Last weekend Exeter Golf and Country Club Squash and Racketball Head Professional and Coach Mike Harris completed an unprecedented Racketball double. He won the UK Racketball British Open Men’s Championships and became the first male player to win both the British National and British Open Championships in the same year.
It wasn’t without challenge. Mike lost the first game against Hallamshire club coach Adam Turner in a tough 50 minute semi final battle before turning it around to win 3/1.
In the final he faced good friend and training partner James Snell, who had overcome UK Racketball favourite Luke Bishop 3/0 in his semi-final.
The final was a brutal match with the first game alone lasting 30 minutes. There were mixed pace exchanges, with both players hitting with variety into all corners of the court. Mike eventually prevailed 13/11. After that the game opened up with both players looking to be more aggressive with a softer ball. Another close game this time went the way of Snell, 11/9.
The third was touch and go all the way to 7/7, where another epic rally was won by Mike with a delayed boast to the front right, which caused Snell to twist his back awkwardly.
After the break, the players came back on to complete the first rally of the 4th, before Snell had to retire injured. A real shame to end the match that way after over 65 minutes of quality free flowing game play.
Regardless of the way it ended, it’s a fantastic achievement for Mike and huge congratulations from all at the club.
