THE conclusion of this year's Bexley Area Squash Championships took place at the Dragons Health Club in St Paul's Cray after nine weeks of highly-competitive qualifying.
This was the sixth year the event has taken place and the defending champion, Bromley's Mike Stead, once again reached the final where he met Plumstead's Paul Weymont.
Things did not look to be going the champion's way when he lost a nail-biting first set 10-9, but after an equally exciting second set which he won 9-7, Stead then took control and won the next two sets with the loss of just one point.
The Wooden Spoon, for players finishing just below championship standard, was won by Richard Brampton, from Sidcup.
His opponent Patrick Jones, from Welling, played well but could not stop Brampton winning in straight sets 9-2, 9-7, 9-3.
Both finals were refereed by Mottingham's Stephen Maybank, while Danny Lee, an ex-professional player, gave an exhibition match against Weymont, the champion-ship runner up.
Lee then went on to give the tournament competitors some coaching lessons, and a round-robin competition was also organised by A1 Racquet Restringing Services.
The Robinson family was unlucky with father Steve, who lives in Orpington, and son Jamie, from Welling, both losing in their respetive championship semi-finals.
The pair did, however, receive awards for winning their qualifying groups, while Jamie also took the Best Junior and Most Improved Player Awards. The latter prize was also given to Steve Ash, from Erith
Trophies and prizes were also awarded to six other qualifying group winners.
They were: Judith Cox from Crayford; Richard Mason from Bexleyheath; Erith's Steve Ash; John Lattimore from Greenhithe; Mottingham's Stephen Maybank and Mark Golding from Welling.
The Wooden Spoon losing semi-finalists were Belvedere's Wendy Davenport and Gurkan Arabaji from Sidcup.
Best Lady Award went to Wendy Davenport, from Belvedere, while spot prizes were awarded to Stephen Maybank, Welling's Lee Boden and Gurkan Arabaji.
The event was sponsored by A1 Racquet Restringing Services, Dragons Health Clubs, Wilson & Unsquashable.
December 11, 2001 11:26
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