The Veterans Squash Rackets Club of Great Britain


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CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE FOR JANUARY 2012

We are already well into our new season. It started with a bang for quite a few of our members who took part in the European Championships that were held in Porto in early September (see separate website report).

It was superbly run, great fun and a great place to visit in any case. The club members who entered did our reputation for ability and sportsmanship proud.

As in previous years there are 5 Regional Tournaments – Pontefract, Exeter (a new venue), Bury St Edmunds, Coventry and Broxbourne. Also the ‘Nationals’ in Manchester in February 2012 and there is a new sponsor for the British Open which will be held at the O2 in London in May. Full details can be found  in the Spring Newsletter, and on the web.

So far as our Club activities are concerned our Tournament is well underway. As you know it is a knock out Tournament and I am glad to say 97 members have entered the singles and 40 doubles pairs. All results will be posted on a regular basis on the web.  The finals will take place at the Broxbourne Squash Club over the week-end 21/22 April 2012.

I do urge players to play their matches rather than award a walk-over. I know one player has to be the “Home” player but I would encourage players to get in touch with each other as soon as possible once the “Draw” is published and agree a mutually convenient date and venue to play. It is a great chance to meet another member and enjoy a pint or a cup of tea together after the match! 

Do please look at the Handbook or visit the web to see if there are any matches you would like to play in – don’t wait to be asked! Reports of matches played can, again, be found on the web.  I would be very pleased if a few players would plan a game against a club they know in addition to those shown in the handbook. Please keep Tony Seare informed and write a short report for the website after the match.

The Olympics will be on TV next July but more importantly for us, either to watch or play, the 11th Squash World Masters will be held in Birmingham between the 20th and 28th July but will not be on TV! It will be a great deal of fun and well worth going to watch some of the games. The main venue will be the Edgbaston Club which is a lovely club to go to.

One last request, I would be grateful if our younger players would do all they can to encourage other players whom they meet in matches or friendlies to join our club. We really are a bit short in the 45-60 age range. Application forms can be downloaded from our web.

Have a great season whatever your standard, it is a lovely game to play.

John Woodliffe.