Hot on the heels of her recent success in Edinburgh representing England at the Masters Squash Home Internationals, Melbourn Squash Club member Kate Bradshaw was in action again up in Solihull Birmingham, vying for the title of 2025 Dunlop British Open Masters Squash Champion. One of the most prestigious tournaments on the Squash calendar, the Masters event was running concurrently with the professionals' British Open Squash competition, whose early rounds were also held at the Solihull Arden club. 

Kate began her campaign in the women's over 45s on Friday 6th June facing a first time opponent for her, Helen Knowles from Oxfordshire. Although it looked like an easy match on paper, Kate was pushed by some clever play which aimed to neutralise her ability to take the ball early and on the volley. Despite being pushed to the back more by this tactic, Kate managed to come through her first round 3-0: 11/9, 11/3, 11/8.

Action from the Semi-Final: Kate (pink top) vs Nat

The next round was a different ball game, where Kate was pitted against a close friend and fierce competitor, Natalie Lawrence from Somerset. Lawrence is renowned for her strength, fitness and fighting spirit on court, being a former winner of the Racketlon British Championships. The match was hyped to be a battle of 5 games as usual, and this was no exception. Having just missed out on the first 11-9, Kate came back and took control to equalise 1-1. Natalie picked up her game again in the third and took the lead 2-1, but then couldn't capitalise as Kate's accuracy picked up and brought the score back to 2-2, taking it into a deciding 5th game. The last game was edgy in places from both players, but Kate was able to pull away in the final stages of the match and took the fifth 11-7 after 42 minutes on court.

On Sunday 8th June, finals day, Kate found herself facing England's number 1 seed, and National and British Open Champion over 45 player, Cath Ruffle from Carlisle. The pair had already played in the final at the National Championships down at Colets Club in Surrey back in February, where Ruffle had come out on top, 3-1.

The Final: Cath Ruffle vs Kate Bradshaw (white)
Photo courtesy of Steve Cubbins / England Squash Masters

Kate did not make a good start to this one as she lost the first game 11-4. Her form improved in the second with her lob serves starting to flow and she took that one 11-7. Having then gone 7-1 up in the third, the Kate managed to squander her lead and lose the game 9-11.

Again, poised at 2-1 down, Kate might have been forgiven for thinking the title was gone, especially when she found herself 4-7 down in the fourth. However, some nerves on her opponent's side and her own calm and accurate play, constantly keeping Cath to the back and not playing much short, enabled Kate to hang in and regain control.

The fifth and final game got off to a dream start from Kate, again going 7-1 up with well-placed shots that left her opponent standing. However, the psychological pendulum swung again and Ruffle, who is so quick around the court and positive in her play, pulled the lead right back. Coming down to the wire, it was a case of who held their nerve. As Ruffle served at 9-10 to Bradshaw's backhand, Bradshaw's supporters were overjoyed to see a high, lofted crosscourt as her response, rather than an attempt to volley drop. This lofted response was in the end more than Kate had hoped for and despite her opponent's frantic attempts to dig it out of the back and off of the side wall, she was unable to, handing the match to Kate, 3-2, 11/9 in the fifth and the title of British Open Champion for the first time.

Kate receives her winners trophy from Dunlop's Steve Heatley
Photo courtesy of Steve Cubbins / England Squash Masters

Stuart Hardy, Chairman of England Squash Masters, commented: "Catherine Ruffle has been the eminent player in the group and has won the British Open and National titles. She has had the better of Kate Bradshaw, but for this final Bradshaw was playing at a level we had not seen before. Some fantastic squash from both women, but Bradshaw edged home by the slightest of margins. 11/9. 11/9. in the fourth and fifth games!".

All the Masters Finalists
Photo courtesy of Steve Cubbins / England Squash Masters

Kate was delighted, "I had no real expectation that I would achieve this goal now. It's been quite a year for me, so just getting to the tournament to play was a bonus in itself. I knew I was playing well in the local leagues, but didn't think that I would be walking away from the weekend as British Open Champion. It means so much to me and those who have helped me in my squash journey - friends, family, Melbourn club players, and coaches, including Bob Maison who always thought I had this win in me, Gary Nisbet who coaches me out of the Nuffield St Albans, and Richard Lowden, my PT based at the Heath in Royston, who works on my strength and mobility to make sure I can keep playing and don't break!".

Melbourn Squash Club member Kate Bradshaw was the star of the show in the Edinburgh leg of this season’s Home Internationals Squash Masters tournament.

The Scottish capital played host to the Women’s and Men’s O45s and O65s events over the May Bank Holiday weekend, with Kate featuring at second string for England in the Women’s O45s section. Day 1 saw England take on Ireland, Kate picking up a 3-0 win (11-5, 11-6, 11-2) victory over Sandra Walsh. This was part of a 20-0 whitewash for the England team. Another comprehensive win (20-2) followed on Day 2 against Wales, Kate again contributing a 3-0 success as she beat Clare Catto 11-4, 11-7, 11-9.

England WO45s team: Kate is second left

Days 1 and 2 were a mere prelude for the final day clash against a strong Scotland team, whose selection this year included some ex-World Tour pros. Just like England Scotland had made short work of Wales and Ireland though they did lose one string 3-2 along the way making the standings England on 40 points and Scotland on 39 ahead of the final round of games. However, with the smallest possible margin of victory being 2 points (14-12), this turned the final day clash into an effective gold medal play-off.

There was pressure on the England players given the country’s strong record in the Women’s O45s category – Nat Townsend’s side travelled north looking to continue a winning streak dating back 20 years. Few opponents during that period have been as worthy as this particular Scotland side, with strings exchanged through the encounter – England going 1-0 up when Kate Fuller won 3-0 at #5, Scotland striking back at #3 through Sabine Mackenzie, only for England to get their noses in front again when top string Catherine Ruffle picked up the third 3-0 of clash. But now things got really interesting as Scotland’s #4 Jean Saldanha edged a tight encounter with Caroline Hazelwood 3-2 to send this year’s Home International title to the final string of the final match…

… and enter Kate. She was up against her most challenging opponent yet as she took on former World No.37 Lisa McKenna. The home player edged the opening game 11-9, but Kate took a key second on a tie-break (12-10) and then completed the turn-around by edging the third 11-9. Now in control Kate completed a 3-1 victory by claiming game four 11-7, which in turned sealed a 16-7 win for England that saw them retain their title for another year. It wasn’t only Kate’s teammates who were impressed with her performance in the pressure situation – she was awarded the Player of the Tournament trophy across all four categories being played for coming through in the clutch.

England with (still!) their trophy

Kate reflected afterwards “It was an amazing finale to what had been a great weekend of squash. There was a lot of pressure on my match given England's track record of wins, but it was both an honour and a relief to be able to pull through for the team at the end. Looking up to everyone on the balcony after I'd played the final winning point was the best moment of the tournament as I could see just how much it meant to the rest of the England girls.”

Kate with her Player of the Tournament medal

Players from the 1sts and 2nds gathered for a Christmas social on Wednesday 18th December. With 12 in total and only two courts the decision was to do a doubles round robin for the Squash part (single PAR-15 games, with a deciding point at 14-all), before everyone headed for the Banyers Hotel in Royston for food afterwards.

Some pre-planning on pairings was thrown into the air by staggered arrival times, but we mostly managed to get even teams. Three pairs were competing to top the table, with the crown eventually going to Matt S and Gareth.

However with both of these guys still at the club and up for another game, and second-placed pairing Chris and Moises still around it was decided to play off for the overall crown.

A bad move from the table-toppers as opened the door to Chris and Moises taking the overall honours, the final shot of the event a proper bit of Squash genius from El Bandido Moises as a fade-away backhand overhead volley found a rolling nick out of the front backhand corner, something that not even club no.1 Matt could retrieve.

And after that it was off to dinner

But enough talk, here are some images from the Squash part of the evening:-

Kate & Miles

Match action: Mike & Jan vs Matt W & Sean

Chris on the balcony

Chris and Moises check out their opposition

Colm & James take on Matt S & Gareth

Later in the same game

And again

Another shot from Mike & Jan vs Matt W & Sean

And a third shot from this match

The decider - Chris & Moises against Matt S & Gareth

Colm & James take on Matt W & Sean

More from that match

Another shot from the deciding clash

And one more - El Bandido winds up

Miles & Kate take on Mike & Jan

Matt S & Gareth against Matt W & Sean

Kate (mostly your photographer, so someone else took this one)