Don Butcher
Encyclopedia
Donald Butcher, a squash
player from England
, was the first player to actually win the British Open
men's title (for 1931).
Butcher was a professional squash player based at the Conservative Club
in London
when he played in the first British Open final in December 1930. His opponent Charles Read
, a former English professional champion, was designated open champion at the initiation of the event, which was a 'challenge' event without any preliminary rounds (the final was played under a best-of-three-legs format, which continued until 1947). Butcher defeated Read in the first match at the Queen's Club
9-6, 9-5, 9-5. He then won the second match at the Conservative Club
9-3, 9-5, 9-3 to claim the title and make the third match unnecessary.
In 1932, Butcher successfully defended his title against Charles Arnold, winning the first match at the Conservative Club
9-0, 9-0, 9-0, and the second match at the Bath Club
9-3, 9-0, 9-5.
Butcher was unsuccessful in his defence of the Championship in 1933 against Egypt
ian player F.D. Amr Bey and similarly unsuccessful in his challenge against Amr in 1935 (there was no challenge to Amr in 1934).
Butcher also won the British Professional Championship in 1930, 1931 and 1932.
Butcher was considered a very innovative player in his time. He deviated from the conventional up-and-down-the-wall style adopted by most players in his era, making full use of boasts (shots that come off a side wall before hitting the front wall), lobs, drop shots and reverse angles, as well as cultivating the serve. His lack of stamina during long matches was considered to be one of his main weaknesses, however, and this gave the athletic Amr Bey a key advantage over Butcher on the occasions they played.
Butcher was involved in a bizarre controversy when a doctor from the St. John's Wood Club in London
, where Butcher was coaching, was testing the effects of Benzedrine
and asked Butcher to take some before playing a match so that the results could be measured. When London newspapers found out about this, it was carried as a sensational story and Butcher was suspended from playing squash until the matter had been investigated. The doctor involved explained the situation to the enquiry and Butcher was absolved from blame. But the incident led to Butcher being known by the nickname of the "Benzedrine Kid" for quite some time http://www.kznsquash.co.za/IanDixonArticles.htm.
Squash (sport)
Squash is a high-speed racquet sport played by two players in a four-walled court with a small, hollow rubber ball...
player from England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, was the first player to actually win the British Open
British Open Squash Championships
The British Open Squash Championships is the oldest and most established tournament in the game of squash. It is widely considered to be one of the two most prestigious tournaments in the game, alongside the World Open The British...
men's title (for 1931).
Butcher was a professional squash player based at the Conservative Club
Conservative Club
The Conservative Club was a London gentlemen's club, now dissolved, which was established in 1840. In 1950 it merged with the Bath Club, and was disbanded in 1981...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
when he played in the first British Open final in December 1930. His opponent Charles Read
Charles Read (squash player)
Charles R. Read was a professional squash player from England, where professional squash began in 1907. Read was based at the Queen's Club in London, and beat C. Bannister of the Bath Club 15-5, 15-13 at the Bath Club to win the first English professional championship title...
, a former English professional champion, was designated open champion at the initiation of the event, which was a 'challenge' event without any preliminary rounds (the final was played under a best-of-three-legs format, which continued until 1947). Butcher defeated Read in the first match at the Queen's Club
Queen's Club
The Queen's Club is a private sporting club in West Kensington, London, England. Founded in 1886, the Queen's Club was the world's first multipurpose sports complex and named after Queen Victoria, its first patron...
9-6, 9-5, 9-5. He then won the second match at the Conservative Club
Conservative Club
The Conservative Club was a London gentlemen's club, now dissolved, which was established in 1840. In 1950 it merged with the Bath Club, and was disbanded in 1981...
9-3, 9-5, 9-3 to claim the title and make the third match unnecessary.
In 1932, Butcher successfully defended his title against Charles Arnold, winning the first match at the Conservative Club
Conservative Club
The Conservative Club was a London gentlemen's club, now dissolved, which was established in 1840. In 1950 it merged with the Bath Club, and was disbanded in 1981...
9-0, 9-0, 9-0, and the second match at the Bath Club
Bath Club
The Bath Club was a sports-themed London gentlemen's club in the twentieth century. It was established in 1894 at 34 Dover Street. Its swimming pool was a noted feature, and it is thought that the swimming pool of the fictional Drones Club was based on this. Sir Henry "Chips" Channon was a member....
9-3, 9-0, 9-5.
Butcher was unsuccessful in his defence of the Championship in 1933 against Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian player F.D. Amr Bey and similarly unsuccessful in his challenge against Amr in 1935 (there was no challenge to Amr in 1934).
Butcher also won the British Professional Championship in 1930, 1931 and 1932.
Butcher was considered a very innovative player in his time. He deviated from the conventional up-and-down-the-wall style adopted by most players in his era, making full use of boasts (shots that come off a side wall before hitting the front wall), lobs, drop shots and reverse angles, as well as cultivating the serve. His lack of stamina during long matches was considered to be one of his main weaknesses, however, and this gave the athletic Amr Bey a key advantage over Butcher on the occasions they played.
Butcher was involved in a bizarre controversy when a doctor from the St. John's Wood Club in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, where Butcher was coaching, was testing the effects of Benzedrine
Benzedrine
Benzedrine is the trade name of the racemic mixture of amphetamine . It was marketed under this brandname in the USA by Smith, Kline & French in the form of inhalers, starting in 1928...
and asked Butcher to take some before playing a match so that the results could be measured. When London newspapers found out about this, it was carried as a sensational story and Butcher was suspended from playing squash until the matter had been investigated. The doctor involved explained the situation to the enquiry and Butcher was absolved from blame. But the incident led to Butcher being known by the nickname of the "Benzedrine Kid" for quite some time http://www.kznsquash.co.za/IanDixonArticles.htm.