Dates: 17th – 19th September

Venue: Hallamshire Tennis & Squash Club

A great weekend for the Irish players as they came back to competition. Dylan Moran had a super win in the Under 19’s event and Jack O’Flynn got a silver in the Under 17’s .

Dylan beat Thomas Ramsay of England 3-0 in the final, a very comprehensive victory. Jack O’Flynn lost to Kyle Penman of Scotland, 3-1. Good win for Kyle, who has been a regular player in the Irish Junior Open over the last few years.

DRAWS HERE

SQUASH COVID RESTRICTIONS SEPT 20th -OCT 22nd 2021

An end to solo squash!?!

On September 20th, normal squash may resume in our clubs, including both training and competitive play.

Under the new guidelines, where players provide proof of immunity to Covid infection (using DIgital Covid Certificate), there is no restriction on the number of players that may participate in training or competition (with a capacity limit of 100 people/venue).

To exercise this option, the Covid Officer must have a system in place to verify that all players provide proof of immunity each time they play (it is not permissible to keep a copy of anyone’s Digital Covid Cert on a (database/electronically stored).

Irish Squash recommend that this option is used for any large tournament that may be scheduled between Sept 20th and October 21st.

In our clubs, it is envisaged that a couple of options should be considered based on what is feasible for the club to manage:

1. a) Pod system only

For typical club-based activity for members, Irish Squash recommend where clubs do not have the manpower to oversee regular proof of immunity by players, that the use of pod systems is introduced for individuals with mixed immunity status (combination of immune and non-immune). Pods of up to 6 participants is permitted (excluding adult coaches/instructors).

This system will allow a coach to run a training session for 6 players using 2 courts at the same time.

Where a coach can maintain social distancing, he/she may instruct/supervise more than one pod, where a club has sufficient court numbers to allow more than one pod of 6 to play/train at the same time.  Social distancing between pods must be maintained with no crossover of players within pods during the same session and physical distancing to be maintained off court.

Similarly, a round robin can be run during a club night and multiple pods may operate at the same time in the club, where there are more than 2 courts available for use.

Competitions may be run using the same pod system whereby a draw is limited to 6 people (this includes juniors under the age of 12 years).

1. b) Combined system of Pods & unrestricted play

Clubs may also choose to operate a system whereby players whose immunity is confirmed may play any other player who also has proof of immunity. It is the responsibility of the Covid Officer to ensue that proof of immunity is established. Such players are not restricted to pods of 6, but they can also participate in a pod.

In these clubs, it is recommended that the option of mixed pods is also provided so that all players may return to play.

Showers/Changing Rooms may re-open. We recommend that use is restricted to players only and time is kept to 15 minutes duration.

Social distancing should be maintained and masks worn (except when in the shower!).

Hand sanitiser should be available and very effort made to ensure good ventilation in the changing rooms.

Deep cleaning on a regular basis should also be ensured.

Coaching Courses:

These may resume and where a practical element is involved, the use of pods of 6 should be observed.  Off court, appropriate protective measures and Covid protocols should be in place.

Use of Masks:

The use of masks in indoor settings for those not participating in activity continues to be recommended.

For coaches, masks may be removed for the purposes of on court demonstrations and active participation in training schedule.

General:

All individuals should continue to observe good respiratory and hand hygiene and maintain social distancing within indoor settings (when not actively participating in squash activity).

Anyone who has symptoms suggestive of Covid infection should stay at home and follow standard medical advice, including being asymptomatic for 48 hours before returning to sporting activity.

Planned removal of restrictions from October 22 will include:

• Formal requirements/mandates for physical distancing
• Formal requirements/mandates for mask wearing outdoors
• Restrictions on indoor sports activities and other indoor leisure/community activities
• Certification of immunity or testing as a prerequisite for access to, or engagement in, any activities or events (with exception of international travel)

The Insomnia Coffee Irish Squash Challenge 2, takes place this weekend in Sutton LTC from Friday September 17^th – 19^th. The entry is limited to Irish based players. After 18 months without tournament squash, Sport Ireland gave permission to hold this PSA event, for our top home based players.

PSA registered players have been training in a high performance hub, under strict controls since May. This was given special permission by Sport Ireland.  The players have low PSA ranking points due to Covid, therefore Irish Squash is holding the event sponsored by INSOMNIA and using the opportunity to run a PSA tournament. It is smaller than usual, but set up by the PSA to support players in these challenging times. 

The entry list includes, Sam Buckley, the No. 1 seed, Conor Moran, Alex Smith, Gavin L’Estrange, Oisin Logan, Denis Gilevskiy, Cillain Dunne and Todd Gowdy.

The 1^st round matches start at 6.00pm on Friday 17th with the last match at 8.00pm. The semi finals start at 12pm on Saturday with the final at 12pm on Sunday. All matches will be live streamed on Irish Squash TV. Make sure to tune in and enjoy some top quality squash!

See Draw Here

Irish Squash TV

Draw on SportyHQ

Quarter Finals

Denis Gilevskiy (6) beat Gavin L’Estrange (4) 11/6, 11/5, 12/10

Oisin Logan (5) beat Alex Smith (3) 11/7, 11/6, 8/11, 9/11, 11/6

Conor Moran (2) beat Todd Gowdy (7) 11/2, 12/10, 11/3

Sam  Buckley (1) beat Cillian Dunne (8) 11/5, 11/6, 11/4

Semi Finals

Sam Buckley (1) beat Denis Gilevskiy (6) 11/7, 12/10, 11/5

Conor Moran (2) beat Oisin Logan (5) 9/11, 11/8, 11/13, 11/3, 12/10

Final

Sam Buckley (1) beat Conor  Moran (2) 7/11, 11/4, 11/5, 11/3

Course to be held in Sportslink, Furry Park, Swords Rd, Santry, Dublin 9. D09 HD91

The Irish Squash Challenge 1 takes place this weekend in Belfast Boat Club from Friday August 27^th – 29^th. The entry is limited to Irish based players. After 18 months without tournament squash, Sport Ireland gave permission to hold this PSA event, for our top home based players.

PSA registered players have been training in a high performance hub, under strict controls since May. This was given special permission by Sport Ireland.  The players have low PSA ranking points due to Covid therefore Irish Squash is sponsoring the event and using the opportunity to run a PSA tournament. It is smaller than usual, but set up by the PSA to support players in these challenging times. The event was due to be played in Dublin but had to be moved to Belfast due to Covid restrictions. Irish Squash thanks Belfast Boat Club and Ulster Squash for facilitating the tournament.

The entry list includes, Conor Moran, the No. 1 seed, Sam Buckley, Alex Smith, Gavin L’Estrange, Oisin Logan, Denis Gilevskiy, Peter McNeice and Todd Gowdy.

The 1^st round matches start at 5.30pm on Friday 27th with the last match at 8.30pm. The semi finals start at 12pm on Saturday with the final at 12pm on Sunday. All matches will be live streamed on Irish Squash TV. Make sure to tune in and enjoy some top quality squash!

FRIDAY AUGUST 27th

First day of competition after 18 months and we had some really super matches to get us back. We started with the number 1 seed vs local player Todd Gowdy. As you’d expect, both players started slowly feeling each other out and getting back to tournament squash. Conor just edged the first game. Then Moran started to show why he is number 1 seed and got hold of the match well to win the 2nd, 11/6 and closed it out 11/1. Job done!

Next up was no, 2 seed Sam Buckley vs Denis Gilevskiy. Again both players were slow to start but Sam pushed a bit more to take the 1st 11/5. Despite being up in the 2nd Buckley got a little casual, made some mistakes and let Gilevskiy take it 11/9. Sam was annoyed with himself for that slip and was not going to give Denis any more chances in the next 2 games, which he won well 11/5, 11/3, with Denis making some uncharacteristic mistakes. One could see the rustiness after the long lay off.

Another Belfast player, Peter McNeice was next on vs Gavin L’Estrange from Sutton. This was a super match which was very close, with both players giving it everything, which could have gone either way.  At 2 all we went into the decider, Gavin took an early lead, only for Peter to come back to 3 all. Then it went nip and tuck with Peter just edging ahead 9/7. He looked favouite but Gavin dug in and didn’t give up. There was some really super squash from both players with some great retrieving. Peter just couldn’t get the 2 points needed and Gavin took it 11/9 and 3/2.

Our last match was a triller to finish. Oisin Logan played clubmate 18 yr old Alex Smith. One forgets how young Alex is, as he has grown up so much since we last saw him. The 1st game was a bruiser, lasting 25min and going to Alex 15/13.  Oisin then set about his task and won the next 2 with some excellent driving and pure workrate. Alex was equal to the task and the 2 fought it out like 2 prize fighters. Alex won the 4th 11/7.  So our 2nd 5 game match of the night. They were were on court nearly 60 min at this stage. The 5th was another ding dong battle with both players changing shirts for the final game. Oisin took an early lead to 4/1 but Alex started to take control and looked very much at ease controlling the rallies.  He eased ahead slightly, 8/7, 9/7 and looked to have it, but Oisin wouldn’t give up.  The Alex got match ball, 3 in fact, but went for the winner off the return of serve, into the tin, one match ball gone. Never mind, he had 2 left. But Alex did it again and went for a quick winner, into the tin again and it was 10/9. Then from being in control Alex lost it slightly, but fatally and Oisin won the next 3 points to take it 12/10 and the match. There was the youthful exhuberence vs a bit more experience of the 25 yr old Logan. Oisin knew he got out of jail and Alex was so dissapointed. Hopefully a good lesson for him in senior competition, which he has played so little of, with him still a junior.

So a great start to a new chapter of competitive squash; the first of many we all hope for 2021/22.

Two super, semi finals on Saturday which should be crackers with Conor Moran vs Gavin L’Estrange on first at 12pm and then an entralling match of youth vs experience with Sam Buckley vs Oisin Logan. All streamed live on Irish Squash TV, so tune in.

SATURDAY AUGUST 28th

The first match in the semi finals was Conor Moran vs Gavin L’Estrange. Gavin had a tough 5 game match on Friday night vs Peter McNeice and Conor’s match was a  much shorter 3 game match, so this may prove to be an issue on Saturday morning after a late Friday night. The 1st game was tit for tat with both player feeling each other out. Conor just took it 11/9. Conor now started to inpose himself on his opponnent who was starting to make some mistakes. Conor went into an early 6/1 lead and looked in control. Gavin stuck in, but Conor closed it out to go 2  games up. The third was similar to the 2nd, with Conor looking at ease, making few mistakes. He took it easily enough in the end 11/6. An easy enough victory for Moran, but Gavin fought bravely.

We were expecting a close match in the 2nd semi, with young Sam Buckley, the no. 2 seed up against Oisin Logan. Again it started with both players feeling each other out and it went to 6 all. Oisin looked a little tentative and made a few mistakes with Sam taking the first 11/6. Sam was moving very well, as he did on Friday night. Oisin’s marathon 80 min match from Friday night started to look like it may be a factor. It went to 4 all with some lovely rallies and then Sam took control and won it 11/4. Oisin was working hard and giving it his all but he couldn’t just take control. The 3rd was close but Buckley never looked like he was going to lose it. A few mistakes creep in from Oisin and Sam was very solid to take it 11/8 and 3/0, a easier match than we expected.

So the top two seeds have come through to the final, in what should be a great battle. It will be surprising if it doesn’t go to 5 games. Make sure to tune in to Irish Squash TV to see all the action.

SUNDAY AUGUST 29th

The final we expected and were looking forward to. Both players settled in to the match well, with it very even for the 1st game. It was 9/7 to Conor and he looked to be in control, he then got 2 game balls, 10/8. Sam then played a lovely disguised drive from mid court down the left, wrong footing Conor, 9/10. Sam saved the other game ball and then got one of his own. A lovely rally with some super retrieving and Conor saved the game ball. Sam got another one with a lovely nick and closed it out 13/11, 1 up.

Conor knew he had to react and was disappointed having let the 1st game go. He raced into a 5/1 lead, playing some super squash but Sam wasn’t going to let him have it easily. Sam then started playing some lovely lengths and drops – front wall/side wall, taking all the pace off the ball. Sam got it to 5/6. Conor went to 7/5 with great  play of his own. Then at 8/6, Sam played a straight drive that had perfect length to bring it to 7/8. he then won the next 4 points in a row.  He was playing some lovely variation from cross court to disguised drives which won him the 2nd game.

Obviously Conor had to do something fast, however Sam was in no mood to give him anything easy. Conor gets a good start and is 2/0 up. Sam then gets into it, brings it to 2 all with a lovely streaching drive. His balls were tight to the wall and Conor could do little with them. Sam gets to 4/2, then Conor not giving in, plays his own good lengths to get it to 4/4. Then in the middle of the game Conor plays a couple of loose shots down the middle giving cheap strokes to Sam. Sam was on a roll now. At this stage he was just too good for Conor. He played a really tight drop and then a nick to bring it to 9/5, gets another, 10/5 and wins it 11/5 and 3/0. Sam was in determined form and Conor just couldn’t get to him in this match. Despite the 3/0 scoreline it was close match and very enjoyable to watch.

A great tournament to kick start, (we hope) our new season! Upwards and onwards!!

Final

Sam Buckley (2) beat Conor Moran (1) 13/11 11/8 11/5

SEE DRAW HERE

Irish Squash TV

The board of Irish Squash have called an EGM for Sunday September 5th at 11.30am. It will be a virtual meeting on Google Meet. Members must pre register to [email protected] and the meeting link will then be sent to you.

Dear Member,

President of Irish Squash Rosie Barry wrote to all members recently about the launch of a new strategic review being conducted by the Board.

We would love to have your input on the current state of Squash and its future and would very much appreciate if you could take 5 minutes to respond to our survey which is available by clicking on the link below.

We promise it is a short survey and we are not gathering personal details or tracking email contacts nor will be assigning individual comments in any reports generated.

If you have any additional comments or questions, please email us on the dedicated email: [email protected]

Here’s the link: SURVEY 

Please feel free to circulate this link to other members of your club that we may have missed!

President of Irish Squash, Rosie Barry, attended the online meeting organised by the Federation of Irish Sport with Minister of State for Sport, Jack Chambers, on July 15th. Please see her report below:

In addition to squash, other indoor sports represented at the meeting included GAA handball, gymnastics, Swim Ireland (water polo), martial arts, table tennis, volleyball, student sport ireland, inline hockey and taekwondo.

The Minister provided his overview of where we are now and that the Covid Delta variant presented a sombre picture which led to the pause in July in planned easing of restrictions.
He said that the situation will be reviewed again in August.
He noted the funding impact on indoor sports and that a package is to be agreed for the sector in collaboration with Michael McGrath (Dept Public Expenditure).

Mary O’Connor (Federation of Irish Sport  CEO) expressed the frustration felt by indoor sports and that financial & communication supports are urgently needed.

The meeting was opened to participants and concern was expressed across all sports around juniors and cancellation of indoor camps this summer.

I specifically asked what his plans were for allowing the Digital Covid Certificate to facilitate resumption of more ‘normal’ activity for vaccinated people in indoor sports. It appeared from the Minister’s response that this option had not yet been considered.

Concerns remain about the ability of senior international teams in non-Olympic sports to resume training & competing abroad – Sport Ireland have said yes but existing legislation is limited to Olympic sports and the big ones (rugby, soccer, cricket, hockey) with small NGB sports (like squash) excluded. Clarity on this issue was requested.

The Minister suggested that NGBs submit protocols for consideration in August as to how we can reopen safely. I replied that the protocol for indoor hospitality using the Digital Covid Cert should be adapted for indoor sports and that the government should take the lead on this.
Other NGBs also requested that the Gov Dept for Sport should be taking the lead on how we can progress reopening the indoor sport sector, rather than always leaving it to the NGBs to produce yet another protocol (that might or might not be approved).
Irish Squash was among the NGBs that requested the Minister to support them in maximising compliance with current restrictions among members.

All in all, I came away disappointed from the meeting. The indoor sport sector was not given any firm assurance about how or when we can reopen further. A vague hope that pods of 6 for training might be approved in August was as concrete a suggestion that the Minister put forward.

So for now, no change and no prospect of it in the near future.

The Federation of Irish Sport are hosting a further meeting with indoor sport NGBs this week to discuss ways in which we can make progress in our reopening plans. I will attend this meeting and provide an update on any new developments.

 

Irish Squash continues to work hard on behalf of our members to ensure that a safe and sustainable reopening of our sport is achieved within a reasonable timeframe.

 

Please keep an eye on our website and social media for further updates. 

We welcome any comments or queries to [email protected]

 

Rosie Barry

President Irish Squash