The 2019 Canadian Masters’ Team Championship was held at La Sportheque, a member of the Ottawa & District Squash Association, January 11-13, and resulted in Ontario regaining the title it lost last year in Moncton. This championship, which attracts teams of 3 women and 4 men,was inaugurated in 2009, when Alberta won on its own turf. This year the top eight teams each got to play 6 matches within 48 hours.
This year, Alberta came heart-breakingly close to repeating its 2009 triumph, as they took a 3-0 lead over Ontario in the top play-off match, on the strength of wins by Julie Multamaki, David Safton and John de Vries. Ontario was not to be denied, however, as they surged back with victories by captain, Elka Markus, playing in her 9th final of this championship, David Sly in his 8th final, and Nicole Garon. Don Lee put the final touches on the Ontario victory, to a loud outburst of applause from an appreciative gallery.
The Bronze medal went to QC1, who beat QC2, by 4 matches to 3, while Saskatchewan, under the captaincy of Alan Fern, beat Brook Parkin’s BC team by a similar score.
There were many friendships renewed or initiated, and some high quality squash on display. It was refreshing to see the old fashioned and much underrated lob serve used to such great effect in the final by two winners, Elka and Julie, while the displays of fitness and determination by all, were outstanding.
Results were as follows:
- Ontario (Gold) over Alberta (Silver) 4 matches to 3
- Quebec 1 (Bronze) over Quebec 2 (4) 4 matches to 3
- Saskatchewan (5) over British Columbia (6) 4 matches to 3
- Manitoba (7) over Maritimes (8) 5 matches to 2
- New Brunswick (9)