Norfolk end 42 year trophy drought to win the National Inter County Championships 2011! A Massive Congratulations!
Redbridge Leisure Club in Essex, were the proud hosts of the Men’s Over 35, Women’s League and Women’s Over 50 Inter County Finals on the 26/27 March 2011
Norfolk National over 35 Champions!!!!!
Semi Final against Oxfordshire
| Jamie Goodrich | lost | Scott Handley | 2-11 3-11 2-11 | 0-3 |
| Stuart Cowie | lost | Mark Cairns | 3-11 0-11 3-11 | 0-3 |
| David Youngs | beat | Jason Martin | 11-6 12-10 9-11 11-7 | 3-1 |
| Ian Cox | beat | Ashley Bowling | 5-11 11-3 11-9 13-11 | 3-1 |
| David Gouldby | beat | Simon Street | 9-11 11-3 11-8 14-12 | 3-1 |
Norfolk’s semi final with Oxfordshire was always going to be tough as we had little chance at numbers one and two as both Scott Handley and Mark Cairns are still on the Professional tour. Youngs got Norfolk off to the best possible start with a 3-1 victory over Jason Martin. Gouldby followed that win with a very impressive 3-1 victory over England over 40 player Simon Street. On the other court Cowie and Goodrich were struggling to cope with the skill and accuracy of the two professionals and not surprisingly went down 3-0. This left Cox with the task of beating Ashley Bowling who himself is an English International at over 35 level. Cox started very nervously and lost the opening game 11-5, he then won the next 2 games fairly comfortably 11-3, 11-9 to lead 2-1 and put Norfolk within touching distance of a place in the National final. The fourth game was a real nail biter before Cox finished with one of his trade mark nic’s to take Norfolk through to the Finals.
Final against Hertfordshire
| Jamie Goodrich | beat | Eamon Price |
12-10 9-11 11-9 9-11 11-9 | 3-2 |
| Stuart Cowie | beat | Ali Coker | 2-11 14-12 7-11 11-9 11-8 |
3-2 |
| David Youngs | beat | Scott Richard | 11-4 11-6 11-5 | 3-0 |
Ian Cox |
beat | Chris Stanley | 11-8 9-11 11-3 9-11 11-8 | 3-2 |
| David Gouldby | lost | Las Fernando |
9-11 6-11 7-11 | 0-3 |
Well if our semi-final was a nail biter the final was even worse as at various stages it looked as if either County could take the title. Norfolk won the opening match with the impressive Youngs beating Scott Richard 3-0. Unfortunately Gouldby on the other court wasn’t in the same form as he had been the day before and lost 3-0 to Las Fernando. With the match score at 1-1 what was to follow was probably as close as any match could be as both Cox and Goodrich both led 2-1 before being hauled back to 2 games all. Cox finished first with his 3-2 victory which left Goodrich just needing to win for us to become Champions. Goodrich led 9-7 before his very experienced opponent pulled it back to 9-9, two points latter though Goodrich found the wi
nner and Norfolk were crowned National Champions. Cowie also won his match 3-2 to leave us 4-1 winners but not sure what would have happened if the match had been all square with just this game left.
| Best win of the weekend | David Gouldby | (semi final against Oxfordshire) |
| Overall performance | Ian Cox | (two great victories) |
| Gutsy performance | Jamie Goodrich | (final victory against Hertfordshire) |
| Most entertaining | Stuart Cowie | (both matches) |
| Best supporter | Rob Hambrook | (team reserve) |
| Overall organisation | David Youngs | (captain and responsible for luxury accommodation!!) |
FINAL - HERTFORDSHIRE v NORFOLK – Official England Report
Las Fernando gave Hertfordshire the perfect start at 5th string as he beat David Gouldby 3-0. David Youngs levelled for Norfolk, beating Scott Rickard 3-0 at 3rd string. Things then tightened up. At 4th string there was a great tussle between Chris Stanley and Ian Cox, which went to 2-2 before Cox ran out the winner, giving Norfolk a 2-1 lead. Meanwhile on the adjacent court the match of the weekend was unfolding between Eammon Price and Jamie Goodrich. A tight 1st game was won 12 -10 by Goodrich. Price took the 2nd 11/8, Goodrich the 3rd by the same scoreline, Price levelled 11/9, so all on the 5th, which was another great game, finally won by Goodrich 11-9 in 73 gruelling minutes. Whilst this marathon match was played out the 2nd strings Alistair Coker and Stuart Cowie were having a very lively encounter to say the least! Coker took the 1st 11/2, but Cowie then took a very tight 2nd 12/14, and then the 3rd 11/4. Coker pulled back in the 4th to level, but Cowie pressed home 9/11 in the 5th. Norfolk, ending 42 trophy less years were champions 4-1
NSRA Norfolk Squash
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