AFTER many years without running a Ladies Championship, Bude Squash Club was able to mount a Ladies competition over the weekend of June 26-28.

In view of the weather, the theme for the weekend was 'Midsummer Madness'. However once the zany costumes had been viewed and amused, squash kit was donned and the players quickly got into competitive mode.

Everyone was guaranteed three matches so there were competitions for losers in both the 1st and 2nd Rounds.

The first rounds of the Championships saw the seeds come through as predicted, except at No 4 where Eve Methven seemed to be slightly less rusty than Rio Auty to win 3-1.

In the semi-finals No 1 seed Collette Burgess proved to be far too fit for Eve winning 3-0. In the other half No 3 seed Kirsten Murray demonstrated a good variety of hard-hitting shots to beat Jenny Trick 3-0.

The final on Sunday produced some long rallies with excellent retrieval. Kirsten did her best to play the ball away from Collette and made her work hard, but Collette just kept on running, getting everything back often with very accurate shots. A worthy champion, Collette won 3-0.

The most entertaining match of weekend was the Saucer final between Jackie Hardwick and Jan Auty.

Both players gave everything they had to reach impossible shots and both players gave away easy shots when they needed them most. Jackie Hardwick just managed to hang on, despite a spirited effort from Jan, to narrowly win 3-2.

Rebecca Trick beat Sylvia Lowson to win the Plate; Rio Auty beat Nicola Hardwick 3-0 to win the 2nd

Round Losers final and Sophie Thornton beat Veronica Munks 3-0 to win the Teaspoon final. The weekend was enjoyed by both ladies and girls and voted a Club success.

Eve Methven.