Eventis Find Another Gap
In The Game
The inaugural World Squash Awards dinner at London’s RAC Club was almost a
complete triumph; given the slightly overwhelming Welshness of the
entertainment. Jahangir Khan was revealed as the first recipient of a brand
new ‘Lifetime Achievement’ award; Thierry Lincou was named as men’s Player
of The Year; Vanessa Atkinson was the women’s Player of The Year; Nicol
David and James Willstrop were the Young Players Of The Year.
But the most important element of the evening was the mere fact that it
happened at all. Some years ago, when the Squash Rackets Association was
rather more outward looking than its strangely remote replacement, England
Squash, we used to enjoy lunches during The British Open at which similar
awards were made on a national level.
I edited Squash & Fitness The Magazine for the SRA at the time and we used
that publication to look beyond English matters to sponsor an ‘International
Award’….it worked well as a PR tool for the SRA and brought together the
great and the good of the British game for an agreeable meal together.
The new World Squash Awards dinner was of an altogether greater
significance. It was the brainchild of Eventis Sports Marketing, the company
established by Peter Nicol, Tim Garner and Angus Kirkland to launch the
English Open Championship at The Crucible in Sheffield and which went on to
add The Canary Wharf Classic in London’s Dockland. These guys have a smart
understanding about location. The RAC Club was the perfect place for their
new venture and a willing accomplice, I understand. Pity Mike Corby wasn’t
there. We could have had the porters chase him round the staircases for old
time’s sake.
Former Welsh Champion Adrian Davies as compere was a splendid choice. He
tapped into his own considerable playing career to connect directly with
almost every person in the splendidly crowded room. The self-admiring Welsh
comedian who took on the entertainment later was a Taff-too-far for me. I
kept checking the doorway to see if Robert Edwards would be added to the
menu also. The men at the gathering laughed along with him, although I
noticed a few less-than-totally-amused female faces around the room.
But there were faces aplenty to muse upon: Jahangir himself of course, and
in talkative mood too; all of the top players in town for the Super Series
Finals, and a few current sub-stars as well; Sarah Fitz-Gerald, looking good
enough to eat in retirement mode and willing to give at least her fiancé,
Paul Walters, a taste or two during the course of the evening; Vanessa
Atkinson delectable in social mood and qu9ick to suggest the next Eventis
move should be a women’s tournament; a good looking gang from the England
elite training pool; a Prince table; a French table; a Pontefract table; a
table of Garners; John Easter, moved on to ‘silver fox’ from the old days of
‘professional gent’; Stuart Courtney, still moving pretty well on the double
hip-replacement; and many more in a room that lifted the game back towards
the great ‘dressed-up’ days of a previous era.
I pondered a bit on why the WSF does not take initiatives like this. I guess
I know why it no longer comes from England Squash. Odd that three players
like Nicol, Garner and Kirkland can make things happen that seem beyond the
imagination, effort or involvement of the game’s supposed authorities. But
wonderful also. Can’t wait for their next initiative.
|
'Almost a complete
triumph; given the slightly overwhelming Welshness of the entertainment.'
'I pondered a bit on why
the WSF does not take initiatives like this.'
'The most important
element of the evening was the mere fact that it happened at all. ' |
