One match too far for lively Lucy Beecroft
By TESNI EVANS – Squash Mad Reporter in Bangor
Lisa Aitken had not dropped a game all week to get the final, and it was no different today as she took home the inaugural Karakal Bangor Classic 2018 title back to Scotland with another 3-0 victory.
Her opponent, Lucy Beecroft, has had a great week, making the final all the way from qualifying, and playing five matches to get there.
She was in fine form but Aitken, seeded one for this new PSA world-ranking tournament, was also on top of her game and looked through relatively comfortable all week.
The first game started off very evenly with closely contested rallies, but Aitken seemed only to get better as Beecroft seemed to drop off the pace a little.
Aitken kept up the intensity right until the end while her opponent, understandably after her tough week of squash, and a five-setter last night, could not keep up with that pace.
Aitken showed us her quality all week to take the title and Beecroft has also shown us with her great squash this week that she has a bright future ahead of her, also playing some great squash as well.
What a great week of squash, the girls giving us some great matches, with one deserved winner going home with the title.
Thank you to Bangor University and Canolfan Brailsford for letting us hold the event and everyone who was involved this week! Looking forward to next year already!
Runner-up Lucy was pleased with her performances and wrote on social media: “Wow! What a week. Came through qualifying to reach my first PSA World Tour final at the Bangor Karakal Classic. One match too many today but all credit to Lisa Aitken for a great performance and tournament. Absolutely loved every minute on court this week, and hope there will be many more finals to come. Big thanks to Tesni Evans for organising an amazing tournament at Bangor University.”
PSA W5 Women’s Karakal Bangor Classic 2018, Canolfan Brailsford, Bangor University, Bangor, Wales.
Final:
[1] Lisa Aitken (SCO) bt [Q] Lucy Beecroft (ENG) 11-7, 11-1, 11-4 (28m)
Semi-finals:
[1] Lisa Aitken (SCO) bt [8] Grace Gear (ENG) 11-3, 11-8, 11-8 (27m)
[Q] Lucy Beecroft (ENG) bt [2] Enora Villard (FRA) 8-11, 15-13, 8-11, 11-8, 12-10 (69m)
Picture by