The Women’s Open Division pictured with Tournament Referee (far left), Tony Swift, presenter of the new Sue Swift Memorial Trophy (middle), and Lynsey Yates, Squash Ontario Executive Director (far right).
After 21 long months without an Ontario doubles event, spirits were high at this past weekend’s Ontario Doubles Championships that took place at the Mayfair Parkway in Markham. Almost 80 players took part in Open, A, B, and C division competition, making a triumphant return to provincial level doubles. As the Men’s Open Leggat-Lawrence trophy attests, this event has been happening annually since 1961, until 2020 when a world wide pandemic put the event on hold for the first time since it’s inception. We are honoured to have so many doubles players return to this event and it wouldn’t have been a success without them.
Special thanks are in order for both Tournament Chair Cory McCartney and the Mayfair Parkway team for hosting us. It’s important to highlight the risk that squash facilities take on when bringing in non-members, especially during a health crisis. This event was made possible thanks to our generous hosts.
All players will no doubt have cracked a smile with Squash Ontario’s most colourful Tournament Referee, Robert Dubé. With Robert’s help, all matches were refereed and the event ran smoothly. Robert does a fantastic job and we are lucky to have his help!
For anyone who successfully finished in the top 3 of each A, B or C division, you would have enjoyed not only a gift certificate for your efforts, but also a thirst-quenching 4-pack of Rouge River Brewing Company tall cans! The Rouge River Brewing Company has joined Squash Ontario’s team of Corporate Partners for the year and has become Squash Ontario’s Official Brewing Company! Rouge River will also support the upcoming Ontario Mixed Doubles Championships with similar prizing.
See below for details of podium finishers from the event!
Women’s Open Division - A special presentation of the brand new Sue Swift Memorial Women’s Open trophy, presented by Tony Swift.
From left to right: Laura Savage & Nicole Garon (3rd Place), Nikki Todd & Lauren Sachvie (Champions), Tony Swift, Rebecca Hazell & Stephanie Hewitt (Finalists), and Seanna Keating & Melina Turk (4th Place)
Sue Swift sadly passed away earlier this year but certainly left her mark. Sue was known for sneaking onto a squash court before women were allowed to play, and playing anyway. She helped create Squash Ontario, the Ontario Mixed Doubles event, the Ladies Squash Racquets Association and was the first female to hold many roles at the provincial and national level.
Sue was instrumental in building women’s squash in Ontario and for that we are honoured to now present an award in her name to our Women’s Open Doubles Champions year after year.
Thank you to Tony Swift for donating this trophy in celebration of a life well lived.
Men’s Open Division (left to right): Cole Osborne & Paul Gartenburg (Champions), Scott Stoneburgh & David Harris (3rd Place).
Not pictured: Wilson Byrick & Jamie Nicholls (Finalists)
Men’s A Champions Johnny Mee & Peter McCarthy
Not pictured - Men’s A Finalists Dan Clarke & James Keene
Men’s A 3rd Place Finishers - Tammer Kamel & Peter Neelands
Men’s B Champions - Mark Warren & Daniel Attard
Not Pictured - Finalists Mike Tanner & Eric Dunn
Men’s B 3rd Place Finishers - Marco Wong & Thang Le
Women’s B Champions (left) Hannah & Molly McCarthy, Finalists (right) Lynsey Yates & Michelle Craig
Women’s B 3rd Place Finishers - Kathy Cowper & Carrie Chan
Men’s C Champions Nigel & Cameron Meakin (right), Finalists Robert Dube & Cecilio Iribarren (left)
Men’s C 3rd Place Finishers - Samuel Law & Nicholas Neary
Women’s C Champion Hazel Kenny-Wilson (middle) (partner Sara-Jane Cresswell not pictured), Finalists Jenny Truong (left) and Yan Chin (right). Also not pictured is Caryn Rankine and Deb MacDonnell.