SquashZAG

Bluenose Squash Classic
Halifax, Canada

Thierry Lincou and Daryl Selby had proved themselves the class of the field for three straight days, losing only a game apiece in three matches, and it was a fitting solution to the draw that they should be the last two standing.

With a ‘good start’ the common wish to any player in any match it was only Lincou who would see his granted as the early points of the first game were awarded.  Selby was, to begin at least, a step slower than he seemed in his semi-final versus compatriot Peter Barker.

A Lincou drop to the tin was the only blemish on a five point run to 5-1 up and it seemed that Selby was doing more reacting than initiating.  The Englishman was awarded a stroke for his second point of the game but then suffered a rash of missed chances, collecting a lot of tin and leaving Lincou with the points.  The game winning shot was a feathered drop at the front right that Lincou held perfectly to take it 11-2.

Through this start, and most of the match, there was almost nothing but the sound of shoes, racquets and a ball on court.  Those three things were heard at a frantic pace, along with an appreciative crowd, but there was barely a sound from the players themselves, completely absorbed by the task.

In game two a more confident Selby found his shots and began to step up.  Lincou was forced into a few more errors and the score sheet demonstrated that parity with never more than a point between up to 5-4.  A brilliant rally of alternating advantage was ended as Lincou held a perfect length drive until the last moment, the depth of which Selby couldn’t quite reach.  Selby’s sportsmanlike call on his own low shot was second in a run of four Lincou points to go to 8-5 and it seemed that the best of advantages, a 2-0 lead in games, was within his sight.  The prospect galvanized something in Selby and he narrowed his sights with a number of inch perfect drops and volleys that Lincou could not fend off more than once up to 10-9.  Game ball was earned by Selby on a volley drop to the nick and was punctuated with an emphatic yell.  Lincou immediately found the nick himself and extra points beckoned.  An unfortunate pop out to the centre from a front wall nick cost Lincou a stroke and then an uncharacteristic length-only rally ended with an errant tin by the Frenchman.  For all the work and tension of the game it was a muted winning point, but not undeserved.

There is no such thing as an unimportant game three and both players recognized it with their play right away.  Offense and defense mixed seamlessly and the rallies swung quickly back and forth.  From an even 3-3 score line then it was Lincou who generated his own good fortune.  He took the next six points, only one a gift by Selby error, and was imposing his own ideas to end some really entertaining rallies.  As in the second game though the Englishman mounted a comeback and, using up his one point buffer, was the one threatening even while serving 8-10 down.  It was a battering blow then when he went for a sly midcourt boast during the next rally and tinned it heavily.  A relieved Lincou left the court up 2-1 while Selby took a walk around the court to consider the advantage he had surrendered.

Able to collect his thoughts in the brief time allowed between games Selby promptly jumped out to the lead in the fourth while it was now Lincou sounding the tin.  At 4-0 an observer might have guessed Lincou was content to go to five games and at 6-2 it was beginning to look like his start had cost him the choice of anything else. What followed then was a shining example of diligent focus and adherence to the old mantra of taking one rally at a time.  Lincou missed two drops but claimed six points of his own from a variety of tight and lean shots.  He tied things at 8-8 with an aggressive rally that looked to have been his at least three times before it actually was.  Selby was always in it but wasn’t the determining touch on the ball, for better or worse, until three lets worth of patience were squandered on an open shot error to put Lincou at game ball, 10-8.  It was one more reversal that had Selby tie it up again at 10-10 but Lincou’s second chance to close it out, at 11-10 on a volley winner, was punctuated by a loud shout that gave rare voice to the tension built up behind his focus.  The ref’s judgment of a “no let” to Selby in the next rally ended the suspense as the crowd erupted amid the waves of jubilant relief and crushing disappointment that were rolling off the court.  Both players took a few seconds of introspective consideration for the result and the 5^th annual Bluenose Squash Classic is now in the books.

The 5th annual Bluenose Squash Classic is again supported by contributions from founding sponsor Zal Davar, also Eric Kitchen, Paul Hopkins, Bill Presse and Martin Clouthier as well as returning corporate sponsors: Truefoam Limited, Benchmark Investing, Dr. Chris Petropolis Dentistry, Opa Taverna, National Leasing, Canadian Diagnostic Centres, Domus Real Estate, Coady Filliter, Lifemark Physiotherapy and Mil-Aero Electronics.  The 2010 Bluenose Squash Classic is now also generously sponsored by Marsh Canada Ltd., 20 Vic Management Inc., Owens MacFadyen Group, RoyCom Inc. and Deloitte.  Players and referees are staying at The Lord Nelson Hotel.  Squash Nova Scotia is the sponsoring provincial association and the Bluenose is an official test event for the squash venue for the 2011 Canada Games.

The Bluenose Squash Classic, a not for profit event and part of the Canadian Squash Circuit, is being initiated and organized by the Nova Scotia squash community in memory of Marcella Davar (May 8, 1954 – July 21, 2004).

Main Draw – Finals:

(3) Thierry Lincou (FRA) bt (4) Daryl Selby (Eng) 11-2, 10-12, 11-8, 12-10 (73m)