THE NatWest Island Games individual squash competition took place over Tuesday and Wednesday.

Played using the Swiss system all the players contest each round to determine the final placings.

In the men's competition Ashley Sandford-Sykes seeded at number eight, faced a tough first round match and did well to take a game off his opponent from Gibraltar. He had an easier time in the second round as his opponent had withdrawn from the competition injured.

In round three he beat fellow Isle of Man player Robin Crease and two further wins saw him finish 17th overall. Crease meanwhile lost a closely contested first round tie while a bye in the second brought him up against Sandford-Sykes in the third. He eventually finished 24th.

Mike Hayler lost his first round match against a much higher seeded opponent and also had a bye in the second round. A good third round win saw him lifted to 18 but after losses in the next two rounds he slipped back to 20th at the finish.

In the women's competition Lyndsey Tickell and Laura Smith both lost their first round ties and had byes in the second round. Good wins for both women in the third round brought them together for round four where Smith was the winner to finish 17th overall with Tickell one place behind in 18th.

Vicky Watterson had a bye in the first round and despite taking a game off her opponents in the third and fifth rounds was unable to progress further eventually finishing 17th overall.

Report submitted by Derek Tootill – Isle of Man Squash Rackets Association