RICHIE PICKINGS AT STAR-STUDDED CHRISTMAS CLASSIC
WORLD No 57 Richie Fallows took an established pro squash tournament to another level in lifting the 2018 Lowes Financial Gosforth Classic.
The London-born England international triumphed 3-2 in an engrossing final at Gosforth’s Northern Squash Club - wrenching the prized title from the tight-fisted grip of reigning champion Mark Fuller.
And the power, precision and intensity he brought to the showpiece game on Sunday December 16 gave the crowd an exciting glimpse of what modern squash looks and feels like the highest level of the worldwide game.
All weekend, fellow players and spectators had been treated to a pre-Christmas extravaganza of professional sport in this $2500 Professional Squash Association licensed event- supported for the second year by Newcastle-based Lowes Financial Management.
Pro players from around the world and the UK mixed with the best of the North East in a talent-packed A Event; and the competition was so fierce that none of the region’s finest could force their way into the quarter-finals.
Fallows was the highest-ranked player ever to enter a Northern tournament which, in its third year under its current guise, has fast become a firm favourite on the UK squash calendar - with players and spectators alike.
He certainly lived up to his top billing with a blistering array of attacking shots in the final’s opening game, fans - and opponent Fuller - were taken aback by the speed and power of his game.
Fuller, though, won many friends through his patience, determination and sporting approach in winning the 2017 event - and they came back to support him in his hour of need.
The 33-year-old - shouted on by a home crowd who loves an underdog, worked hard in every corner and took his rare chances with aplomb to clinch a topsy-turvy second round game 12-10.
Fallows - a former British U23 champion - turned on the afterburners in the third, getting onto the ball early and dominating the T to clinch it 11-3 and re-establish his 2-1 lead.
Surely, thought the crowd, the strong favourite would close it out now against a man 10 years older; Fuller, though, had other ideas.
His quiet demeanour belies a fierce determination and he covered every inch of the court to nullify Fallows’ attacking threat. With Fallows’ focus perhaps fading a touch, Fuller found the nick a few times to bring home the fourth 11-4 and sent the Northern crowd into raptures.
Both these players have high-level PSA titles under their belts and are throughly blooded in the pressure, cut and thrust of final deciders. But Fallows found his top level of pace and intensity to burn off his opponent in a blistering fifth, and emerge as a deserved winner of a superb event.
“This is my first Gosforth Classic and I will definitely be back,” he told awards presenter Roger Tames as he collected his trophy and winners’ cheque. “The crowd has been fantastic and I hope to be back to defend this next year - I might even get a bit of support!”
Fuller, meanwhile, paid tribute to the raucous support and hospitality of the Northern crowd.
“It’s been a while since I’ve beaten a top-50 player like Richie and at 33, I guess my chances might be running out,” he said.
“The way he started I thought I might get blown away. But the crowd gave me a real lift and I like to think I put up a good fight to try and keep the trophy.”
Tournament director Cai Younger, who has built up the tournament year-on-year since 2016 to its current level, was understandably delighted by the success of the 2018 Gosforth Classic - a competition which took over from another PSA tournament, the Northern Cup.
“The entire club has got behind this event, and that’s one of the reasons squash fans and players from round the country and beyond love coming here,” he said.
“The standard and the atmosphere just keeps getting better - the challenge now is how can we improve on that?”
Once again, professionals and amateur players from around the UK and beyond descended on Gosforth for a pre-Christmas event which, with its traditional mid-tournament curry night - is almost as social as it is competitive.
Canary Islands squash champion Aitor Chinea- also current President of the Canary Islands Squash Federation - and his countryman Javier Gonzalves - flew in from Tenerife just for the tournament; and Chinea took time out afterwards to catch up in the city with his old schoolfriend, Newcastle United’s Ayoze Perez.
And further international flavour was provided by 28-year-old Canadian Jeff Klotz, who has been playing in Northern colours during a term of medical study in Newcastle.
As well as showpiece sponsors Lowes Financial, the 2018 Gosforth Classic was also supported by a list of sponsors without whom this tournament would not have gone ahead. Thanks go to Quality Solicitors Lawson & Thompson, Northern Squash Club, Northumberland County Squash, CWS Double Glazing Repairs, Sport Newcastle and Turnitin.
But, perhaps above all, thanks go to those people at Northern who gave up their time and helped in a variety of ways to make the tournament a roaring success - Julie Cornell and Denise Thompson (who both did a sterling job in manning the tournament desk), Clive Lucas, Dave North, Richard Vitty, club chairman Allan Curry and, last but not least, assistant tournament director Michael Mattimore. And sincere apologies to anyone who’s name has not been mentioned!
GOSFORTH CLASSIC ROLL OF HONOUR 2018: Champion - Richie Fallows; Runner-Up - Mark Fuller 2017: Champion - Mark Fuller; Runner-Up - Joe Green 2016: Champion - Kevin Moran; Runner-Up - Julian Tomlinson
LOWES FINANCIAL GOSFORTH CLASSIC 2018 RESULTS
A EVENT FINAL: Richie Fallows (London) 3 Mark Fuller (Nottingham) 2 A PLATE FINAL: Liam Gutcher (Northern/Newcastle Uni) 3 Tom Bamford (Barnsley) 0
B EVENT FINAL: David Collins (Norton) 3 Jeff Klotz (Northern) 2 B PLATE FINAL: Eve Driver (Newcastle Uni) 3 Andy Purdy (Primrose) 0
C EVENT FINAL: James Lees (Newcastle Uni) 3 Joel Birch-Machin (Northern) 0 C PLATE FINAL: Stuart Mitchell (Northern) 3 Adam Forster (Northern) 0
