Paul Norton | Paul Norton | |
| Martin Shaw (0) | Mark Slade (0) | |||
| Mark Slade (3) | ||||
| Ian White | Tim Hunter | |||
| Tim Hunter | ||||
| Anthony Bennett | Anthony Bennett | Steve Oxley | ||
| Nic Marsay | ||||
| Steve Oxley (3) | Steve Oxley | Steve Oxley | ||
| Steve Webster (2) | ||||
| Yusef Forster | ||||
| Glynn Saunders (3) | Glynn Saunders (2) | Mike Reid | Fiona Reid | |
| Colin Brooks (0) | ||||
| Mike Reid | Mike Reid (3) | |||
| Simon Tomlinson | Daz Beckett | |||
| Daz Beckett | ||||
| Mike Archibald (3) | Mike Archibald (0) | Fiona Reid | ||
| Brian Matson (0) | ||||
| Mark Vahey (0) | Fiona Reid (3) | |||
| Fiona Reid (3) | ||||
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