|
| |
|
Day 7 Final
Shabana Masters Nicol In Bermuda
Final
The climax of the richest squash event on the
PSA Tour
this year between the World Open champion, who is also now the world
number one, and one of the sport's legends fresh from winning two medals in
the Commonwealth Games, lived up to all expectations in the final of
the Virtual Spectator Bermuda PSA Masters in Hamilton,
Bermuda.
Egypt's top seed Amr Shabana was taken
the full distance by England's sixth seed Peter Nicol, but
ultimately prevailed to win the PSA Super Series Platinum event,
presented by Logic and hosted by Endurance, in a 65-minute
encounter which had it all!
First blood went to Nicol, who seemed prepared to play
long, patient rallies and wait for fellow left-hander Shabana to make
mistakes. Both played superlative shots, and recovered the impossible, with
Nicol moving well around the court.
The second game saw the positions reverse. Shabana raced
into the lead, and Nicol had to work much harder to avoid giving Shabana any
opportunity to play his devastating drops.
A similar pattern started in the third game with the
26-year-old from Cairo looking more confident with every rally. Nicol led
6-3 at one point, but Shabana came back strongly to win it and move into a
2/1 lead.
At this point it appeared to be the beginning of the end
for Nicol - but he shocked the capacity crowd by completely dominating the
fourth game while Shabana seemed to lose heart with a series of
uncharacteristic unforced errors. Nicol was serving for game ball before
Shabana could even get on the score sheet with two unreturnable drops. Not
to be denied, Nicol put the game away with a superb drive, wrong-footing the
Egyptian.
Shabana came out for the decider with all guns blazing
and raced into a 7-1 lead. Both of these incredible athletes were playing
superbly and retrieving as though this was the first, rather than the fifth,
game. Then it was time for Nicol to surge back as he tried valiantly to
catch up. At 5-9 the two played an incredible rally, won by Nicol,
resulting in thunderous applause from an expectant crowd, and this was
followed by yet another marathon rally during which both players pulled off
miraculous retrievals which many in the audience simply could not believe
because they burst into applause thinking a winning shot had been played,
only to realise the rally was still in play!
When Shabana finally tinned the ball, the crowd simply
erupted as Nicol appeared to be on the verge of catching up the World
Champion. However, Shabana reached match point when Nicol hit a return
volley out of court. Shabana failed in his first attempt, hitting into the
tin – but, in one final brilliant rally, hit an unbeatable forehand drive
down the wall, and it was all over, 9-11, 11-6, 11-7, 2-11, 11-8.
The crowd rose as one to acknowledge two incredible
athletes, both of whom gave their all, and then some, in their bid to become
the Virtual Spectator Bermuda Masters 2006 Champion.
"Amr Shabana fully deserved his victory, but in truth
there were two winners on court when this match ended," said event spokesman
Roger Sherratt.
“I’m gob smacked,” said Nicol. “It was a great game of
squash. There were only three or four decisions in the whole match, which is
the way it should be played. We played at a very fast pace, both going for
our shots. It was very exciting. In the last game I made a few mistakes
and gave him a good start and he was able to stay ahead. He played slightly
better than me at the end so he deserves it. I think he’s going to be world
champion for years to come.”
Of his third visit to Bermuda, Nicol said: “I’ve
thoroughly enjoyed coming to Bermuda. This tournament just gets better and
better. We had a fabulous crowd, and I love it here.”
After being crowned champion, Amr Shabana commented:
“First, I’d like to thank Peter for his kind words. He is a legend of the
game. All respect to Peter. It was a tough match, he's an amazing player.
He started off so fast and quick he caught me by surprise a little. I
started to see the ball better in the second and was able to get more
control of the centre of the court.
"I've got absolute respect for Peter, he raised the bar
for all of us - he's an inspiration.
"It's been a great tournament, the crowd, the
organisation, the sponsors have all been perfect," added Shabana, after his
third PSA title of the year, and the 12th of his career.
Day 6 Report
Shabana & Nicol To Meet In Bermuda Showdown
Egypt's new world number one Amr Shabana will meet fellow left-hander
Peter Nicol, the world No6 from England, in the final of the
Virtual Spectator Bermuda PSA Masters, after the dismissal of two
Frenchmen in the semi-finals of the PSA Super Series Platinum event
in Hamilton, presented by Logic and hosted by Endurance.
In
the opening match on the all-glass court at the Jessie Vesey Sports
Centre, top seed Shabana took on France's Thierry Lincou,
the fourth seed and former world No1. This was the pair's 12th
meeting since September 2003 – the most notable of which was in December
2003 when the Egyptian prevailed in the final of the World Open in
Pakistan to become the first Egyptian to claim the title.
Lincou played exceptionally well in the first game, taking it 11-7, but then
reality set in as Shabana rattled off six unanswered points in the second
and never looked under pressure as he tightened his game and maintained his
lead to draw level.
Mid-way through the third game, it was clear that Shabana was in control,
and a series of sustained rallies ended with either the Egyptian playing an
immaculate drop, or with Lincou hitting the tin. After 77 minutes, it was
Shabana who emerged victorious in a 7-11,
11-8, 11-6, 11-9 scoreline to record his third successive four-game victory
over the Frenchman this year.
"Any
time you beat Thierry, it's a good win," said the 26-year-old from Cairo
afterwards. "When he controls the game he gives you very few openings, and
you get lost trying to find a winner, which is what happened to me
tonight. He started well, like he did the last couple of times we played,
but I started getting in front of him in the second and thank God it was
enough."
Shabana, beaten only once this year, is now in his 17th PSA final
– and one win away from extending his remarkable record of six wins out of
six successive finals!
After his brilliant demolition of David Palmer the previous night –
just 24 hours after celebrating his 33rd birthday - it was widely
questioned whether Peter Nicol would be up for a second successive tough
match in two days, especially against a rapidly-improving Frenchman who is
ten years his junior.
Nicol had suffered a 3/2 loss to Gregory Gautier just seven weeks
earlier in New York - but 54 minutes later he had emphatically answered the
question after a straight game win against the young Frenchman 11-5, 11-8,
11-5.
Nicol delighted the crowd, playing almost flawless squash throughout the
match, constantly keep his young opponent on the move, and being content to
wait for Gaultier to make mistakes. Gaultier led 4-1 in the first game,
but after the score levelled at 5-5, it was Nicol in the lead for the rest
of the game and the match.
“After the Commonwealth Games, I felt mentally exhausted and emotionally
gone - but physically I feel great. When I arrived here I was just thinking
of getting to the first round and competing. Now I’m looking forward to
tomorrow and then I’m taking a few weeks off.
"He
(Amr) is a phenomenal talent and the man to beat. He’s good for the game.
I played him in the World Open in December and he took me apart. It will be
great to have another crack at him.”
Nicol is no stranger to records in his sport: He recently celebrated 60
months at the top of the world rankings – and last month added two
Commonwealth Games gold medals to bring his medals total in three Games
to a record six.
His
match against Shabana will mark his 69th appearance in a PSA Tour
final – but victory would bring up his half century of 50 PSA titles!
|
|
Virtual
Spectator Bermuda Masters 2006
2nd-8th April 2006 $120k
|
 |
Round
One
Apr 02/03 |
Round Two
Apr 04/05 |
Quarters
Apr 06 |
Semis
Apr 07 |
Final
Apr 08 |
|
[1] Amr
Shanana (Egy)
11/5, 11/6, 11/6 (33m)
Joey Barrington (Eng) |
Amr
Shanana
11/8, 9/11, 11/2, 11/6 (59m)
John White |
Amr
Shanana
8/11, 11/5, 11/10, (4-2), 11/8 (81m)
James Willstrop |
Amr
Shanana
7-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-9
(77 mins)
Thierry Lincou
|
Amr
Shanana
9/11, 11/6, 11/7, 2/11, 11/8
Peter Nicol
|
|
[9] John
White (Sco)
11/7, 8/11, 11/13, 11/1, 11/9 (72m)
Mohammed Abbas (Egy) |
|
[5] James
Willstrop (Eng)
11/6, 9/11, 11/6, 11/8 (61m)
Shahier Razik (Can) |
James Willstrop
11/9, 11/7, 11/9 (49m)
Graham Ryding |
|
[13] Olli
Tuominen (Fin)
11/6, 8/11, 12/10, 11/6 (51m)
Graham Ryding (Can) |
|
[4] Thierry
Lincou (Fra)
11/3, 13/11, 11/6 (54m)
Adrian Grant (Eng) |
Thierry Lincou
11/6, 11/7, 8/11, 11/6 (69m)
Stewart Boswell |
Thierry Lincou
5/11, 11/5, 11/10 (2-0), 11/7 (66m)
Nick Matthew |
|
[15] Stewart
Boswell (Aus)
11/6, 11/5, 11/6 (17m)
Bradley Ball (Eng) |
|
[8] Nick
Matthew (Eng)
10/12, 11/2, 11/6, 13/11 (58m)
Mark Chaloner (Eng) |
Nick Matthew
11/3, 11/5, 11/2 (32m)
Azlan Iskandar |
|
[12]
Azlan
Iskandar (Mas)
11/13, 11/7, 11/3, 11/8 (64m)
Peter Barker (Eng) |
|
Hisham
Ashour
(Egy)
11/1, 11/4, 11/5 (23m)
[11] Karim Darwish (Egy) |
Karim Darwish
1/11, 11/13, 11/5, 11/1, 11/8 (69M)
Peter Nicol |
Peter Nicol
11/8, 11/4, 11/10 (3-1) (43m)
David Palmer |
Peter Nicol
11-5, 11-8, 11-5 (54
mins)
Gregory Gaultier |
|
Jonathan Kemp (Eng)
2/11, 11/6, 14/12, 11/8 (51m)
[6] Peter Nicol (Eng) |
|
Cameron
Pilley (Aus)
11/9, 11/7, 9/11, 11/9 (64m)
[16] Alex Gough (Wal) |
Cameron
Pilley
11/9, 12/10, 11/6 (47M)
David Palmer |
|
Nick Kyme (Ber)
11/4, 11/3, 11/4 (29m)
[3] David Palmer (Aus) |
|
Joe Kneipp (Aus)
11/5, 11/7, 11/2 (32m)
[11] Gregory Gaultier (Fra) |
Gregory Gaultier
11/5, 11/5, 5/11, 11/7 (60m)
Lee Beachill |
Gregory Gaultier
11/7, 11/4, 10/11 (3-5), 11/5 (81m)
Ong Beng Hee
|
|
Dan Jenson (Aus)
12/10, 11/6, 11/6 (38m)
[7] Lee Beachill (Eng) |
|
Wael El
Hindi (Egy)
7/11, 11/8, 12/10, 8/11, 15/13 (98m)
[14] Ong Beng Hee (Mas) |
Ong Beng Hee
11/9, 11/8, 12/10 (55m)
Anthony Ricketts |
|
Laurens Jan
Anjema (Ned)
11/2, 11/5, 11/6 (29m)
[2] Anthony Ricketts (Aus) |
|
Day 6 Match Summaries
Semi Finals
Amr Shabana
v Thierry Lincou
There was a possibility that squash history could have
been made in Bermuda on semi-finals night of the Virtual Spectator Bermuda Masters 2006
championship, if two
brilliant young French players had triumphed to compete in the final of a
major squash tournament for the first time (would that be correct
Howard?). That vague hope was kept alive for the first 17 minutes of the
clash between the world’s #1 ranked player and current World Open Champion,
Amr Shabana, and French phenomenon, former World Open Champion and world #1
Thierry Lincou.
Lincou played exceptionally well in the first game, taking it 11-7, but then
reality set in as Shabana rattled off 6 unanswered points in the second and
never looked under pressure as he tightened his game and maintained his
lead. It was 11-8 to Shabana. Mid-way through the third game it was clear
that Shabana was in control, and a series of sustained rallies ended with
either the Egyptian playing an immaculate drop, or with Lincou hitting the
tin. This game ended abruptly when Shabana playing a cross court service
return in the nick and walking quickly off court. He earlier had
spectators in stitches when he disagreed with the referee a second time for
refusing him a let and jokingly retorted “You owe me two strokes!”
There was no question that Lincou was having to cover far more court than
the world #1, but even with Lincou playing his best squash in the 4th
game he could not put Shabana under sufficient pressure to take the lead.
With the score at 10-7 and match point to Shabana, Lincou refused to
concede and forced the Egyptian into two unforced errors to bring the score
to 10-9 and still match point. With neither player wanting to make a
mistake, they played a series of four endless rallies, all ending with let
ball. A further rally resulted in no let against Shabana to level the score
at 10 all as he failed to get his racquet to a ball while reaching over
Lincou . But after Shabana argued that he was not able to stop after
physical contact he was awarded a let, and won the next point to take the
match 3-1, and book his place in the final.
Said Shabana after the match, "Any time you beat Thierry it's a good win.
When he controls the game he gives you very few openings, and you get lost
trying to find a winner, which is what happened to me tonight. He started
well, like he did the last couple of time we played, but I started getting
in front of him in the second and thank God it was enough."
Peter Nicol v
Gregory Gaultier
The skeptics questioned again whether Nicol would be up for a second
successive tough match in two days after his brilliant demolition of David
Palmer the previous night. Nicol had suffered a 3-2 loss to his French
opponent just 7 weeks early in the New York Open, but 54 minutes later he
had emphatically answered the question after a straight game win against the
young Frenchman 11-5, 11-8, 11-5.
Nicol delighted the crowd, playing almost flawless squash throughout the
match, constantly keep his young opponent on the move, and being content to
wait for Gaultier to make mistakes. Gaultier led 4-1 in the first game,
but after the scores leveled at 5-5 it was Nicol in the lead for the rest of
the game and the match. It was not that Gaultier played badly; it was just
that Nicol, who has announced his intention to retire later in the season,
had the will to push himself to fight for every point. The final score was
11-5,11-8, 11-5. It remains to be seen if he can add the Bermuda title to
his collection when he steps on court later today with the new world #1.
Said Nicol, “After the Commonwealth Games I felt mentally exhausted and
emotionally gone ,but physically I feel great. When I arrived here I was
just thinking of getting to the first round and competing. Now I’m looking
forward to tomorrow and then I’m taking a few weeks off. He (Amr) is a
phenomenal talent and the man to beat. He’s good for the game. I played
him in the World Open in December and he took me apart. It will be great
to have another crack at him.”
Day 5 Report QUARTER FINALS
Tireless Nicol Repeats Palmer
Upset In Bermuda
A day after celebrating his 33rd
birthday, England's indefatigable
Peter Nicol
produced his second upset in two
weeks over Australia's world No2 David Palmer to reach the
semi-finals of the Virtual Spectator Bermuda PSA Masters, presented
by Logic and hosted by Endurance.
It was in a dazzling display in
Melbourne a fortnight ago that Nicol overpowered the Australian in a
109-minute Commonwealth Games final to win his second singles gold
medal.
On the all-glass court at the
Jessie Vesey Sports Centre in Hamilton, sixth seed Nicol took
just 43 minutes to defeat the third seed 11-5 11-4 11-10 in the
quarter-finals of the PSA Super Series Platinum tournament in
Bermuda.
This was Peter Nicol performing at
his brilliant best. He completely dominated the first two games, playing
superlative squash, chasing down the impossible and keeping Palmer
constantly in motion by playing him wide and deep. Such was his dominance
that the Englishman, who had been trailing 4-5 in the first game, then
proceeded to rattle off seven consecutive points to win the game 11-5, and
then took the first five points of the second before Palmer could reply.
“My aim was to dominate the T,”
said Nicol after the match. "When David steps so far forward I try to get
it wide and deep. In the end he just got tired and frustrated. For two and
a half games I played exceptional squash - I think it’s the best I’ve ever
played.
"Right now, I’m relaxed and
enjoying my matches.”
Palmer said later: "He didn’t
miss many shots tonight and hit a lot of winners. He played well.”
Nicol will now face 11th
seed Gregory Gaultier for a place in the final after the Frenchman
ended Ong Beng Hee's run with an 11-7, 11-4, 10-11 (3-5), 11-5
victory over the Malaysian in 81 minutes.
The 23-year-old from
Aix-en-Provence was the last player to beat Nicol – in a 90-minute five-game
quarter-final last month in the Tournament of Champions in New York.
"I look forward to playing him
again," said Nicol. ”I’m going to spend the next 24 hours eating, resting
and watching golf. We should have a good match."
The other semi-final will pitch
Egypt's Amr Shabana, the top seed and world number one, against
France's Thierry Lincou, the fourth seed and a former world number
one.
Much was expected from the
quarter-final match between Shabana and James Willstrop, the new
world No3 from England – and the clash more than lived up to expectations.
Willstrop started confidently and took the first game, but was made to work
hard for his early lead.
Shabana got into his stride in the
second and drew level – then took an early lead in the third game, and at
9-4 appeared as if he was taking charge.
Willstrop staged a spirited
comeback, however, chasing every ball and refusing to capitulate. He
managed to level the score at ten-all to force a tie break, but the Egyptian
forged a 2/1 lead.
Shabana again took the lead in the
fourth, and at 9-5 it appeared to be all over, but Willstrop simply refused
to stop chasing down the ball. The two had the audience gasping as they
played a brilliant marathon rally on match-ball to Shabana that eventually
ended on a let. A second rally saw both players giving their all as the
young Englishman retrieved the impossible again and again.
When Shabana finally took the
point to win the match 8-11, 11-5, 11-10 (4-2), 11-8 in 81 minutes, he
collapsed prostrate on the floor, with his opponent having to lean against
the back wall to stay on his feet. This was a superb match which duly
received the standing ovation it so richly deserved.
“It doesn’t come any harder than
that," admitted Shabana after the match. "When you’re at the top everyone
is chasing you and you can’t afford to lose any more. When James is in
front he’s impossible to beat. You have to make it as hard as you can and
wear him down. It all came down to who could play a bit better at the end,
and fortunately, today it was me.”
In the other quarter-final, Lincou
beat England's Nick Matthew 5-11, 11-5, 11-10 (2-0), 11-7 in 66
minutes.
Day 5 Match Summaries
Shabana and Nicol hit top form to earn semi-finals places
The Quarter-Final matches at the Virtual Spectator Bermuda
Masters 2005, presented by Logic and hosted by Endurance, lived up to all
expectations and produced two matches of the very highest quality involving
the World Open Champion and world #1 Amr Shabana in one,and the Comonwealth
Games goldmedallist in the other.
Amr Shabana v James Willstrop
8-11, 11-5,14-12, 11-8
With Shabana as World Open Champion and promoted to #1 in April’s rankings,
against England’s James Willstrop who is currently ranked #3,this wa sa much
anticioated match which more than lived up to expecations. Willstrop started
confidentally and took the first game 11-8 but was made to work hard for his
early lead.
Shabana got into his stride in the second and used his stroke playing skills
to perfection to coast through 11-5. He also took an early lead in the 3rd
game and at 9-4 it appeared that he was taking charge, but Willstrop staged
a spirited comeback, chasing every ball and refusing to capitulate. He
managed to level the score at 10 all to force a tie break, and continued to
pressure Shabana who was perhaps a little unfortunate to benefit from two no
lets much to the chagrin of Willstrop.
Shabana again took the lead in the fourth, and at 9-5 in appeared to be all
over, but Willstrop simply refused to stop chasing down the ball. The two
had the audience gasping as they played a brilliant marathon rally on game
point to Shabana that eventually ended on a let. A second rally saw both
players giving their all as the young Englishman retrieved the impossible
again and again. When Shabana finally took the point he collapsed prostrate
on the floor, with his opponent having to lean against the back wall to stay
on his feet. This was a superb match which duly received the standing
ovation it so richly deserved.
As Shabana admitted after the match, “It doesn’t come any harder than that.
You can win some and lose some when you’re on the way up, but when you’re at
the top everyone is chasing you and you can’t afford to lose any more. When
James is in front he’s impossible to beat. You have to make it as hard as
you can and wear him down. It all came down to who could play a bit better
at the end, and fortunately, today it was me.”
Willstrop commented, “That was unbelievable. It was a brutal game, but
that’s the challenge of squash. I feel like I’ve lost a little fitness over
the last few weeks traveling. I tried hard to come back in the third but a
couple of loose balls at the end gave it to him. A rally like that one at
the end is gut wrenching. It takes it all out of you. Yes, I’m disappointed
to lose this one but it’s been an absolute pleasure to play here in
Bermuda.”
Thierry Lincou v Nick Matthew
5-11, 11-5, 12-10, 11/7
After a sluggish start in which he lost the first game 5-11, due in part to
a series of unforced errors, Lincou came back in the second while Matthews
allowed a few unforced errors to creep into his game. Both played well in
the third, reaching a tie break which Lincou converted to take a 2-1 lead. A
comeback seemed likely in the fourth as Matthew led 7-4 but Lincou fought
back and the errors continued for Matthews. Lincou pressed home the
advantage and won it 11-7 to take the match and move to the semi-finals
where he meets the World Champion and world #1.
Gregory Gaultier v Ong Beng Hee
11-7, 11-4, 10-11 (3-5), 11-5
The first match of the evening session pitted world #10 Gregory Gaultier
against #14 Ong Beng Hee of Malaysia who had disposed of the #2 seed,
Anthony Ricketts, in three straight the previous day. Beng Hee edged ahead
in the first to lead 7-5 but Gaultier began to dominate and did not drop
another point in the game. He surged ahead in the 2nd to take it 11-4, and
it was in the third that Beng Hee mounted a serious challenge, matching
Gaultier in both shots and score to 8 all. It appeared to be all over when
Gaultier served for the match at 10-8 but Beng Hee hung in and survived no
less than 5 match points as Gaultier faltered in his efforts to finish it
off with a winner. All credit to Beng Hee for his patience and persistence
in chasing every ball and taking the fourth game on his first attempt, but
there was a price to pay when Gaultier re-grouped and was able to play a
series of winning drops in the 4th to finish it off 11-5.
“I felt comfortable in the first two games” said Gaultier,” but Beng Hee
played well to come back in the third. He varied his game and I went for
winners and kept missing them so I tried to keep the rallies going. I
started stronger in the 4th and he seemed to get tired. I knew it was over
at 8-2 but I had to keep pushing to the end. I am very happy to play so well
this week.”
Peter Nicol v David Palmer
11-5, 11-4, 13-11
An enthusiastic Bermuda audience had been eagerly awaiting the clash between
Commonwealth gold medallist, Peter Nicol, and silver medallist, David
Palmer, who has been adopted by Bermudians since setting up residence on the
Island. Nicol had appeared somewhat sluggish during the first two games of
his match against Karim Darwish in the previous round, and was rumoured to
be mentally and physically tired. So much for rumours!
This was Peter Nicol performing at his brilliant best. He completely
dominated the first two games, playing superlative squash, chasing down the
impossible, and keeping Palmer constantly in motion by playing him wide and
deep. Such was his dominance that Nicol , who had been trailing 4-5 in the
first game, then proceeded to rattle off seven consecutive points to win the
game 11-5, and then took the first five points of the second before Palmer
could reply. The second was never in any doubt - 11-4 to Nicol.
Palmer made a determined effort in the 3rd game, led at 9-6, and even had
two game balls, but he failed to convert both, and Nicol dug in to end the
match in three straight games. This was a gold medal performance by any
standard.
“My aim was to dominate the tee” said Nicol after the match “ When David
steps so far forward I try to get it wide and deep. In the end he just got
tired and frustrated. For two and a half games I played exceptional. I think
it’s the best I’ve ever played. I had to push really hard in the third and
kept pegging him back. Right now I’m relaxed and enjoying my matches.” When
asked about preparing for his next match against Greg Gaultier, Nicol, said,
”I’m going to spend the next 24 hours eating, resting and watching golf. We
should have a good match. He beat me in five 7 weeks ago in , and I look
forward to playing him again
Palmer said after the match, “I got tired real early. I just
didn’t have the energy for that type of game. At 10-8 (in the third) I had
two rallies I should have won, but if you don’t take your chances in the
third then it’s all over. He didn’t miss many shots tonight and hit a lot of
winners. He played well.”
Day 4
Beng Hee Bashes Ricketts In Bermuda Masters
In what he later described
as "definitely my best win", Malaysia's Ong Beng Hee despatched
second seed Anthony Ricketts in straight games in the second
round of the Virtual Spectator Bermuda PSA Masters on the all-glass
court at the Jessie Vesey Sports Centre in Hamilton,
Bermuda, to cause the biggest upset of the PSA Super Series Platinum
tournament presented by Logic and hosted by Endurance.
Since winning the British
Open title last year, Ricketts has made major strides on the PSA Tour,
reaching a career-high world No3 ranking in November. But the
27-year-old Australian had no response to the determined play of 14th
seed Ong Beng Hee, the 26-year-old world No15 from Kuala Lumpur who had not
previously beaten Ricketts in five Tour meetings since February 2002.
"To beat
Anthony, especially in three games, will give me a lot of confidence," Beng
Hee said after his 11-9, 11-8, 11-10 (2-0) win in 55 minutes. "I won
here in 2003 and I always seem to play well here – I think it's my lucky
tournament."
In the quarter-finals, the
Malaysian will now face Frenchman Gregory Gaultier - who also
produced a significant upset when he beat England's No7 seed Lee Beachill
11-5, 11-5, 5-11, 11-7 in 60 minutes.
After the 11th
seed dominated the first two games, Beachill rediscovered his touch to take
the third. The 2004 champion and runner-up last year looked as if he
were about to turn the game around – but Gaultier came back to win the
fourth to record his notable triumph.
Later in the evening,
England's Peter Nicol celebrated his 33rd birthday in some
style when he fought back from two games down to beat Egypt's Karim
Darwish 1-11, 10-11 (1-3), 11-5, 11-1, 11-8.
Playing in his first Tour
event since winning two gold medals in the Commonwealth Games in
Melbourne, Nicol admitted that he didn't enjoy the first two games and
"couldn’t get going". But the England hero, seeded six, refused to
give up and ultimately overpowered his 24-year-old opponent in 69 minutes.
"After I won the third he
didn’t compete in the fourth, and after coming back from two down I knew I
wasn’t going to let it go,” said the left-hander afterwards.
In a repeat of last month's
Commonwealth Games singles final, Nicol will meet David Palmer in the
Bermuda quarter-finals - after the third seed beat fellow Australian
Cameron Pilley 11-9, 11-10 (2-0), 11-6 in 47 minutes.
“This gives me another
chance to have a crack at Peter," said Palmer after his second round win.
"I’d like that before he retires.”
Anthony Ricketts v Ong
Beng Hee
When #2
Anthony Ricketts stepped on court with #14 seed Ong Beng Hee there were few
squash pundits willing to wager a bet on the young Malaysian,
but he started well as the two traded points evenly. Ricketts hit two
consecutive glorious cross court nicks on return of service mid way through
the game, and he was certainly playing with a great deal of intensity while
Beng Hee appeared to be biding his time looking for openings. His deep
backhand lobs were immaculate and seemed to frustrate Ricketts who clearly
wanted to play at a faster pace. The tactic paid off for Beng
Hee when Ricketts hit two tins in a row at 9-9 to end the first game.
Beng Hee
followed the same pattern through the second game, constantly slowing
the pace of the ball and playing to a perfect length. Ricketts seemed
unsettled and needlessly began to banter with the referee over several calls
that should not have been in dispute. The two played a series of
superb rallies, and again traded points quite evenly with Beng Hee always
slightly ahead and still taking pace off the ball. He converted two
gentle drops to close out the 2nd game, and it this point it was
clear that an upset was on the cards.
Beng Hee
continued his winning ways at the start of the third, but at 4-4 he
picked up the pace, much to the relief of Ricketts who surged briefly
into the lead for the first time in the match at 7-5 only to have Beng Hee
revert to his slower, patient game, A brilliant volley nick put him
back into contention, and when Ricketts made a couple of errors trying to
force the pace, Beng Hee moved ahead and took the last two points to
finish the match.
“That was
definitely my best ever win to beat Anthony, the British Open champion” said
Beng Hee. “Previously he’s hammered me every time we’ve played. I was very
pleased. I’ve won here before and this is my lucky tournament.” He
admitted to being very nervous before the match but he tried not to show it
to Ricketts.
Lee Beachill v Greg
Gaultier
The
second match also proved to be a surprise upset when Lee Beachill,
seeded #7 was beaten by #11 seed Greg Gaultier. Gaultier started badly
with 4 unforced errors into the tin, but he rallied around and began to
fight for the tee, keeping Beachill behind him and forcing the #7seed to
make a series of costly errors. Gaultier cruised through the first game as
Beachill conceded 7 points in a row to lose it 11-5.
Gaultier
dominated the 2nd game, never relinquishing the lead, to
take it 11-5. But Beachill was not to be counted out. He played his best
squash in the 3rd game and spectators saw the Beachill who won in
Bermuda 2 years ago, and was a finalist last year when he had the misfortune
to meet Jonathan Power on a day when the North American maestro could
do no wrong. Beachill moved the ball around beautifully and appeared
full of confidence as he romped through the game 11-5.
That
confidence held sway in the 4th as he built up a commanding
lead, but at 6-3 they played a tremendous rally during which Beachill
pushed Gaultier around the court and left him seemingly exhausted as he made
an unsuccessful attempt to retrieve n impossible ball off the back wall.
It was at this point that Gaultier showed true grit and determination
because the punishing rally had a startling effect on the Frenchman who then
dug deep and fought for every point, while Beachill started to fade.
Gaultier took 7 unanswered points to win the game 11-7 and record a
memorable victory.
“I was
moving well and hitting well” said Gaultier at the post match interview. “ I
played my best in the first two games. He changed his game in the 3rd
and played with greater variation, lots of lobs and slowing it down to
keep in front. I lost my rhythm. It was the same in the 4th
until we had a long rally. After that I tried to play through the pain
because I knew he was tired too. I just kept going from there.” When asked
about his future Gaultier said,”I feel I am nearly there, hopefully I
can be up there at the top. Sometimes I have not been there mentally.
Against the best players I know I can do well. I need to focus on myself and
my game.”
David Palmer v Cameron
Pilley
There was
never any doubt about the likely outcome of the all-Australian encounter
between #3 seed David Palmer and fellow Australian Cameron Pilley.
Palmer rattled off 4 quick points before Pilley could settle down and it was
10-5 before Pilley got into his stride. He even came back to 10-9
before Palmer took a point from a no let call for Pilley which would likely
have been granted if a sympathetic audience had been allowed to have a
majority vote!
Pilley
did not lose heart and even built up a lead in the 2nd game, but
Palmer was generally in control of the rallies with Pilley doing most of the
leg work. Mid way through this game Pilley had Palmer chasing around
the court, stretching at full length for a series of desperate
recoveries only to see the positions reversed and Palmer finished off the
rally with a brilliant winning drop. Pilley continued to press hard
and such was the intensity of the game that the ‘court rats’ were kept busy
mopping up the court even when neither player had fallen. Pilley lead
at 10-7, but Palmer sensed that his opponent was tiring and put the game out
of reach with two great drops followed by a hotly disputed no let against
Pilley.
Game 3
started with the longest rally of the match, won by Pilley, and may have
been too costly for him because Palmer took charge of the court
for the rest of the game. There was little Pilley could do as the
Commonwealth Games silver medallist took the game 11-6 and the match in
three straight, much to the delight of a partisan crowd who
consider Palmer, as a Bermuda resident, to be one of their own.
“He was
going for his shots and played some great winners, and at times I found him
hard to read” said Palmer after the match. “This gives me another
chance to have a crack at Peter (Nicol) if he wins tonight. I’d like that
before he retires.”
Peter Nicol v Karim
Darwish
If this
match was supposed to be a 33rd birthday bash for Peter Nicol,
someone clearly forgot to mention it to Karim Darwish, who completely
dominated the 1st game in front of a reverentially hushed crowd
as he rattled off 9 consecutive points before Nicol claimed his only
point of the game with a service return cross court nick. Darwish was moving
the Commonwealth Games gold medallist all over the court with his deceptive
cross court boasts and changes of direction.
Nicol
began to get into the match in the 2nd game but still looked a
little sluggish as he tried to maintain a slender lead. Darwish was
playing with confidence and denied Nicol a game ball at 10-9 to even
the score and win it himself on his second game ball.
It
appeared to be an uphill battle for Nicol as he dropped behind 3-1 in the
third, but years of experience began to tell as he clawed his way back into
the match, keeping Darwish at the back of the court and off balance.
The points began to flow for Nicol and after winning a punishing rally
at 7-3 during which Darwish did most of the running, Nicol coasted through
the game 11-5 as his opponent obviously decided to concede by not running at
all.
The 4th
game was a walkover for Nicolas as his opponent was afforded only one
service opportunity, losing 11-1. Darwish was clearly intent on
battling hard for the decider, but Nicol was by now playing at his
best, chasing every ball and retrieving as though he was just starting the
first game. It was all even at 6-6 and could have gone either way as
they remained even to 8 all. At this point it was a matter of will
power, and Nicol took the next two points to bring him to match point
which he won with amagnificent volley into the nick at the conclusion of
marathon rally.
Said
Nicol after the game “I wasn’t enjoying it in the first two games and
couldn’t get going. It was mental rather than physical because physically I
was fine. I started to enjoy it in the third and put a little more effort
in, and it seemed that he just capitulated after playing so well.
After I won the third he didn’t compete in the fourth, and after coming back
from two down I knew I wasn’t going to let it go.”
“I lost
my energy after the 2nd and Peter got his speed and started to
control the match” said Darwish. “ In the final game I got my energy
back until 8 all, and then I made two unforced errors and that was the end
of the game.”
Nicol
will next play David Palmer in a repeat of their recent Commonwealth Games
meeting in Melbourne.
Day 3
World Number One Shabana Reaches Bermuda Masters Quarters
Amr
Shabana
celebrated his first match as the new world number one squash player by
beating Scotland's
John
White
to
reserve himself a place in the quarter-finals of the Virtual Spectator
Bermuda PSA Masters, presented by Logic and hosted by
Endurance, on the all-glass court at the Jessie Vesey Sports Centre
in Hamilton, Bermuda.
White,
one of the hardest hitters on the PSA Tour, is a frequent visitor to Bermuda
and enjoyed strong crowd support, especially as he started in fine style,
taking a 4-1 lead in the first game. Shabana, the top-seeded World Open
champion, played catch up and eventually managed to overtake White to take
the opening advantage.
The
situation reversed itself in the second with Shabana taking an early lead to
5-1, before White hit his stride and played a series of exhilarating shots,
and even caused Shabana to make several uncharacteristic unforced errors.
White took the game to draw level as the Bermuda audience began to sense
that the ninth-seeded Scot was capable of pulling off a major upset.
They
reckoned without Shabana - who simply raised his level of play, refused to
make mistakes, and played exquisitely gentle drop winners in the nick at
every opportunity. This was Shabana at his best as he took White to task
and, after 56 minutes, secured his 11-8, 9-11, 11-2, 11-6 victory.
"It’s
always tough playing John White any day because he’s so strong and I can’t
afford to play loose shots," said the 26-year-old from Cairo afterwards.
"I’m pleased with the win and feeling fresh, so with a rest day tomorrow I
look forward to the next round.
“It
was great to hear I just reached No1 - and that is sweet for me. Now my
goal is to see how long I can stay there,” added Shabana.
The
left-hander will now face fifth seed James Willstrop for a place in
the semi-finals after the Englishman defeated the new Canadian No1 Graham
Ryding 11-9, 11-7, 11-9 in 49 minutes, despite seemingly suffering with
a back injury during the match.
"I
thought I played fairly well on a warm court and I’m very pleased to have
won it 3-0," said the 22-year-old from Yorkshire afterwards.
When
asked about his next match against Shabana, Willstrop commented: “I’m
really looking forward to it. I’ve won matches against him before so I know
I can win. But he is the man in form - he has great racquet skills and
great strength, and he takes the ball short. I can’t wait to get out there.
There is a fantastic atmosphere here and I want to play at my best.”
There
will be English interest in the other quarter-final in the top half of the
draw after Willstrop's Commonwealth Games team-mate and doubles
partner Nick Matthew, the eighth seed, brushed aside Malaysia's 12th
seed Mohd Azlan Iskandar 11-3, 11-5, 11-2 in 32 minutes.
Matthew was in devastating form, simply outplaying Iskandar in every aspect
of the game - using his height and reach to recover almost everything that
the Malaysian could throw at him.
The
25-year-old from Sheffield admitted afterwards that he was “chomping at the
bit for a good game and really looking forward to getting on court."
Matthew will meet France's Thierry Lincou in the last eight after the
fourth seed edged to an 11-6, 11-7, 8-11, 11-6 victory in 69 minutes over
rapidly-improving Australian Stewart Boswell, the 15th
seed.
In the
post-match interview, Lincou recalled how he and Boswell had risen through
the ranks together until the latter’s back injury took him out of action for
two years. “I’m glad he’s back and playing well. It was really close. I’m
pleased to get through,” said the former world number one-ranked Frenchman.
When
asked about his performance, Boswell said: “I played well in patches but
there were times when I allowed him to play his own game and then he was too
good for me. I played the wrong shots at the wrong time. You’ve definitely
got to think your way through a match better than I did tonight.”
Day 2
Nicol Overcomes Shaky Start
To Survive Bermuda Masters Opener
Competing in his
first PSA Tour event since winning two Commonwealth Games
squash gold medals in Australia last month,
Peter Nicol
overcame a shaky
start in his opening match against fellow Englishman Jonathan Kemp to
earn his predicted place in the second round of the Virtual Spectator
Bermuda PSA Masters, presented by Logic and hosted by
Endurance.
The sixth seed won
just two points in the opening game, but rediscovered the touch which took
his career haul to a record six Commonwealth Games medals in Melbourne to
beat Kemp 2-11, 11-6, 11-10 (4-2), 11-8 in 51 minutes.
"It was a very tough
first round," said the twice former PSA Masters champion. "I played well.
There was always a danger after the Commonwealths that I'd be a bit sluggish
but I'm hitting it well, moving well and I enjoyed that a lot. Joey played
at an unbelievable pace with no errors, it was just great squash."
Nicol now faces
Karim Darwish after the tenth seed beat fellow Egyptian Hisham Mohd
Ashour 11-1, 11-4, 11-5 in 23 minutes – the quickest match of the day.
Darwish said later:
"I know Hisham is talented so I had to be focused to beat him as well as I
did. I tried to play tight and it worked, I played well. Next I play Peter
Nicol on the glass court. It is always hard playing Peter but the glass
suits my game, I am looking forward to it."
Australian
Cameron Pilley caused the only upset on the second day of first round
action in the PSA Super Series Platinum event in Hamilton, Bermuda,
when he survived a 64-minute battle against Welshman Alex Gough to
beat the 16th seed 11-9, 11-7, 9-11, 11-9.
Masters debutant
Pilley, a 23-year-old from Yamba, NSW, will now face compatriot David
Palmer. The third seed prevailed in the event's most eagerly-awaited
match, against local hero Nicholas Kyme.
The contest
immediately followed the official opening ceremony, featuring all the
requisite pomp and ceremony for the tiny British colony - as Hamilton’s Town
Crier gave a proclamation, the Bermuda Regiment Band Drum Corps marched on
court, and the Deputy Premier officially declared the tournament open.
It was then time for
wildcard Kyme, the world No69, to make his entrance to the beat of a
military drum roll in front of an enthusiastic, stamping and cheering home
town audience. His opponent, the current world No2 David Palmer, also
resides in Bermuda when he is not on tour.
If Kyme was nervous,
he certainly showed no outward signs as he traded the first few points with
Palmer, and with the score at three-all, the packed audience cheered every
rally with gusto. Unfortunately for Kyme, Palmer was in no mood for an
extended match and after a long drawn out rally which saw Palmer dispatching
his opponent to every corner of the court - and then some - the former World
Open champion turned on the power and wrapped up his 11-4, 11-3, 11-4
victory in 29 minutes.
The second encounter
of the evening turned out to be the match of the tournament, in which
Malaysia's Ong Beng Hee saved two match balls to beat long-time rival
Wael El Hindi, of Egypt, 7-11, 11-8, 11-10 (2-0), 8-11, 11-10 (5-3)
in a marathon 98 minutes.
Day 1
Ryding Rocks Tuominen In
Bermuda Masters Opener
Graham Ryding
made up for the absence of
compatriot Jonathon Power, the defending champion who announced his
surprise retirement from the game on the eve of the event, by claiming an
unexpected Canadian place in the second round of the Virtual Spectator
Bermuda PSA Masters when he upset 13th seed Olli Tuominen
on the opening day's play in the PSA Super Series Platinum event
presented by Logic and hosted by Endurance.
Ryding, the 30-year-old
world No19 from Toronto beat the higher-ranked Finn 11-6, 8-11, 11-10 (2-0),
11-6 in 51 minutes to set up a second round meeting with fifth seed James
Willstrop. The Englishman put paid to an all-Canadian clash by beating
Torontonian Shahier Razik 11-6, 9-11, 11-6, 11-8.
"I’m very pleased to win
because Shahier is very dangerous on a bouncy court like that one," said
Willstrop of the match played, not on the all-glass court in the City of
Hamilton, but on one of the Bermuda Squash Rackets Association's
conventional plaster courts in the Parish of Devonshire. "The court doesn’t
suit my game and I’m happy to have it over and done with.”
Scotland’s
John White
had barely stepped off the
tarmac at Bermuda’s International Airport after a long journey from New
Zealand, before stepping on court against the ever-improving young Egyptian
Mohammed Abbas, who displayed both his deft touch and foot speed
around the court. White, the ninth seed, fell 2/1 down before finally
hitting his stride, racing through the final two games to record an 11-7,
8-11, 10-11 (1-3), 11-1, 11-9 victory in 72 minutes.
World Open Champion Amr
Shabana, the top seed from Egypt, played imperiously during his
encounter with England’s Joey Barrington, cruising to a comfortable
11-5, 11-6, 11-6 win - as did Stewart Boswell of Australia with an
almost identical 11-6, 11-5, 11-6 win against England’s Bradley Ball.
It was not the best of days
for England’s young players, as
Adrian Grant
lost 11-3, 11-10 (3-1), 11-6
to France's former World Open champion Thierry Lincou.
But last-minute replacement
Mark Chaloner, the world No36 from England, put up a spirited fight
against in-form ninth seed Nick Matthew, taking the first game in a
tie-break after fellow Englishman Matthew had game ball at 10-9.
It looked to be all over
when Matthew took the next two games, before Chaloner staged another great
recovery from 9-7 down in the fourth to serve for the game at 11-10. One
unfortunate unforced shot in the tin gave the impetus back to Matthew who
played two immaculate drop nicks in the front left corner and it was game
over 10-11 (0-2), 11-2, 11-6, 11-10 (3-1) in 58 minutes. |
|
Top
Women to play
Exhibition Match in Bermuda
Organizers of this year’s
Virtual Spectator Bermuda Masters 2006 squash championships, presented
by Logic & hosted by Endurance, have just announced that the World’s top
two female squash players - Nicol David of Malaysia, current World Open
Champion and ranked #1 in the world, and Vanessa Atkinson of the
Netherlands who won the Women’s World Open title in 2004, and is
currently ranked #2 - will be putting on a special exhibition match
on the final day of the championships (8th April).
In a concerted
effort to promote squash to Bermuda’s youngsters, organizers of the
Virtual Spectator Bermuda Masters 2006 squash championships devised a
plan to attract children to see the world’s best players in action by
means of a programme known as “Children’s Health Week”. The programme
provides schoolchildren with free courtside seats to watch matches
during lunch-time sessions on the first three days of the tournament,
and a squash scholarship will be awarded on each of these three days to
deserving youngsters who have shown an active interest in the Island’s
junior squash programme. This has been made possible through the
generous support of ACE, Bank of Butterfield, and Montpelier Re.
Children’s Health
Week culminates on the final day of the championships with “PartnerRe
Girl’s Day”
when local girls
with an interest in squash will be invited to watch the exhibition match
for free, followed by a coaching clinic during when they can ask the two
women players about training and how to lead a healthy lifestyle.
PartnerRe is also awarding a squash scholarship to a deserving girl in
the Island’s Junior Squash programme. The one-year scholarships include
everything needed to play squash, from free junior membership of the
squash club and enrollment in the junior squash programme, to regular
weekly coaching sessions, a racket, shoes and clothing.
When contacted about
her first visit to Bermuda next week, World Champion, Nicol David, said,
“I'm thrilled to be doing the exhibition with Vanessa while also
trying to promote women's squash to the people of Bermuda. This fits in
perfectly with PartnerRe Girl's Day and we hope to encourage more
girls to pick up the sport. It's my first time to Bermuda and I can't
wait for what is in store at this amazing resort.”
Jaime Masters,
Chairperson of PartnerRe s Charitable Donations Committee says,
“PartnerRe is proud to sponsor the Girl’s Day Event, which is designed
to encourage young girls to get involved in a very healthy activity.
It’s great news to hear that the world’s top two ladies will be playing
in the exhibition match. Both are wonderful players and role models who
will encourage our own girls to realize what is possible if you strive
to reach your full potential.”
Changes to Draw
Organizers of the Virtual Spectator Bermuda Masters
2006 were faced with a dilemma when it was discovered that Shahid Zaman and
Mansoor Zaman of Pakistan had both failed to apply for their visas for
Bermuda in a timely fashion despite both the BSRA and Bermuda Immigration
extending them every possible courtesy.
With
the two players having to withdraw from the tournament they have been
replaced by world #36 Mark Chaloner (England) and #37 Hisham Mohd Ashour
(Egypt). It has also resulted in Stewart Boswell moving to the #15
position, and Alex Gough moving to #16 seed, resulting in changes to
positions 12,14,17and 22.
Ross
Triffitt, Tournament Organiser, said,”We are very disappointed that Shahid
and Mansoor did not apply for their visas in time, but we have been able to
draft in the next two available players on the rankings list and make the
necessary adjustments to the draw. Bermuda is gearing up for what should be
fascinating and highly competitive tournament”.
The
Virtual Spectator Masters 2006 tournament runs from 2nd –8th
April in the picturesque city of Hamilton where squash is proving to be a
very popular sport.
Robert
Edwards - The Voice of Squash meets the voice of Bermuda
Newcomers to Bermuda are often amazed at the smorgasbord of
nicknames given to both locals and overseas residents, and every Bermudian is
familiar with the man fondly known throughout the Island as 'The Voice of
Summer'.
Former Member of Parliament, Deputy Premier, and
Minister of Tourism, The Hon. C.V. Jim Woolridge has been the Island's premier
cricket commentator for over 40 years, and his mellifluous tones have become
synonymous with languid summer days at the beach listening to his vivid
descriptions of our national sport over the air waves. Now that the Virtual
Spectator Bermuda Masters has become a popular event in Bermuda it's almost a
case of 'Watch out Jim. You have competition!'
Well, maybe it's not a
matter of competing, but the Professional Squash Association (PSA) can surely
boast of its own unique sports commentator, choreographer and character in the
form of Mr. Robert Edwards who is acknowledged around the world as 'The Voice of
Squash'. Robert is no stranger to Bermuda, having first visited the Island in
the 1970's as a brilliant (slim and svelte!) young squash player competing in
one of our first international tournaments.
After his playing career
ended Robert became World Tour Technical Director for the PSA and has since been
directly involved in over 170 major professional squash tournaments. But it is
his penchant for colourful commentary that has earned him his special title. He
has orchestrated squash spectaculars at venues as varied as the great pyramids
at Gaza and at Grand Central Station in New York. As he puts it, 'I don't do
glass-back' - referring to those old fashioned courts with just a glass wall at
the rear. Our court #2 at the BSRA in Devonshire was converted to a glass-back
not too long ago and we thought we were being progressive! All major tournaments
are now held exclusively on all-glass courts and Bermudians will again have a
rare opportunity to enjoy watching the action from every angle on a specially
imported all-glass court during this tournament.
As the PSA World Tour
continues to move forward in leaps and bounds Robert regularly refers to squash
as a 'gladiator sport'. He makes no apologies for claiming that professional
squash players are the fittest athletes in any sport. It is unlikely that squash
will ever replace cricket as our national sport, but one convert to squash as a
truly great spectacle is our own 'Voice of Summer' who has attended each of the
last two major tournaments held in Bermuda and is a keen supporter. He will no
doubt make another appearance this year and if you are a visitor, who has not
previously had the pleasure of meeting him, just look for the dapper dresser in
Bermuda shorts - 'The Voice of Summer' is never seen without them.
When
the lights dim in the Jessie Vesey Sports Centre at the start of the Bermuda
Masters 2006, we recommend that you sit back and brace yourselves for one
incredible feast of squash, with Robert Edwards as your Master of Ceremonies -
or should we say 'Ringmaster'. Be prepared for 'The Voice of Squash'. |
Presented by Logic & hosted by Endurance
‘Children’s Health Week’
and Partner Re Girls’ Day
A dedicated group of volunteers in
Bermuda just held their second Virtual Spectator Bermuda Masters 2006
squash championship featuring the world’s top 32 squash players, and
are already hard at work preparing to host the World Open Championship
in 2007. It is remarkable that a tiny country with a population about
the size of an average town (68,000) can host a major international
squash tournament, and perhaps even more remarkable is the success of
the organizers in actively involving the Island’s youngsters in the
event. Their innovative programmes, “Children’s Health Week” and
“PartnerRe Girl’s Day” could be examples for other countries and clubs
to emulate.
The Bermuda Squash Racquets Association
(BSRA) already has over 100 children directly involved in their junior
squash programme, attending regular Saturday squash sessions and
competing for places in the Bermuda National Junior Squad. Their
schools programme, organized by National Development Coach, Patrick
Foster, attracts children from 13 schools around the Island to
regularly visit the club during weekdays to get acquainted with
squash. Last year alone they had over 4,500 total visits to the courts
by schoolchildren.
During the first
three days of this year’s Virtual Spectator Bermuda Masters children
were invited to lunch-time sessions (each featuring two matches) for
free, thanks to the generous sponsorship of three local companies,
ACE, Bank of Butterfield, and Montpelier Re, who kindly donated some
300 tickets which were distributed to children’s groups around the
Island. Tournament Director, Ross Triffitt explains, “This was a
tremendous opportunity for children to get involved in what is
recognized as the ‘Number 1 Healthiest Sport’. We invited children to
come and watch the worlds top squash players in action, and also to
participate in a coaching clinic put on by some of the visiting
professional players.”
On each of the three days a lucky
youngster from the schools programme was awarded a one-year squash
scholarship, complete with free membership to the squash club,
enrolment in the junior programme, free private lessons and free kit,
all courtesy of the three sponsors. The scholarships were awarded to
juniors in the schools programme who had shown promise and a real
desire to improve their squash skills.
PartnerRe’s support allowed for young
Bermudian girls with an interest in squash to watch the exhibition
match for free (along with the Men’s Final), and to later attend a
coaching clinic during which they asked Nicol and Vanessa about
training and how to lead a healthy lifestyle. PartnerRe also awarded
a one-year squash scholarship, to a deserving girl in the Junior
Squash programme.
Jaime Masters, Chairperson of PartnerRe
s Charitable Donations Committee says "PartnerRe was proud to sponsor
the Girl’s Day Event. It was a great opportunity for us to support the
efforts of the Junior Squash Programme in expanding their membership.
Giving all those young girls the opportunity see Nicol and Vanessa in
action, and to have a coaching session with them, has enriched their
experience of the sport and we hope that it will also encourage
long-term participation in this very healthy activity".
By any measure it has been a tremendous
experience for hundreds of Bermuda’s children to be able to watch the
finest male and female players in the world in action right here on
this tiny Island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.
Anyone
seeking more information about the BSRA’s junior squash programme and
the above activities can contact either Patrick Foster at
patrickf@bermudasquash.com or Club Manager,
Dave Elliott at
davee@bermudasquash.com
|
|
|
|
