Report from county coach Gavin Stephenson
Stage one, again held between two venues in Newcastle – The Northumberland Club, Jesmond (organised by David Barnet) and Newcastle University (organised by Liam Gutcher) – was held on November 16th and 17th.
Cumbria initially entered:
Boys under 11 (3 player team),
Boys under 17 (5 player team),
Boys under 19 (3 player team),
Girls under 13 (3 player team).
Following requests from parents, we also entered a boys under 13 team (5 player team).
In our own junior county championships, we only had three children enter this age group, so I was reticente to enter a under 13 team but the parents were enthusiastic and after some work (special thanks to coach Neil Coward at Penrith) we did manage to field a boys under 13 team.
Throughout the age groups, Yorkshire, Northumbria and Lancashire were strong. Cheshire and Merseyside fielded few teams and Durham & Cleveland none. This was tough on our juniors because they were always playing the ‘big 3’, so to speak (Yorkshire, Lancashire and Northumbria).
Results:
Girls under 13. Finished bottom of their group containing, you guessed it, Yorkshire, Lancashire and Northumbria. Two of our girls were playing up an age group.
Molly Crawford did win a morale-boosting match at number 2 against Northumbria.
Boys under 11. Our success story of the weekend! Finished 2nd in their group and are through to the plate event of stage two, to be played in the new year. A team consisting of three Carlisle lads, they beat Cheshire and Lancashire B, losing only to Yorkshire.
Liam Gutcher (a man we know well here in Cumbria following his work at Carlisle Squash Club a few years ago) caught up with me and expressed how impressed he was with their performance and energetic approach. Wonderful to hear, from Liam especially!
Boys under 13. Finished bottom of their group. It was a chastening experience for them. Having said that, I did receive messages from some parents saying their child enjoyed the day.
Boys under 17. Finished bottom of their group, containing Yorkshire, Northumbria & Lancashire.
Wins from Finlay Gordon (Carlisle), other competitive matches and a mention for 13 year old Jack Hetherington (Windscale) who answered the call to play under 17 counties following a last-minute withdrawal.
Boys under 19. Finished bottom of their group containing Yorkshire & Northumbria. We were missing our under 19 county champion due to work commitments so the rest of the team moved up a position, which makes a huge difference at this level.
A special mention to Joseph Morris (Carlisle) and Harry Ewbank (Appleby & Penrith) playing in their final junior county event. They have been true servants of Cumbria junior squash throughout the age groups, never missing an opportunity to represent their county. It’s been a pleasure working with them over the years.