Your chance to play a Squash Pro & win prizes

INTERNATIONALLY ranked Squash Pro, Will John, whose playing began at Raquets, in Thame, is offering all local squash players the opportunity to take him on tomorrow night (19/12), for ten minutes, with a cracking prize for the player who can score the most points against him.

 Can you get more points than your team mate? If you can, then the person with the most points will win a coaching lesson with Will. After the points challenge at 8.15pm, there’ll be an exhibition match between Alex Noakes and Will John. Place your bets on the scoreline and another coaching lesson could be up for grabs.

Will’s story is an inspiring one and he needs the help of as many squash players out there to help him take the next step to increasing his World ranking by a massive 100 points. He tells his own story here:

Hi, my name is Will John.

I’m a local lad and professional squash player. Like you I’ve spent time at Racquets Fitness Centre – in fact for most of my childhood – playing squash.

This is my story and my challenge!

I’ve been training as a full time professional squash player now since July 2010. So for the last three years I’ve been working hard on all the aspects of my game to fulfil my dream of becoming a world class squash player. This is not something I’m just toying with. I’m giving it everything and I will be world class squash player!

Squash has been my life for as long as I can remember. The first memory I have of it is at aged four going along to Sally Orris’s ball co-ordination classes at Racquets Fitness Centre. My aim back then was to hit that racketball-sized ball as hard as possible, which normally meant it would sail just behind the back of the service box. Now, though my aspirations are much higher, I can hit the ball a little bit further than the back of the service box and I’m starting to challenge players ranked a lot higher than myself.

I am now in my third season on the PSA (Professional Squash Association). My current ranking is #274 in the world with my highest at #218. This is a very important season for me. I’m looking to break into the top 150 in the world and better than that, I want to be #130 by May 2014. I am currently approaching my seventh tournament in seven weeks which have given me a great base and start to my season to push on.

To do this I need to be playing tournaments further afield. And my first opportunity comes in January where I have made it into the qualification draw for a $10k PSA event in Calgary, Canada. Unfortunately my goal was to go to USA/Canada and play three tournaments, making it much more cost efficient. However with my lower ranking, I didn’t make it into the rest. This tournament will help my ranking to the top 175 in the world – nearly 100 places higher than my current position. That will then allow me to enter bigger tournaments and play more of them, which will bring even more opportunities.

So Simon Martin and I are putting on a Play your Pro event on the 19th of December (tomorrow), to give you the opportunity to be part of my journey. For this night from 6-8pm I will be playing all takers. It’s £20 for 10 minutes of squash. Can you get more points than your team mate? If you can, then the person with the most points will win a coaching lesson with myself. After the points challenge at 8.15pm, there’ll be an exhibition match between Alex Noakes and myself. Place your bets on the scoreline and another coaching lesson could be up for grabs! After that, some well deserved food and drinks with a buffet in the bar.

I look forward to seeing you all there for what promises to be a really enjoyable evening of squash and social at Racquets
Fitness Centre.