Home hope Emilia battles hard but Milou wins in three
By POKU SALO – Squash Mad Correspondent

Milou van der Heijden won the Savcor Finnish Open final in fine style, beating home hope Emilia Soini in straight games.

Soini had played solidly all week to become the first Finnish player to reach the final in the tournament’s history.

But on the day she found van der Heijden, from The Netherlands, too strong. The crowd in Mikkeli all wanted Soini to rise to the occasion again after taking out England’s No.2 seed Lucy Turmel in the semi-finals.

But van der Heijden was decisive in many areas of the court. The second and third games were close, but the Dutch star overcame the Finnish champion, winning 11-6, 11-9, 11-9 in 27 minutes.

PSA $12,000 Women’s Savcor Finnish Open 2020, Sport Forum, Mikkeli, Finland.

Final:
[1] Milou van der Heijden (NED) bt [4] Emilia Soini (FIN) 11-6, 11-9, 11-9 (27m) 

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Pictures courtesy of Finnish Open

‘This time last year I was learning to walk again’ says champ Donna
By ALAN THATCHER and STEVE CUBBINS

Donna Lobban completed another marathon effort to beat Julianne Courtice in the final of the Edinburgh Open. But husband Greg found the skills of former world champion Karim Abdel Gawad too much to handle as the Egyptian superstar won the men’s final in straight games.

Greg had followed up a PSL win over James Willstrop a few days ago by toppling No.2 seed Paul Coll and then finishing strongly to beat five-times champion Daryl Selby in a 96-minute semi-final last night. No wonder the tank was looking a little empty against the phenomenally gifted Gawad.

The day belonged to Donna, the woman who has returned to playing top-class squash one year after learning to walk again following surgery. She and her husband have both benefitted hugely from the coaching insights of former world champion Nick Matthew and, as well as tactical nous, he has clearly instilled a battling, never-say-die attitude.

Donna had already survived two five game thrillers to reach the final, while second seed Julianne Courtice had enjoyed an easier passage to the deciding contest.

Despite a good start to the first from Donna, Julianne pegged it back to take the lead 11-6. Donna fought back to take the next two 11-9 but when Julianne claimed the fourth 11-7 Donna was looking at a third successive fifth-game decider.

Donna eased ahead, 8-5, Julianne closed to 6-8 but Donna pulled away again and, unlike her previous matches, it only took one match ball for the Aussie-cum-Scot to claim her first ESC Open title 11-8 in 56 minutes.

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“It’s been a tough week,” admitted the new champion. “I’ve had some tough battles and I was really hanging on there at times. I wish I had Jules’ racket skills, but I managed to get through in the end. When I think that this time last year I was learning to walk again, I’m really delighted to have come back and to win this title feels really special.”

The men’s final saw Greb Lobban aiming to continue his run of upset results to reclaim the title he won in 2018, but Egyptian Karim Abdel Gawad, who came through to the final with two five game victories, was in no mood for another thriller.

Karim quickly got into his stride, taking the first two games 11-8 with Greg pulling a few points back towards the end of each. There was no recovery in the third as Karim pulled away again, claiming the match and the title 11-4 in 30 minutes.

“People say they’d love to get on court with the top guys,” joked Greg afterwards. “I don’t know why, it’s horrible! I’ve had a good week, but all credit to Karim, he controlled the match from start to finish and everything he tried came off.”

Gawad was delighted with the win. He said: “It’s my first time in Scotland and I’ve really enjoyed it. The club, the crowd, the court are all great, and the prize money helps too! It would be great to see a big PSA event come to Scotland, but hopefully I’ll be back to defend my title next year anyway.”

Edinburgh Sports Club Open 2020, Edinburgh Sports Club, Edinburgh, Scotland.

Women’s PSA Final:
[5] Donna Lobban (Aus) 3-2 [2] Julianne Courtice (Eng) 6-11, 11-9, 11-9, 7-11, 11-8 (56m)
Men’s Final (non PSA):
[2] Karim Abdel Gawad (Egy) 3-0 [5/8] Greg Lobban (Sco) 11-8, 11-8, 11-4 (30m) 

Pictures by STEVE CUBBINS courtesy of ESC

Coach Eddie Jones blamed a slow start for England's 24-17 defeat by France in their opening Six Nations game.

Hosts France led 17-0 at half-time and had scored all their points before two Jonny May tries gave England hope.

England centre Manu Tuilagi was also replaced with injury in an error-strewn first half in Paris.

"We were slow out of the blocks, sorry for ourselves and out of kilter," said Jones. "We weren't good enough in that first half and they were very good."

It was the first time that England have failed to score in the first half of a Five or Six Nations match since 1988.

Vincent Rattez and captain Charles Ollivon crossed for converted tries for France before Romain Ntamack added a penalty, and Ollivon's second try seemed to put the hosts out of sight.

But May's opportunistic chip ahead finally got World Cup finalists England on the board, and the winger followed up with a searing run under the posts eight minutes later.

'No World Cup hangover'

Jones denied that his side are still struggling to get over their World Cup final defeat by South Africa in November, adding: "I don't think we would have seen the response we got in the second half if we had a mental hangover.

"I was really pleased with our second half. It was a game that could have been ugly for us. The crowd were going nuts.

England face Scotland, who lost 19-12 to Ireland in their opening game on Saturday, at Murrayfield next Saturday.

"It's a good challenge," said Jones. "We are disappointed in our first-half performance but I have a lot of admiration for the way we came back in the second.

"We have to pick ourselves up, go to Murrayfield and have a bit of fun."

ST. AUGUSTA, Minn. – WISSOTA officials have announced that Structural Buildings out of Becker, Minn., is the new title partner of the WISSOTA Late Model Challenge Series.

The Structural Buildings WISSOTA Late Model Challenge Series is entering its 21st season this year as the premier series for the WISSOTA Promoters Ass’n. Attracting the best of the best and large numbers of fans, this schedule is one to mark on your calendars. For 21 years drivers like Pat Doar, John Kaanta, Jake Redetzke, Chad Mahder, Rick & Buddy Hanestad, Jeff Massingill, Steve Laursen, Jesse Glenz and defending champion A.J. Diemel have entertained fans across WISSOTA.

The Structural Buildings WISSOTA Late Model Challenge Series has 17 races scheduled at 15 different facilities and cities across South Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin. The schedule is highlighted by a $10,000 to win event at the ever popular Dakota State Fair Speedway in Huron, S.D., as well as the addition of two new venues. Rice Lake Speedway is adding a second date, with the first of two being the second race of the season following the opener at Princeton Speedway.

“Structural Buildings will be a great addition to WISSOTA and specifically our premier series,” stated Carson Gramm, executive director of WISSOTA. “The Stewart family and the whole team at Structural are 100 percent supporters of WISSOTA and local dirt track racing. Our partnership came together quickly, but it is one that will benefit the drivers of the series in the long run. We have some amazing plans for community engagement with the drivers and fans that will be completely new to the series. Stay tuned on the series social media and website for more updates as we progress and fine tune this partnership.”

Structural Buildings has been constructing dreams throughout Minnesota and the surrounding five state area since 1985.

“Structural Buildings is excited to have the opportunity to partner up with WISSOTA and to be a part of such a prestigious series, to support this elite group of extremely talented drivers, and the premier racing facilities that they will be making appearances at during this exciting 2020 season,” said Chad Stewart, president of Structural Buildings. “Structural Buildings roots run deep in dirt track racing as it’s founder and entire Stewart family raced local dirt tracks for more than 20 years and many of these tracks on the schedule. With our love for dirt track racing and our passion for motor sports, this makes us extremely proud and honored to join the Wissota team to help support the racing community.

“At Structural Buildings we design and construct a wide array of building types from post-frame to all steel buildings, ensuring our ability to provide you the best type of building for your next project. Whether you want an Agricultural, Commercial or Residential Building we have the expertise to exceed all of your expectations.”

Florida is known for its sunshine, baseball’s spring training and being the winter home to nearly a million Americans.

It’s also the place to race when much of the northern half of the United States is covered in snow and ice.

From asphalt to dirt, many of the nation’s premier racers and sanctioning bodies open the season during Florida Speedweeks, which bring racing to the state’s biggest and smallest tracks.

Today, more racing series than ever compete in Florida during the first quarter of the year, and February remains the busiest month of racing the state enjoys throughout the calendar year.

It all began decades ago on the sand of Daytona Beach and only became bigger when Daytona Int’l Speedway opened in 1959. This year, more than 20 racing series will compete during Florida Speedweek.

IMSA

The World Center of Speed got the ball rolling Jan. 25-26 with the 58th running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona, which is the annual kickoff for the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship at Daytona Int’l Speedway.

The twice-around-the-clock classic attracts racers and fans from around the world and signals the start of Speedweeks.

The card also included the opener for the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge tour.

NASCAR

Long before Daytona Int’l Speedway was built, NASCAR stock cars thundered along the beach and visited Florida’s short tracks. The opening of the 2.5-mile superspeedway spurred the winter racing movement in Florida with the Daytona 500 providing the final act to a month’s worth of burning rubber.

The 62nd Great American Race (Feb. 16) is the culmination of two weeks of NASCAR action on the Daytona high banks that also includes events for the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series.

Purchased by NASCAR in 2018, the traditional honor of the first race of the stock car portion of Speedweeks belongs to the ARCA Menards Series, which holds its Lucas Oil 200 on Feb. 8.

Rebranded as the ARCA Menards Series East, NASCAR’s development tour formerly known as the K&N East Series, opens its campaign Feb. 10 at Florida’s New Smyrna Speedway.

Though unsanctioned, the 54th annual World Series of Asphalt Racing at New Smyrna Speedway Feb. 7-15 will see hundreds of NASCAR modified and late model drivers kick off the season.

LUCAS LM

After opening its season Jan. 30-Feb. 1 at Georgia’s Golden Isles Speedway, the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series moves to the Sunshine State for six consecutive nights (Feb. 2-8) of racing at the famed East Bay Raceway Park, where the series headlines the 44th annual Winternationals. The series completes its Florida tour with a Feb. 9 visit to All-Tech Raceway in Lake City.

East Bay’s Winternationals runs from Jan. 20 through Feb. 15 and includes events for UMP modifieds, the Durrence-Layne Chevrolet Late Model Series, the Top Gun Sprints Series, the Ollie’s Bargain Outlet All Star Circuit of Champions, 360 sprint cars and micro sprints.

WORLD OF OUTLAWS

The 49th DIRTcar Nationals at Florida’s Volusia Speedway Park runs Feb. 4-15 and includes the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Sprint Car Series, the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series and the Super DIRTcar Series big-block modifieds.

The World of Outlaws sprint cars take center stage at the half-mile dirt track near Barberville on Feb. 7-9 for their traditional season-opening weekend as Brad Sweet begins defense of his first series championship.

After opening their season in New Mexico just after the start of the new year, the World of Outlaws late models race four consecutive nights at Volusia Feb. 12-15.

The Super DIRTcar Series makes its annual Volusia appearance Feb. 11-15 with five nights of racing. The All Star Circuit of Champions sprint cars, DIRTcar late models and DIRT­car/UMP modifieds are also featured during the DIRTcar Nationals.

USAC

The United States Auto Club takes its unique brand of open-wheel racing to Florida for the 11th consecutive season at Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala.

The USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car Series visits the three-eighths-mile track Feb. 13-15, while the NOS Energy Drink National Midget Series begins its 65th season Feb. 7-8.

ALL STARS

The Ollie’s Bargain Outlet All Star Circuit of Champions sprint cars will open its Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park with two nights of racing Feb. 5-6. The series then heads across the peninsula to East Bay Raceway Park where it competes for the first time since 2010 on Feb. 10-11.

STSS

The Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series ventures to Florida for the first time Feb. 6-8, headlining three nights of racing for the STSS modifieds and Crate 602 sportsman divisions at All-Tech Raceway in Lake City.

The New York-based series makes the southern trek, providing modified racers the opportunity for eight nights of competition in Florida as the STSS tripleheader serves as a lead-in to the Super DIRTcar Series action at Volusia Speedway Park. The modified finale at All-Tech Raceway offers $10,000 to the feature winner.

“This is a huge step forward for the Short Track Super Series brand,” said series promoter Brett Deyo. “All eyes are on Florida in February. We’re looking forward to showcasing the Short Track Super Series exciting style of racing, its competitors and marketing partners next February.”

OTHER EVENTS

The United Sprint Car Series Outlaw Thunder Tour will open its 360 sprint car season Feb. 7-8 at Hendry County Motorsports Park in Clewiston, Fla.

The Southern Sprintcar Shootout Series is scheduled to compete Feb. 15 at 417 Southern Speedway in Punta Gorda.

New to the February Florida slate this season will be The Steele 125 Feb. 20 at Showtime Speedway in Pinellas Park.

The 125-lap race for non-winged sprint cars will run on the quarter-mile asphalt oval formerly known as Sunshine Speedway. The event is being promoted by Robert Yoho, honors legendary open-wheel racer Dave Steele and will be run utilizing Little 500 rules.

North Florida Speedway, also in Lake City, has dirt-track racing events scheduled Jan. 30-Feb. 2 and Feb. 6-9.

The NTT IndyCar Series opens its campaign March 15 with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, and the American Flat Track motorcycle division begins its season the previous day at Daytona Int’l Speedway.

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The racing schedule for the Terre Haute Action Track’s upcoming season has been released.

The schedule features eight great events, beginning on April 26 with the season opening presented by Scott’s Custom Colors & Towing.  The event will feature the first of two visits for the Midwest Sprint Car Series non-winged sprint cars, in addition to the Indiana Late Model Series and the Scott’s Custom Colors DIRTcar Modifieds.

The Week of Indy will feature a doubleheader of racing action on May 20-21. On Wednesday, May 20, the USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car Series will be in town for the Hulman Classic, running alongside the Scott’s Custom Colors DIRTcar Modifieds.

Thursday, May 21 will see the USAC Silver Crown Series in action, running in the Sumar Classic.  This event features a new date on the schedule, racing in place of the former Hoosier 100 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. The Action Track event will also see the first visit for the Indiana Racesaver Sprint Cars.

Making a return after a rainout in 2019 will be the AMA All-Star National Flat Track Series motorcycles on Saturday, June 6. The stars of the two wheel variety most recently made a visit to the track in 2018.

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will be back at the Action Track with a new date on July 12. The popular tour was on the Action Track schedule the last two years but the October date wasn’t kind with weather.  The 2018 event was completed with high temperatures in the 50’s, while last year’s race was canceled due to weather.  The new date will take the cold temperature factor out of the equation.

The month of July will end with a big show on Wednesday, July 29 as Indiana Sprint Week comes to town for the Dorsett Automotive Don Smith Classic.  Joining the sprint cars will be the Scott’s Custom Colors DIRTcar Modifieds.

The Midwest Sprint Car Series will be back at the Action Track for their final visit of the year on Aug. 16. In addition to the sprints, the Indiana Late Model Series will be back in addition to the Scott’s Custom Colors DIRTcar Modifieds.

Rounding out the campaign will be the Jim Hurtubise Classic on Friday, Sept. 18.  The USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Cars will be joined by the Scott’s Custom Colors DIRTcar Modifieds.

STAFFORD SPRINGS, Conn. – Stafford Motor Speedway has added two more cars to the entry list for its inaugural Call Before You Dig Pro Late Model 81, scheduled for May 29.

KB Motorsports has entered the No. 93ct Parkway Pavilion Health and Rehab Center car for Ray Christian III and the No. 93 Crazy Horse Racing car for SK Modified veteran Todd Owen.

While Owen is a seasoned veteran of more than 20 years at Stafford, Christian has never raced at Stafford and the 29 year old Uncasville, Conn., native has never seen Stafford in person. Despite his lack of track experience at Stafford, Christian is looking forward to the May 29 race.

“I’m excited about coming to Stafford,” said Christian. “Bigger tracks seem to be my forte and I’ve always run better at tracks like Jennerstown, Thompson, Richmond, and Loudon.  Funny thing is I’ve lived in Connecticut my whole life but I’ve never even seen Stafford before. I might have to come to the Sizzler and at least get my eyes on the track before I get out on the track and run some laps. I’ve always heard great things about Stafford but between work and Stafford racing on Friday nights, I usually like to get home from work and go to sleep. Big thanks to Crazy Horse Racing, my wife Ashley, my entire crew, and everyone that supports me. We’re super excited for this race and as soon as it was announced we knew we were going to be coming to Stafford.”

After winning races in the Mini Stock and Late Model divisions at Waterford Speedbowl, Christian joined the Granite State Pro Stock Series in 2018 and won Rookie of the Year honors. Christian followed that up with a runner-up finish in the standings last season and will be looking to lean on his Pro Stock experience as he gets to grips with the Stafford half-mile.

“I think the Granite State experience will help,” said Christian. “Stafford is pretty flat and some of the tracks we run are flat. I think Jennerstown and Stafford are pretty similar and we have a pretty good notebook for Jennerstown so we’ll probably start off with a similar setup. We have a few races on our schedule that come up before the Stafford race so we should be ready to go once May 29 rolls around.”

Although Christian has yet to turn a lap at Stafford or even see what the track looks like in person, he might not be at as much of a disadvantage as it seems. Most drivers will be racing pro late model style cars at Stafford for the first time since a PASS race was held in 2012 and won by Ted Christopher. One driver who has had experience both racing at Stafford and in the Granite State Pro Stock Series is Cory Casagrande, who Christian has tabbed as the early favorite.

“I think we’ll be able to settle in pretty quickly with the car,” said Christian. “Right now I’d say that Cory [Casagrande] probably has a two-tenths of a second edge over everyone.  It’s been a while since these type of cars have raced at Stafford so what worked in the PASS race 8 years ago might not necessarily work now.”

As much as Casagrande might have an advantage over other drivers, Christian can always turn to his teammate Owen for advice.  Even though Owen hasn’t raced a full bodied car at Stafford since the 2000 season, he won seven races in the Pro Stock division in 1999 and 2000 and he finished second to Doug Coby in the 2000 points standings.

Between Owen’s knowledge of Stafford and Christian’s knowledge of the cars, the two drivers can be mutually beneficial to one another in preparing for the 81-lap CBYD race on May 29.

“Todd hasn’t been in a Pro Stock type of car for years now so I’m hoping that we can get to a test with both of us and he can show me the ropes around the track,” said Christian.  “Between the two of us, I need to learn the track and he might need to re-learn the cars a little so in a perfect world we’ll be able to help each other out and have a good run.”

Despite having never seen Stafford before, let alone race around the half-mile layout, Christian has only one goal in mind and that is to go home with the checkered flag and the trophy.

“We always come to the track to win and we expect to win wherever we unload the car,” said Christian. “If you show up to a track and think ‘Oh, I’ll be happy with a top-10’ then you’re probably not going to have a good race. We come to the track feeling confident, Crazy Horse Racing is behind us 100 percent, and they always give me a great car.  Hopefully my guys can work their magic and get me going pretty good around Stafford.  Everyone is optimistic this time of year and I’m sure everyone you talk to is giving you the same answers but until you actually get to the track and see what’s going on, you never know what’s going to happen.”