North Wales Open 2026 RESULTS
HOLD ON TO YOUR RACKET
If squash had a weather forecast for this weekend, it would’ve read:
Heavy rallies.
Scattered tantrums.
Strong chance of fifth games.
The North Wales Open 2026 didn’t gently tap the door. It booted it in wearing indoor court shoes.
We had top seeds wobbling like supermarket trolleys with one dodgy wheel.
We had comebacks that looked deader than last week’s lettuce.
We had tie-breaks tighter than a drum.
And somewhere between Grade A thunderbolts and red-dot Grade K brilliance, there were enough 11-9s to give a statistician heartburn.
You could feel it building.
A second-game collapse here.
A 12-10 squeaker there.
Someone thinking they’d won — only to discover squash has other ideas.
By Saturday afternoon the gallery had that look — half excitement, half “I’m glad I’m not out there.”
Strap in.
This wasn’t a tournament.
This was controlled chaos with scorecards.
🔥 GRADE A – THE HEAVYWEIGHTS OF THE MOUNTAINS
If Grade A had a soundtrack, it would’ve been thunder cracking over Snowdonia and the distant echo of a squash ball ricocheting like a warning shot across the valleys.
This wasn’t just a draw. This was a collision course.
Seeds sharpened. Glass back gleaming. Old rivalries simmering beneath polite handshakes. And right in the middle of it all stood George Thomas — top seed, target on his back, the man everyone wanted a piece of.
But in this division? Nothing comes easy. Not a rally. Not a breath. Not a single point.
Let’s break it down.
🥊 Quarter Finals
<1> George Thomas def. Mark Carnell
11-5, 11-5, 11-3
Thomas came out like a man late for a train — direct, decisive, clinical. Carnell battled hard, but George was dictating the T, squeezing space and suffocating rallies. Three tight, efficient games. Statement made.
<4> Jamie Silvester def. Matt Turner
11-3, 11-4, 11-1
This one was brutal in its clarity. Silvester locked in and never looked back. Turner tried to break rhythm, but Jamie was hunting length and finishing ruthlessly. A dominant performance that sent a message to the rest of the draw.
<3> Josh Davies def. Paul Barrell
11-5, 11-3, 11-6
Davies was sharp from the first rally. Barrell, ever the competitor, threw everything he had at it, but Josh’s pace and precision were too much. Efficient, aggressive, controlled. Into the semis he marched.
<2> Jon Davies def. Stuart Summers
9-11, 11-7, 11-5, 7-11, 12-10
Now THIS was theatre.
Summers came out firing, stealing the first. Davies responded. Momentum swung like a pendulum in a thunderstorm. Five games. 10-12 in the decider. Nerve, grit, chaos. In the end, Jon held his nerve in a nail-biter that could’ve gone either way. A match worthy of any final.
⚔️ Semi Finals
George Thomas def. Jamie Silvester
12-10, 11-5, 6-11, 11-4
Game one? Absolute scrap. 12-10. Blink and you miss it.
Silvester refused to go quietly, taking the third with clever variation. But Thomas, cool as a mountain lake, adjusted. Reclaimed the middle. Tightened the screws. Four games. Job done.
Josh Davies def. Jon Davies
11-9, 11-6, 6-11, 11-6
The Davies derby delivered.
Josh edged a tight opener, then surged ahead. Jon clawed one back, refusing to fold, but Josh found another gear in the fourth. Sharp angles, smart tempo shifts, relentless pressure. A well-earned spot in the final.
🏆 Final
George Thomas def. Josh Davies
11-7, 11-7, 10-12, 11-5
The top seed versus the in-form challenger.
Two tight opening games went Thomas’ way — composed, controlled, clinical. But Davies wasn’t done. He snatched the third 12-10 with sheer refusal to yield.
Then came the fourth. And George closed the door.
11-5. Authority. Precision. Championship squash.
George Thomas claims the Grade A title.
🥉 3rd Place Playoff
Jamie Silvester def. Jon Davies
11-6, 11-8, 7-11, 8-11, 11-3
Another five-set war.
Silvester burst ahead. Jon clawed back. The decider? All Jamie. 11-3. Ruthless. Controlled. A deserved third place finish.
🏅 Plate / Consolation
Stuart Summers def. Mark Carnell
11-7, 11-4, 11-1
Summers regrouped brilliantly after his quarter-final heartbreak. Calm, structured, measured. Carnell fought hard early, but Stuart grew into the match and closed confidently to secure his finish.
🌟 FINAL POSITIONS – GRADE A
🥇 George Thomas
🥈 Josh Davies
🥉 Jamie Silvester
4️⃣ Jon Davies
5️⃣ Stuart Summers
6️⃣ Mark Carnell
7️⃣ Paul Barrell
8️⃣ Matt Turner
🎤 WHEN THE DUST SETTLED…
And so the mountain roared, the glass cooled, and the echoes of lung-bursting rallies faded into the North Wales night.
Grade A delivered everything you want from a top division — five-set epics, sibling showdowns, seeded battles, and a champion who stood tall when it mattered most.
George Thomas didn’t just win matches. He navigated storms.
Josh Davies proved he belongs at this level. Jamie Silvester showed grit and bounce-back class. And every single player left a piece of themselves on that court.
This is what the North Wales Open is about.
Not just trophies.
Stories.
⚡ GRADE B – CHAOS, CLASS & A CURVE BALL
If Grade A was thunder, Grade B was lightning in a bottle.
This draw had everything — rising juniors, seasoned competitors, five-game slugfests, and then… a late twist worthy of a Hollywood script. A no-show from Rob Monaghan reshaped the battlefield, and suddenly the bracket bent, flexed, and reinvented itself.
But here’s the thing about the North Wales Open.
We don’t cancel drama.
We amplify it.
🏆 MAIN DRAW
🥊 Quarter Finals
<1> Callum Pedder def. Owen Heyes
12-10, 11-5, 11-9
Pedder didn’t ease into this tournament — he burst through the doors.
That first game at 12-10? A scrap. Tight, tense, toe-to-toe. But once Callum found his length, he owned the middle and never let go. Clinical from the top seed.
Iwan Griffiths def. <4> Rob Monaghan
Walkover
An unfortunate no-show from Monaghan meant Griffiths progressed without hitting a ball. Not the way you want to advance, but sometimes tournament sport throws curveballs.
<3> Ethan Willis def. Lee Thomas
11-5, 11-3, 11-7
Willis was sharp. Direct. Ruthless. Lee tried to mix tempo, but Ethan’s control at the front and composure under pressure saw him take it in three solid games.
<2> Sam Griffith def. Chris Davies
11-7, 9-11, 11-8, 11-5
Now this was a scrap.
Chris came out swinging, taking the first. But Griffith settled, adjusted, and dragged the match into his rhythm. Smart changes of pace and relentless pressure swung it his way in four hard-fought games.
⚔️ Semi Finals
Callum Pedder def. Iwan Griffiths
12-10, 13-11, 11-8
Griffiths made him work for every single point.
Two games went beyond the wire — 12-10, 13-11. That’s mental toughness. That’s composure under fire. Pedder absorbed the pressure, stayed calm, and edged the big moments.
Sam Griffith def. Ethan Willis
7-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-8
Momentum swung like a pendulum here.
Willis took the opener, but Griffith found another level. Clean hitting. Smart width. Composed finishing. Three games on the bounce to storm into the final.
🏆 Final
Callum Pedder def. Sam Griffith
12-10, 10-12, 11-9, 11-13, 11-7
Ladies and gentlemen… this is why we love sport.
Five games. Nerves shredded to pieces.
Griffith refused to fold. Pedder refused to blink. The rallies were brutal, the margins microscopic. In the fifth, Callum found that extra 2%. That champion’s edge.
He closed it 11-7.
Grade B champion: Callum Pedder.
🔄 THE ROUND ROBIN – REWRITING THE SCRIPT
Due to Rob Monaghan’s withdrawal, the three quarter-final losers regrouped and entered a round robin battle for positions.
And let me tell you — they didn’t treat it like consolation. They treated it like combat.
Owen Heyes def. Chris Davies
12-10, 8-11, 8-11, 3-11
After a tight opening, Heyes settled beautifully. Clean lines, measured rallies, and a confident close-out to take control of the group.
Lee Thomas def. Owen Heyes
1-11, 0-11, 5-11
Lee came out blazing. Relentless pressure, sharp execution. A statement performance that flipped the round robin narrative.
(Final RR standings inferred from results)
The mini-league created urgency and pride battles that kept the intensity high despite the format change.
🥇 FINAL POSITIONS – GRADE B
🥇 Callum Pedder
🥈 Sam Griffith
🥉 Ethan Willis
4️⃣ Iwan Griffiths
5️⃣ Owen Heyes
6️⃣ Lee Thomas
7️⃣ Chris Davies
8️⃣ Rob Monaghan (withdrawn)
🎤 WHEN STRUCTURE BENDS, CHARACTER SHOWS
Grade B reminded us of something important.
Tournaments don’t always run in straight lines.
Sometimes they twist. Sometimes they adapt. Sometimes they lose a player and gain a storyline.
Callum Pedder proved why he was top seed — composure in chaos. Sam Griffith showed warrior spirit. Ethan Willis announced himself. And the round robin trio turned potential disappointment into fierce, pride-driven battles.
That’s North Wales squash.
Resilient. Relentless. Ready.
RADE C — WHERE THE DRAW CAUGHT FIRE
Grade C didn’t politely unfold.
It lurched, it twisted, it produced a 19–17 game that aged everyone watching it, and it delivered a champion who had to earn every inch of glass he stood on.
This was a bracket packed with energy — top seeds under pressure, challengers landing punches, and momentum swinging like a pendulum in a storm.
Let’s run it properly, from first ball struck to final applause.
🥊 FIRST ROUND
Frankie Pill bt Paul Hemmings
11-3, 11-8, 11-4
Pill set the tempo early. Sharp length, quick movement, and relentless pressure. Hemmings competed gamely, but Frankie controlled the rallies and kept things tidy.
Andrew Kettlewell bt Ben Griffith <5>
11-6, 11-2, 11-6
Kettlewell delivered one of the most authoritative performances of the round. Once he found his range, Griffith was chasing shadows.
Aled Lloyd Jones <6> bt Mason Phillpott
12-10, 11-9, 5-11, 13-11
Three razor-tight games told the story. Phillpott pushed hard and stole one, but Lloyd Jones edged the high-pressure moments.
Lee Sinclair bt Will Gray
11-8, 13-11, 11-3
The first two were arm-wrestles. The third was decisive. Sinclair grew stronger as the match unfolded.
⚔️ QUARTER FINALS
Ben Lauder <1> bt Frankie Pill
11-8, 11-9, 19-17
That third game will be talked about for a while.
Nineteen–seventeen. Long rallies. Long pauses. Longer nerves. Lauder held his line when the margins disappeared.
Connor Flinn <4> bt Andrew Kettlewell
11-7, 11-13, 11-8, 12-10
Kettlewell made him work for it — especially in that extended second game — but Flinn kept finding solutions. The fourth closed it, 12-10, under proper pressure.
Samuel Morris <3> bt Aled Lloyd Jones <6>
11-7, 11-9, 11-7
Competitive throughout, but Morris owned the centre of the court and managed the big points calmly.
Tomos Gashe <2> bt Lee Sinclair
11-2, 11-5, 11-8
Gashe stamped his authority quickly. Strong starts in each game meant Sinclair was always trying to claw back ground.
⚔️ SEMI FINALS
Connor Flinn <4> bt Ben Lauder <1>
(As recorded on the draw)
A proper semi-final scrap between the top seed and the fourth seed. Lauder stretched Flinn, tested him across the court, and made him adjust repeatedly. But Flinn absorbed it, stayed organised, and edged the critical phases.
Samuel Morris <3> bt Tomos Gashe <2>
11-8, 9-11, 11-8, 11-7
Gashe disrupted rhythm in the second, but Morris recalibrated quickly. From there he controlled the pace and stepped into the final with authority.
🏆 FINAL
Connor Flinn <4> bt Samuel Morris <3>
12-10, 11-7, 11-7
The opening game was tight and tactical. Once Flinn edged it 12-10, the momentum shifted his way. He controlled depth, dictated length, and closed the door efficiently in straight sets.
🥇 Connor Flinn — Grade C Champion
🥉 3RD PLACE PLAYOFF
Ben Lauder <1> bt Tomos Gashe <2>
11-8, 6-11, 11-6, 8-11, 12-10
Back and forth all the way. Neither player could string together long dominance. The fifth was tense and measured, and Lauder edged it 12-10 to secure third.
🔄 POSITIONS
5th — Andrew Kettlewell
Recovered strongly after a draining quarter-final and finished his campaign with composure.
6th — Aled Lloyd Jones
7th — Frankie Pill
8th — Lee Sinclair (Ret.)
9th — Ben Griffith <5>
10th — Mason Phillpott
11th — Will Gray
12th — Paul Hemmings
🎤 THE LONG RALLIES MATTER
Grade C reminded everyone why these divisions are so compelling.
No shortcuts. No easy routes. Just extended rallies, tight scorelines, and players adjusting on the fly.
Connor Flinn didn’t cruise to this title — he negotiated long games, stubborn opponents, and moments where the match could tilt either way. Morris showed consistency and control. Lauder delivered one of the games of the weekend. Gashe brought intensity. The rest pushed hard from first round to final rally.
Grade C didn’t whisper.
It echoed.
⚡ GRADE D — ENERGY, EDGE & A LAUDER SHOWDOWN
Grade D didn’t drift quietly through the weekend.
It cracked along with tight games, brave shot selection, and players willing to test themselves properly. Seeds were challenged early, underdogs made statements, and by Sunday afternoon the storyline wrote itself:
A Lauder vs Lauder final.
But first — the journey.
🥊 FIRST ROUND
Helen Barnard <1> bt Dylan Griffiths
11-9, 11-9, 11-9
Three identical scorelines, each one tight. Griffiths pushed hard, but Barnard handled the closing points with precision every time.
Erin Lauder <3> bt John Hamilton
11-9, 12-10, 11-7
Hamilton kept this competitive, especially in the extended second, but Erin managed the tempo and edged the big rallies.
Conal Duffy bt Iwan Barker-Jones <4>
11-7, 11-7, 11-9
A composed performance. Duffy played assertively and never allowed the seeding to influence the match dynamic.
Leon Lauder <2> bt David Barnard
11-4, 11-2, 11-2
A sharp, efficient opener. Leon controlled the centre and dictated play from the outset.
⚔️ SEMI FINALS
Erin Lauder <3> bt Helen Barnard <1>
11-9, 8-11, 11-4, 11-5
After splitting the first two, Erin accelerated. The third and fourth games were controlled and decisive.
Leon Lauder <2> bt Conal Duffy
11-6, 11-5, 11-4
Duffy battled, but Leon kept tightening the screw — strong length, disciplined movement, and steady scoreboard pressure.
🏆 FINAL
Leon Lauder <2> bt Erin Lauder <3>
11-6, 11-5, 11-4
From the first rally, Leon imposed clarity on the match. He dictated depth, limited Erin’s attacking space, and built small leads that steadily grew in each game.
The rallies were competitive, but Leon’s control never wavered. Three straight games. Calm. Assured. Clinical.
🥇 Grade D Champion — Leon Lauder
🥉 3RD PLACE PLAYOFF
Helen Barnard <1> bt Conal Duffy
11-7, 11-8, 11-6
Barnard regrouped impressively after the semi-final. Duffy competed well, but Helen controlled the structure of the match and closed in three.
🔄 PLATE MATCHES
John Hamilton bt Dylan Griffiths
11-3, 12-10, 12-10
A quick start followed by two tense finishes. Hamilton stayed composed when games stretched.
David Barnard bt Iwan Barker-Jones <4>
11-7, 11-4, 11-7
A confident recovery performance. David kept rallies structured and consistent.
David Barnard bt John Hamilton
Walkover
Dylan Griffiths bt Iwan Barker-Jones <4>
6-11, 6-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-9
A long-format battle to round things off, with Griffiths surging back.
🏅 FINAL POSITIONS — GRADE D
🥇 Leon Lauder <2>
🥈 Erin Lauder <3>
🥉 Helen Barnard <1>
4️⃣ Conal Duffy
5️⃣ David Barnard
6️⃣ John Hamilton
7️⃣ Dylan Griffiths
8️⃣ Iwan Barker-Jones <4>
🎤 A DIVISION THAT GREW UP QUICKLY
Grade D had intensity, personality, and a final that carried real narrative weight.
Leon Lauder stepped through the weekend with authority. Erin showed composure throughout. Barnard bounced back strongly. Duffy impressed with fearless play.
This wasn’t just participation squash.
This was development under pressure.
And that’s where real players are built.
🔥 GRADE E — EXPERIENCE, EDGE & A FINAL THAT CRACKLED
Grade E had bite.
This wasn’t polite squash. It was tight scoring, long games, and more than one match that twisted late when you thought it was settled. Seeds were tested, underdogs punched above their number, and by Sunday we had a final that demanded attention.
Let’s roll through it properly.
🥊 FIRST ROUND
David Jones <1> bt Andrew Winnard
11-7, 11-5, 11-7
A composed start from the top seed. Winnard worked hard, but Jones controlled the rallies and kept the scoreboard ticking steadily.
Ben Schofield <3> bt Phil Barker
11-13, 11-4, 11-5, 11-4
After dropping a tight first, Schofield responded with authority. From game two onwards he dictated pace and tightened his length.
Steve Greenhalgh <4> bt Cormac Lovely
11-7, 6-11, 11-9, 9-11, 12-10
This one was a proper arm-wrestle. Five games. A 12-10 finish. Greenhalgh edged the decider in a match balanced on a knife-edge.
Ryan French bt Anthony Hampson <2>
11-6, 10-12, 11-4, 12-10
French made a statement. Hampson responded in the second, but Ryan took control of the longer exchanges and closed strongly.
⚔️ SEMI FINALS
David Jones <1> bt Ben Schofield <3>
11-7, 12-10, 11-7
Schofield pushed hard in the second, stretching it beyond 11, but Jones managed the pressure phases with experience and stepped into the final in straight games.
Ryan French bt Steve Greenhalgh <4>
11-3, 11-9, 4-11, 11-5
French started sharply, dipped in the third, then reset. The fourth was decisive — strong tempo, confident finishing.
🏆 FINAL
David Jones <1> bt Ryan French
15-13, 15-13, 11-5
Those opening two games were theatre.
Extended scoring. Tight margins. Long rallies. Jones found answers at 13-all twice before pulling away in the third. Big-match composure when it mattered.
🥇 Grade E Champion — David Jones
🥉 3RD PLACE PLAYOFF
Steve Greenhalgh <4> bt Ben Schofield <3>
11-8, 11-8, 9-11, 12-14
Momentum shifted more than once here. Greenhalgh steadied first and secured third after a competitive four-game battle.
🔄 PLATE / CONSOLATION
Phil Barker bt Andrew Winnard
11-5, 11-6, 11-9
Barker bounced back well after the first-round loss, staying composed in the longer rallies.
Cormac Lovely bt Anthony Hampson <2>
11-5, 11-5, 10-12, 11-9
Lovely was sharp from the outset. Hampson clawed one back, but Cormac controlled the final exchanges.
Cormac Lovely bt Phil Barker
11-7, 11-2, 11-7
Barker retired during the match, allowing Lovely to secure his finishing position.
Anthony Hampson <2> bt Andrew Winnard
Walkover
Hampson closed out his campaign via walkover.
🏅 FINAL POSITIONS — GRADE E
🥇 David Jones <1>
🥈 Ryan French
🥉 Steve Greenhalgh <4>
4️⃣ Ben Schofield <3>
5️⃣ Cormac Lovely
6️⃣ Phil Barker (Ret.)
7️⃣ Anthony Hampson <2>
8️⃣ Andrew Winnard
🎤 THE TIGHTEST MARGINS
Grade E was built on small margins.
Extended games. Five-set battles. Two 15-13 openers in the final. It wasn’t just about who could hit winners — it was about who could stay organised when the scoreboard tightened.
David Jones delivered that control. Ryan French showed attacking confidence. Greenhalgh and Schofield produced quality. And the plate rounds had just as much bite.
Grade E didn’t coast.
It competed.
⚡ GRADE F — LONG GAMES, LOUD RALLIES & A TOP SEED STANDS TALL
Grade F didn’t do straight lines.
It did extended openers, five-game battles, and scorelines that made you lean closer to the glass. There were momentum swings, late surges, and a final where composure mattered more than flair.
Let’s take it from ball one.
🥊 FIRST ROUND
Gareth Heyes <1> bt Adam Topping
11-5, 12-14, 11-8, 8-11, 11-4
A strong start from the top seed, but Topping made him earn it. That 14-12 second game was tight and tense. Heyes steadied in the fifth to close it out.
Thomas Selway bt Jonathon Lee Jones <4>
11-5, 11-7, 11-6
Selway was assertive from the outset. Clean length, controlled tempo, and no letting up.
Bryan Gardner bt Dylan Thomas <3>
11-5, 11-3, 12-10
Gardner produced a composed performance, edging the third game 12-10 to seal it in straight sets.
Osian Larson bt David Selway <2>
11-6, 11-3, 8-11, 12-10
Larson took control early and handled the longer fourth game calmly to complete the upset over the second seed.
⚔️ SEMI FINALS
Gareth Heyes <1> bt Thomas Selway
13-15, 11-8, 11-7, 10-12, 11-6
The opener went deep — 15-13 — and set the tone. Selway stayed competitive throughout, even forcing a fifth, but Heyes found another level late.
Osian Larson bt Bryan Gardner
11-7, 7-11, 10-12, 11-9, 11-5
A back-and-forth battle. Gardner took control in the middle phase, but Larson regrouped and dominated the decider.
🏆 FINAL
Gareth Heyes <1> bt Osian Larson
7-11, 11-6, 11-7, 8-11, 11-8
Larson challenged throughout and even stole the fourth, but Heyes managed the big moments with authority. Strong finishing in the fifth sealed the title.
🥇 Grade F Champion — Gareth Heyes
🥉 3RD PLACE PLAYOFF
Thomas Selway bt Bryan Gardner
Walkover
Selway secured third after Gardner was unable to play.
🔄 PLATE / CONSOLATION
Jonathon Lee Jones <4> bt Adam Topping
11-9, 11-8, 7-11
A tight contest, particularly in the first two games. Jones held the key rallies when they mattered.
David Selway <2> bt Dylan Thomas <3>
11-8, 9-11, 11-4, 8-11
A match of shifts in momentum. David steadied better across the longer exchanges.
Jonathon Lee Jones <4> bt David Selway <2>
11-6, 12-10, 13-11
Three competitive games, with two extending beyond 11. Jones edged each key phase.
Dylan Thomas <3> bt Adam Topping
Walkover
Thomas secured his finishing position via walkover.
🏅 FINAL POSITIONS — GRADE F
🥇 Gareth Heyes <1>
🥈 Osian Larson
🥉 Thomas Selway
4️⃣ Bryan Gardner
5️⃣ Jonathon Lee Jones <4>
6️⃣ David Selway <2>
7️⃣ Dylan Thomas <3>
8️⃣ Adam Topping
🎤 DEPTH AND DETERMINATION
Grade F brought grit.
Long openers. Fifth games. Extended rallies. No one cruised. Gareth Heyes had to manage pressure more than once, and he did so with clarity. Larson showed resilience. Selway impressed. Gardner delivered a strong campaign.
This wasn’t background squash.
This was competitive, meaningful, hard-earned sport.
⚡ GRADE G — CLEAN HITTING & A TOP SEED IN CONTROL
Grade G had rhythm.
Matches were sharp, decisive, and packed with confident shot-making. There were a couple of extended exchanges, a few gritty responses, but ultimately this division had a clear through-line — a top seed who knew exactly what he was doing.
Let’s break it down.
🥊 FIRST ROUND
Tyler Price <1> bt Jonny Coombes
11-3, 11-5, 11-2
Price set the tone early — sharp, efficient, and in control. Coombes battled but struggled to disrupt the tempo.
John Waller bt Bryan Ibbotson <4>
11-7, 11-6, 11-9
A confident display from Waller. Each game was competitive, but he consistently edged the crucial rallies.
Leigh Ryder <3> bt Phil Mullen
11-5, 11-3, 11-5
Ryder was assertive from the outset, controlling the middle and finishing cleanly.
Phil Finn <2> bt Rob Jepson
11-2, 11-8, 11-6
Finn moved through efficiently. Strong starts in each game kept Jepson chasing.
⚔️ SEMI FINALS
Tyler Price <1> bt John Waller
11-8, 11-4, 9-11, 11-5
Waller stole the third to keep things interesting, but Price regrouped immediately and closed confidently in four.
Phil Finn <2> bt Leigh Ryder <3>
11-4, 11-4, 10-12, 11-8
Ryder competed well, especially in the tight third, but Finn controlled the bigger stretches of play.
🏆 FINAL
Tyler Price <1> bt Phil Finn <2>
11-4, 11-5, 11-4
A composed final performance. Price dictated pace, kept rallies structured, and never allowed the match to drift.
🥇 Grade G Champion — Tyler Price
🥉 3RD PLACE PLAYOFF
Leigh Ryder <3> bt John Waller
5-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-6, 11-9
A back-and-forth contest that swung repeatedly. Ryder edged it in the longer exchanges to secure third.
🔄 PLATE / CONSOLATION
Bryan Ibbotson <4> bt Jonny Coombes
11-8, 9-11, 11-4, 11-6
Ibbotson steadied after dropping the second and pulled away across the final two games.
Phil Mullen bt Rob Jepson
11-8, 11-3, 11-6
A tidy recovery performance from Mullen, keeping control from the front.
Bryan Ibbotson <4> bt Phil Mullen
Walkover
Ibbotson secured fifth via walkover.
Jonny Coombes bt Rob Jepson
Walkover
Coombes closed out his campaign via walkover.
🏅 FINAL POSITIONS — GRADE G
🥇 Tyler Price <1>
🥈 Phil Finn <2>
🥉 Leigh Ryder <3>
4️⃣ John Waller
5️⃣ Bryan Ibbotson <4>
6️⃣ Phil Mullen
7️⃣ Jonny Coombes
8️⃣ Rob Jepson
🎤 CLARITY AND CONTROL
Grade G was defined by control.
Tyler Price moved through the draw with assurance. Finn and Ryder delivered quality. Waller and Ibbotson produced competitive battles. Even the plate rounds had bite.
This was sharp, focused squash.
And it wrapped up the divisions with style.
⚡ GRADE H — WHEN THE TOP SEED FALLS AND THE DRAW IGNITES
Sometimes a tournament takes a deep breath before it starts.
Grade H kicked the doors off the hinges in match one.
The number one seed didn’t ease into the weekend — they were thrown straight into the fire. And what followed set the tone for a division that refused to follow rankings or reputation.
Let’s start where the shockwave began.
🥊 FIRST ROUND
🚨 Upset Alert
Graham Parfoot bt Lindsey Silvester <1>
11-7, 7-11, 11-9, 14-12
And just like that — the draw flipped.
Parfoot played boldly, especially in the extended fourth game. At 12-all he didn’t blink, taking the final two points to close out a statement win over the top seed.
The bracket was wide open.
Louis McQuillan <3> bt Ben Jackson
11-1, 11-6, 11-7, 11-7
After a tight first game, McQuillan took control and managed the match efficiently.
James Bowlas <4> bt David Andrew Jones
11-5, 14-12, 11-7
The second game stretched long, but Bowlas handled the pressure well and kept the momentum.
Ross Atherton <2> bt Janet Coleman
11-4, 11-9, 11-3
Atherton was composed and structured, limiting Coleman’s chances throughout.
⚔️ SEMI FINALS
Louis McQuillan <3> bt Graham Parfoot
11-5, 11-4, 11-8, 11-13
Parfoot carried confidence from the upset and even pushed deep in the fourth, but McQuillan controlled most of the rallies and advanced with authority.
James Bowlas <4> bt Ross Atherton <2>
11-7, 7-11, 11-5, 14-11, 11-7
Another match that stretched beyond comfort. Bowlas edged the tight fourth and never let Atherton settle in the decider.
🏆 FINAL
James Bowlas <4> bt Louis McQuillan <3>
12-10, 11-2, 11-2
The first game was tight and tense. Then Bowlas shifted gears.
Once ahead, he accelerated — clean winners, disciplined length, confident finishing. McQuillan competed, but Bowlas owned the final.
🥇 Grade H Champion — James Bowlas
🥉 3RD PLACE PLAYOFF
Ross Atherton <2> bt Graham Parfoot
11-5, 11-6, 11-7
Parfoot’s giant-killing run ended here, but Atherton regrouped strongly to secure third.
🔄 PLATE / CONSOLATION
Lindsey Silvester <1> bt Ben Jackson
11-9, 5-11, 11-7, 11-4
A solid response after the opening upset. Silvester steadied and closed well.
David Andrew Jones bt Janet Coleman
11-8, 11-9, 12-10
Three competitive games, with the third stretching long before Jones sealed it.
David Andrew Jones bt Lindsey Silvester <1>
9-11, 9-11, 11-3, 11-3, 11-9
A strong follow-up performance from Jones, digging deep to comeback and take 5th
Ben Jackson bt Janet Coleman
11-8, 11-7, 12-10, 11-7
Jackson closed his campaign confidently with consistent finishing.
🏅 FINAL POSITIONS — GRADE H
🥇 James Bowlas <4>
🥈 Louis McQuillan <3>
🥉 Ross Atherton <2>
4️⃣ Graham Parfoot
5️⃣ David Andrew Jones
6️⃣ Lindsey Silvester <1>
7️⃣ Ben Jackson
8️⃣ Janet Coleman
🎤 THE MOMENT THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
Grade H will be remembered for one thing above all else:
Match one.
Seed one.
Gone.
But that’s tournament squash.
Parfoot lit the fuse. Bowlas finished the job. McQuillan stayed composed. Atherton steadied late. And the rest of the division kept swinging.
Rankings are printed in ink.
Results are written in sweat.
⚡ GRADE I — COMEBACKS, COLLISIONS & A FOURTH SEED FINISH
Grade I didn’t follow ranking logic.
It followed momentum.
The number four seed went the long way round. The top seed was dragged into deep water. The semi-finals reshuffled expectations. And by Sunday, the final wasn’t the one the seeding predicted — but it absolutely earned its place.
Let’s run it clean.
🥊 FIRST ROUND
Maxen Thomas <1> bt Duncan Jones
11-7, 11-3, 11-5
A steady opening from the top seed. Thomas controlled the middle and kept rallies short.
James Noon <4> bt Jack Hipkiss-Hughes
6-11, 9-11, 12-10, 11-6, 11-5
Two games down. Then the shift.
Noon lengthened the rallies, tightened his accuracy, and flipped the entire match. A five-game turnaround that changed the draw’s direction.
Harry Hitch <3> bt Chris Pill
5-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-7
Hitch was composed and consistent, never letting the scoreboard tighten too much.
Gary Selway <2> bt Graham Peers
9-11, 11-4, 11-4, 11-3
After a close first, Selway settled and accelerated through the next three.
⚔️ SEMI FINALS
James Noon <4> bt Maxen Thomas <1>
11-8, 11-8, 5-11, 4-11
Noon carried the energy from his comeback win into the semi. Sharp in the first three games, he built pressure steadily and took out the top seed.
Harry Hitch <3> bt Gary Selway <2>
11-9, 11-5, 5-11, 8-11, 11-5
Momentum see-sawed. Selway forced a decider, but Hitch steadied first and closed it out.
🏆 FINAL
Harry Hitch <3> bt James Noon <4>
11-5, 11-6, 11-9
Noon didn’t need five this time.
He was sharp from the outset — accurate, patient, and confident. Noon pushed hardest in the third, but Hitch managed the closing rallies and sealed the title in straight games.
🥇 Grade I Champion — Harry Hitch <3>
🥉 3RD PLACE PLAYOFF
Maxen Thomas <1> bt Gary Selway <2>
10-12, 11-7, 11-3, 11-5
Thomas regrouped impressively. The first game was tight, but once ahead he controlled the tempo and secured third.
🔄 PLATE / POSITIONS
Jack Hipkiss-Hughes bt Duncan Jones
12-10, 11-8, 8-11, 11-5
A strong rebound performance, closing confidently across four.
Chris Pill bt Graham Peers
11-5, 12-10, 11-4
Controlled and efficient, especially in the extended second.
Chris Pill bt Jack Hipkiss-Hughes
11-2, 8-11, 11-3, 11-3
A dominant display from Pill, dictating play early and often.
Graham Peers bt Duncan Jones
7-11, 8-11, 12-10, 11-6, 11-9
A fluctuating battle that stretched to five before Peers edged it.
🏅 FINAL POSITIONS — GRADE I
🥇 Harry Hitch <3>
🥈 James Noon <4>
🥉 Maxen Thomas <1>
4️⃣ Gary Selway <2>
5️⃣ Chris Pill
6️⃣ Jack Hipkiss-Hughes
7️⃣ Graham Peers
8️⃣ Duncan Jones
🎤 SEEDINGS ARE SUGGESTIONS
Grade I reminded us that numbers beside names are suggestions, not guarantees.
Noon came through a five-game escape and turned it into a title run. Hitch was consistent and dangerous. Thomas regrouped. Selway pushed deep.
Nothing handed out. Everything earned.
⚡ GRADE J — DEPTH, DRAMA & A TOP SEED DELIVERS
Grade J had layers.
Big seeds. Tight semis. Long scorelines. A final that went to 15–13. And below that, a seriously competitive set of placement matches that meant no one drifted quietly out of the weekend.
Let’s take it from the top.
🥊 MAIN DRAW
Round One
Dan Gittens bt David Jones
11-4, 11-3, 11-1
A commanding start. Gittens controlled the rallies early and never let the match breathe.
Alex Ingram bt Nathan Chi
11-8, 11-5, 11-4
Ingram was sharp in transition and efficient in closing.
Maebh Lovely bt Liam Burke
11-6, 3-11, 11-7, 12-10
A fluctuating contest. Lovely steadied in the fourth to seal it in four.
Varun Kapoor bt Aiden Riley
11-4, 11-7, 11-6
Kapoor kept the pressure on and controlled the pace well.
Quarter Finals
Alex Lovell-Smith <1> bt Dan Gittens
11-4, 11-6, 7-11, 11-3
A brief wobble in the third, but the top seed responded immediately.
Ryan Phillips <4> bt Alex Ingram
11-5, 11-5, 9-11, 11-4
Phillips dictated early. Ingram stretched it in the third, but Ryan closed confidently.
Jamie Wallace <3> bt Maebh Lovely
11-4, 11-5, 11-9
Wallace imposed structure and kept control of the middle.
Lucas Jackson <2> bt Varun Kapoor
11-5, 9-11, 5-11, 11-7, 11-8,
Kapoor fought hard and forced a fifth, but Jackson stormed through the decider.
Semi Finals
Alex Lovell-Smith <1> bt Ryan Phillips <4>
11-8, 8-11, 11-9, 11-7
A proper semi-final battle. Phillips stayed close, but Lovell-Smith edged the tight exchanges.
Lucas Jackson <2> bt Jamie Wallace <3>
11-6, 11-9, 7-11, 11-7
Momentum swung more than once. Jackson steadied first in the fourth.
🏆 FINAL
Alex Lovell-Smith <1> bt Lucas Jackson <2>
11-9, 11-9, 15-13
Three games. None straightforward.
Jackson kept it close throughout, and that 15-13 third was stretched and tense. But Lovell-Smith held his nerve and sealed the title in straight sets.
🥇 Grade J Champion — Alex Lovell-Smith <1>
🥉 3RD PLACE PLAYOFF
Ryan Phillips <4> bt Jamie Wallace <3>
7-11, 11-9, 3-11, 11-8, 12-10
Competitive throughout, but Phillips was marginally sharper at the end of games.
🔄 POSITIONS 5–8
Alex Ingram bt Dan Gittens
11-8, 11-5, 11-9
Ingram bounced back strongly after his quarter-final exit.
Varun Kapoor bt Maebh Lovely
11-7, 11-9, 8-11, 11-7
Kapoor controlled the key phases and secured his finish.
Varun Kapoor bt Alex Ingram
11-9, 11-5, 11-9
A tight encounter, with Kapoor edging the decider.
Dan Gittens bt Maebh Lovely
11-4, 11-7, 11-8
Gittens finished strongly to secure seventh.
🔄 POSITIONS 9–16
David Jones bt Nathan Chi
Walkover
Liam Burke bt Aiden Riley
11-4, 12-10, 13-11
Nathan Chi bt Liam Burke
Walkover
Aiden Riley bt Liam Burke
Walkover
11th / 12th
Liam Burke bt David Jones
Walkover
🏅 FINAL POSITIONS — GRADE J
🥇 Alex Lovell-Smith <1>
🥈 Lucas Jackson <2>
🥉 Ryan Phillips <4>
4️⃣ Jamie Wallace <3>
5️⃣ Varun Kapoor
6️⃣ Alex Ingram
7️⃣ Dan Gittens
8️⃣ Maebh Lovely
9️⃣ Nathan Chi
🔟 Aiden Riley
1️⃣1️⃣ Liam Burke
1️⃣2️⃣ David Jones
🎤 STRUCTURE AND STEEL
Grade J had shape.
Tight semi-finals. A composed final. A third-place match that demanded concentration. And placement rounds that stayed competitive all the way down the bracket.
Lovell-Smith handled pressure when it mattered most. Jackson pushed him hard. Phillips and Wallace delivered quality. And the depth of the division meant no easy passages.
This wasn’t background squash.
This was earned.
🔴 GRADE K — RED DOT, TWO SERVES, NO HIDING
Grade K had its own heartbeat.
Red dot ball. Two serves each. Serve twice, swap — no matter who won the rally. That meant rhythm over streaks. Control over chaos. You couldn’t ride a hot serve. You had to build points properly.
And from the very first round, it showed.
🥊 FIRST ROUND
Rhian Jones <1> bt Enlli Thorn
11-5, 11-1, 11-0
Clinical from the top seed. Jones settled into the red-dot tempo quickly and dictated from the T.
Ethan Robinson bt Connor Sillence
11-1, 11-7, 11-6
Robinson was sharp early, using the softer ball well to stretch rallies and control space.
Josh Owen bt Connie Whitfield
11-5, 12-10, 11-6
The second game tightened right up, but Owen handled the longer exchanges confidently.
Faith Robinson <2> bt Isla Thorn
9-11, 11-3, 11-4, 11-3
Thorn struck first, but Faith responded emphatically, adjusting quickly to take control of the next three.
⚔️ SEMI FINALS
Rhian Jones <1> bt Ethan Robinson
11-9, 11-4, 8-11, 11-3
Robinson pushed hard in the first and even grabbed the third, but Jones managed the serve rotation calmly and closed strongly.
Faith Robinson <2> bt Josh Owen
11-5, 11-4, 11-2
Faith controlled the tempo superbly, limiting Owen’s chances to build sustained pressure.
🏆 FINAL
Rhian Jones <1> bt Faith Robinson <2>
7-11, 10-12, 11-9, 11-3, 11-2
A proper junior final.
Faith edged the second 12-10 and stayed competitive through the third, but Jones found another level late. In the final two games, the top seed tightened everything — cleaner length, sharper movement, composed finishing.
🥇 Grade K Champion — Rhian Jones <1>
🥉 3RD PLACE PLAYOFF
Ethan Robinson bt Josh Owen
11-6, 11-5, 11-9
Robinson regrouped well after the semi and secured third with consistent, structured play.
🔄 POSITIONS 5–8
Enlli Thorn bt Connor Sillence
8-11, 11-6, 11-4, 11-7
Thorn responded strongly after the opening round, keeping rallies tidy.
Isla Thorn bt Connie Whitfield
11-5, 11-3, 11-2
A composed performance from Isla, controlling the softer ball well.
Isla Thorn bt Enlli Thorn
11-2, 11-4, 11-5
A confident finish to the weekend, with Isla dictating from the front.
Connor Sillence bt Connie Whitfield
11-3, 11-3, 11-2
Sillence finished strongly to secure seventh.
🏅 FINAL POSITIONS — GRADE K
🥇 Rhian Jones <1>
🥈 Faith Robinson <2>
🥉 Ethan Robinson
4️⃣ Josh Owen
5️⃣ Isla Thorn
6️⃣ Enlli Thorn
7️⃣ Connor Sillence
8️⃣ Connie Whitfield
🎤 LEARNING FAST, COMPETING HARD
Grade K wasn’t just about results.
It was about rhythm, learning control with a red dot, understanding serve rotation, and managing pressure when you only get two serves before the ball changes hands.
Jones showed composure. Faith pushed hard. Ethan and Josh delivered quality. And across the whole division, you could see development happening rally by rally.
Foundations being built.
Confidence growing.
And that’s exactly what this grade is about.
ND BREATHE…
By the end of it all, the courts looked like they’d hosted a small war — ghosting patterns everywhere, water bottles abandoned like battlefield relics, and players walking around like they’d just wrestled a stubborn octopus.
Champions lifted trophies.
Runners-up stared at the ceiling wondering about that one loose cross-court at 9-all.
Third-place winners celebrated like they’d discovered gold at the back of the tin.
From Grade A slugfests to Grade K’s red-dot marathons — where two serves each meant nobody could hide behind momentum — every division gave us something.
Upsets.
Five-setters.
15–13s that aged spectators by a decade.
Seeds behaving themselves.
Seeds misbehaving gloriously.
And here’s the truth of it:
Somebody always leaves smiling.
Somebody always leaves plotting revenge.
That’s tournament squash.
You train for weeks.
You play for minutes.
You remember the tight ones forever.
North Wales Open 2026?
It didn’t just entertain.
It had a bit of swagger about it.
And if you missed it… well…
You should’ve been there.
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