There was some great Masters squash over St Patrick’s weekend in Mount Pleasant in Dublin with the irish Open Over 35 and 40s. Neal Murphy from the Curragh had a great win over Cork’s John Hurley to win the over 35s event. In the Over 40s Rob Staunton had a superb win over no. 1 seed David Ayerst, 3-2.
Well done to John O’Connor, Steven McMurray and Clive Morgan for all their work organising the tournament.
See here for Tournament Results
http://www.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/tournament.aspx?id=8E025FF0-A874-47AF-9A42-53C7049EA793
Irish Squash is fully committed to an anti-doping policy within our sport. It is a condition of membership that participants will NOT engage in doping and that they fully support a doping free culture within Squash. Doping is against the principles of Fair Play in Squash and can lead to serious and even fatal consequences.
| Venue: | Mount Pleasant Tennis Club | ||
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| Address: |
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| Phone: | (01) 4973733 | ||
| Website: | http://www.mountpleasantltc.ie/ |
| Name: | Steven Mc Murray |
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| Phone: | +447854198289 |
| Email: | [email protected] |
| OVER 35’S, OVER 40’s |
Friday, March 14, 2014 to Saturday, March 15, 2014
The Connacht Open – March 7-9th is taking place in Sligo LTC.
The online entry closed on Sunday, March 2, 2014 at 11:59 PM (GMT).
| Venue: | Sligo Tennis Club | ||
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| Address: |
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| Phone: | 071-9162580 | ||
| Email: | [email protected] | ||
| Website: | www.sligotennisclub.ie |
| Name: | Keith Moran |
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| Phone: | 087-6667766 |
| Email: | [email protected] |
| Men’s A, Men’s B, |
| Entry open: | Tuesday, February 18, 2014 12:00 AM (GMT) |
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| Entry deadline: | Sunday, March 2, 2014 11:59 PM (GMT) |
| Withdrawal deadline: | Thursday, March 6, 2014 11:59 PM (GMT) |
Friday, March 7, 2014 to Sunday, March 9, 2014
| Venue: | Fitzwilliam LTC | ||
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| Address: |
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| Name: | Brian Mc Nally |
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| Phone: | 0868528727 |
| Email: | [email protected] |
Friday, March 21, 2014 to Sunday, March 23, 2014
RESULTS: Women’s METROsquash Windy City Open, Chicago, USA
1st round:
[1] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt [Q] Emily Whitlock (ENG) 11-7, 11-4, 11-2 (34m)
Annie Au (HKG) bt [8] Kasey Brown (AUS) 11-5, 11-4, 11-8 (31m)
[3] Alison Waters (ENG) bt [Q] Joey Chan (HKG) 11-8, 11-7, 11-5 (30m)
[7] Camille Serme (FRA) bt Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) 11-8, 8-11, 11-5, 12-10 (57m)
[Q] Emma Beddoes (ENG) bt [6] Madeline Perry (IRL) 11-9, 5-11, 11-4, 11-8 (52m)
[4] Joelle King (NZL) bt [WC] Aisling Blake (IRL) 11-5, 11-4, 11-6 (24m)
[5] Low Wee Wern (MAS) bt Dipika Pallikal (IND) 11-5, 8-11, 11-7, 12-14, 11-6 (80m)
[2] Raneem El Welily (EGY) bt [Q] Sarah Kippax (ENG) 12-14, 9-11, 11-3, 11-4, 11-7 (52m)
English qualifier Emma Beddoes pulled off her first win over Ireland’s world No7 Madeline Perry in six Tour meetings over the past six years when she upset the sixth seed in the first round of the Women’s METROsquash Windy City Open, the Women’s Squash Association (WSA) Gold 50 event at the University Club of Chicago in Chicago, USA.
Beddoes, the world No23 from Leeds, took the opening game after fighting back from 8-6 down. But the experienced Perry, winner of her 14th Irish national title in December, regained control in the second to draw level.
Underdog Beddoes responded well in the third, however, and regained the lead.
“The fourth was a scorcher, everyone wondering if a qualifier could pull off a victory against a world number seven,” said event spokesman Jim Wellington. “She almost did – going up 9-5, and earning two match balls at 10-8. Stroke to Beddoes: she did!”
After the 11-9, 5-11, 11-4, 11-8 victory in 52 minutes, MC Kerry Fliss asked Beddoes what’s it looking like, moving forward: “All of the matches are going to be tough,” said 28-year-old Beddoes. “I just have to stay focused.”
Beddoes will now face fourth seed Joelle King for a place in the semi-finals. The world No5 from New Zealand beat Irish wild card Aisling Blake 11-5, 11-4, 11-6.
Another upset produced an unexpected quarter-finalist when Hong Kong’s unseeded Annie Au ousted Australia’s No8 seed Kasey Brown 11-5, 11-4, 11-8.
Fliss complimented Au on taking the pace off the ball and exerting so much control: “Yes, that’s my game,” responded the 25-year-old world No11. “I have to play like that because I’m a little bit short so I don’t have the power that some of the other players have.”
Au will now line up against event favourite Laura Massaro, the world No2 from England who beat compatriot and former stable-mate Emily Whitlock, a 20-year-old qualifier, 11-7, 11-4, 11-2.
When asked about her upcoming clash with the Hong Kong left-hander, 30-year-old Massaro replied: “She beat me and a few weeks ago in Cleveland, so I’m looking forward to the rematch.”
There will be English interest in a third quarter-final when No3 seed Alison Waters takes on France’s Camille Serme. Londoner Waters defeated Hong Kong qualifier Joey Chan 11-8, 11-7, 11-5, while seventh seed Serme battled for 57 minutes to see off Egypt’s Omneya Abdel Kawy 11-8, 8-11, 11-5, 12-10.
Dipika Pallikal‘s bid to reach the final for the second time since 2011 was halted by Asian rival Low Wee Wern when the No5 seed from Malaysia overcame the Indian number one 11-5, 8-11, 11-7, 12-14, 11-6 in a hard-fought 80-minute encounter.
Wee Wern will now face Raneem El Welily, the No2 seed from Egypt who ended English qualifier Sarah Kippax‘s run 12-14, 9-11, 11-3, 11-4, 11-7.
Quarter-final line-up:
[1] Laura Massaro (ENG) v Annie Au (HKG)
[3] Alison Waters (ENG) v [7] Camille Serme (FRA)
[4] Joelle King (NZL) v [Q] Emma Beddoes (ENG)
[2] Raneem El Welily (EGY) v [5] Low Wee Wern (MAS)
27 February 2014
Chicago will host its richest women’s squash event ever when the Women’s METROsquash Windy City Open gets underway tomorrow at the University Club of Chicago in the largest city in the US state of Illinois.
The Women’s Squash Association (WSA) Gold event – the third of the year – boasts a star-studded field featuring eight of the top ten players in the world. It is significant from an Irish point of view in that Ireland has its top 2 players in the main draw. It is great to see Aisling Blake back playing again, as she has been off injured since November last. She is a wildcard entry and faces Joelle King from New Zealand. Madeline Perry is up against a qualifier. So here’s hoping both players have a successful first round where they would meet each other in the last eight. this would be a rematch they didn’t have in the Irish Nationals last December with Aisling being injured. The previous March Aisling beat Madeline in the Irish Championships to give her a first national title.
The top seed is England’s world No2 Laura Massaro.”I’m really excited to be heading to Chicago for the first time in my career,” said the 30-year-old from Preston in Lancashire who is seeded to win the 13th Tour title of her career.
“It’s fantastic it’s on the WSA calendar at Gold level and the promoters have done brilliantly raising the money to get the top women to The Windy City Open,” added the reigning British Open champion.
“I’ve heard Chicago is a fantastic city so I’ll look forward to exploring the city if I have time and it’s not too cold!”
Massaro begins her Windy City campaign against a qualifier and is likely to face fellow WSA board member Kasey Brown, the newly-elected President ranked 13 in the world, in the quarter-finals.
The draw predicts a semi-final clash with England team-mate Alison Waters, the No3 seed, before a possible final showdown against Raneem El Welily, the world No3 from Egypt.
Asian interest is led by Low Wee Wern, the fifth seed from Malaysia. But Wern has a tough opener against regional rival Dipika Pallikal, the world No10 from India.
1st round draw:
[1] Laura Massaro (ENG) v Qualifier
[8] Kasey Brown (AUS) v Annie Au (HKG)
[3] Alison Waters (ENG) v Qualifier
[7] Camille Serme (FRA) v Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY)
[6] Madeline Perry (IRL) v Qualifier
[4] Joelle King (NZL) v [WC] Aisling Blake (IRL)
[5] Low Wee Wern (MAS) v Dipika Pallikal (IND)
[2] Raneem El Welily (EGY) v Qualifier
RESULTS: Women’s METROsquash Windy City Open, Chicago, USA
1st round:
[1] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt [Q] Emily Whitlock (ENG) 11-7, 11-4, 11-2 (34m)
Annie Au (HKG) bt [8] Kasey Brown (AUS) 11-5, 11-4, 11-8 (31m)
[3] Alison Waters (ENG) bt [Q] Joey Chan (HKG) 11-8, 11-7, 11-5 (30m)
[7] Camille Serme (FRA) bt Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) 11-8, 8-11, 11-5, 12-10 (57m)
[Q] Emma Beddoes (ENG) bt [6] Madeline Perry (IRL) 11-9, 5-11, 11-4, 11-8 (52m)
[4] Joelle King (NZL) bt [WC] Aisling Blake (IRL) 11-5, 11-4, 11-6 (24m)
[5] Low Wee Wern (MAS) bt Dipika Pallikal (IND) 11-5, 8-11, 11-7, 12-14, 11-6 (80m)
[2] Raneem El Welily (EGY) bt [Q] Sarah Kippax (ENG) 12-14, 9-11, 11-3, 11-4, 11-7 (52m)
English qualifier Emma Beddoes pulled off her first win over Ireland’s world No7 Madeline Perry in six Tour meetings over the past six years when she upset the sixth seed in the first round of the Women’s METROsquash Windy City Open, the Women’s Squash Association (WSA) Gold 50 event at the University Club of Chicago in Chicago, USA.
Beddoes, the world No23 from Leeds, took the opening game after fighting back from 8-6 down. But the experienced Perry, winner of her 14th Irish national title in December, regained control in the second to draw level.
Underdog Beddoes responded well in the third, however, and regained the lead.
“The fourth was a scorcher, everyone wondering if a qualifier could pull off a victory against a world number seven,” said event spokesman Jim Wellington. “She almost did – going up 9-5, and earning two match balls at 10-8. Stroke to Beddoes: she did!”
After the 11-9, 5-11, 11-4, 11-8 victory in 52 minutes, MC Kerry Fliss asked Beddoes what’s it looking like, moving forward: “All of the matches are going to be tough,” said 28-year-old Beddoes. “I just have to stay focused.”
Beddoes will now face fourth seed Joelle King for a place in the semi-finals. The world No5 from New Zealand beat Irish wild card Aisling Blake 11-5, 11-4, 11-6.
Another upset produced an unexpected quarter-finalist when Hong Kong’s unseeded Annie Au ousted Australia’s No8 seed Kasey Brown 11-5, 11-4, 11-8.
Fliss complimented Au on taking the pace off the ball and exerting so much control: “Yes, that’s my game,” responded the 25-year-old world No11. “I have to play like that because I’m a little bit short so I don’t have the power that some of the other players have.”
Au will now line up against event favourite Laura Massaro, the world No2 from England who beat compatriot and former stable-mate Emily Whitlock, a 20-year-old qualifier, 11-7, 11-4, 11-2.
When asked about her upcoming clash with the Hong Kong left-hander, 30-year-old Massaro replied: “She beat me and a few weeks ago in Cleveland, so I’m looking forward to the rematch.”
There will be English interest in a third quarter-final when No3 seed Alison Waters takes on France’s Camille Serme. Londoner Waters defeated Hong Kong qualifier Joey Chan 11-8, 11-7, 11-5, while seventh seed Serme battled for 57 minutes to see off Egypt’s Omneya Abdel Kawy 11-8, 8-11, 11-5, 12-10.
Dipika Pallikal‘s bid to reach the final for the second time since 2011 was halted by Asian rival Low Wee Wern when the No5 seed from Malaysia overcame the Indian number one 11-5, 8-11, 11-7, 12-14, 11-6 in a hard-fought 80-minute encounter.
Wee Wern will now face Raneem El Welily, the No2 seed from Egypt who ended English qualifier Sarah Kippax‘s run 12-14, 9-11, 11-3, 11-4, 11-7.
Quarter-final line-up:
[1] Laura Massaro (ENG) v Annie Au (HKG)
[3] Alison Waters (ENG) v [7] Camille Serme (FRA)
[4] Joelle King (NZL) v [Q] Emma Beddoes (ENG)
[2] Raneem El Welily (EGY) v [5] Low Wee Wern (MAS)
27 February 2014
Chicago will host its richest women’s squash event ever when the Women’s METROsquash Windy City Open gets underway tomorrow at the University Club of Chicago in the largest city in the US state of Illinois.
The Women’s Squash Association (WSA) Gold event – the third of the year – boasts a star-studded field featuring eight of the top ten players in the world. It is significant from an Irish point of view in that Ireland has its top 2 players in the main draw. It is great to see Aisling Blake back playing again, as she has been off injured since November last. She is a wildcard entry and faces Joelle King from New Zealand. Madeline Perry is up against a qualifier. So here’s hoping both players have a successful first round where they would meet each other in the last eight. this would be a rematch they didn’t have in the Irish Nationals last December with Aisling being injured. The previous March Aisling beat Madeline in the Irish Championships to give her a first national title.
The top seed is England’s world No2 Laura Massaro.”I’m really excited to be heading to Chicago for the first time in my career,” said the 30-year-old from Preston in Lancashire who is seeded to win the 13th Tour title of her career.
“It’s fantastic it’s on the WSA calendar at Gold level and the promoters have done brilliantly raising the money to get the top women to The Windy City Open,” added the reigning British Open champion.
“I’ve heard Chicago is a fantastic city so I’ll look forward to exploring the city if I have time and it’s not too cold!”
Massaro begins her Windy City campaign against a qualifier and is likely to face fellow WSA board member Kasey Brown, the newly-elected President ranked 13 in the world, in the quarter-finals.
The draw predicts a semi-final clash with England team-mate Alison Waters, the No3 seed, before a possible final showdown against Raneem El Welily, the world No3 from Egypt.
Asian interest is led by Low Wee Wern, the fifth seed from Malaysia. But Wern has a tough opener against regional rival Dipika Pallikal, the world No10 from India.
1st round draw:
[1] Laura Massaro (ENG) v Qualifier
[8] Kasey Brown (AUS) v Annie Au (HKG)
[3] Alison Waters (ENG) v Qualifier
[7] Camille Serme (FRA) v Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY)
[6] Madeline Perry (IRL) v Qualifier
[4] Joelle King (NZL) v [WC] Aisling Blake (IRL)
[5] Low Wee Wern (MAS) v Dipika Pallikal (IND)
[2] Raneem El Welily (EGY) v Qualifier
26 February 2014
Ireland’s Madeline Perry seeded 7 plays England’s Sarah Kippax in the 1st round and if she wins that match would be seeded to play Sarah Jane Perry the number 15 seed with the winner playing Egypt’s world no. 3 Raneem El Welily in the last 8 . Madeline had a great win over Raneem last month, so a semi final berth would be a real possibility for Madeline and one she will be aiming for and beyond, hopefully.
After an unprecedented 25-match unbeaten run in the event since 2007, world number one Nicol David is set to begin her bid for a record eighth title in the Penang Women’s World Squash Championship when she faces England’s Emma Beddoes in the first round of the premier WSA World Tour event which is being staged in Penang, Malaysia, from 15-23 March.
Boasting a $120,000 prize-fund, the joint Women’s Squash Association (WSA) and World Squash Federation (WSF) championship opens at the Nicol David International Squash Centre before moving onto an all-glass showcourt at the 10,000-seater Penang International Sports Arena.
Success in the event will fulfil a lifelong dream for the Malaysian squash queen to win a senior world title in front of a home crowd in Penang.
Today’s draw in Penang lined home favourite David up against world No23 Beddoes for their first meeting for more than three years. A likely second round meeting with Asian rival Annie Au, the No11 seed from Hong Kong, could lead to the predicted quarter-final clash with eighth seed Camille Serme, the world No8 from France whom David has faced five times in the past seven months!
David is drawn in the same half as England’s world No4 Alison Waters – and is expected to face world No2 Laura Massaro, also from England, in a repeat of the 2012 final.
David will be supported in the event by fellow Penangite Low Wee Wern, the sixth seed who begins her campaign against Australia’s Donna Urquhart.
Tour veteran Rachael Grinham will be celebrating a notable milestone in Penang after making her World Championship debut 20 years ago in the 1994 championship in Guernsey. The 37-year-old 14th seed and former world number one from Australia – winner of the title in 2007 – takes on Guyana’s world No19 Nicolette Fernandes in the first round.
1st round draw:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) v Emma Beddoes (ENG)
[11] Annie Au (HKG) v Qualifier
[8] Camille Serme (FRA) v Qualifier
[14] Rachael Grinham (AUS) v Nicolette Fernandes (GUY)
[4] Alison Waters (ENG) v Joshana Chinappa (IND)
[12] Kasey Brown (AUS) v Nour El Sherbini (EGY)
[5] Joelle King (NZL) v Qualifier
[13] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) v Qualifier
[15] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) v Joey Chan (HKG)
[7] Madeline Perry (IRL) v Sarah Kippax (ENG)
[10] Dipika Pallikal (IND) v Qualifier
[3] Raneem El Welily (EGY) v Qualifier
[16] Line Hansen (DEN) v Qualifier
[6] Low Wee Wern (MAS) v Donna Urquhart (AUS)
[9] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) v Qualifier
[2] Laura Massaro (ENG) v [WC] Vanessa Raj (MAS)
Irish Squash has announced the Under 13 and Under 15 team to play in the 5 Nations tournament between Ireland, France, Wales England & Scotland which will be held in Dublin from Friday 28th March to the 30th in Mount Pleasant LTC and Leinster Cricket Club.
We wish all the players the best of luck and congratulate them on their selection for the international team.
The team is:
The Women’s Squash Association (WSA) is marking the 30th anniversary of its formation this week with celebrations at the British Open in May and the US Open later in the year.
Founded in February 1984 at the Belfast Boat Club in Ireland, the originally-named Women’s Squash Players’ Association (WSPA) boasted 23 members and elected New Zealander Robyn Blackwood as its Chairwoman and Australia’s Rae Anderson as Secretary/Treasurer.
The first WSPA World Ranking list was topped by New Zealand’s Susan Devoy – who went on to achieve an unprecedented 105 months as the women’s world number one.
The Association later changed its name to the Women’s International Squash Players’ Association (WISPA), before being re-launched as the Women’s Squash Association (WSA) in 2012.
Over the past 30 years, the Association has attracted some 5,000 players from all corners of the globe who have competed in more than 1,200 events on the international Tour.
12 players – from six countries (New Zealand, Australia, England, USA, Netherlands and Malaysia) – have topped the world rankings over the three decades, with reigning world number one Nicol David having held the title unopposed since August 2006!
The 29th WSA World Championship will be held in David’s home city of Penang next month, when the 30-year-old Malaysian is set to extend her remarkable record to eight titles.
Founder Chairwoman Robyn Blackwood was delighted to hear of the Association’s latest milestone: “Thirty years ago there was a groundswell of support from players for a professional association and importantly, a world ranking system for women squash players that was current,” said the former world No3.
“It was a buoyant and exciting time in squash with significant numbers of professional players and circuits around the world to compete on. The establishment of WSPA was the next logical step. We established the world rankings, and the associated systems, very shortly after our inaugural meeting at the Belfast Boat Club.
“It is great to hear that WSA is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Congratulations to all those who have been a part of its success.”
Current WSA President Kasey Brown added: “All professional women squash players should be proud of the growth that the Association has achieved over the past three decades and we are indebted to players like Robyn and Rae for their foresight back in the 1980s.
“WSA boasts some of the fittest athletes on the planet, competing day in day out on a flourishing WSA World Tour which is active on all continents – from traditional squash nations like England, Australia and the USA, to newer territories like Mexico, China and Malaysia,” added the world No13 from Australia.
“I am delighted to be part of a new WSA board which is determined to grow the Tour over the coming years, led by the WSA vision to Inspire; Empower; and Entertain: Inspire future female generations to embrace squash as a professional sport; Empower girls and women on and off the court; and Entertain the world.”
For all the latest WSA Tour news: wsaworldtour.com
Minister Michael Ring TD, Minister of State for Sport and Tourism has launched the Volunteers in Sport Awards 2014. An initiative of the Federation of Irish Sport in conjunction with the Irish Sports Council, the Department of Tourism, Transport and Sport and The Community Foundation of Ireland, the Volunteers in Sport Awards are run to honour the work of volunteers in Irish sport.
Minister Michael Ring TD “The work of volunteers is the foundation on which sport in Ireland is built – without volunteers there would be no sport in Ireland.”
The first awards were presented in 2007 and are designed to recognise the contribution, commitment and dedication of the 500,000 volunteers who give so generously of their time to sport every year. Sport remains the single biggest driver of voluntary activity in Ireland.
Ten winners will be selected to receive an award from the nominations received. An Overall or Lifetime award to honour a volunteer, who has consistently given of their time for a sport, a team, or an event over many years, will also be awarded. Full details of the scheme and how to enter can be found on line at www.volunteersinsport.com
Previous winners include Liam Sheedy, who managed Tipperary to All Ireland Senior success in 2010, Oliver O’Neill, youth coach and father of Olympic Boxer Darren O’Neill and Dublin City Marathon organiser Jim Aughney.
Nomination forms can be accessed through http://www.volunteersinsport.com/ The deadline for nominations for the 2014 Volunteers in Irish Sport Awards is 12noon, Friday 25th April 2014. The awards will be presented to the winners at a ceremony in the Aviva Stadium in early Autumn.
