Cumbria Ladies make their comeback

After a lapse of around 15 years, Cumbria fielded a ladies county team in the England Squash Inter-County Competition. The team consisted of Victoria Bell (Carlisle), Linda Winder (Capt.), Jessica Winder, Lara Cooper and Luisa McGregor all from Windscale. Lancashire was the host county and they used Fairways Lodge, Prestwich, Manchester, as the venue.

First tie was against Yorkshire, where Luisa playing at No 5, found over 50's World Champion Julie Field a class act and lost 3-0. Lara Cooper at No 4 also found the going tough and lost 3-0, whilst next door Jess was having a close encounter with England over 40's player Andrea Santamaria, but lost in the fifth to go down 2-3. Mam was digging in against England over 35's player Claire Walker, and despite having two very close games couldn't manage to win one and went down 3-0. Victoria played Katie Smith, runner-up in the under 19 British Junior Championships, and was soon into her stride to totally dominate the Yorkshire lass, and power on to an emphatic 3-0 win. Cumbria 1 Yorkshire 4.

Next were Lancashire, Luisa again struggled and lost 3-0, Lara however, had the bit between her teeth and was chasing everything, and after tight first game which she won 12-10, she went on to win 3-0. Jess was looking in total control as she went two games ahead, but then the wheels fell off and she snatched defeat from the jaws of victory as she went down 2-3 again. Victoria then continued to torture the opposition with her constant powerful driving and was cruising at two games up when she followed Jess, went AWOL and lost the third. After a quiet word from skipper, Victoria was back on track and won her match 3-1. Match level at 2-2 it was up to the skipper, and what a match to finish. Linda sent her opponent to all area's of the court frequently, but credit were it is due, the double hander Julie Carnell ran there, picked everything up and came back fighting. Match was level going into the fifth set, and with a large crowd watching the atmosphere was tense, but suddenly after all that running the Lancashire lass was looking tired, and Linda went for the jugular and won the final set 11-3 to win her match 3-2 and with it the tie. Cumbria 3 Lancashire 2.

After sampling oriental cuisine in Manchester's Chinatown, the previous evening, Sunday morning's tie against Leinster was for second place. Luisa and Lara had the worst possible start, both losing 3-0. Jess playing her best squash of the weekend got one back, winning 3-0, and with Victoria going 2-0 up next door all was not lost, but Victoria's concentration slipped again and she lost the third game. The pivotal moment of the weekend then occurred in the fourth game, when Victoria collided with her opponent, which caused her to sustain an ankle injury. Time was taken to see if recovery was possible, meanwhile Linda was battling to a 2-1 lead in the hope Victoria might recover, but it was not to be and Victoria retired injured. Having been informed that the tie was lost, it deflated Linda's drive and determination and she lost 2-3. Cumbria 1 Leinster 4 an unfortunate ending to an otherwise great weekend, and hopefully Cumbria ladies squash will build on this for years to come.

Results sheet