Changing of guard

THERE’S been a changing of the guard at Mildura Squash with a power couple etching their names on the perpetual men’s and women’s club championships trophies for the first time.

Partners Ben McMillan and Grace Sparks took out their respective titles as the season concluded last week.

Kevin Healy’s enduring dominance in the Men’s Division, where he has won 35 of the past 40 trophies, and last lost in 2011, came to an end on Thursday when he was beaten 3-1 by talented 19-year-old McMillan.

Healy broke out to a one-game lead, as McMillan battled distractions including socks with holes and slippery shoes.

However, the younger player regained his composure in the second and was unassailable from there on in.

McMillan was the top seed in the 12-man draw and Healy was the second-seeded player.

He becomes only the third man to be named men’s club champion in Mildura since 2008, joining Healy (13 titles) and Nathen Takacs (one).

In the Women’s Division, stalwarts Donna Fisher and Jeanette Vear who commonly contest the title were not seen, due to injury and moving away from the area.

The fixture included three competitors, and in Wednesday’s final, Sparks came back from a 2-1 deficit to defeat Natalina Mammone in a tough five-set match.

Sparks is only the fifth woman to be named club champion since 2008, joining Jeanette Vear (nine), Jodie Foreman (two), Sharon MacFarlane (one) and Donna Fisher (one).

In the Division 2 club championships draw, top seeds James Bowker and Tim Noack faced off in the final after knocking out the remaining four players.

Noack clawed back from a 2-1 deficit to beat Bowker in five, both men played in their first club championships this year.

And in the junior club championship division, Luka Baudewyns was undefeated in the draw, beating his fellow competitors Will Sparks and River Kelleher.