Doubles Finale and Pro Coaches
Jonathon
Power turned it on in the final against Thierry Lincou but the week at
Broadgate was about more than just the pro matches - it was really a
festival of squash.
Complementing the final was the
exhibition doubles and earlier in the day there had been the final of
the Celebrity-Am competition with the fortunate Guido Le Lorain, who had
drawn Rebecca Macree as a partner, coming out on top over Chris Hobbs
and Ellery Hanley.
In the doubles event there was tons of
fun and incident - don't try this at your own club, not like this anyway
- with the winners really irrelevant. That was the warm-up for Jonathon
Power and obviously put him in the right mood because he carried on in
an exhibition vain much of Thierry Lincou's frustration.
The doubles team of Nick Matthew and
James Willstrop vs the Garner brothers Tim and Ben played on the
Thursday afternoon in front of a packed audience of 350 Brit Insurance
guests and provided such spectacular entertainment that it was suggested
the four could provide a traveling squash circus. The four also provided
the curtain raiser for the final on Friday evening.
Player and Clinics
Throughout
the week the players put in a considerable amount of their own time
providing exclusive coaching clinics for sponsors, Brit Insurance, and
groups of school children. The clinics were incredibly well
received and the players time was hugely appreciated by event promoters,
WSM and all those who took part. Nick Matthew, Lee Beachill and Peter
Nicol were amongst those to help out.
The children will have had a sporting
memory to take through their lives with Peter Nicol, former world no.1
running through the basics with them and enthusing them on the game.
What youngster could forget the British Champion Lee Beachill leading
them around the court on a warm-up run?
It was all part of a great week at
Broadgate with the viewing excitement of the professional Finals, the
Celebratory-Am, the Doubles, the Player Clinics, former world champion
Ross Norman coaching the British Land clients, the Lord Taveners'
fundraising activities, Kingfisher's awards and beer tasting, the
competitions and raffles. It was a great meeting place. A great week in
squash!
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