Nothing
says more “welcome” in an event than a caring efficient
professional adorable lady at the tournament desk.
And that’s what we have here in the person of Judy Williams,
who normally coaches in Finchley, North London, and who comes
regularly to support England Squash’s event by running the desk.
I’ve very rarely met somebody as kind and charming, and as
dedicated to help everybody. She has always the time to have a
nice word with you, even when she’s got the world of squash to
organise in one hand, and twenty five players waiting in line
patiently in the other, replying to all sort of questions,
organising physios, bringing the press schedules and score sheets,
finding this for that one, and that for this one, and making sure
everyone gets the right trophy on finals day …
So, dear Judy, in the name of us all at the events you have been
caring for years, an ENORMOUS grateful thank you.
BBC LOVES US…
It’s not the first time it's happened, but it’s always nice when
it does. If you look for Squash News on the BBC website, you’ll
have to go to the “Other Sports” page, which I agree is a bit of a
shame, but from there, you’ve got a link that brings you to… us!
Don’t you just luuuuuuuuuve the BBC?
Such good taste they have….
Vic the Video King
REFS IN FORCE…
I must admit that they are a funny bunch those ones. Each of them
with their distinctive personality, their faults and qualities,
some more experienced than others, but all with a huge heart.
And I’m lucky enough to be in contact with some of them on a
regular basis all around the world, like John M, Wendy D, Roy G,
Jill W, and all the others, the list is too long. We are sharing
not only a compulsive love for squash, but also so mush roaring
laughter that it must be heard for a few miles around…
Boys and girls, it’s a pleasure to work with you event after
event…
Nationals En Bref ... Issue #3
Everything you never knew you needed to know about the Nationals
...
THREE IS A CROWD…
Dave Morrish, coach at Wycliffe College for numerous
years, is a happy man on this tournament, as three of his former
students have done wonders.
I’m sure you recognise Alex Stait (93-98), Jon Harford
(96-01), and our semi finalist, Ali Walker 98-02).
Poor
Nick Matthew is not lucky with his own Championship, is he?
After taking the Nationals title in 2006, he was prevented from
taking part in 2007 after an injury he contracted in the first
round of the Canadian Classic, and now, it’s his shoulder that is
causing him trouble since the World Teams in India in fact.
I caught up with him as he was browsing in Sport City…
You are doomed, aren’t you?
Can you believe it, two years in a row, last year, my ankle, this
year, my shoulder… I can’t complain, I’ve had a decent luck with
injuries during my career, I’ve been taking care of myself well I
think, but those two years, it’s just been a bad timing, that
particular time of the year.
Did you have surgery then?
Five weeks ago, I had surgery, and good case, they told me 3
months, bad case, 4. I’m following week to week physio’s advice,
and I’m making sure that I’m working my lower body, which will
mean that when the shoulder is fit, the body is fit too…
When do you intend to come back?
My aim is trying to get back in for the British Open, and maybe
for Kuwait…
I’m going to try and get back in this season, I did it last year,
and being forced away, doesn’t double, it triples your hunger!
Must
be difficult to not being able to compete with James again this
year..
No, not really. As far as my “rivalry” with James is concerned, if
I had been in the tournament, James and I we would have been
number 1 and number 2 seed - which doesn’t mean that nobody else
doesn’t have a chance - and betting people probably would have
given us a 50/50 chance.
But you’ve got to look at the bigger picture, James wants to be
number 1 player in the world, I want to be number one player in
the world, and we are trying to be the best player as possible.
But if we were to only concentrate on being better than the other
one, we would stay 5 and 6 in the world for the rest of our
career!
Are you supporting anybody in particular for these semis?
Well, I’m cheering for my Big Man, the new England Squash star,
Alister, who is representing the Sheffield Stable while I’m away…
SPOTLESS…
If
you ever came to Sportcity, you may have noticed those
never-stopping-working people, who spend their time cleaning up,
making sure that the venue looks stunning at all times, and that
you spectators, feel comfortable and at home.
Always smiling, always joking with you, they take the time to make
you feel welcome, and they are, like the volunteers I feel, the
soul of this place. So, thanks Margaret, Mike,
Sharon, and all the others, for all your work here. You are
doing wonders, guys…
FRIENDS ...
Alex Gough and Peter Marshall have been good mates for years ...
can't you tell ...
Nationals En Bref ... Issue #2
Everything you never knew you needed to know about the Nationals
...
BEN BACK AT MANCHESTER…
Hello people, did you miss me??? Of course you did.
Well, needless to tell you that I’ve been busy. At what, you may
ask? You may, you may. First thing this morning, I blew a few
bubbles, as you do, but it made my kitchen floor sticky, so, on
with the mopping.
Then
off to the park with my big sis, we met some funny shaped people
that didn’t talk much mind you; to the hairdresser for a quick
styling, but wait for it, I’ve found my call: I’m going to be a
racing car driver!
Then, in the afternoon, my nan and granddad took me to see
something called Spartacus, not sure I got all that, looked nice
and all though.
And to finish, as my Dad is now
Vice-President of the PSA
BlackBoard, I’ve got to help him in his duties, and
distribute prizes and all at Sportcity.
What can I say, a boy’s job is never done…
REFS ON COURT… You
know the style of conversation, you are with your mates, you are
watching players of your age group having fun while you are
slaving away refereeing, and you think, “mmm, would love to do
that”.
And so during the last British Open, two refs, over 50 Peter
Blackmore, and over 65 Peter Lawrence, decided they
would play the Nationals.
Mrs Lawrence was a bit worried as the last time her husband
played competitive squash, was in Melbourne 2001, for the
Masters!
”There was a 'social draw', and I thought it was going to be
relaxed and all fun. And I see a bloke All Black style coming on
court who took it very seriously!” said Peter Lawrence.
And not much more luck this time! Blackmore got a bye first
round, then played the third seed, 9/0, 9/0, 9/1, it was. Then
poor Lawrence, same difference, 9/0, 9/0, 9/0 also against the
third seed.
As
one 'friendly witness' noticed, “the most exciting moment was
when Peter Lawrence actually kicked the ball at 2/0 down and
6/0!!!!!”.
Well, at least, they joined the fun. They took the risk. They
participated. And where were YOU?????
Nationals En Bref ... Issue #1
Everything you never knew you needed to know about the Nationals
...
PAR FOR WOMEN???
Difficult decision to take for WISPA. We all recognise that the
men's and women’s game are different, and what works
fantastically for one may not for the other. So, we’ve all
witnessed ladies’ matches that go on and on and on, but in the
same token, some that whizz through in 15 minutes!
Using the British Nationals to test it is in my view an
excellent idea, and will give the WISPA Board a fair indication
of the way to go. Now, as far as the girls are concerned, the
feeling that comes out is that the change is inevitable, is the
impression Steve Cubbins got after speaking with eight of the
top British girls.
And the opinion of WISPA chief executive Andrew Shelley about
the whole affair? Well, whatever safeguards and keeps the
women’s game very attractive will do for him really…
And you, what do you think? Give us your opinion, experience and
comments…
WISPA
has got to be careful to ensure that our product is improved
rather than disadvantaged, or at worst unaffected, as we
consider PAR.
The British Nationals follows on from our trials last year and
will be great for providing data and reactions from competitive
matches.
Of course, I am finding out whether the players like it or not,
but personal preferences take a back seat to the overall health
of the WISPA Tour.
I
think it's a good thing, but it makes a huge difference to the
game and it would take some time to get used to …
Dominique
Lloyd-Walter
I
like the it, it's much more interesting and you're never out of
the game.
At 8-all, 9-all it's more tense and much more fun for the crowd,
so thumbs up so far …
Alison Waters
In
this scoring you can't afford to lose early points otherwise it
gets very edgy. All the spectators I talk to want it, it makes
the game more exciting to watch and to play.
If it's 5-all for ten minutes that's not interesting, so even
though it's more nerve-wracking and as one of the top players it
will make most of my matches harder I'm all for it.
Tania Bailey
I'm
undecided on the scoring, it would take a lot of getting used
to, you just can't afford to make mistakes …
Sarah Kippax
With
this scoring you have to be alert all the time and be aware that
it's not hard to come back from a few points down.
It's nice to try it out on a big stage though …
Jenny Duncalf
I
like the scoring, you have to stay more focussed, you can't
switch off mentally which I'm prone to do – I was 4/0 up in one
game, thinking 'this is nice', then suddenly it was 4-all, you
have to trigger back in quickly.
Lauren Briggs
I've
played 11 scoring in BSPA events last year, and we play it in
the Yorkshire League too so I'm pretty used to it now. You don't
think about it when you're playing.
All the players seem to be moving toward it, it's got to be the
way to go.
Madeline Perry
The
scoring makes matches closer and more exciting, but I haven't
played enough to tell.
I don't mind it though, I could get used to it.
Vicky Hynes
KIDS IN MANCHESTER…
One cannot stress enough the importance of the kids in our sport
development. No kids, no future for squash. And that’s a reality
that Manchester Council has understood a loooong time ago, and
their school is without doubt, one of the most active of the
country.
And we had a little sample of the enthusiasm of that new
generation coming up in Manchester. Having starting squash
between 3 and 6 months ago, they were stuck behind the glass for
most of the day, and when asked what Nick Taylor was
making them work on, the answer was unanimous :
“Technique!!!!!”
Yes, not just fun and play, squash is it. But it’s all worth it
in the end, I assure you guys…. Ah, and they all knew about
SquashSite too. Like I said, real enthusiasts…
Nothing
says more “welcome” in an event than a caring efficient
professional adorable lady at the tournament desk. 
Poor
Nick Matthew is not lucky with his own Championship, is he?
Must
be difficult to not being able to compete with James again this
year..
If
you ever came to Sportcity, you may have noticed those
never-stopping-working people, who spend their time cleaning up,
making sure that the venue looks stunning at all times, and that
you spectators, feel comfortable and at home.
Then
off to the park with my big sis, we met some funny shaped people
that didn’t talk much mind you; to the hairdresser for a quick
styling, but wait for it, I’ve found my call: I’m going to be a
racing car driver!
As
one 'friendly witness' noticed, “the most exciting moment was
when Peter Lawrence actually kicked the ball at 2/0 down and
6/0!!!!!”.
I
think it's a good thing, but it makes a huge difference to the
game and it would take some time to get used to …
I
like the it, it's much more interesting and you're never out of
the game. 
In
this scoring you can't afford to lose early points otherwise it
gets very edgy. All the spectators I talk to want it, it makes
the game more exciting to watch and to play. 
I'm
undecided on the scoring, it would take a lot of getting used
to, you just can't afford to make mistakes …
With
this scoring you have to be alert all the time and be aware that
it's not hard to come back from a few points down. 
I
like the scoring, you have to stay more focussed, you can't
switch off mentally which I'm prone to do – I was 4/0 up in one
game, thinking 'this is nice', then suddenly it was 4-all, you
have to trigger back in quickly.
I've
played 11 scoring in BSPA events last year, and we play it in
the Yorkshire League too so I'm pretty used to it now. You don't
think about it when you're playing. 
The
scoring makes matches closer and more exciting, but I haven't
played enough to tell. 
