The Insomnia Coffee Irish Squash Challenge 3, takes place this weekend in Sutton LTC from Friday October 8th – 10th. 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, the returning David Ryan who has come homw feom the USA and junior Dylan Moran.
The 1st round matches start at 5.30 on Friday 8th 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!
REMINDER to celebrate WORLD SQUASH DAY this Saturday on OCTOBER 9th and help promote both your club and our great game of Squash, IRISH SQUASH urge you to organise a day of activity in your squash club. The theme for this year’s celebration is to focus on the fun aspects of the sport after the challenges of lockdown. The message is simple: Let’s all focus on a day of Fun For Everyone.
We also encourage you to fundraise for a local charity during your event, to engage the event with your local community.
This is an opportunity to bring your club together and also to promote the club and Squash to the community in your area.
So please organise play in your club on Saturday the 9th of October.
Irish Squash particularly encourage you to organise play for juniors in your club/community, even if they have never played before.
*Promote the event on your club’s social media platform with the WSD logo & the hashtag #squashfun on every post
Squash is rated one of the healthiest sports for players of all ages. Squash burns around 900 calories per hour and the health benefits can last a lifetime for those who continue playing into their 40s, 50s and 60s.
Ideas for Play
IRISH SQUASH IS RUNNING A COMPETITION FOR THE CLUB WHO RUNS THE BEST WORLD SQUASH DAY ACTIVITIES
TO ENTER
PRIZE FOR THE WINNING CLUB
(worth over €650)
The judges decision will be final with no appeal allowed. They will decide on the winning club entry, based on the quality of the activity and number of participants, particularly number of Juniors – a group picture of all participants, with someone holding the ‘World Squash Day 2021’ logo is mandatory, otherwise the entry will not be accepted.
Badminton Ireland, Irish Squash, Table Tennis Ireland and Tennis Ireland are delighted to present our first collaboration between all four sports. The programme, entitled ‘The Racquet Sports Leadership Programme’ will give female coaches from our four sports the opportunity to gain knowledge and collaborate with each other. All four sports would like to thank the Women in Sport Unit at Sport Ireland for their support of this programme.
Participants will learn more on the following four key coaching areas; leadership, psychology, performance analysis and communication. There will be a guest speaker for each of our online sessions, along with the Women in Sports Leads on hand to facilitate them. This programme is aimed at female coaches starting out on their pathway to coaching. It will be delivered in a hybrid format with four weeks online and the fifth week with a face to face meet-up.
Applications are now open to apply for this initiative and the cost to participate is €40. The closing date for applications is Monday 4th October, 2021. Please send your application to the following: [email protected]
Places are limited, with additional details to follow post application.
The Irish Masters Challenge will take place on Friday 15th and Saturday 16th of October. See below for all the details of our first tournament back for 18 months. The event will not carry any selection points as some people may not be ready yet to play a competitive event.
Closing date: Saturday October 9th
The Connacht Masters 5/6th November will be the first ranking event.
See details HERE
At the EGM held on September 5th 2021, the 2 motions proposed by the board were approved (Link for Motions).
The M&As have been updated accordingly.
The changes will be implemented at our AGM to be held on October 17th 2021.
Rosie Barry
President Irish Squash
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:
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).
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:
The Insomnia Coffee Irish Squash Challenge 2, takes place this weekend in Sutton LTC from Friday September 17th – 19th. 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 1st 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!
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
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
Sam Buckley (1) beat Conor Moran (2) 7/11, 11/4, 11/5, 11/3
