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!".