Jill retains National Title!

Jill Campion, who lives in Bix and is a member of Henley Squash Club, retained her British Over 55 national squash title, coming back from 2 games to 0 down to win 3-2. This the third year in a row that Jill has won the women’s Over 55 category, the first time anyone has won this category three years in succession.

“This year was really tough and I had to fight hard in each match” said Jill. “The quarter final against Kim Johnson, a newcomer in this age group, was fast-paced and physically testing. Although I won 3-0, the games were close, and I was pleased to get ahead at the right time.

“My semi-final was against Sarah Howlett from Cambridgeshire. I knew I would have to rethink my game when I quickly found myself 1-0 down, with Sarah keeping the rallies short with excellent winning volleys and pin-point accurate drop shot. Luckily I found my range in the second game and managed to keep Sarah at the back of the court with high lobs, setting me up to win points at the front. Having won the second game, I maintained this tactic and gradually gained confidence, winning the match 3-1. It was a hugely tactical match – less physical than my first match but mentally more difficult.

“Lesley Sturgess beat reigning Over 55s World Champion Karen Hume in the other semi-final. I last played Lesley in the the final of the British Open Over 55 last June. Then I quickly lost the first two games and managed to stage a comeback, winning 3-2. This time I was determined to get ahead quickly. However, things didn’t go according to plan. The first game was anyone’s. But Lesley was clearly getting into her stride with excellent volleys and perfect lengths, putting me under pressure and she took the first game. I was struggling to work out how to counter this and quickly lost the second. 2-0 down, clearly there was no margin for error. I started putting a lot more height on the ball, preventing Lesley from attacking it and won the crucial third game and then the fourth. I had managed to turn the tables – Lesley was feeling the pressure and her shots were becoming less accurate, which allowed me to win the fifth game and the match. I am absolutely thrilled, as to be honest, at 2-0 down I thought I was going to lose!”

Matt is Club Champ again!

Matt Marshall won an exciting final to the Aktuel Translations Cup, thus retaining his crown as Henley Squash Club champion.

In the semi-finals, which took place the evening before Finals Day, Marshall had won a very tight match against Matt Baynes 3-2. Baynes looked to have the upper hand after coming back from 2-0 down to level the match at 2-2. But Marshall took the deciding game to win through.

In the other semi-final, Andy Lewis faced 1st team captain, and tournament organiser, Simon Street. Lewis had been playing a lot of squash in the preceding days and said he was feeling very sharp. And so it proved to be with the hard hitting Lewis winning out against Street’s accuracy and range of shots.

In the final, Marshall was, on paper, the stronger player – but Lewis matched him point-for-point in the first game, before Marshall won a very tight game. The next two games were a little easier for Marshall and he ran out 3-0 winner.

The final of the Plate competition, for players that were knocked out in the early rounds of the Championship, was played immediately before the Championship final.

One of the rising stars of Henley Squash Club, 15-year-old Jake Ireland, was up against Junior Club Chairman, Richard Little, who was conceding a few decades in age to his young opponent! But it was, if anything, Richard who charged around the court like a youngster – never giving up on a lost cause and bouncing off the walls in his determination to reach every ball. The match swung one way and then the other before reaching 2-2 and going to a deciding game. That also proved very close, but in the end Jake’s youth and classy shots just won out against Richard’s never-say-die attitude. All of us who have ever beaten Jake as he was rising through the ranks of Henley Squash Club should cherish the memory – because we won’t ever do so again!

Many thanks to Simon Street for organising and running the tournament. The whole draw and all the results can be seen here…

Jill is National Champ again!

Jill Campion, who lives in Bix and plays squash at Henley Squash Club, has won the national over 55s womens’ squash championship for the second year running.

Jill faced tough opposition, not least from experienced Welsh international Lynne Davies in the quarter finals, who she beat 3-1, after a very nervous start.

Next she played Karen Hume, from Kent. “I have played Karen many times and know she is a fighter. I got off to a good start and won the first game comfortably. Karen then settled and found her length, making the next two games far tougher. I had to fight for every point and was glad to win 3-0″.

“I then faced Julie Field in the final – a rerun of last year’s national final, and of the final of the European Masters in Sweden last August. Having won both those matches gave me self-belief and confidence. However, I know Julie is a canny player and excellent shot player and I would need to be playing my best. The first game was neck and neck and to be honest I felt she had the edge. At six all I decided to up the pace, which paid off and I scraped through to win that game 10-8. The second game was similarly equal, with the difference that I felt I was managing to dominate more and I won it 9-7. Leading 2-0 gave me the confidence to play better winning shots in the third, reflected in the 9-3 score. I am absolutely thrilled to win my second national title – it is a very special feeling.”

Jill is currently also European over55s squash masters champion and British Open champion. She will be defending her British Open title in June.

Another story about Jill here…

David is Welsh Masters Champion!

Henley Squash club member David Wright, ran out the winner at the Welsh Open Squash Masters Over 60s at the Welsh National Sports Centre on December 4th-6th.

David had a very close match in the semi-final against Paul Mills of Wales eventually winning 9/6 in the fifth.

The final was a little more straightforward, after a slow start he won in 4 games 3/9, 9/5, 9/3 9/3 against Alan James.

David plays team squash for Henley in the Oxfordshire League and in the Berkshire Veterans League.

Christmas 2015 Opening Times

There are plenty of opportunities for Squash League players to finish their December matches over the Christmas period! And for all members, why not burn off that Christmas Day excess before the New Year celebrations start! Here are the Leisure Centre Opening Times (normal times for any days not shown below):

Monday 21st : 6.30 – 22.00

Tuesday 22nd : 6.30 – 22.00

Wednesday 23rd : 6.30 – 22.00

Thursday 24th : 7.00 – 16.00

Friday 25th : CLOSED

Saturday 26th : CLOSED

Sunday 27th : 7.00 – 19.00

Monday 28th : 6.30 – 20.00

Tuesday 29th : 6.30 – 20.00

Wednesday 30th : 6.30 – 20.00

Thursday 31st : 7.00 – 16.00

Friday 1st : CLOSED

Saturday 2nd : 8.00 – 19.00

Sunday 3rd : 8.00 – 19.00

Also, remember that team squash has finished for the season, so Tuesday and Thursday evenings are available for normal bookings for the rest of December and until the new season starts in early January.

3rd and 4th Teams are Promoted

The Oxfordshire Winter1 season closed with both the 3rd and 4th teams winning promotion. The 3rds will move up to Division 5 after Christmas and the 4ths go up to Division 6.

The 2nd team fought a successful relegation battle and stay in Division 2.

The 1st team flirted with relegation at one point in the season, but finished solidly mid-table in Division 1.

See the full tables here…

Jill is European Champion!

Henley Squash Club’s Jill Campion won the women’s over 55 category of the European Masters Squash Championship, held in Malmo, Sweden, 27th-30th August. After a 3-0 win in the semi-finals against experienced Welsh international Sian Johnson, Jill faced title-holder Julie Field from Yorkshire.

“The first game was tough” said Jill, “but I was playing well, I was in control, I was playing to the ball, I felt good. But in the second, her lob serve was superb, and I just couldn’t take the game away from her, although I had my chances. Third, I just couldn’t step up to the mark, she did everything superbly, I just couldn’t prevent her from playing her game.

“So I changed tactic for the 4th, I tried and attacked everything, crosscourting everything very hard. In the last game, I really focused on the width, again trying to push her to the back, and I managed to control my movement better. Then I had two match balls, I lost one, she won one, then she tinned. At 10/10, I told myself, come on, you have two serves, you are going to do this. And I did!

“It’s only the second time I have beaten Julie in the 15 years I’ve been playing against her, the first win being the final of the over 55s British National Masters in Manchester in February. Julie is famous for her lob serves, her length, her crosscourt volleys! She has won three World titles, six British National titles and three British Open titles at Masters level. She exudes that confidence that comes from having won pretty much everything there is to win.”

This makes it three in a row for Jill this year. As well has now being European Masters Champion, she is also women over 55s British Open and British Closed Masters Champion.

Another story about Jill here…

County Success for Henley Squash Juniors

Players from the Henley Junior Squash Club featured prominently in the recent Berkshire and Oxfordshire County Championships, gaining one county title and three second places and three third places.

The Berkshire County Championship was held at the Windsor Squash Club and four Henley juniors competed; James Dunning, Miles Edwards, Beth Ireland and Jake Ireland.

See full report here

Handicap Tournament 2015

This year’s Handicap Tournament was run on Saturday 17th October.

Jonathan Betts was the eventual winner – pictured here receiving his prize from squash legend Ross Norman.

Full report coming soon.

Prizes were kindly donated by club sponsor Aktuel Translations. ‘As ever, we’re keen to support Henley sports clubs wherever we can and Henley Squash Club is no exception. Ross Norman is a great ambassador for the game and we are proud to have him come along. For me, he embodies the idea of never giving up – having met and lost to Jahangir Khan on 30 occasions, he dug deep and won the world title, when it counted, on their 31st meeting at the World Championships final in 1986, ’ says Aktuel Translations founder, Robin Bennett.

New Team Shirts

Winters Squash starts in September with all teams wearing the new team T-shirts!

Our two main sponsors, Aktuel Translations and Invesco Perpetual, are shown prominently on the front and back of the shirts – with our other sponsors, Growth Creation, TMS2 and Comtest Wireless also on display.

Apologies for the model in the pictures – he is not as young as he used to be!

All team players will receive one T-shirt free (qualification: must have played for the teams 3 times) with additional shirts available for £30. Non-team members of the club are more than welcome to purchase shirts as well – place your orders with Duncan Nightingale. Sizes available: XL, L, M, S.