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 Nationals
EN BREF FINALS DAY
Everything you didn't know you needed to know about the Nationals ... |
ELRIANI SUPPORT CLAN
 Linda
Elriani had her supporters of course, but nobody was more anxious to see
her win than … her mother Chick.
When I asked her a prognostic on the match, she hesitated for a second, and
said with a little voice “I just want her to win”…
Cassie also came to support her old friend :
“It feels strange to be here, but I had to come at some point anyway, might
as well do it quickly. And as Linda was playing, I just wanted to be there
for her…”
So, Fiona Geaves, Cassie Jackman, and Mum…. What more do you want, Linda…
|
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MY NAME IS
WHITE…
 John
White is a fantastic player of course, and whoever saw him play knows that
he possesses a fantastic sense of humour and a quick brain to go with it...
Howard Harding told us a little story quite significant of John’s witty
repartee. Before the semi-final against James, he needed a racquet to be
restrung.
He gives his racquet to the man in charge, who asks him “What is the name?”
And John to say “The name is on the racquet…”
Don’t you just love him????
|
DERBY
If there was a day NOT to play a final at the National Squash Centre, it
would have been today, as Manchester City is playing Manchester
United, meaning that the whole area will be blocked and sealed…
Yeah!!!!!!!!
Not to mention that England is receiving France at Twickenham
in the Tournament of Six Nations, and as we have 8 injured of 15 players,
and in view of our performance of last week against Scotland, I don’t give
much for the French chances…
Like I said, what else could go wrong???? |
WHAT ELSE CAN
GO WRONG?
OK. After the car disaster, the hairdryer, what else could go wrong you may
ask?
Well, our wonderful webmaster couldn’t find his car keys as we were going to
go and have our first "early" evening of the week....
Looked everywhere, Steve did. In his bags, in the Press Office, in the
arena...No keys anywhere.
Thank God, his wife Jane was visiting her mum in Manchester (they normally
live in Newcastle), and happened to have a spare key on her own set of car
keys…
So, forget the early evening, all the way we went to Sale (an area of
Manchester) with MY car that Linda just got back from the mechanic, (it
works fine, thank you for asking), got the keys, drove all the way back,
picked up Steve’s car at the National Squash Centre. He opened his boot to
put his computer in it… and found his keys…
Bless… |
AND THEY PLAY TOO…
It’s all very well to coach squash, or to promote it for that matter, but it
is even better to actually PLAY it…
And that’s what Paul Carter, Assistant Head coach to England Squash
(who’s got one of his players in the Ladies’ final today, Alison Waters),
and Paul Walters, founder of I-Squash Marketing, (a remarkable
company that manages great players like Lee Beachill, Nick Matthew, James
Willstrop, Adrian Grant, Peter Barker and Anthony Ricketts) were doing today
on one of the side courts.
O I envy them, you know….I miss playing sooooo much…
|
HOTEL FROM HELL…
Started with the attempted theft in my car, total bill £700, plugs not
working, people shouting every night (last night again, at 3am, as I had
just finally got to sleep…) in the corridors, bins not emptied, no refill of
tea or milk, rooms not done, items charged to wrong rooms, and, and, the
cherry on the cake this morning, no hot water.
And that was just me.
But this morning, at breakfast, as there were no table free, I had to squat
on Mandy Akin’s table, and she basically had an even worse experience than I
had… Of course, the night before the semi-final, the people were shouting so
much in the corridor, that the police had to be called… Like me, her room
was not done, but even better, their room was given to somebody else!
”We were lucky”, she said, “we were going to our room, and saw some people
walking in front of us, stopping at our door, opening it and saying “oh, but
there is already somebody in there”….
“We have been using this hotel for years, and never had any problems before,
but we will not come back again, that’s for sure…”
Guess what? You would have to pay me so much money to come back that it
would be cheaper to buy the blipping hotel...
|
GENTLEMAN ADRIAN
by Steve Cubbins
When he read the report of his Over 60 match against Tommy Elves, Adrian
Wright immediately got in contact with Chris Nutley, the tournament
organiser.
Why?
Well in the report it mentioned that Adrian received a conduct warning for
throwing his racket after a decision went against him. Nothing nasty, in
fact all the spectators found it very funny.
But Adrian, ever the gentleman, wanted to make sure that Chris passed on his
apologies to the referees for his behaviour!
That's what squash is all about ... |
GOOD
FOR MANDY
 The day got better for Mandy, as she won her first National title, beating
Fran Wallis 3/1 in the Over 40 final.
"I went two nil up, then dropped the third but the fourth game was fairly
easy," said a delighted Mandy. Obviously I'm very proud to be a National
Champion!" |
SWEET VICKY
by Steve Cubbins
The volunteers in the corridor, letting press and players into the secure
area of the centre, have been great all week. And Vicky Botwright showed her
appreciation by giving them a bag of mini-eggs to share between them. She's
so sweet ... |
STRAIGHT FROM
AUSTRALIA…
 A few days ago, I received a message from some Australian “Beato” on
the Squashsite Forum, asking me if it was difficult to get tickets at the
door for the Nationals.
I forwarded the message to England Squash, and got a lovely note from the
lady, actually called Marianne McDonald, who used to come to England a
lot when she was younger.
The reason why she wanted to come to Manchester this year was to see the
lady who took care of her for 6 to 8 months per year when she used to come
to train, a lady she hadn’t seen for … 14 years.
The name? Fiona Geaves…
So Linda Elriani organised in secret some tickets for her, and just as Fiona
won her match and stepped out of court, she saw Marianne, and expressed her
surprise in a way that we cannot decently write on this column…
“I’m so happy to be here”, said Marianne, “Fiona and I stayed in contact by
phone or email, but we hadn’t seen each other for so long. And Cassie is
here as well, we used to train together all those years ago… It’s a great
moment for me…” |
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BIG DAY FOR PONTEFRACT
Nearly 80 supporters from Lee and James’ club of Pontefract watched
the final today. But who to support really, that’s the problem now, isn’t
it?
Well, Mike Todd, manager from Pontefract, found the perfect solution:
two colour raffle tickets were sold for £1, with all benefit going to the
Tsunami disaster, and depending of the ticket colour, you’ll support one or
the other player…
Sorted.
“James and Lee agree that a system had to be found, as there is nothing more
annoying than a packed audience with no atmosphere” said Mick Todd just
before the beginning of the match. “And I know who I will be supporting, but
it’s none of your business…” he added with a big smile… |
 |
  STUART, RAYMOND AND DAWN…
Just a little word in passing on three volunteers who have been on the event
for the whole week, and whose smiles have made even the toughest day look
bright…
Thank you for doing your job so well, dear people, very much appreciated… |
Nationals
EN BREF Day SIX
Everything you didn't know you needed to know about the Nationals ... |
MARK SAVES MY HAIR
DAY
OK. It’s official… This tournament will stay the tournament of all
incidents…
After my car was salvaged, written off, saved by Super Linda Davie, it’s now
my blipping brush hair dryer that died this morning, as I was drying my
hair…
What else can go wrong????
But thank God, when I arrived at the National Centre, I was saved by Super
Mark, who, armed with a new fuse, whatever that is, made my hairdryer alive
again…
If you ask me, it’s a miracle, which proves one thing: contrary to the
general believe, men are useful… |
PR:
IT’S A DIRTY JOB…
He is everywhere, Howard Harding is, on all the fronts, even on the
DIY one…
You need a desk fixed, call in the specialists, or… call Howard, who will do
ANYTHING to give us journalists good conditions to work in…
What would we do without you, dear Howard…
 |
THE MACREES:
I’ve met Linda and Rebecca Macree several times now, and we just seem
to be able to talk rather freely, all of us. Rebecca is probably one of the
only people in England who is not disturbed by my French accent...
“Thank you for your article on Rebecca a few months back”, Linda told me .
“You seem to understand where she comes from, how frustrated she can get
when she cannot communicate what she is thinking, or feeling. Very few
people realise what she has got to cope with, you know…”
 “Rebecca
can tell much better than anybody else if the ball is up or not up, as her
eyes are also her ears. She is also very sensitive to the vibrations. It’s
amazing how far more accurate the other senses become to compensate…”
“What really annoys me sometimes, is that people assume you are silly or
stupid just because you can’t hear, or can’t understand what is being said…
Rebecca has been travelling on her own on the Pro Tour for yonks now, and
she hasn’t got into any big trouble yet…” |
FUNNY
COINCIDENCE…
 In
the last quarters, we saw two breathtaking outstanding amazing matches,
Waters/Botwright & Willstrop/Parke. Both were exactly 70 minutes. The two
other matches, a bit more one sided, were also very close, 30 minutes for
the ladies, and 32 minutes for the men.
It’s funny, don’t you think??? |
MEETINGS DAY
We have been very “meetingy” today… First, an informal lunch with Nick
Ryder, Chief Executive of England Squash, just to try and advance the
relations between the Specialised Press and ES.
A few good ideas were exchanged, and it was a pleasure to get to know that
busy man a bit better, along with the new Communications Coordinator, Lianne
Price, who will be in charge of coping with all of us, god help her.
We also learnt that our own Howard Harding, Press Officer for PSA, WISPA,
WSF, has just been nominated as New PR for ES…. “I’m thrilled” was the man's
comment….
 Then we had a quick improvised meeting with new
Christian Leighton, the new
Chief Executive of the WSF.
“I’ve got so much to learn, and I’m trying to learn as much as I can from
Ted Wallbutton who is an endless well of knowledge”… he said to start the
meeting.
Blimey, there is a man with a mission, let me tell you. He is so efficient,
organised, precise, he knows where he is going, what he wants to achieve,
i.e. getting squash into the Olympics, and more than anything else, he knows
that a plan of action has to be put in practice by March as the decision
will be announced in July.
In other words, I was impressed…
We had a quick brainstorming meeting, where a few interesting ideas were
proposed, duly noted by WSF Chief Executive.
One thing is sure: if Squash doesn’t get into the Olympics, it won’t be
Christian’s fault, as that man has the energy, the enthusiasm and the will
that make worlds go forward, and the impossible achievable.
Welcome to Mad City, dear Sir ... |
LEE ON THE RADIO
by Steve Cubbins
Christian Leighton and Lee Beachill were on BBC Radio 5 Live's
Breakfast Show today, contributing to a phone-in about the sports bidding to
become part of the Olympic programme (and if you don't know that squash is
one of five hopefuls, what planet have you been on lately?).
By all accounts there was overwhelming support for squash from the phone-in
audience, which included one lady caller who said she used to be quite a
good squash player herself ... Cassie Jackman !!
|
Nationals
EN BREF Day FIVE
Everything you didn't know you needed to know about the Nationals ... |
STARS
EVERYWHERE
 Wherever
I go at the moment, I seem to meet “La crème de la Crème”, as they say in
English. Last week, it was Andrew Castle, then here in Manchester, some of
the most prestigious names of our squash world, and today, the so talented
Caroline Quentin, star of “Men behaving badly”, “Jonathan Creek”,
etc…
I was recording some commercials at 9am this morning in a studio in London,
and trust me, 9am is quite early for a voice recording. And to crown it all,
as I don’t have the use of my car, as you probably remember, I had to leave
my house much earlier than usual.
All that means to say that I arrived at 8.10am, ready to work. Well, there
already was that charming lady who, like me, was early, and who I
immediately recognised, as she is one of my favourite English actresses.
As we were alone at such an early hour in the morning, we starting to chat,
and she told me she had to record very early as she was on a shoot just
after, and that hopefully, a taxi had been booked by the production to pick
her up.
She started recording earlier than me, and soon after she went in the
studio, a taxi driver arrived at the reception. As Caroline arrived before
the receptionist, the poor girl had no idea of who the taxi was for.
So, guess who saved the day????
Really, what would they do without me… |
A NEW GIRL IN
THE PRESS ROOM…
 At
last we have a pretty face in the Press Room, not to mention a beautiful
smile… Volunteer Fateha Kalik, who finished University not long ago,
and who is now working for “Graduate Prospects” as Product Manager
Assistant, is now helping Press Officer Howard Harding.
“I just finished the Badminton championships at the velodrome, so I have a
pretty good idea of how I can make myself useful, by collecting the results,
getting the quotes from the players, etc…
I'm sure that Howard will be delighted to have somebody to help him cope
with all of those journalists, because believe me, we are no picnic...
Well, dear Fateha, welcome to the Mad Mad World of Squash…. |
Nationals
EN BREF Day FOUR
Everything you didn't know you needed to know about the Nationals ... |
FATHER AND SON…
Like a lot of players on the circuit, Adrian Grant learnt to play
squash with his father, a left-hander like him. And for years, Trevor
along with his wife Julie looked after the junior career of his
son, driving here, there and everywhere.
One day, Adrian’s career soared, and he is today ranked 15 in the world.
Proud parents…
But Trevor still plays squash indeed, and today, after he watched his
son defeating Stacey Ross, he himself played in the over 45 event
against Mike Phillips. Unfortunately, he had less luck than his son, as
he lost 3/0, but who cares really now…
I think it’s pretty good to have father and son playing in a competition
as prestigious as the Nationals, wouldn’t you say????
 |
PRESTBURY UPON FRANCE
Here I was, minding my own business, when suddenly, I heard a French
voice asking "Do you want any food and drinks". "Of course," I replied
with a big smile, as it was obvious this speech wasn't aimed at me.
No, it was the Thompson Family talking between themselves, more
precisely Babeth, mum, and Eloïse, daughter. I was then introduced to
the rest of the family, as in Nicolas Senior, and Nicolas junior who
"wants to become World Champion, like Thierry Lincou", but in fact was
inspired to play squash by James Willstrop, as he used to play for
Prestbury, the club where young Nicolas hit his first shots...
So, another junior who has Willstrop's stars in their eyes... |
 CAR
UPDATE…
Well, my car is a “write off”, as they say, which is REALLY not a good
idea EVER, but especially when work hasn’t been that good for a long
time, it’s DEFINITELY not a good idea…
But saved by Super Linda Davie, as usual, whose got a nice and cheap
little mechanic, I’m trying to get the car repaired no matter what, as I
need a car desperately. Tomorrow ... the next episode of my Car Saga… |
WHAT A LINE UP…
Ladies and Gentlemen, here you have three fantastic players, who have
all a point in common: the three of them are British National Champions.
Paul Carter, now Assistant National Coach, won in 88, Meady
in 95, and Sir Simon Parke ten years later in 98.
How is that for a stroll down Memory Lane… |
BALL BOY…
 As you must know by now, it’s been 10 years since Steve Meads won
the British Nationals, in a memorable final against Nick Taylor in
Abbeydale, in Sheffield.
Well, guess who was the 14 year old ball boy then???? The same player
who beat Steve today, today world number 6, Mr Nick Matthew…
And the world goes round… |
BLESS THE REFEREE
 Sometimes,
you just can’t help hating them, but most of the time, they are just too
wonderful for words…
This afternoon, an 045 match was on the court next door to Grant/Stait
match, and Jill Wood was in charge…
Jill is a lovely polite smiling adorable person, who has a very
characteristic high pitched voice, that seems to impress even the butchest
of players…
Here we were, watching Adrian and Alex, when we hear a commotion next door,
and see one of the players on the floor… And we hear that amazing soft, calm
and o so polite voice who says:
“I haven’t the faintest idea if your ball was up or not up, and if we could
play a let, that would be lovely”…
Bless Aunty Jill…
Jill's Broadgate Portrait
|
WORK AT LAST
Thank God, I working tomorrow, as in Thursday morning, and I will have to go
to London tonight (missing tonight’s session and tomorrow first session).
So, I leave you in the capable hands of Steve Cubbins, who will be standing
by to inform you of the events as soon as they happen, and sometimes, even
before…
See you Thursday evening, guys…
Framboise |
|
Nationals
EN BREF Day THREE
Everything you didn't know you needed to know about the Nationals ... |
TEAM WORK
Do you realise that, on the busiest day of the tournament, i.e. the first
round, our so competent webmaster, Steve Cubbins, was working in blipping
Newcastle today…
So, the team took over… His dedicated, efficient, patient and saint of a
wife, Jane, stayed all day near the phone to upgrade the results, and
Linda Davie, normally juggling with travel arrangements and money
issues, sat in front of the matches I couldn’t look at, got some quotes and
has now written some reports that Steve will type a little later, when he
comes back from having a life…
So, well done, girls, and thanks again… |
BAD CAR DAY
OK. What is wrong this week???
After my disaster car start of the tournament (the insurance is writing it
off, thank you for asking, so I’m deep trouble…), it’s now the poor
Hadrian Stiff who blew up his car on his way from Bristol today, and
couldn’t arrive on time to play his first round match against Bradley Ball.
 Is
it only me, or is it something in the Manchester air ????? |
 MR
SCREEN…
When I saw a few men coming early to the Press Room today with ladders, I
was slightly surprised.
When I heard the same men above my head, in the ceiling, moving around, I
got definitely worried.
 But
I shouldn’t have, really, as Mr Vic Flores is in charge… What were he
and his guys doing? Well, they are in charge of all the screens around the
arena that display video and results of the matches, and as they really
really spoil us, the Press Room has now been equipped with a screen as well,
meaning that we’ll be able to catch up with what is going on while working.
Isn’t modern technology wonderful ??? |
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 |
BEN IS IN TOWN…
Well, I saw pictures of him only a few days old, during the Super Series
Finals… Then I glanced at him during the English Open. But today, I was able
to have a good look at him in his father’s arms, and HE IS GORGEOUS….
Later, he was having a little nap, after all this excitement, you know, a
bit of rest is always necessary.
So, welcome to your first Nationals, dear Ben Beachill. Something
tells me you’ll be back, again and again… |
Nationals
EN BREF Day TWO
Everything you didn't know you needed to know about the Nationals ... |
BAD, BAD DAY…
That will teach me. “It’s the first time I’ve been relaxed before a
tournament”, I said last evening to Steve Cubbins, our webmaster.
Yop. This morning, went to pick up my car, and guess what?? Attempted theft…
Door lock and boot forced, ignition totally destroyed…
Lovely…
So, instead of watching some good squash, I was on the phone for an hour
with the police and the insurance… And there is a good chance that the
insurance won’t cover the repairs, as it’s an old car, and, what did they
say “it might not be economically viable,” or
something of the kind…
So, here in Manchester, no car, no idea when or if my car is going to be
repaired, or for how much… Talk about not being stressed! |
LATE LATE LATE…
As usual, the first ones in, and the last ones out…
“Blipping journalists”, the National Centre Staff must think, as we always
seem to force people to stay on after a hard day of work…
Well, last night, it was Mark Barnes who had the kindness to wait for us, as
in Steve and myself, to finish before being able to get home and have a
life…
So, dear Mark, thank you for your patience and kindness you showed us all
day long…
 |
TARO: THE EVERYWHERE MAN
Whatever you need in this tournament, Taro is the man who will help.
You need the press room to be open, a volunteer allocated somewhere, a tin
to be lowered, or a meal voucher, etc.???
“Just ask Taro, he will know/do/help…”
And you know what, he does it every time, efficiently, professionally, and
with a smile. |
THANKS TO THE PLAYERS…
Like last year, the Referees Statements handed out to all participants to
the event states:
 “Unfortunately, it has proved necessary on the grounds of safety to remove
the referee’s chairs. This means that referees will yet again be
disadvantaged by having to officiate from a position well behind the courts
and below the ideal height. This reduces their ability to determine whether
pick-ups are good or not at the front of the court. The referees would
greatly appreciate players honesty in declaring promptly if their shots are
“not up”, “down”, etc…”
But an interesting paragraph has now been added:
“A marked improvement in players honesty in these situations has been noted
since the referees statements have been issued, and the referees would like
to thank the vast majority of players for their help in this difficult
area”.
So, well done guys… |
LUCKY DELASEAUX…
Here he was, playing one of the most amazing players of all times, The Boss,
Mr Peter Nicol himself, and zoom… he finds himself playing… a lucky loser
from the draw…
If I had a bad day today, Laurence had a pretty good run, wouldn’t say… |
 EDNA
HERE TO HELP
Yes, another volunteer on the Honours Board this morning. This time, Edna
Allen, who was stuck opening the physio and press room today, missing
all the fun and excitement of the matches, just looking at people up and
down a corridor. Then I found her at the entrance, selling programs, and
later on, at the main door… |
|
Hard to see the ball
in
those tight corners ... |
Nationals
EN BREF Day ONE
Everything you didn't know you needed to know about the Nationals ... |
BADMINTON’S BREAKFAST…
 Well, I had a
problem sleeping last night, as a few members of the England squad were next
to my room, not exactly the quiet type I’m afraid to say (who, I will not
tell, I keep this as blackmail material…), and made their presence well
known, late last night, and also early this morning…
Bless…
All that means to say that I got to the breakfast room not in the best of
mood or shape… And normally, I always try to have a bit of make up on in the
morning, as the sight of me with no war paint on is enough to cut the
appetite of even the most starving teenager… But this morning, couldn’t care
less, bad hair day, bad looking day…
 And
this is the day destiny put me in front of …… Nathan Robertson,
the badminton player who won a silver medal at the Athens Olympics.
Not that I think that he would have
fallen in love with me at first sight, I’m not that blind, but when you meet
somebody you do admire, you wish you’d look somehow… HUMAN!
As I was surrounded by people wearing Yonex T-shirt, Athens 2004 T-shirts,
and 05 Nationals Badminton (whose logo seems strangely close to our 05
Nationals, I must say…), it sort of dawned on me that the Badminton World
must have an event happening at Sport Citiy as well…
So, people, the place to be this week is DEFINITELY Manchester… |
TONY PARKER:
HERE AGAIN…
 It
was exactly a year ago that I met the Tournament Referee Tony Parker.
Some of you may remember that one of my first articles was on the Referees,
with Tony as “Centre Piece”, as you say…
“Yes, it’s the third year that I have been on the job, well, I guess that I
keep doing it because nobody else wants the job…”
Dear Tony, could it be that you are asked to do the job because you are so
good at it ???? |
IT’S ALL MY
FAULT…
“… if that poor man is sitting there, on that
chair, in a corridor, on his own… It’s all your fault”…
 It’s
with these words that Linda Davie tried (and succeeded) to make me feel
guilty…
Well, to access the Press Room, you need a swipe card.
So as there are very logically only a few of those around, one poor
volunteer has to sit in a corridor, with the swipe card…
And as I was the only member of the Press already there on the first day of
the qualifications…
So, sorry dear Arthur, it’s all my fault… |
BLESS YOU, JOSS
 Would
you believe that the cafeteria was closed when I arrived at the National
Squash Centre???
Well, for those who know me, they know I cannot function with at least a
litre of tea per hour. So, no cafeteria, no tea. No tea, no operational
Frog…
“We have a kettle, and tea bags, and mugs in the tournament office, but no
milk I’m afraid”, said Judy as usual at her post, at the desk, welcoming all
the new arrivals, sorting out crises, curing all sorts of dramas…
 But
she wasn't counting on Super Joss, who saved the day by bringing us some
milk from the Referees’ Office.
So, many thanks, Joss, the readers of SquashSite owe you (or not, depending
on opinions) a great deal…
When not rescuing people, Joss does a remarkable job, refereeing at many
events, and today she was in charge of the marathon 71-minute match between
Crawford and Davies that finished 21-19 in the fifth!
Joss ... you deserve a blipping cup of tea !!! |
EARLY THOMAS
“What? You are early now Thomas aren’t you???”
It’s with those words that poor Thomas Javanaud was welcomed at the
tournament desk . “I’m delighted that my son is here, and on time for once”,
said Roland, his father, with a nice smile.
But then Thomas lost his match in three games and 26 minutes. So you see, do
not change a habit of a lifetime, it’s never good… |
 |
|
