2011 REPORT

Deep in the innards of Newcastle's Eldon Square Shopping Mall, the inaugural Eldon Squash Club Championships kicked off.

The inaugural Club Championships were the brainwave of Richard Adamson (Eldon Squash Club Manager), Ray Rycroft (England Squash & Racket Ball Coach), and Eric Mok (Eldon Squash League Administrator). The inaugural championships featured A/B/C/D monrad draws of eight, and the organisers were well pleased with day one as the top seeds won through to the semi-finals in contrasting fashion.

In the A event second seed Charlie Ponente won a well-contested first round match with Richard Adamson, running out a 3/1 winner, and then elected to play again in his semi-final against third seed Eric Mok, who had enjoyed an easier passage with a 3/0 win against Tim Hughes. Ponente's decision was vindicated as he beat Mok 3/1 to claim a place in Wednesday's final. 

Top seed Rich Hodges had the benefit of a first round bye, and faces Alan Coates in the semi-final after the grey (if any) haired Coates bamboozled David Rowe for a 3/1 first round victory.

In the B event semi-finals, top seed Alan Ellis faces late stand-in Steve Cubbins, while Eldon 2 team-mates Simon Ho and Josh Gebhard face off in the bottom half.

The C event seeds all won through to the semi-finals comfortably enough, while in the D event - several interesting names here - Shef Popat kept the ladies' flag flying as she moved into the semi-finals against Brice Gouedreau. In the other semi Jose Miguel Bermejo faces off against Wayne Hollywood.