REPORT:From Danny Lee St George's Hill LTC Squash Professional.
St George's Hill Squash
Success
In front of a
large crowd at Surrey Sports Park, Luxfords St George's Hill 1st Team
regained the prestigious Surrey Cup trophy four seasons after their last
win.
It was fitting
that the three members of the team who learned their squash at St
George's Hill were the winners in the narrow 3-2 victory against
surprise finalists Lakeside (Wimbledon).
James Simpson at
number 4 clinched the match with a thrilling five game victory against
Charlie Johnson.
Mick Biggs was
first on court for St George's and our newly capped England Over 35
International performed well to take the first game from former World no
75 Sam Miller, but in spite of almost taking the match to five games,
Mick couldn't stop Miller from prevailing to put Lakeside one match
ahead.
World no 42 Joe
Lee delighted the sizeable St George's Hill contingent with a display of
attacking stroke play against World no 120 Robert Downer. Lee's 3-0 win
levelled the match.
Club assistant
pro and former World no 11 Steven Meads couldn't quite match the pace of
his more youthful opponent , Welsh International Scott Fitzgerald who
dominated proceedings to once again put Lakeside in the ascendancy.
Tom Richards,at
no 12 in the World the highest ranked home grown player ever, impressed
against Lakeside no 1 Stacey Ross , who used to play for St George's
Hill as a sixteen year old in the late 1980's. Richards won 3-1 against
the experienced Ross and then both players rushed off the court to watch
the closing minutes of the James Simpson v Charlie Johnson decider which
was hotting up as Johnson took the match in to a decisive fifth game.
James played positively at the start of the game and raced to a 7-2 lead
but a mixture of nerves and fatigue started to affect his decision
making and Johnson clawed his way back to 7 all. James edged to 8-7 and
Johnson pulled back again to 8-8. James looked the more tired but
benefitted from a Johnson error to reach 9-8. A geometrically precise
nick boast , most fitting given his mathmatical prowess took James to
match point and a final positive rally clinched the win.
Congratulations to the team which also included Alex Ingham regularly
and Rueben Phillips, Charlie Lee, Paul Rawden, Matt Broadberry, Danny
Lee and Tom Bailey occasionally on their fine success.
The
Ladies 1st team sponsored by Belinda Robertson Cashmere won the Surrey
Trophy for the second successive year. Another fine achievement for the
club who saw off the challenge of Ebbisham. The team regulars were Nada
El Kalaaway, Harriet Ingham, Georgie Ingham and Claire Haslett.
Elizabeth Brown, Jody Head, Susan Morgan and Fiona Williams also
played.
The
Men's second team came a credible fifth in Division 1 and the Men's
third and fourth teams won division 3 and Division 4 respectively. The
Veterans 1st team look to be promoted as Division 2 Champions .
Individuals from the club have also performed well this season.
Tom
Richards reached a career high of no 12 in the World and Joe Lee also
made his highest ranking position of no 41 . Charles Sharpes at no 67
gives St George's Hill a trio of top class players backed up by Alex
Ingham at no 135 and his sister Harriet no 140 in the ladies World list.
Charlie Lee 14 is the newly crowned English Under 15 Champion. Charlie
represented England in the Five Nations Championships in Le Mans and won
the deciding match against France.
Pat
Kirton won The National Over 75 title to add to his World Championship.
Matthew Broadberry 15, Georgie Ingham 18, Harry North11 and Lochlan
Walshe 12 are all nationally ranked juniors who represent London and The
South East. Tom Bailey, Alistair Green, Paul Broadberry, Mark Broadberry
and Sarah Broadberry are all in county teams.
