As all tournaments come and go, there are many exciting moments both on and off the court! This weekend there was no shortage of events to keep us all on the edge of our seats; misplaced personal items, cars breaking-down, squash players foregoing sleep to work and compete in the same weekend and travelers to the West Island taking the Montreal transit scenic route to Club Mirabel Pointe Claire. In the end, matches were played and the matches were won and lost.

Women’s Draws:

In the Women’s A event Louise Lefebvre played and showed why she is ranked #1 in the Province playing the round robin not losing a single game. The excitement came in the Women’s B draw where 7 ladies competed in a double round robin with a cross-over. Dana Sanford and Nathalie DeChamplain finished top place in their round robin and were set for the Sunday Women’s B final. Dana, having returned from her travels in South-East Asia, still has the travel bug in her system and decided to go to Ottawa Saturday night and return Sunday Morning for her match with Nathalie DeChamplain. Nathalie, in the end won the women’s B, 3-2. To the future we look at the Women’s D final where Brigitte Tousignant, age 14, met Jose Boyer in the D final Sunday and won the women’s D round robin.

Men’s Draws:

The Men’s D consolation was won by Ketih Pabari 3-2 over Alain Legault. Keith played a tough first round match against Anthony Piccolino losing 3-2, and the only person to take a game from Anthony during his run to champion of the Men’s D. This was Anthony’s first tournament but showed that he is a force moving through the rankings.

Sylvain Turcotte managed to make the finals of the Men’s C, only playing one match on his way there. It may have been his dominating presence on the squash court scaring opponents into defaulting. In the end Sylvain played Greg Hughes and won the match 3-1. In the Men’s C consolation two young players battled for the win. Arshak Hernandez (started playing 6 months ago) and 15 year old Nicolas Campbell, walked on the court 1:40 pm Sunday. This time the juniors experience helped him win the Men’s C consolation.

The Men’s B draw started as the largest draw of the tournament and provided some exciting talk through the weekend. The top seeds fell in the Semi finals and Quarter finals. This made for an exciting match-up up between another junior, Maxime Leclaire, from Gatineau Quebec and Aldo Raffo of Montreal . Maxime, who is competing for a position on the Quebec team for the Canada Winter Games in 2007, plays golf with a handicap of which many would be envious and glides around the squash court, never tiring. Maxime is not new to the finals where he won the Junior Open and CDL the previous weekend and lost in the finals of the Sanctuaire Open MB earlier this season. Who can challenge junior with these credentials? Who better to challenge this junior for the Men’s B final than the sleep deprived upset king of the weekend Aldo Raffo? To start the tournament Aldo played a late match Friday and went to work till 4:00 am at his restaurant on Mont Royal , Nouvo. Aldo won his second match of the tournament, Saturday 9:00 am, against Steven Riglesford (5th seed), his second match for Saturday 1:00 pm, with Gio Piccolino, getting ready for the Semi-finals against the 1st seed Mario Gagnon, Saturday at 5:00 pm. Aldo has played squash for a year and a half and possesses speed and fitness unrivaled by many squash players. He digs a ball like no other on the squash court and can find a nick when he needs one. Aldo wore Mario Gagnon down and fought off three match balls to take Mario 9-1 in the fifth game, ending the Saturday Match play. Aldo Raffo, as usual, went to work again till 4:00 am Sunday morning (no point changing what works.) Sunday at 1:40 Aldo and Maxime started warming the ball to play the MB finals. To the crowds excitement Aldo didn’t let the lack of sleep slow him down. Ripping around the court Maxime looked frustrated at Aldo’s ability to leap on balls normal squash players would have given up as too good to retrieve. I had bet my cookies on Aldo Sunday and this was a safe bet as Aldo took the MB final from Maxime Leclaire 3-1.

On court after the MB final, Ken Flynn and Mike Reid battled for the Men’s Open title. Ken had a determination in his eyes playing the younger Mike Reid. After taking the first game in 9-7, Ken returned to the court more determined, cutting off Mike’s drives and gaining an 8-0 lead. Ken finished the game 9-1 and was thoroughly disappointed by the loss of a point but still the match continued. Refocused, Mike and Ken returned to the court for the third game. Mike started keeping the ball tighter and deeper in the corners. Ken started to discuss a call with the referee, looking like he was going to crack. In the end Ken kept his focus and the experienced Flynn took the Men’s Open Final 3-0.

I’d like to thank Squash Quebec Referees and all players who sat behind the court after their winning match to officiate matches this weekend, Karakal Representative Steve Knight, who spent Friday and Saturday showing the new wares from Karakal, all the players who make squash tournaments, through freezing rain, snow and lack of sleep, James Bush who kept the tournament running organizing people and matches.

See you next time.

Benjamin Uliana
Tournament Organizer

Results

Results

Results

A new date and a large gap in the Squash Quebec Tournament schedule made this years Mirabel Open the largest in more than eight years. 110 squash enthusiasts participated in the first tournament of the new year. A strong Men’s Open headed the field with sixteen players and 7 of the top ten Québec players.

The women's event attracted some familiar faces, all waiting enthusiastically for the glass back courts. Québec City resident Catherine Blouin won the women`s BC and will soon be moving up into the Open category if she continues to improve. Juniors already competing in the Open include Anne-Christine Lajoie, Genevieve Lessard and Kristina Taylor. The top two seeds played through to meet in the final, with Louise Lefebvre (1) outplaying Tara Mullins (2) in three straight games. This is the third consecutive Mirabel Open title for Lefebvre.

The men's events were well attended and this meant close matches and upsets. The Men's Open semi-finals were “oooooo and aaahhhhhh” squash. Shawn DeLierre, Quebec number 1, and new Aussie, Michael Joint, went shot for shot until DeLierre`s court speed and intensity outlasted Joint in five sets. The second semi lined up Ian Power and David Phillips, Québec numbers 2 and 3 respectively. Phillips taking the upset victory (3/1) capitalising on loose drives with soft touch. In the final DeLierre hit the turbo button and produced some unbelievable gets and awesome power from seemingly impossible positions. Phillips big forehand kills from the back corner, and perfect backhand boast had DeLierre under pressure. The final score DeLierre 3, Phillips 1.

I must thank everyone for their sportsmanship and conduct over the weekend. A special thanks to Head Referee Barry Faguy and his band of merry men for showing everyone the true meaning of minimal interference. It was an enjoyable tournament to run, and I will look forward to seeing you all again in a years time.

Many thanks,

Darren Barclay, tournament director

Results

An early tournament and a lot of snow had some early concerns for the tournament committee in the weeks prior to the tournament. In true Quebec squash fashion, nearly ninety players showed for the Mirabel Open, held from the 12 to the 14 of January to play, spectate and have fun.

The Men's Open semi finals had all four seeds meet for some tough squash. Shawn DeLierre (1) defeated local Squash Pro. Darren Barclay (4) in four entertaining sets, and Ian Power (2) defeated former Mirabel Pro. Andrew Thompson (3) in three sets. The final had the makings of a Grand Événement. Power came out early taking a two game lead. DeLierre (ranked number 11 in Canada) rallied to produced some fantastic shots and retrieving to recover and win the match 9/6 in the fifth after 1 hour 25 minutes.

The Women's Open had Quebec Team members Tara Mullins and Fiona Aussel battle out the final. Mullins, now based in Toronto, was too good in the short court for Aussel, eventually winning in four sets.

A special thank you to Lyle Goldsmith and everyone who was involved in the organization, participation and support of this year Mirabel Open. Keep your eyes open for the summertime fun at Mirabel this year.

Darren Barclay

Results

Nearly 100 participants from Québec and Ontario gathered to play squash for the first tournament of the Squash Québec 2000 calendar. The Mirabel Open took place frm January 14-16th, and was a popular event with players and spectators.

The Men's Open attracted a strong field from Ontario and Québec. The top two seeds, Kenn Flynn and Shawn DeLierre, progressed to meet in the final. Flynn (Québec number one and former world number 60 had years and experience over 17 years old DeLierre, now living in Toronto. With quick feet, and even quicker hands, DeLierre moved ahead two games to one. Flynn regrouped in the fourth with tight drives to restrict the shot making of DeLierre, and take the final to a fifth set. The spectators "ooohed and aahed" as both players rallied with soft drops and deadly vollies. DeLierre was the eventual winner 10-8.

The Women' open final was a local battle between Québec's top players, Louise Lefebvre and Tara Mullins. Mullins from Club Mirabel had the home court advantage to help lift her game. Lefebvre was too strong, took the match in strait sets 9/4, 9/2, 9/2.

Our thanks go to the tournament sponsors: Black Knight, Molson Beer and Ensure/Fruitango, all the volunteers, and the participants and spectators who made the Mirabel Open 2000 as enjoyable to run as it was to compete in.

Darren Barclay

Results

Mirabel Racquet Club opened the squash season for the 1999-2000 season, hosting the Montreal Ooenfrom October 22 to 24. After a long and beautiful summer, 58 players returned indoors to challenge their fellow squash players in seven different categories. Many competitors discovered dormant muscle groups as they for a possible victory.

Some familiar faces returned to the winners circle, and some new players threated for a finals birth. In the Ladies Open, Fiona Aussel accounted for 15 years old Anne-Christine Lajoie, in strait sets. The Men's Open had a similar result for new Mirabel Squash Pro, Darren Barclay who defeated a hard hitting Marc Biron. Alain Rondeau and Sylvain Gauthier fought a hard final in the Men's D Drade, with Rondeau the eventual winner in five sets.In the Men's C, Ian Finlay reached the final for the second time (last in 1997). Finlay manageg to outplay a commited Glen Noakes in four tough sets to win his first ever tournament. Other winners included Page Pettis (Ladies D/E), and special congratulations to Geneviève Lessard (Ladies B/C), and Josh Schwartz (Men's B), who are continuing to improve their game in the senior ranf.

Darren Barclay

Results

Club Mirabel, wich was held the first tournament of the season for the last few years, launched the inaugural Montreal Open this October 30th to November 1st weekend. The tournament's new name was a natural evolution from the "Montreal Season Opener", as it had previously been known. New name or not, this year's edition attracted out a record 84 participants, making it the largest first tournament of the season for at least the last 8 years. Is squash in Quebec finally emerging from its long slumber?

One of the highlights of the tournament was clearly the introduction of a Women's "E" category for the first time. Feedback indicated that this new category definitely encouraged beginners to participate when they ordinarily would have been too indimidated to try. Alexa May from McGill took the honours with a victory over Nancy Thrall in a hard fought final. Patrick Genest and Stephane Généreux both from Sani Sport Brossard, surprised a lot of people by making it to the final of the Men's "D" in their first tournament ever, impressive! Though there were many other memorable moments, I took so long to write this article I no remember what they were! See you at the next tournament.

Andrew Thompson

Results

18 au 20 octobre 1995

Result