Club new letter

Squash & Racketball tournaments 2007

The annual club tournaments are to be held during April this year. Dates shotly to be announced....watch this space!

Future Engagements and parties

It gives me great pleasure to mention the recent engagement of Jon Brazenell and Mads! Wedding date to be announced soon!!!!

Squash 1st team

As a result of a highly successful season in 2003/04, the Hampton Men’s first team were promoted to Division 1 Warwickshire as Division 2 winners. The team knew it would be tough going but managed to secure the services of Pete Muir of Nuneaton Cleaver Squash Club to play at number three, in place of Dave Lea whom we believe has eloped. However, no one could have predicted at the time that this would turn out to be the ‘season from hell’, or at least the first half was! The first match was against Esporta 2 so there was a strong chance of starting with a win if all went to plan. Unfortunately, it didn’t! With the match score at 2:2, Richard went on court against Steve Wengraff, a player he’s never lost to. He managed to lose and get injured in the process, missing the next three matches. The next match was against Esporta 1, which was a 5:0 loss. Both Peter and Nigel did manage to get two games each worth valuable points. The following week was a similar story with a 5:0 loss to L A Fitness, a match that could have gone either way if Hampton had fielded a full-strength side. The following day Pete ripped a calf muscle and as a result missed the next 4 matches! The next two weeks saw us play Cov & North Warwicks 1st and 2nd teams, both of which were 5:0 losses. On a positive note Richard did return for the second game and managed to take two games from Phil Cullinane…the current Warwickshire County Closed Champion! The final two games before Christmas were against Kenilworth and Edgbaston Priory. Again, Hampton fell short of victory but Nigel did manage to gain a 3:2 win in each match. Thanks must also go to Sue, Steve and John Green for standing in for our injured players. It’s hard work competing in Division 1 and thanks go to them for supporting the 1st team in its hour of need. On a sad note, the strain of the first half proved too much for Graham to bear. He could take no more beatings and has since shaved his head and joined the Tibetan monks in the Himalayas…our thoughts are obviously with him!

2nd Team Squash

The 2nd team are currently wallowing in mediocrity, 5th in division 4 in the Warwickshire league. However, things are improving. Graham Hollway, tired of losing to 13 year old kids in the top flight, has joined the 2nd team where the real squash is played and has mentally destroyed his opponents on his way to some convincing victories. Number 1, Tony Cramp, has also played well this season (except when his fiancée is watching.... when he goes to pieces!). A Stirling performance also from David Brazenell (left handed) whose crowning achievement this season was finishing in the showers before the other team had gone home. Good performances also from Jon Brazenell (right handed), John Green and team captain Malcolm Barnfield (injured).

Racketball 1st Team

The Racketballers are about mid table in Division 1. We should survive this year although we’ve been dramatically weakened by the omission of Dave ‘9 finals’ Lea after his near death shadow boxing accident. Luckily the team has been strengthened by Dynamo new member Silver Fox Graham ‘The Boast’ Greensall who has come in at No. 4. The traditional hit and miss performances have been expected from No. 3. Tim ‘put me back together after the match’ Brown; No. 2. Jon ‘Joe Ninety’ Brazenell; and No. 1. Dangermouse Dave ‘Lazy Git’ Brazenell. Super subs include Steve Tyson (known to opposing teams as ‘The Great Apologiser’); Mike ‘The Hat’ Abbott; Chris ‘The Mason’ Ackland; and Jon ‘Skin Tight’ Green. Enjoyable season but the Brazenell’s keep missing the food from spending too long getting ready after the match.

More Junior News

Oliver (15) – Warwickshire Closed County Championships - under 17– unseeded and unranked. Played really well against players seeded 3 and 4, beating them convincingly. Beaten by the No 2. to come overall 3rd. Now playing for the county on a regular basis in friendly and inter -county tournaments. Disappointed was only a reserve for the Junior British Open in January. Oliver has made tremendous progress over the last twelve months through individual coaching, - Bett Dryhurst and County Coaching with Mo Sarwar, he also plays friendly games with Steve Tyson and in the Squash and Racket Ball Leagues. His progress has enabled him to play for his School first team in the National Schools Championship. He is hoping to play in the Oxford Boys Open and the Arden Classic in April. Grace (12) - Warwickshire Closed County Championships – unseeded and unranked. Played two games to win undefeated at Under 13. Plays number 2 seed at county level, in friendly and Inter-country competitions. Round one did not drop a game against Oxfordshire and Worcestershire. Round two beat Avon and Oxfordshire but dropped one game. She will now play in the finals of the inter-country competition in Manchester in May. Played in the Junior British Squash Open in Sheffield in January coming 25 out of 32. Currently ranked 18 in England and 64 in Europe. Grace has also applied to play in the Arden Classic in April. Progress has also been rapid due to excellent coaching from Bett Dryhurst, Mo Sarwar and Steve Tyson. Grace has been doing well in the racket ball leagues as well and is working towards playing in the Squash Leagues next season. She is also looking for a sponsor for next season !

Juniors

WARWICKSHIRE JUNIOR COUNTY CLOSED 2004 Well done to Grace Talbot. Playing in the under 13 girl’s competition, Grace (Hampton) beat Eleanor Williams (Solihull Arden) 3-1, to win the title and become County Champion. And she’s only 11! She is now ranked number 18 in England! The under 15 girl’s final saw our own local star Rachel Finch coming a very close runner up to the No.1 seed, having been 2-1 up at one point! In the under 19 boy’s, Hampton’s up and coming talent Oliver Talbot finished a very credible 3rd, having entered the tournament unseeded, beating his opponent 3-1. This one was won by new Hampton member Tom Marley, who had a comfortable 3-0 victory in the final. Tom is an excellent young squash player, as was demonstrated in this tournament, and a recent win over an unnamed Hampton 1st team player called Nigel. George Kiely entered as well in the under 15’s. He’s a product of our young academy, so watch this space! Just a quick mention as well, to all the other up and coming youngsters at Hampton. You know who you are. Stop causing trouble! Only joking. Keep up the good work and you may get to go to the Olympics in 3012. Sorry I meant 2012. Ps Underestimate these kids at your peril! As Graham Hollway lost a men’s 1st team match to a very talented 13 year old man, the other week. We promised not to mention it though!

Clash of the Titans

In a veteran’s grudge match earlier this season, Sheldon pensioner Mike Smith competed against Meriden tough guy Mike Harrison in an all important squash match (club night). The game has since become the stuff of folklore. In a mighty collision on court Smithy tripped acrobatically over the outstretched leg of Harrison and bashed his nose on the tin, resulting in much bloodshed and a dented tin. Whilst recovering in hospital, a pretty Italian nurse was seen to respond to injured Smithy’s muffled pained cries of “did I win the point?!” Asked to comment on the unfortunate incident caused by his trailing leg, Harrison retorted, “I’m getting older, and I’m not as quick as I used to be.” In a fitting riposte, Smith was recently spotted at Warwick Castle ‘trying on’ a suit of full combat body armour for the return grudge match. Boys will be boys!

THANKS TO

MIKE SMITH AND HARRISON for their continued work in keeping the courts well maintained at all times.

Many Many Thanks

To John Eccleston, Club Chairman, for the past 50 years. And what a great job. I don’t want to get too emotional…but sorry about the rugby…I’ll let you off that tenner you owe me. Welcome to Evan Grant… who is taking over this demanding job…Good luck Evan!

Squash & RacketBall Equipment

Nigel Orret 0121 744 8970 At Solihull Arden Club.

For Sale

E-mail us if you got anything for sale. We’ll put it on for free. E-mail forsale@hamptonsquash.org.uk

Safety

Eye protection goggles are available to hire from the bar at a cost of 50p. Please please call your ‘lets’ and ‘strokes’, the rules are there for the protection and safety of all players. Anyone interested in prescription goggles. Speak to me Steve T. Or go to www.specs4sport.com

Have I got News for you

E-mail us at news@hamptonsquash.org.uk if you got any NEWS, PICS, INFO, OR JOKES that we can put on the site.