Saturday Finals

6:30pm     Lucy Beecroft (ENG; 124) vs [4] Karina Tyma (POL; 65)  – 11-6, 8-11, 11-3, 11-3 (30m)
8pm     [1] Auguste Dussourd (FRA; 57) vs Timothy Brownell (USA; 117) – 11-9, 12-10, 11-6 (48m)

Pre-Game – “The goal of every professional is to win the title. That should go without saying. However, except for wildcard placements, entry into PSA events is based on a players world ranking. Rank is achieved by gaining points at each tournament a player enters. These points are then averaged to come up with a score which creates a rank. This approach is used by many professional sports. For golfers one could look at how a player finished in a similar way to a handicap. The round (or tournament result) could be better or worse than the players normal which is defined by their handicap. If the result is better the handicap (rank) may improve, if the result is worse it may or may not go the other way. In professional ranks the point structure also defines what players we can expect. The finalist leaves tonight with $1,368 USD and 130 points. A player averaging 130 points would rank top 60 among men and top 54 among women. The champions will receive $2,116 USD and 200 points This is top among 46 men and top 39 among women. Players with an average better than 200 are not blocked from entering the NASH Cup….but if they came and won it could not improve their ranking and could risk pushing out a higher score (leaving them worse off).

For reference the top ranked past NASH Cup players are Diego Elias (PER; #8 averaging 810) and Nadine Shahin (EGY; #14; averaging 400)

Before introducing our women’s finalist’s, I would like to say a big thank you to our officials – a truly thankless job. Tournament referee Steve Flude (who has been to almost every NASH Cup); David Fishburn; Dave Howard; and for the first time Bob Mansbridge. They have done a wonderful job. Tonight’s matches are officiated by Steve Flude and David Fishburn.

Let’s get to the women’s final….

 6:30pm     Lucy Beecroft (ENG; 124) vs [4] Karina Tyma (POL; 65)

Despite the global outcry we are giving stingray the night off. He overindulged in poutine while in Toronto last night. Gary Sullivan is in the house though so you can count on his name being mentioned at some point.

Lucy jumps to an early 3-0 lead in what should be a very close match. After watching these players work through opponents the styles are complimentary and it will likely come down to who brings their best.  Karina closes the gap to 5-8, but misses a couple of drops and it’s 5-10. The players are keeping the rallies short which is surprising to the crowd after days of marathon matches. Lucy closes game one 11-6 and is clearly in control of things. We will see what Karina comes back with.

These players have met in college competition with Lucy coming out 3-2, but have never faced off in PSA play. The rankings suggest an advantage to Karina, but Lucy’s recent rise in the ranks certainly puts that in question. Game 2 begins and Karina adjusts jumping to a 3-1 lead. A blistering boast off serve (which her “coach” told her not to do between games) and we are 5-2 Karina. Lucy is a little off this game hitting tin and dropping to 7-3. The rallies get longer. Players are getting comfortable and have extended the length of their shots as they wait for opportunity. Two missed drops and we are at 8-5 Karina. Another blistering service return and it’s 9-5. Lucy is in a hole at 7-10. Karina goes out of court for 8-10. Your writer spills his beer and the crowd goes silent – the match ends 11-7 and I’m not sure anyone saw it. Gary Sullivan is the most vocal one cheering this event as he spilled 2 beer on Thursday. A travesty. Given the trauma and embarrassment of this horrifying event we are changing writers…..

Game 3, tied 1-1, and Lucy takes a quick and early lead to 5-0. After a stern talking to from the ref about ‘playing the ball’, Karina seems to use that as inspiration and gets a few points back to get to 2-6. Karina’s momentum stalls completely with a few great points from all over the court from Lucy to get to 10-3.  On game point, Karina goes for a backhand, cross-court nick off the serve and hits the tin. Game to Lucy, 11-3, to take a 2-1 lead and will try to finish off the match.

The 4^th game starts with a backcourt, crosscourt, low drop into the nick shot from Lucy. Rory Bradd, owner and operator of SqshLife, could not believe his eyes and said that shot should be called the “Richard Nick-son”. I concur. The Richard Nick-son is born. After some back and forth at the outset of the game, settling in at 2-2, Karina seemed poised to fight to take this match to a 5^th game. Before you could say “Richard Nick-son”, Lucy takes control again and quickly jumps out to an 8-2 lead. Stroke for Lucy, tin from Karina… and it is championship point. Lucy gets the front court advantageand wins the 2021 edition of the Nash Cup on a great front-court reverse boast. 11-3 for Lucy, and a 3-1 win for our newest champion.

Between Matches

This is the 13^th NASH Cup. The tournament was launched in September 2008. For many that month may not mean much. But for a portfolio manager like me it’s hard to forget. With no knowledge of how to welcome the professionals or host an event, a dedicated group of London Squash members welcomed our first PSA players as stock markets swung 7-10% daily. Remember….this was before the iPhone…..communications were very different. That year got things rolling. It also proved that anything was possible as the worst ranked player shocked everyone and took the title.

2021 has been unique. We believed that the event could take place is a “covid world” and pushed forward with planning after our attempt in 2020 faulters. Expectations were kept modest as we worked to host Canadian’s only with no crowd. Phase 3 in Ontario opened up the potential of spectators, and then the announcement that our border would open to vaccinated international traveler was made. Having it happen only a week before first serve could not have been plans (and was not a bet we ever would have made). It like to that Tom Panabaker, who was manager for much of the journey and is here tonight. Tom recently launched his own business with a Veloflex mobile cycle repair franchise. Thank you for all your help bringing the NASH Cup to where we are now.

I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank the staff of London Squash. Jeff Tudhope stepped up in August to take one the role of general manager; Chris Hanebury our club professional; and Laurie Ingram with all of our stewards – Jack; Braden; Marcus; Aaron; Ian; Doug; Misda; and Machaila

8pm     [1] Auguste Dussourd (FRA; 57) vs Timothy Brownell (USA; 117)

Well, here we are again for another Nash Cup finals, and if that wasn’t enough you, dear reader, are also once again graced with the reporting of Stingray Hanebury Esq.III. I know it said I wouldn’t be back, but you can’t fight public opinion.

The match isn’t even underway, but the atmosphere in the crowd is buzzing. On the one side of the court, we have Timothy Brownell, the unseeded American who, despite his name, went to Harvard and not Brown. On the other side of the court (well, the same side now as they’ve switched sides during their warm up), we have the 2019 champion, Auguste Dussourd.

The crowd seems evenly split on who’s going to win tonight’s championships. Local legend and sometimes London Squash Club member, Gary Sullivan – who specifically requested not to be mentioned in tonight’s write up – thinks the true winner tonight will be the game of squash. This reporter thinks that’s just about the lamest comment ever, but so it goes.

The first half of game one sees both players figuring each other out. High pace, not much front court yet.

At 3-4, Brownell navigates a jump shot that would have made Lebron proud, and hits a cross court drop to win the point. Dussourd is disappointed that he wasn’t able to retrieve the shot, although this reporter suggests he’s being a little difficult on himself here.

Nearing the business end of the first game, Dussourd hits a perfect backhand length to tie the game 7-7. The next rally is a massive one with excellent displays of backhand and forehand lengths, only millimetres (sorry, an eighth of an inch, we do have a Yankee here) off the way. It ends with Dussourd jumping in the air to take a stroke off of a loose length.

Two rallies later there’s a moment of contention where Dussourd is knocked off his line and asks for a let. This reporter, who has been known to sometimes be wrong when reffing matches (Hi Mick!), Thinks it was a basic let. Brownell disagrees. However, the refs – for the first time – agree with Stingray and a let is given.

The very next point has some physicality between the players, with Dussourd claiming that Brownell isn’t clearing his shots, whereas Brownell is claiming that he’s in a good position and had given enough space. At this exact same time, local bad boy Rob Arntfield shows up with a pizza and two crates of French fries. “French” fries?! Does that mean he’s in Dussourd’s corner? He claims to be neutral, but this reporter is now suspicious.

Dussourd digs in deep to win the next few points and take the first game.

This intermission is brought to you by Arthur “Sheifu” Narasomethingorother. He refused to actually name a business or product to mention in this sponsorship, claiming that doing so would further embolden capitalism, but he insisted on being the sponsor in order to “further the cause of an even distribution of good times.” This reporter doesn’t quite know what he means by that but assumes it’s all… good.

The second game starts off and it’s heated from the get-go. The players are getting physical, with constant jockeying for position, shoulder bumps, and even a few heated moments with the referees. Brownell appears to be using the contention to pump himself up, whereas Dussourd is letting it get into his head a bit.

At 8-8, the crowd is gifted with a fantastic rally where both players are moving all over the court, hitting fantastic shots and seeing amazing retrievals. One fan comments that he hasn’t even seen movement like this before, but local doubles legend and poutine expert, Rob Doherty, says he’s demonstrated those same movements just recently, only in slow motion (for educational purposes).

Dussourd digs in the deep to win the second game.

This intermission is brought to you by duct tap. “Better than a plumber,” says acting GM Jeff Tudhope. Not sure what he means by that, but it’s his ad time so he can say whatever he wants.

At 4-1 in the third, we are graced with another amazing point where Dussourd shows us just how fast he is by retrieving some exceptional shots, including one in the backhand corner that even Phil Stables couldn’t have gotten back. Dussourd wins the point and uses that momentum to propel himself to 8-1.

Brownell starts to battle back and despite all odds gets to 6-9 which, by the way, is this reporter’s favourite score.

Dussourd digs in even deeper, bringing this reporter memories of dig dug, to take the game, and the championships 11-6, which also makes him the second back-to-back champion of the Nash Cup….the last was Declan James (currently ranked #30 in the world)

Well dear readers, listeners, viewers, and mind readers, this brings us to the end of yet another Nash Cup. Maybe not as much of a jam-packed house as in previous, pre-covid years, but somehow the members still went through the same amount of beer. I guess it’s true what they say, it’s kind of like riding a bike.

Until the next Nash Cup, this reporter is signing off.

“As the players take some time to get cleaned up I would like to thank all those who have helped make this happen starting with our sponsors. “

2021 Tournament Sponsors

NASH Family Wealth Management at National Bank Financial
(LSFC – Jay & Diane Nash since 2008)

Major Sponsors

Manulife Investments
(since 2011)

 Nash Jewellers
(LSFC – Colin & Melissa Nash since 2008)

 Ontario SEO
(Wayne & Kim Atkinson since 2008)

 Renaissance Investments
(LSFC – Michael & Stephanie McDonald since 2008)

 Sleeman Brewery
(since 2008)

Supporting Sponsors

AutoVerify
(LSFC – Brad Hanebury & James Hayes)

Bristol Gate Capital Partners
(since 2018)

Dynamic Funds
(since 2008)

Ferguson Patterson Law
(LSFC – Jim Ferguson since 2014)

Fidelity Investments
(Since 2019)

National Bank Investments
(since 2015)

OK Tire
(LSFC – Jordan Nash – new)

OMAC Mortgages
(LSFC – Matt Parr – since 2020)

Picton Mahoney Asset Management
(since 2014)

Polymath Interactive
(Bill Fitzpatrick since 2013)

Scotiabank
(LSFC – Chris Lee since 2011)

SPM Benefits
(LSFC – Chad Dawson since 2015)

Squash Life
(LSFC – Rory Bradd & Jeff Wong – new)

Talbot Marketing
(LSFC – Steve Levschuk  since 2021)

Tall Oak Private Wealth
(LSFC – Shawn Jakupi since 2019)

TLC Landscaping
(LSFC – Jay Murray since 2015)

Tourism London
(since 2019)

Window Film Systems
(LSFC – Peter Yates since 2008)

Patrons

Bill Davies & Arthur Naregatisian

The NASH Cup has a history of billeting all of our players. For 2021 this wasn’t even an option until September 1^st when the PSA brought back a billeting option. Unlike past years we did not designate this as a billeted tournament. Some have health fears or interact with those who are vulnerable on a regular basis; others are away on their first real vacation in a year and a half. Players were left to book hotel rooms and while we provided a great price this added to the cost of coming to London. We thank them for their understanding and plan to return to a fully billeted event next year. Some players were provided room and I would like to thank all members who helped by opening their homes. Phill Stables and Trevor Tyson oversaw this part of the event as they have for many years and their efforts are greatly appreciated.

Many of the members of the NASH Cup committee have been involved in the tournament since it was the “NASHionals Softball Class” – an amateur event launched in 2001. We had to forgo a number of events this year like the challenge match; silent auction and even the amateur draws. The committee focused on making this a safe week for everyone involved. Providing the best possible experience for professionals and protecting the reputation of London Squash – a club that turned 55 this year.

A big thank you to Laura Savage; Kim Atkinson; Craig Hall; Mark McLean; Mike McNeil; Rob a& Laurie Doherty; and Jeremiah Rusznyak. Behind the scenes Bill Fitzpatrick and Christian Munoz who brought our technology to new levels; Anne Smith who made sure we met all covid requirements; and Lorie Forwell who had the Fowler Kennedy on call for medical needs.

Finally, thank you to everyone who has bought tickets and come out or watched online. Our space is very limit, more this year than normal, but the world renowned atmosphere of London Squash was alive and well.

Without further delay lets meet the pro’s and hand out some trophies!

Looking to 2022. There are some rumours out there. I should know, I started them. News can be expected in the weeks ahead. For now just know that the NASH Cup will be back and that your should block your calendars for the same week of September. Those wishing to sponsor or billet in 2022 should reach out in the coming weeks, those seeking wildcard spots should wait until March. Wishing everyone a wonderful year of squash ahead. May you bring your best to every match.

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