Masters’ Nationals are on March 4th & 5th. Entry closes next Saturday February 26th.
ENTER NOW!!
https://t.co/ra6D3Exv6L
Breanne Flynn both from Sutton LTC won their respective National Championships today in Fitzwilliam. Breanne beat Hannah McGugan from Ballinafeigh in a super final. Sam had a pulsating 5 game match with Sean Conroy and won it 3-2 in a 71m match.
Congratulations to both and their coach Eoin Ryan.
See the draw & winners here – sportyhq.com/tournament/vie
The Leinster Junior Open took place on February 5th-6th in Sutton LTC. See all the results below.
Boys U/11
Winner: David Connell
R-up: Harry Yeomans
Boys U/13
Winner: Adam Power
R-up: Toby Holman Keogh
Boys U/15
Winner: Conal Jackson
R-Up: Sam Holman Keogh
Boys U/17
Winner: Yuv Pahuja
R-Up: Robert Clery
Boys U/19
Winner: Denis Gilevskiy
R-Up: Dylan Moran
Girls U/13
Winner: Rebecca Jackson
R-Up: Lucy Walsh
Girls U/15
Winner: Shriya Drawid
R-Up: Zoe Yeomans
Girls U/17
Winner: Sara Sabry
R-Up: Ava Murphy
Girls U/19
Winner: Sophie Thomas
R-Up: Aimee Mc Connell
The winner of the competition for the best entry in the opinion of the judges is CELTIC SC, WATERFORD. Congratulation to the club and they win the prize
Three Unsquashable FUNdation rackets – Length 21″
Three Unsquashable Improver rackets – Length 24″
Three Unsquashable PRO rackets – Length 27″
Ten Dunlop I-ARMOR Junior Goggles
Twenty four double-dot Dunlop Squash Balls
Celtic SC – World Squash Day
The number one priority this season was to build on the success of our junior academy by adding some new members and engaging with parents to ensure that all of our previous members returned to squash post pandemic. The club has invested some time and money into promoting our club and the Junior Academy and we are so proud that we have a full Junior Academy for the new season ahead with lots of new members. The kids were very excited when we told them about our plans for World Squash Day and they all wanted to get involved.
The theme of the day was bringing the FUN factor into the game of squash and we very much wanted our Junior members to be a major part of the day. We decided to run a charity blitz this year where we chose a local charity to donate all proceeds from the day to them. The charity partner we chose was ‘Helping Hand Waterford’ who are an amazing local charity who help the homeless in Waterford. The blitz was split into 2 sections – we started off the day with a fun blitz for our youngest juniors who range in age from 4 to 12 years old. The challenge for the coaches was to keep these young kids who are very new to squash engaged on court while giving them some playing time in the form of matches, drills, three quarter court, and fun games relevant to their age. We had our coaches assist by staying on court and directing them in play to ensure everybody was safe, having fun, and nobody was left out.
The groups were sorted by age and ability and each child was kitted out in a World Squash Day t-shirt which was donated by the club. Representatives of our chosen charity came along on the day and were delighted to be presented with a cheque by our youngest member Oscar with all his fellow academy members present. The charity thanked the club for their generosity and told the kids that they should be very proud of themselves for helping those not as fortunate as themselves. Afterwards we treated our Juniors to some well-deserved treats after their matches. As you can see from the pics we had some very happy faces!!
The second part of our World Squash Day blitz was for our older Junior Academy members who played in mini box leagues along with our adult members of the club. These matches were for our more established juniors who got stuck back into it with some great battles and some wounded egos (male and female)!! There were no treats for them but still lots to smile about.
It’s so good to have Squash back and we brought the fun factor with the help of our young members.
In total, we had 53 entries to the blitz – 30 Juniors and 23 Adults. We were thrilled with these numbers and it gave an opportunity for people to mix and play with people that they have never met before. Onwards and upwards for Celtic Squash Club.
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15/12/1951 – 25/1/2022
Fellow squash players, I regret to inform you of the death of Alf Kavanagh who passed away peacefully on Tuesday,
25th January, after an 11 year brave battle with cancer.
Alf’s first love was squash and he made a significant contribution at all levels as player, coach and sponsor in the Masters squash tournaments both here in Ireland and in England. He had far too many successes to mention, most notably playing for Ireland in the Home Internationals. His most important achievement was playing on 3 winning Connacht teams in the Masters Interpros, which he selected and managed. The last Interpro win for Connacht was a memorable win for Alf over Michael Conlon, saving match points in the fifth set to win the deciding match and the Interpro for Connacht.
Also in 2013, Alf captaining the Irish over 55s in the Home Internationals at the Park club in Nottingham, recorded a remarkable and unique victory over an English opponent in true Alf fashion coming from 2-0 down to win 3-2.
Alf also excelled at Racketball and in 2007 won the British National Racketball over 55 title at the Edgbaston Priory Club in Birmingham.
Alf was born in Galway City and was a proud Galway and Connacht man. He moved to Coventry in the 1960s. He entertained many Irish squash players in his Coventry squash club, and his hospitality in both the club and in his home while there was legendary. While playing there, he had the ability to find players whose ‘father or mother’ were from Connacht and immediately recruited them to play for the province! He followed the Galway football and hurling teams avidly, and one of his proudest moments as a Galway man was attending the 2017 hurling final in Croke Park with Gerry Fahy, one of his great squash buddies from Galway, when Galway won the McCarthy Cup for the first time in 29 years.
Alf is survived by his wife Cath, mother-in-law Irene, sister Marie, brothers Pat, John and Michael and nephews and nieces.
Alf’s funeral will take place at St. Laurence’s Church in Meriden, Coventry CV77Hx at 2.30 p.m. on Friday, 11th February 2022 with burial afterwards in the Church grounds.
Refreshments will be provided afterwards in the Manor Hotel in Meriden.
Rest in Peace Alf. You were a great friend to all who knew you and a proud Galway, Connacht and Irish man.
An appreciation by Dave Lalor
WSF COACHING COURSE – CONNACHT
Irish Squash are pleased to invite you to a WSF Level 1 Coaching course in Connacht.
Course organiser: Eddie Murphy
email: [email protected]
Venue: Westport SC, Co. Mayo
Weekend 1 – 5th & 6th March 2022
Weekend 2 – 26th & 27th March 2022
Course Duration: The course will run for 4 days from 9.30am – 5.30pm with assessment on the final day. Each candidate must submit a video of themselves playing squash for 2 mins approx on Whatsapp to 087 2651645 prior to being accepted on the course.
Candidates will be on court and in class room during the course.
COURSE FEE
The course fee of €275 can be paid in this link: – HERE
As this course is part of the WSF Coach Education Programme, participants must register for their SPIN on the WSF website – HERE
As L1 Coach Candidate, which costs GBP 16. You must do this before the course starts.
If not already vetted with Irish Squash, candidates must apply for Garda vetting – Details on the Irish Squash web site – HERE
Also you must attend a Safeguarding 1 course, see the Local Sports Partnership in the county you live, to register for a course. It is just €15 and takes one evening to complete. Search for a course – HERE
Courses are not in strict chronological order!
N.B. Please send in your Garda Vetting & Safeguarding certs and WSF Coach SPIN to [email protected] before you start the course.
If you are under 18 then you will have to wait until you become 18 to do these.
You will get your coaching badge then if you are successful.
Irish Squash are pleased to invite you to a Leaders course in Limerick LTC.
Course organiser: Eddie Murphy
email: [email protected]
Course Venue: Limerick LTC
Saturday February 12th @ 10.30pm
Course Duration: The course will run for 1 day from 10.30am – 5.30pm.
COURSE FEE
The course fee of €50 can be paid in this link: – HERE
If not already vetted with Irish Squash, candidates must apply for Garda vetting – Details on the Irish Squash web site – https://www.irishsquash.com/garda-vetting/
Also you must attend a Safeguarding 1 course, see the Local Sports Partnership in the county you live, to register for a course. It is just €15 and takes one evening to complete. Search for a course HERE
Courses are not in strict chronological order!
If you are under 18 then you will have to wait until you become 18 to do these.
You will get your coaching badge then if you are successful.
The Leinster Masters’ Open takes place in Fitzwilliam LTC from February 11th-12th.
Enter HERE
Entry deadline is Saturday February 5th, so ENTER NOW!!
The Mount Pleasant Open was on from January 28th to the 30th. The results for the Women’s A, Men’s A, B, & C events can be viewed HERE
Pictures – See here
WELCOME NEWS FOR SQUASH
Please see email received today from Shane Califf in Sport Ireland regarding public health measures and how the recent changes announced by the Government apply to sport and physical activity.
This is truly great news for our sport and we look forward to seeing more people returning to their clubs for social squash. Our events are now open to all players, irrespective of Covid-19 vaccination status and can be run without additional Covid screening measures in place.
The most important advice is that anyone with symptoms suggestive of Covid infection should stay away, test and isolate.
Please check our website and calendar regularly for information on upcoming events, coaching courses, refereeing courses and more!
Rosie Barry
President Irish Squash
Dear Sport Ireland Stakeholder
On Friday January 21st 2022 the Government made an announcement in relation to Public Health Measures.
The full announcement can be accessed here: gov.ie – Government announces that most of the public health measures currently in place can be removed (www.gov.ie)
As set out in the announcement a large number of the public health measures currently in place can be removed. Key items in relation to sport & physical activity are as follows:
The Government have reiterated the need for ongoing close monitoring of the virus. Sporting bodies should continue to risk assess individual activities and events. This includes the continued implementation of good hygiene practices along with recommending symptomatic individuals do not participate in or attend sporting activities.
Ø Mask Wearing: The requirements for mask wearing in settings where currently regulated for will continue until February 28th 2021.
Ø Close Contacts: This continues to follow the current advice for those with symptoms, cases and close contacts as announced by the government on 12 January 2022
Ø International Travel: Organisations partaking in international sporting activity should continue to monitor the travel requirements both in Ireland and the destination country. Sports should also note that the use of the Digital Certificate will continue for international travel for the immediate future.
Further information can be found here: gov.ie – International travel (www.gov.ie)
Organisations are free to submit any additional queries in relation to their individual sports and activities to the relevant NGB, High Performance and Participation Units.
Sport Ireland would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and recognise the continued commitment of the Sector in implementing and supporting the various public health measures.
Kind Regards
Shane Califf
