Canada have won each of the four of the coveted Lapham-Grant trophies defeating the United States in the Lapham-Grant matches that took place April 28-30 at the Vancouver Lawn Tennis and Badminton Club in Vancouver, BC.
In the men’s singles Lapham Cup matches, Canada defeated the United States with an overall match score of 18-5 and also dominated the men’s doubles matches taking the Grant Trophy with the final score 17-8.
The women’s singles and doubles matches deciding the Crawford Cup proved to be the closest competition with Canada narrowly defeating the United States 13-10, while the United States Lawrence-Wilkins legends doubles team were held off by Canada 10-5.
“It was another great weekend of singles and doubles squash at the 2013 edition of Lapham-Grant U.S. vs. Canada Invitational National Team Challenge Matches held this weekend in Vancouver,” said Peter Lasusa, Chairman of the Board of U.S. Squash and Lapham Cup and Grant Trophy participant.
“Our hosts did an amazing job. Unfortunately from a competitive perspective our U.S. team had a couple of last minute injuries and family emergencies that enabled an already strong Canadian squad to rout the visiting Americans.”
United States Crawford Cup captain Sarah West lauded the team spirit and sportsmanship throughout the tournament.
“It’s like being on a team again; every match counts, you’re rooting for everyone and watching all of the matches,” West said.
“There was total camaraderie amongst both teams, the atmosphere was filled with good sportsmanship, and everyone was rooting for good squash.”
“The Canadians were gracious and planned a really fun weekend as they always do, everyone had a great time.”
The annual Lapham-Grant matches take place between four different competitions — the men’s singles competing for the Lapham Cup, men’s doubles competing for the Grant Trophy, women’s singles and doubles competing for the Crawford Trophy, and the ‘legends’ doubles — male players over 65 years of age — competing for the Lawrence-Wilkins Trophy.
The Lapham cup matches dating back to 1922, are believed to be one of the oldest amateur sporting events between two countries having been played for 90 consecutive years. The Grant Trophy matches were inaguerated in 1945, the Crawford Trophy matches in 1999, and the Lawrence-Wilkins Trophy matches in 2001.
To view complete results, click here.
Alex Dean, captain of the United States Lapham and Grant teams and San Francisco native gives his account of the tournament…
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An intrepid band of merry pranksters sailed by air to the Pacific Northwest in order to represent the United States in the Lapham Grant matches. 52 American men and women arrived in Vancouver on April 25, 2013 hoping to defend the titles that the U.S had won in Atlanta in 2012, and avenge the one that had been lost. At stake were trophies representing the longest running continuous matches of any sport between Canada and the United States. A year earlier the U.S. had won the Lapham or men’s singles matches, the Grant or men’s doubles matches, the Wilkins or men’s over 65 matches and dropped the Crawford, the ladies singles and doubles combined.
Traveling to a strange and foreign land makes it difficult to claim international victories and this trip was no exception. The Canadians clearly had planned to defend their turf well. The Canadian side offered intense depth and Lapham experience, while the Americans brought many players new to both the Lapham tradition and Vancouver. Vancouver has long been a quiet hotbed of Canadian strength in squash. Canada wasn’t afraid to activate that strength. It was disappointing that the U.S side had several late drops, including their #1 and 4 players Preston Quick and J.P. Rothie. Three Wilkins players also dropped at the last minute, beset by travel difficulties and personal needs. Without those wins at the top of the order the U.S struggled. Everyone on the the American side had to play up 2 or 3 slots and the Canadian depth was too much. The U.S. began the day down 9 love in Lapham matches and 8 -3 in Grant. International stars Chris Walker and Gilly Lane did everything they could the first day to help the cause. Others struggled with jetlag and courts that were new to them. Peter Dunne was seen repeatedly smashing his racquet into a very white right side wall in an attempt to make a striking play. Unfortunately like many others he came up with air.
Friday night brought a rousing introduction of the players, followed by a joyous reciting of America the Beautiful led by U.S. Squash Board Chair Peter Lasusa. American Captain Alex Dean tried to rally his troops, noting that victory was elusive but still possible if all players dug down deeply. Players did.
Saturday was quite a different story as the Americans played much better. Peter Dunne recovered to easily win on day two, as did Aidan Harrison, Eric Pearson, Kevin Orphan, John Lau, Mark Alger and Simonton’s Pere Y Fils. Just when it seemed that a Brookline Ryder Cup moment was going to happen and the competition would be brought to a breathtaking finish on Sunday, Bob Burton and Jim Marver were struck down by Keith Flavell’s splintering frame shot at 14-14 in the fifth game. The vibrations are still being felt. The Lapham was won by Canada, as was the Grant,the Wilkins and the Crawford. The Crawford was won 13-12 for Canada despite the fact that the U.S. had brought world Jr. #1 Amanda Sohby. Sohby was awesome as expected. American Captain Sarah West noted that while her side didn’t win, her players gained important international match experience and clearly out enthused the Canadian ladies. Tracy Greer, Ann and Sarah Mcgowen and Martigan Hartigan led a side that competed till the end both on and off the court. In fact, the ladies competed so well off the court that Susan Rose of Seattle and Catherine Cobb of Atlanta became the first ever female Finklemen award winners. It is thought that Rose is still in Vancouver making her acceptance speech to a perhaps no longer packed badminton hall at the host Vancouver Lawn Tennis and Badminton Club.
Wilkins Captain Gerry Peters noted that despite a 9-6 loss and several late drops, his stalwarts Jack Wyant, Clark Amos, Kit Tatum and the Coach, Terry Eagle all played well. It was a new team playing on new courts with new partners that probably caused the side to fall. Frank Schmidt at 65 years young made sure the team was healthy, stretched and fit. There were too many experienced Canadians teams.