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Nationals DIARIES and
MINI-PORTRAITS |
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NATIONALS DIARIES - Thu 10th ... |
My Year ??? Wait and see ...
Linda Elriani at the Nationals
 It's
Friday 11th and the 2005 National Championships are well on their way. As
always, it's been a really well run event so far. Once the quarter-final
stage starts all the matches are played on the glass court, which is set up
in the big arena surrounded by seating.
I believe all the players prefer to play on the glass court, as that's when
the crowds become bigger and noisier and there's more razamataz with loud,
pumping music and being presented onto court at the start of the matches.
It's what really makes the Nationals feel like the Nationals!!!
Today is my rest day as I played my quarter-final match last night against
Dom Lloyd-Walter and I'm luckily through and looking forward to my match
with Jenny Tranfield (who beat Jenny Duncalf 3-1 last night) in the
semi-final tomorrow afternoon.
Great matches so far
There have been some really great matches already in this championship, with
Alison Waters beating Tania Bailey in an extremely tight and hard-fought
five-setter, and Vicky Botwright beating Steph Brind in a nailbiting 9/7 in
the fifth. It's a testament to the fact that the depth in women's squash has
improved because even the first rounds are really tough and have to be taken
100% seriously.
Hopefully there'll be even more exciting matches to come in the remainder of
the tournament, with the rest of the quarter-finals tonight and the semis
tomorrow and finals on Sunday.
My Year ???
With the absence of Cassie this year, due to her unfortunate recurring back
injury and subsequent retirement, I'm now no 1 seed and I've had many people
say "it's your year", "it's finally yours for the taking" ... all of which
are encouraging and nice gestures and I feel flattered that people feel that
it it possible for me to win it this year.
But all I'm doing is taking every point, rally and match as it comes and
then hopefully I can play my best squash and then maybe, and only maybe, I
can become National Champion at last!!
I guess we'll all have to wait and see ...
Linda Elriani |
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Lights ...Music...Andy...Action!
Steve Cubbins
catches up with the Nationals compere
Now that the event has moved onto the glass court, the focus is on the
players, as each one is brought onto court with an introduction that gets
the crowd knowing what a feast of squash they're about to see.
And who is it who does all these introductions ... none other than Andy Nickeas ...
He started in 1998, alongside Robert Edwards when the Nationals were held in
Manchester's G-Mex Centre.
"Robert wasn't available for the early stages," Andy recalls, "and I guess I
was cheap and no-one else was available. And my first job was to introduce
Peter Nicol, who had become world number one for the first time that day ... no
pressure!"
Well, since then Andy has presented the players in every National
Championships at the Velodrome and here at Sportcity. He's compered at the
Commonwealth Games, the World Invitation Doubles, and last week the
Badminton Championships here in Manchester.
"Some people may question my knowledge of squash, but I can assure you it is
encyclopaedic compared to what I know about Badminton," he jokes.
But knowledge is all, and Andy spends time with the statistics and the
players to make sure all goes well on the night. What music do they like,
what are the achievements they want people to know about ... every base is
covered.
Of course, it sometimes goes wrong, like last year when Andy got two Jenny's
mixed up. "The crowd don't let me forget that one," he says.
But it generally goes right, the players come on feeling a million dollars
and the crowd knows who, what, when, how and why. "I just love being
involved with these events, and it's a real privilege to introduce these
stars, they are who they are."
So for once, here's an introduction for the master of introductions ...
stand up Andy, the stage is yours ...
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ADORABLE MIKE HARRIS
 Mike,
I heard about him so much before meeting him in Sheffield for the BJO this
year, and all good things, believe me, in particular from Linda Elriani
who has been training with him for quite a while now, along with her
husband Laurent Elriani, but also by so many people who are all
praise for the man (even the French Delegation, Fred Lecomte and
Philippe Signoret mentioned how wonderful he is, that says it all, I
think...)
Mike works for England Squash, and is involved in the High Performance
Programme as an assistant coach, and works closely with David Pearson
and Paul Carter, who I understand have supported him over the years.
Based in Brighton, he coaches regularly players like Chris Simpson,
Tom Pashley, Jenna Gates, Rachel Willmot and Suzie
Pierrepont (if I'm forgettig somebody, please don't shoot, OK????)
“I absolutely love the coaching to death”, says Mike with passion, “I’m
probably too emotional about it…”
His ambition? Very simple indeed…
 “I
just want to be involved in squash, I want to keep on learning…”
An absolutely gem of a man, Mike is. Always helping some kid or another,
always busy, always working. I think squash is a better world thanks to
people like him, discreet, dedicated, caring, simple, passionate and
efficient…
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NATIONALS DIARIES - Wed 9th ... |
 I
only found out yesterday morning that I was playing Peter Billson. We'd
played a couple of times in league matches and I'd won, so I was looking
forward to the match.
I cut my knee on the floor lunging for a ball at 5-2 in the first, and had
to take a long injury break while we tries to stop the bleeding.
The referee was on my case to get back on court, and I came on with a
massive bandage around my knee - thanks, Matt - but it unsettled me a bit
and I lost the first game, Peter played a few good winners.
But I pulled together and managed to win the next three.
So it's Goughy next. I've never played him professionally, although we
played a few times in my school days. I'm looking forward to this one, it's
long overdue. We're on court two, which is not the favourite court of most
of the players, but I've played here a lot with National Squads, so
hopefully that should suit me.
My dad's come up to watch and with Phil playing today against Simon Parke
after a good win over Peter Genever yesterday it should be a good family
day.
Peter Barker |
Peter
advises Phil in his match against Peter Genever
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MINI PORTRAITS |
 Steve
MEADS
Steve has competed in every National Championships since 1986, and was
National Champion 10 years ago.
Framboise catches up with him just before he starts out on his latest
campaign ... |
 Ben
GARNER
Ben came so close to making it to the quarter-finals last year, but knows
that if he is to get to the same position this time he's going to have to
earn it.
Well, that's what he told Framboise, anyway ... |
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NATIONALS DIARIES - Tue 8th ... |
 "I expect its going to be an excellent event as always, the people at
Manchester are very organised and can't do enough for the players. With a
few people in Sportcity, I hope there will be a good atmosphere. I only
saw the draw a couple of days ago and it definitely has thrown up some
interesting challenges for a number of players.
"Whoever was unlucky to have drawn Whitey in the quarters was a little
unfortunate but if you want to win it, you have to beat everyone. I was
quite happy with my draw, a qualifier to play Alex Gough. I haven't played
Goughy yet since playing professionally so I will look forward to it if I
get the chance to play him. "
Peter Barker |
 "I'm
looking forward to Manchester. I feel confident in my build up to next week,
I'm playing good squash. I have a tough draw but no draw is ever easy but I
would love to get a go with Johnny White in the second round. I think the
draw is as strong as ever with some interesting matches.
"I competed in Grantham this weekend to get some matches in, and made it
to the final."
Bradley Ball |
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