West Lakes Academy Squash marches on.

West Lakes Academy under 19 squash team took a step forward in the England Squash National Schools competition, by beating Heaton Manor School from Newcastle in their second round match held at Windscale Squash Club, Egremont recently. Last minute substitute Michael Dickinson dashed home for his kit and played at No5, but found the going tough and lost 3-0. Michael Hobbs was at No4 and lost the first game 10-12, then after some advice and encouragement from coach Linda Winder, Michael won the next three games 11-3 11-9 11-7 to level the match 1-1 in ties. Owen Barratt played No1 and after a pretty dire first game which he lost 3-11, Owen also won his next three games 11-5 11-6 11-9 to put WLA 2-1 ahead Jessica Winder played at No2 and won the first two games 17-15 11-5, with her match seemingly as good as won, Jess then went on to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory losing the next three games 7-11 7-11 10-12 that levelled the match at 2-2 in ties. Adam Pearson was to be the hero, playing No3 he lost the first game 9-11, won the second game 11-9, lost the third 7-11, before he won the last two games 11-8 11-9 to win 3-2 and clinch the match for WLA 3 ties to 2 ties, a fantastic performance by all concerned. Special thanks to School Sports Coordinator Alison Lister for doing the unenviable task of organising these matches, which is not an easy task with exams, illness, permission to play etc and that's just one school. Next task for Alison is to arrange the home third round tie against Manchester Grammar School, and hope the success continues.

School Sports Partnership Events are a Success

The second squash event for school children run by Windscale Head Coach Linda Winder in conjunction with Copeland School Sports Partnership was played at Windscale Squash Club last week. The first event for primary school children was held in October, and featured teams from local schools namely Thornhill, Ennerdale, Beckermet, Gosforth and St Bridgets, Egremont. Teams consisted of 5 children, boys and girls mixed, and 6 teams did battle. So close were the matches that at the end of the day there were 3 schools tied for 1st position, Ennerdale A, St Bridgets and Beckermet all on 18 points. As the event was mainly about kids having FUN whilst getting exercise playing squash, it was decided to let 3 sets of children go home and say WE WON. The event for secondary school pupils saw West Lakes Academy, St Benedicts, and Whitehaven all fielding 2 teams each. Everybody played 5 games and after lots of fun, laughter, even sweat and determination, West Lakes Academy A emerged as winners by few points ahead of Whitehaven A. This was the third annual squash event, but it maybe the last. The government knife has cut the funding on the very successful School Sports Partnership. This team, led by Stephen Chambers, has seen Alison Lister (School Sports Coordinator for the West Lakes cluster of schools) along with Linda Winder enable children to sample the sport of squash. Children have learnt squash is a fun way of taking exercise, and some of them have blossomed and their talent has been recognized and nurtured, allowing them to progress to playing at a higher level. We see on the TV weekly how kids are becoming larger and need more exercise, and yet politics and cost cutting are threatening the organization that is combating this problem, and making a difference to the future health of our kids and eventually our country.

West Lakes Academy Squash Success

The School Sports Partnership programme continues to prove its worth as West Lakes Academy decided to enter a team in the England Squash Sanctioned National under 19 Schools Squash Championships for the first time in its history. As current Northwest U15 champions, the step up was going to be tough, but they rose to the challenge and achieved success in the opening stages in Group B. Local rivals St Benedicts also entered, and this proved to be a close encounter as most of the players on both teams are members of Windscale Squash Club and know each others game inside out and the result was a narrow defeat 2-3. With St Bees withdrawing from the competition, the next hurdle was a trip to Barnard Castle School, experienced campaigners in this event. After being escorted through a "Hogwarts" style school, Jordan Conway was first on court and despite a hiccup in the third game he came through with 3-1 win. On the adjacent court was Michael Hobbs, having his first competitive match for a while due to serious arm injury, he managed to shake the rust off and won 3-0, and great start for WLA. Adam Pearson played at No3 and had a dominant 3-0 victory which sealed the match, but more points were needed to progress into the next round. Jessica Winder was at No2 facing a male opponent 4 years older, she lost a close first game, but by then she had the measure of her rival and had him running to all parts of the court to enable "Jess" to win 3-1. Owen Barrattt played No1 and went 2-1 down against very good opposition, but despite a troublesome nosebleed Owen dug deep and showed great guts and determination to grind a great 3-2 victory and complete a 5-0 match result. Fantastic result against a team of 18 year olds, where most of WLA squad are 14/15 years old, they managed to win Group B with that result and proceed on to meet a team from the Northeast in the next round.

The second stage game is against Heaton Manor School from Newcastle, at Windscale Squash Club on Friday 5th February 2011 at 12 noon.

Photo (left to right) Owen Barratt, Jessica Winder, Hannah Crichton, Adam Pearson, and Michael Lowery.

Windscale Girls Come to the Rescue

Windscale Squash Academy entered an under 19 mixed junior team in the England Squash National Club Mixed Junior championships for the first time in their history. Drawn in Group A, they faced Bowden (Cheshire), Northumberland Club (Newcastle), Nottingham, and host club Pontefract, it was going to be a formidable challenge. The event was to take place on the weekend 27th/28th November, and all the teams consisisted of 3 boys and 2 girls, with the Windscale team made of Michael Lowery, Owen Barrett, Adam Pearson, Hannah Crichton and Jessica Winder. Unfortunately weather conditions and illness put paid to Northumberland and Bowden, but Windscale weren't going to let snow and ice defeat them and drove on regardless. First match against Pontefract saw Michael & Adam finding the going tough, both losing 3-0 but not disgraced. Michael was up against England U19 No 1 ranked James Earles, so it was a good experience for him.Windscale's strength is the girls, Hannah continued her recent good form to win convincingly 3-0, and Jessica managed to dominate an experienced opponent in the final game to win 3-2 after a see-saw match. At 2-2 the scene was set for Owen to be the "hero", but despite being 10-7 up in the first game, he went down 10-12 and could not maintain that standard to lose 3-0. Nottingham also had good boys, with Michael going down 3-0, but Adam had a much closer affair losing 3-2 after a good performance. Hannah and Jessica showed their class to totally dominate the opposition, both winning 3-0 to level the match at 2-2 again. It was time for Owen to do his "superman" bit, and at 1-1 he was on track but the "kryptonite" faded, along with Owen and he lost 3-1. However two 3-2 losses meant Windscale have enough points to get through to the final in May in Nottingham next year at their first attempt. Well done to the team.

Left to Right - Adam Pearson, Jessica Winder, Michael Hobbs

COPELAND RECOGNISES WEST LAKES ACHIEVEMENT.

West Lakes Academy scooped the prestigious 'Junior Team of the Year 2010 'at the recent Copeland Borough Council Sports Awards held at Whitehaven Civic Hall. WLA under 15s mixed squash team of Adam Pearson, Jessica Winder and Michael Hobbs beat the more traditional and fancied rugby teams in the section to take the award. The award was recognition of their fantastic achievement of being the first Cumbrian school team to ever win the Northwest Schools Squash Championship at Sport City Manchester earlier this year. Taking on 23 teams from all over the north-west of England they won there way through to the final, were they faced Manchester Grammar. They secured an emphatic 3-0 victory to take the title and bring it back to Cumbria. The Schools Sports Partnership team, led by Stephen Chambers, with Alison Lister the School Sports Coordinator for the West Lakes Cluster of schools and their team helped make it possible, by bringing pupils together with Windscale Squash Club Head Coach Linda Winder to enable children to sample the less fashionable sport of squash. Children have learnt squash is fun, and some of them have blossomed, with their talent being nurtured so they have progressed on to a higher level. What a pity politics and cost cutting now threatens the existence of the Schools Sports Partnership now it is being rewarded by seeing children playing sport successfully.

Left to Right - Jackson Holliday, Jessica Winder, Hannah Crichton.

Windscale Squash Club flies the flag for Cumbria.

The British Junior Squash Championships were jointly hosted from 28th-31st October at National Squash Centre Sport City, and Northern (Didsbury) LTA and Squash Clubs, Manchester, where Cumbria had only three players that reached the final stages, all of them members of Windscale Squash Club, Egremont. This event brings together not only the top English squash players, but also the best that Scotland, Ireland and Wales have to offer also, hence the recognition deserved by our junior players. Competing in his first British Junior Championships, Jackson Holliday (national ranking 66) played in the Under 13 boys section. Being inexperienced at this level and with a low ranking, Jackson had to win two qualifying matches to gain access to the 32 player main draw. His first opponent was Perry Malik (Sussex, n/r 60), Jackson gave a solid performance to win 3-0, but this was to bring him a much tougher challenge in his next match. Thomas Stewart (Hampshire, n/r 30) seeded at 3-4 for the qualifiers, started as favorite, but Jackson hung in to make it 2-2, and it was Jackson who emerged victorious in the final game to go through to the main draw with a fantastic 3 games to 2 victory. The main draw is where the best players are pre-seeded to play those emerging from the qualifying rounds, and in his first round game he faced Niall Adams (Hampshire, n/r 7) who was a bridge too far, and he lost 3-1 despite having good periods of play, to dent his confidence a little. In the next match he faced Alex Lane (Gloucestershire, n/r 13), and he needed to win to progress through the rest of the weekends schedule, unfortunately this was to be the worst game of the weekend for Jackson and he lost 3-0, in a game he never really showed his potential in. Overall Jackson performed very well in his first ever National Championships. Windscales next player was Hannah Crichton (national ranking 28) who was playing in the Under 17 girl's category, where she hit the ground running with a fabulous 3-0 win over Hannah Measures (Surrey, n/r 11). Now in the top 16 section of the Championships Hannah came up against Anna Kimberley (Essex, n/r 13), but unfortunately couldn't match her earlier result and lost 3-0, with a somewhat downbeat performance. Lucy Pallet (Warwickshire n/r 14), was another tough match which turned into an epic for Hannah, coming from 2-0 down she fought her way back and eventually took the final game 12-10 for a great 3-2 victory in 40 minutes. The highly ranked players kept coming for Hannah and Millie Pughe (Yorkshire, n/r 10) was next, and after a shaky opening game Hannah fought hard in the next two games leading them both, but couldn't hold on and eventually lost the match 3-0. Hannah's final game was for position 11/12, against old rival Emily Peach (Yorkshire, n/r 21). The first two games were shared, and matching each other point for point the next two games both went to her opponent for a very close 3-1 defeat, in an excellent tussle which again took 40 minutes to settle. These were great results, and performances to be proud of all weekend from Hannah, who finished a creditable 12th overall out of 32, some 16 places above her national ranking. The third Windscale junior, Jessica Winder (national ranking 10) played in the girls Under 15 category, Jessica was seeded to play Tayla Mounter (Cambridgeshire n/r 39), which resulted in a comfortable 3-0 win. An international opponent was next in line for Jessica; indeed, this player was seeded above Jessica in the main draw due to her Welsh national ranking. Jenny Haley (Wales, n/r 1), proved a very good player and Jess had to fight hard for her 3-1 win, which took her into the top 8, and meant that in the next round she would face England's nationally ranked number 1, Ellie 'Pond' Lake (Gloucestershire). Jessica lost the first game, but then stepped up her game to level the match at 1-1, but couldn't maintain that standard of play, losing the match 3-1. Next up for Jessica was Georgina Kennedy (Kent, n/r 9), Jess went 2-0 up to shake her opponent, and in the third served twice for the match, before losing that game 15-13 to an opponent that "ran" every shot down. Georgina then proceeded to take the match as Jessica managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory losing 3-2 in 37 minutes. Jessica's final game was for 7-8 position against Kip Quiney (Gloucestershire, n/r 5), Jessica lost the first game looking tired, however some motivational words from 'mam', Windscales Head coach Linda Winder, had the desired effect and she battled through the match, playing some impressive squash to win the match 3-1 and finish 7th overall out of 32. All three Windscale players finished in positions well above their starting National ranking, and at this level of competition that is a fantastic achievement which speaks volumes for the Windscale Squash Club, and the coaching set-up. To be able to produce players of the level required to compete and more than hold their own on the National stage from a little town in West Cumbria is sensational.

Photo left to right;

Matt Sidaway, Hannah Crichton, Michael Hetherington,

Jessica Winder, Bob Priestley, Tom Ford.

Windscale Junior Squash Exhibition featuring Matt Sidaway and Tom Ford

Tuesday 17th August 2010.

Possibly the first junior exhibition in the N. West to feature local talented juniors against England standard players took place at Windscale Squash Club on Tuesday 17th August. Matt Sidaway (16) from Manchester and Tom Ford (16) from Gloucester ranked England under 17's numbers 2 and 3 respectively, took on the four finalists from the Windscale Club Men's and Ladies Championships from last season. Three of the four players are under 18, with the oldest 22. First on court was Hannah Crichton (16) against Tom, and it was the more experienced Tom that opened up a healthy lead, gaining nine clear points before Hannah bothered the scorer. Taking her chance she then produced a series of winning shots that even the quick footed Tom couldn't retrieve. However she had given him too much of a start and as the rest of the points were shared he ran out a comfortable winner 15 points to 6. Jessica Winder (15) followed on court against Matt and she too gave him a good seven point's start, meaning that she too was playing catch up. This she did, warming to the task and pressuring Matt into unforced errors. He reached twelve points without losing his scoring advantage but then over elaborated and Jessica was in like a shot, hitting tight drops and clinging lengths, which he couldn't return. As Matt went for the winners it was Jessica that gained more points and at fourteen all, it was sudden death, pulling it out of the bag Matt hit the winning point to win 15/14, and save himself from a seasons ribbing from Jessica. Tom followed on court against Bob Priestley (18) and once again it was the visitor that pulled out a good lead as a nervous looking Bob struggled to read Tom's game, with the added 'local rule that Tom had to hit 5 nick winners' in his tally of points, the shots were hitting the angles with regularity. Bob was soon ten points to four adrift, before he really took a hold in the match, and try as he did he couldn't chip away at the points difference, and it was Tom that claimed the game finally with his fifth winning nick point to run out the winner 16/8. Matt re-entered the court to play Michael Hetherington (22) in what turned out to be a fast paced hard fought game. Once again the 'local 5 nick winners' rule was invoked for Matt, and saying as though he goes for the odd one or two in a game his chance was there. For the first time in the evening it was the local player that stole a point's lead and Matt was soon four points behind, as he struggled to match Michaels speed around the court and weight of shot. Although Matt was scoring some points Michael retained his cushion and was leading eight four. Matt then reeled off two nick winners in a row to put pressure on Michael for the first time, and it was now Matt in the ascendency as he pulled ahead to lead twelve points to nine. Michael dug in to level the score at twelve all and as Matt still needed a couple of nicks he was going for shots that were costly to him as a few errors crept into his game. Michael was first to match ball but Matt levelled, and then went on to claim a moral victory by winning his 15th point, however he still hadn't claimed the elusive 5th nick and the scoring went on as Michael pushed to reach 15 points. Matt couldn't find a nick in the final rally and as Michael claimed the final point, reaching 15 points he was declared the winner in what was an epic encounter, and a great scalp. The main event of the evening, Matt versus Tom didn't disappoint the large crowd, as they witnessed first hand the fitness and skill levels these two players possess. Their court coverage was great, as was their accuracy and tight ball hitting, and consequently both players pushed each other in the first game. It was no surprise knowing their previous encounters that the scoring was tied in the opener at ten all, and with sudden death it was Matt that claimed the game with the next winner 11/10. The second game saw Tom pull away as Matt tired, and with Tom extending the rallies whenever possible with good lengths and well flighted lobs, often followed by nagging drops, Matt couldn't keep up to Tom's pace and lost the second game 11/8.The third saw a recovered Matt, after sharing the first ten points, pull away to a nine five lead, but Tom pushed on and got within a point of his opponent, only for Matt to take the third game 11/9. Matt's all court coverage to cover Toms shots was taking it's toll once again in the fourth game as Tom went ahead four nil and kept the points differential through to eight four. He then increased the pressure on Matt, with great accuracy and effort to see him home in this game 11/6, to tie up the match at two games all. Into the fifth game they went, and the enthralled spectators were treated to possibly the best rally of the night on the first point, as both players appeared to cover every inch of the court as each tried to outwit the other with well positioned shots, or great touch. Tiredness was creeping in for both players now, and after a lengthy breather for both after that rally it was Tom that eeked out a slight game points advantage with a four two lead. Matt attacked the points in a big last effort (obviously the tough match with Michael had taken it's toll), levelling at four points all, however it was Tom that made least errors, and hit more winners, and he was a worthy winner of the fifth game 11/4, and the match 3 games to 2. Both players were warmly acclaimed as they left the court and once towelled down and rehydrated they proceeded to answer some intriguing questions about their lifestyles. How to combine school, squash, training and fitness as well as all the travelling etc, required to keep up the fantastic standard that they set themselves. They are two fine ambassadors for English Junior Squash, and Windscale were proud to be able to showcase the talent that junior squash players up and down the country possess, to their large junior contingent and interested adults.

Rachal Tang, Ian & Peter – Peter Messenger on left, Ian Stephenson on the right

WORKINGTON's RISING STAR SHINES ABOVE ADVERSITY

It was a case of better late than never for one of the region's most talented junior squash players when Rachal Tang received an award for her endeavours - nearly 12 months after a stunning performance in the county championships. A member of the Workington Junior Squash Club, Rachal triumphed in the Under 11 Girls event in the 2008-2009 season, but the winner's trophy had gone missing prior to the tournament. During preparations for this year's competition the trophy was found and in a surprise gathering at Moorclose Sports & Leisure Centre at the weekend, Rachal was formally presented with her prize. The presentation was made on behalf of Cumbria Junior Squash by Ian Stephenson, the Executive's Development Officer during the Workington Club's Saturday morning coaching session. Rachal, was just 9 years old when she competed in the Under 11's and her achievement was doubly remarkable as she was recovering from the effects of a car accident! In August 2008 Rachal, who lives at High Harrington, was knocked over by a car and had to be rushed to hospital for emergency treatment. Such is her enthusiasm for squash that she took part in the tournament even though she had her jaw pinned. Workington's Juniors Organiser and Lead Coach, Peter Messenger described Rachal as "a keen and bright player with enormous potential". "She is an all-rounder who enjoys hockey, cricket, rounders and swimming as a pupil of Ashfield School. But squash is what she really excels at and she is already competing in Under 13's events." This season's County Closed Junior Championships take place in Carlisle on Saturday and Sunday 26 and 27 September, where Rachal will be looking to repeat her success. (posted 21/09/09)