It was an eagerly awaited rematch of last year’s final, though Hopkins, intent on controlling the pace, won the first game comfortably. Hickling came back on court in the second a different player and, reducing his error count, he started to frustrate Hopkins by varying his pace and direction of shot and winning the tightest game of the match 10-9.
The large crowd sensed that an upset might be on the cards, but Hopkins responded magnificently, maintaining excellent concentration and reverting to a more hard-hitting game to wear Hickling down, the effort expended in the second seeming to be tell on the older player.
Hopkins took the third game and controlled most of the fourth to run out a deserved 3-1 winner.
The ladies’ final was won by Kate Cadigan over Rowena Hockey in straight sets, although the score did not reflect the closeness of many of the rallies. Hockey is enjoying her best season for some time and she aquitted herself well against the recent Dorset county championship winner.
Cadigan’s form and fitness are outstanding at the moment and earlier in the day she won the B singles event, beating David Steigenberger in four sets.
The men’s over 35 final saw Jon Hibbs retain his title against Paul Frankland. Frankland is an audacious talent, capable of hitting winners from all over the court, but Hibbs’s work rate was high and while always under pressure he outplayed his rival on most of the crucial points to win an entertaining and high-quality match 3-0.
The closest match was the over-45 men’s final between defending Island champion Hugh Jones and current CI champion John Wood and Wood won a match of contrasting styles, with his frenetic pace and shot selection against the steady, almost error-free approach of Jones.
Jones won the first and although Wood bounced back to win the next two the extra pace he injected into those games seemed to have an adverse effect in the fourth as he made too many errors and allowed Jones to level. The decider featured several long rallies, testing the fitness of both these masters.
At 7-6 up Wood handed the serve and initiative back to Jones when he tinned a simple drop, but Wood showed great mental strength to put it behind him to regain the serve and, after some tense rallies, win the game 9-7.
The over-55 title went to Allen Brown when John Farley had to withdraw after picking up a calf strain in the last rally of his semi-final.
Three junior titles were contested – the under-13, under-15 and under-17 boys – and the quality of squash was of a very high standard in all three.
Paul Hickling, following in his father’s footsteps, continued to show his promise and desire by beating a talented but nervous Hugo Tupper in straight sets for the U13 title. The Tuppers, however, had their revenge in the under-15 final with Max Tupper beating Mark Hickling, also in straight sets and a reverse of the club championship final in December.
In the under-17 final Allan Magee’s extra pace and power proved the difference in a 3-0 win over the highly mobile George McLeod.
