Boys U13 (report from team manager Stuart Goad)
- Finished second in their group, qualify for next stage
Cumbria U13 boys travelled to The Northumberland Club, Newcastle, for stage one of the Inter Counties Competition. The team had experience with Joseph Broadley, Matthew Harrison and Adam Goad combined with debutants Zac Singleton, Chris Butler and George Johnston.
First game was against Durham and Cleveland, with Joseph, Matthew and Adam proving to be too strong for their opposition winning their games 3 0. George made his debut at five, starting well winning his first game 13-11. His opponent came back winning the next two 6-11 5-11 and proved just to have the edge in the fourth tense and close game 10-12. Chris also made his debut at four again getting off to a flying start. The game then swung one way then the other, a long hard game with both players playing good squash and rallies. Chris went very close, but went down 8-11 10-12 12-14, a game either player could have won. Match score 3-2 to Cumbria.
Next up were Northumberland, a slightly stronger side on their own courts, but alas Cumbria once again proved to be too strong at one, two, and three with Adam , Matthew and Joseph winning 3-0. At four and five Zac played his first game and Chris his second but despite some defiant squash found the opposition too strong. Match score Cumbria won 3-2.
The final round was against Yorkshire, both teams having recorded two victories, but Yorkshire on a high having just beaten Durham and Cleveland 5-0. The game started on a high for Cumbria with Joseph having played good squash all day getting the better of Jordan Stewart, NR 58, 3-0. On the other court Chris played Ben Parlour NR 60 , but despite a valiant effort in the second went down 3-0. Next games on saw Zac take on Matthew Readshaw NR 53, although Zac being over fifty places behind his opponent, he put on a great show only losing the second game 9-11 and eventually going down 3-0. At the same time probably the game of the competition with Adam Goad NR 3 taking on Sam Todd NR 1. The game proving to be a tough game for both players and spectators treated to a great game of squash. Sam coming out on top winning an epic battle 3-2 11-5 5-11 11-8 3-11 11-5. The final game on saw Matthew take on Ben Beachill NR 43, with Matthew playing his best squash of the day to win 3-0. Match result was 3-2 to Yorkshire.
Cumbria ended the day in second place and a place in the stage two finals in November. Many thanks to all the players for playing, marking, and supporting each other and making the day a successful one. Also many thanks to Paul Bell for coaching and the parents and others for their vocal support.
Boys U15 (report from team manager Sue Appleton)
- Won their group, qualifying for the next round
Cumbria U15 Boys beat Derbyshire 5-0 all games were won three nil. We also beat Cheshire 4-1 all lads played outstanding only one match lost by James Wilkinson who played fantastic despite a shoulder injury .
Merseyside pulled out leaving only three teams in the stage.
Boys U17’s (report from team manager Liza Holliday)
- Finished 2nd overall, qualifying for the next round
The U17s had an early start on Sunday 12th to travel to Fairways Lodge Manchester to compete against Lancashire, Nottinghamshire and Merseyside. First up was Lancashire which we knew was going to be tough as it had strength in depth. Even with an injury to their team String 5 Tim lost to Robbie Wood 3/0 Sam at 4 lost 3/0 to Adam Ford and string 2 Brandon lost 3/0 to Charlie Major. Next was Jackson at 2 who had a close game with Carleton Oldham losing in the 5th game 3/2 and Dan Harrison had a battle of a match with Charlie Cowie which lasted well over an hour and in a close game won 3/1.
After showers and lunch we moved onto Merseyside with some great games from the Cumbria boys with Tim having a fantastic battle with Ben Roberts narrowley losing in the fifth 3/2 and the same with Sam against Jon Fell who again lost in the 5th 3/2. The 3 string Brandon won easily 3/0 followed with the same from Jackson against Sean Huddlestone winning very comfortably 3/0 followed by Dan finishing the round off with a 3/0 win over Chris Lea.
As we had quite a long journey home we took a short break and then got on with the task of the last game of the day against Nottinghamshire in exactly the same in the previous game.
Tim and Sam played so well and both had some exceptional rallies Tim against Fergus McKeever lost 2/3 and Sam against Noah Dickinson lost 2/3. Next up was Brandon who played Kaylan Mistry. Brandon won the first game comfortably lost the 2nd and third came back in the fourth and then had to retire in the 5th with a leg injury so lost the game 2/3. Jackson won 3/0 over Ryan Spencer and Dan won 3/0 over Ivan Garrison which meant Nottingham won us 3/2.
It was only when we saw the score board that we realised that although we lost against two out of the three counties we gained more points than Nottinghamshire so came 2nd overall going through to the next round with Cheshire.
The boys deserved this and played good squash, especially Sam who doesn’t play much out of the county and gave him a taste of the level being played at U17s and Tim moving up to U17 level. Hopefully Brandon will be fit for the next round in November. The team showed the Cumbria true spirit and the older team members Jackson and Dan mentored the other boys in-between games to try and get the best results. They were a credit to take away.
Girls U17’s (report from team manager John Crichton)
- Finished 2nd overall, qualifying for the next round
A strong Northumbrian 5 put Cumbria to the sword in the first match with only Eve Driver on her home courts managing a good win for Cumbria 3-1. Molly Tweddle was beaten in the first two games with 2 tie-breakers 15/13 and 12/10, in a game that could have gone either way, but Rachel Georgia and Jordan lost in 3.
Durham & Cleveland could only muster 3 girls due to unavailability, but included the best in the country at u 13 age-group who proved a good test for Eve, however she had enough in the tank and beat her 3-0, as did Rachel and Molly in their games also. Georgia had a friendly knock with the Northumbria number 4 to have some more good competition practice, and to give herself a 2nd game on the day.
Eve Driver star performer for her two hard played for wins.
Girls U13’s (report from team manager Kerry Carruthers)
- Finished 3rd overall
Cumbria’s U13 girls played some very tough games against North Wales, Yorkshire and Lancashire to place them an overall 3rd with Yorkshire in first place, Lancashire in 2nd place and North Wales finishing 4th.
Considering it was Rebecca Smith’s first ever inter-county tournament she played extremely well for the team getting some good shots in.
Kaitlyn Carruthers’ final match was against Yorkshire where she done well to get a game against Laura Longfield who is currently ranked no. 12 in the ESR standings.
Michelle Tang also played some very tough games and worked through it.
Emily Cooper played two fantastic “friendly games” against Yorkshire and North Wales reserve players, this was also Emily’s first intercounty tournament experience.
I am extremely proud to have managed a group of girls who are a merit to their clubs and Cumbria with good “On court” and “Off court” etiquette.
CUMBRIA v NORTH WALES
1 MICHELLE TANG v LAYNA BEATTIE 0-3 9/11, 9/11, 5/11
2 KAITLYN CARRUTHERS v GEORGIA LINCOLN 3-0 11/0, 11/8, 11/2
3 REBECCA SMITH v ABI POWELL 3-0 11/0, 11/3, 11/0
Result 6-3
CUMBRIA v LANCASHIRE
1 MICHELLE TANG v MARIALENA LOCOVIDES 3-0 11/6, 11/3, 11/4
2 KAITLYN CARRUTHERS v SERAN GREGORYNGHIEM 1-3 8/11, 4/11, 11/5, 7/11
3 REBECCA SMITH v LUCY GIBSON 1-3 4/11, 11/8, 11/13, 9/11
Result 5-6
CUMBRIA v YORKSHIRE
1 MICHELLE TANG v LYDIA ROBINSON 1-3 10/12, 5/11, 11/6, 5/11
2 KAITLYN CARRUTHERS v LAURA LONGFIELD 1-3 11/8, 1/11, 6/11, 3/11
3 REBECCA SMITH v OPHELIA WATSON 0-3 2/11, 2/11, 7/11
Result 2-9