Tournament wins for squash newcomers

YOUNG squash player, Luke Hayes from Barley Hill School, took first place in the beginners grade at the Racquets October One-Day Junior squash tournament on Saturday, October 10.

Coach at Racequets Squash Academy in Thame, said: “Luke practices four times a week so we expect to see him move up the grades fairly quickly. Jaco Peacock, also from Lord Williams’s School was second in this grade – not bad for someone who only started to play regularly a few weeks ago.”

In the next grade up, Matt Harper (Lord Williams’s School) played well to beat a couple of rivals who started playing about the same time. Sue explained: “Matt is starting to get some consistency to his game so we will see him rising through the ranks too. Chris Watts (Lord Williams’s School) was runner up.”

In the Silver grade, a player who had only been playing regularly for four months took the title. James Portsmouth of Lord Williams’s Lower School won convincingly against players who had been playing for a couple of years. “This was a great result for James,” said Sue. “He is very keen and a great ambassador for the game.” Evan Littler from Abingdon School was the runner up.

Sue went on: “In the top grade many of the players had to leave to get their serious loads of homework completed, but of the games played, a surprise win by Ollie Dudley-Heidkamp and some good wins by Jamie Mather – both of Lord Williams’s School – gave us tied winners.

“The tournament was run brilliantly by Oliver Cartwright of Lord Williams’s Lower School who took over the reigns while I was on duty around the club. It’s just great to see the improvement in many of the players since returning from the summer holidays. Those who continued to play during the holidays have come on leaps and bounds, but even those that took a break came back focussed and appeared to be enjoying playing, training and competing.”

The Racquets academy is looking for new young players to join the team of hard working, keen, dedicated sports people who care about their sports facility and about squash. Young people are selected for the academy by coach Sue. Interested? Contact Sue at Raquets by calling: 01844 261754 or emailing: info@racquets-fitness-centre.com