Ladies lead at World Masters Champs

Strong performances from New Zealand women ensures strong NZ representation in World Masters semi-finals.

Day four of the World Masters Championships in Hong Kong has seen five Kiwis progress to the semi-finals of their respective draws. 

The New Zealand flag is flying particularly high in the W40 draw, where both Becky Clarke and Lisa Cowlard have progressed to the semi-finals.  Clarke eased past a familiar foe in Janelle Scobie - her opponent in last year's Trans-Tasman Test Series, while Cowlard defeated Japanese player Yoriko Michisita.

Whakatane's Kathryn McKay has survivied a marathon quarter-final to reach the W50 semis, beating Hong Kong's Joanne Piasecki 4-11 11-3 9-11 11-6 11-8.  She will take on the top seed in the semi-finals.  Freda Walker of the Christchurch Football club was convincing in her quarter-final, beating Denise Kyme in straight games.

Cantabrian Barry Gardiner is the thorn among roses, as the only male New Zealand player to progress to the semi-finals.  He beat the delightfully named Lancelot Kinder in straight games to progress, and will play Englishman Malcolm Gilham in the semi-finals. 

The five semi-finalists could yet be joined by Mark Waldin and Tristan Franklin, who have won through to the quarter-finals of their draws.  Waldin overcame Australian Jim Mobbs in five games in the M55 draw, and will next play another Australian in top seed Geoff Davenport.  Franklin is yet to drop a set at the event, and will next play second seeded South African Craig Wapnick.  Franklin's efforts are all the more remarkable given he is carrying a double hernia, and was forced away from the squash court a month before the event!

A variety of other New Zealand players are still in action in the plate draws, for full results please visit the event website: http://www.worldmasterssquash.com.hk/.

Results

Women's 40+
Becky Clarke (3/4) NZL bt Janelle Scobie (5-8) AUS 11-6 11-8 9-11 11-3
Lisa Cowlard (5-8) NZL bt Yoriko Michisita (3-4) JAP 7-11 11-5 11-0 11-9

Women's 50+
Kathryn McKay (3/4) NZL bt Joanne Piasecki HKG 4-11 11-3 9-11 11-6 11-8

Women's 60+
Freda Walker (3/4) NZL bt Denise Kyme BER 11-6 11-7 11-1

Men's 40+ (Round of 16)
Tristan Franklin (9-12) NZL bt Adnan Lateef PAK 11-4 11-9 11-4

Men's 55+ (Round of 16)
Mark Waldin (5-8) NZL bt Jim Mobbs (9-12) AUS 11-9 13-11 8-11 6-11 11-8

Men's 75+
Barry Gardiner (2) NZL bt Lancelot Kinder (5-8) ENG 11-7 11-9 11-8