On Saturday 26th October Hinckley Squash & Racketball Club opened our doors to the wider squash community and welcomed in 60 keen players from across the UK to take part in the Hinckley Open 2024 - a one-day tournament split into four grades. With over 70% of the entrants arriving from as far as Cambridgeshire, Stourbridge and even Cornwall, the day served up a host of intriguing match-ups with all four courts in use from 9.30am until the finals at 8.00pm.
As the day grew wold and the matches progressed, David Roper (Swavesey Squash Club) and Nick Lathbury (Burton Squash) won their games to make it through to the Grade A final. Considering they had been playing off and on all day, what a match they treated the audience to! Showcasing their ball control expertise, and pushing each other through several lung-busting rallies, eventually David came through to win the match and this year’s title.
In the Grade B final Barrie McLelland triumphed over Sam Morris. In the Grade C final Mark Collins nudged out Rajesh Chitnis, and rounding things out in Grade D, Hinckley Squash’s own Christian Townsend prevailed over Dan Wapples to win his prize.
The brain-child of club members Brad Wells and Matt Hardman, with volunteering help from Ali Nicholas, Terrie Godden, Amy O’Hara and supporting cast across the day, this was the third annual running of the Hinckley Open. As with previous years the players compete for a £75 winners prize in each draw, with losing finals taking home £25. Everyone always relishes the chance to take part in the one-point wooden racket challenge, which this year saw a prize pot of £80 going home with Stuart Lord (Stourbridge Squash Club) - not bad for several seconds of effort!
Grade Results
David Roper - Grade A Winner
Nick Lathbury - Grade A Runner Up
Barrie McLelland - Grade B Winner
Sam Morris - Grade B Runner Up
Mark Collins  - Grade C Winner
Rajesh Chitnis - Grade C Runner Up
Christian Townsend - Grade D Winner
Dan Wapples - Grade D Runner Up
