MILLMAN ROLLS BACK THE YEARS TO CLAIM FIRST CROMER TITLE

Just over thirtyeight years ago Cromer squash player Jeff Morris tragically died on court and the club decided to honour his memory by instigating a tournament for players aged 35 and over which was held for the first time in the autumn of 1985.Apart from a six year break around the turn of the century, and in 2020 when COVID was the winner, the tournament has been held every year since and this year was the thirty eighth anniversary of that first tournament.

 In the final on Friday Richard Millman who won the prestigious Norfolk County Closed championship eight times between 1984 and 1992 and is also the reigning Norfolk Over 55 champion rolled back the  years when he became the seventeenth different player to win the title as he turned in a brilliant performance to defeat the 2017 club champion, Martin Guppy 3-0 in the final.

Both players were appearing in the Over 35 final for the first time and Millman, who was giving almost 30 years to some of the tournament’s younger players, freely admitted before the tournament started  that he did not expect to win it. However, he won both his quarter final and semi final matches without dropping a game and despite only being the No.2 seed he was simply too good and too skilful for the gallant Guppy who must have felt at times that he was chasing shadows.

He said afterwards I didn’t know Jeff Morris but from what I have heard he was a brilliant club man who did an awful lot for the club in its early days and it is great that the club continue to honour his memory in this way.

Jeff Morris’ son, Jeff junior was among the large number of spectators who watched the final and he presented the trophies to the winner and runner-up.

 Technical Director Barry Starling, who once again was prevented by injury from entering the tournament, said. “Over the years we have witnessed some tremendous finals and although this year’s was over relatively quickly it was a privilege to watch the master at work. I did feel sorry for Martin Guppy since he is a very good player – in fact you have to be to win the Cromer club championship – but he just had no answer to Richard tonight.

Next month the club will be holding its final tournament of the year when those players aged 45 and over  will be bidding to win the club veterans’ title.

JEFF MORRIS MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT (Over 35s)

Year      Champion                        Runner-Up

1985     Neil Batchelor                 David Long

1986     Neil Batchelor                 Nick Amis

1987     Roger Tuck                      Jim Russon

1988     Roger Tuck                      Marc Forbes

1989     Jim Russon                       Tony Kerry

1990     Michael Driscoll              Barry Dennis

1991     Roger Tuck                      Michael Driscoll

1992     Roger Tuck                      Michael Driscoll

1993     Martin Pearse                 Roger Tuck

1994     Martin Pearse                 Roger Tuck        

1995     Martin Pearse                 Roger Tuck

1996     Michael Driscoll              Kevin Gee

1997     Nick Amis                         Kim Payne

1998-2003         Tournament not held

2004     John Baker                       Jim Russon

2005     William Frazer                 Icarus Hines

2006     William Frazer                 Icarus Hines

2007     Paul Roebuck                   Alec Burrows

2008     Paul Roebuck                   John Baker

2009     Henri Paul                        Matt Copeman

2010     Henri Paul                        Stephen Watts

2011     Stephen Watts                Adam Sexton

2012     Matt Copeman                Henri Paul

2013     John Baker                       Gary Spruce

2014     John Baker                       Martin Sanville

2015     John Baker                       Martin Sanville 

2016     Stephen Watts                Martin Sanville 

2017     John Baker                       Philip Godfrey

2018     Philip Godfrey                 John Baker

2019     Matthew Jordan             John Baker

2020     Not held due to COVID

2021     Richard Keeble                Matthew Jordan

2022     Ben Herrieven                 Henri Paul

2023     Richard Millman            Martin Guppy