Ireland’s bright young stars of the future are in action this week starting on Thusday 16th May in the U15/17 European Championships in Girona, near Barcelona in Spain.

The Irish team is

U15’s – Stephanie Ryan, Hannag Craig, Oisin Dunne, Sean Dineen & Luke Logan

U17’s – Griffin Gillanders, Fiona Power, David Ryan, Nikita Gilevskiy & Philip McSweeney

Table of Final Seedings of U15/17 teams – http://www.worldenjoyer.com/images/Final%20Seeding%20European%20Junior%20Team%20Championships%20U15-U17.pdf

The U 15’s are in a pool with Spain, Israel & Finland while the U17’s are playing in a round robin series of matches – France, Scotland, Israel & Portugal. There are some interesting matches there but certainly both Irish teams will be confident of progressing from their groups. The teams are being coached by the national coach hadrian Stiff and Paul Bell and being managed by Helen Reapy from Connacht and Leinster’s Henry Gillanders.

Come back to irishsquash.staging.wpengine.com over the next 4 days, Finals are on Sunday 19th May to get all the match reports and scores as they happen.

UNDER 15 DRAW

Match overview of Under 15 Team Championships – Under 15 Pool D

	Time	Home	–	Away	Score	Court
	Thu 16/05/2013 14:00	Israel[ISR]	–	[ESP] Spain	2-1	Tipi Park – court 3
	Thu 16/05/2013 14:00	Ireland[IRL]	–	[FIN] Finland	3-0	Tipi Park – court 1
	Thu 16/05/2013 20:00	Israel[ISR]	–	[FIN] Finland		Tipi Park – court 8
	Thu 16/05/2013 20:00	Ireland[IRL]	–	[ESP] Spain		Tipi Park – court 3
	Fri 17/05/2013 17:30	Israel[ISR]	–	[IRL] Ireland		Tipi Park – court 2
	Fri 17/05/2013 17:30	Spain[ESP]	–	[FIN] Finland		Tipi Park – court 3

UNDER 17 DRAW

Match overview of Under 17 Team Championships – Under 17 Pool B

	Time	Home	–	Away	Score	Court
	Thu 16/05/2013 10:00	Ireland[IRL]	–	[ISR] Israel	3-0	Tipi Park – court 5
	Thu 16/05/2013 10:00	France[FRA]	–	[POR] Portugal	3-0	Tipi Park – court 2
	Thu 16/05/2013 16:00	Ireland[IRL]	–	[SCO] Scotland	2-1	Tipi Park – court 3
	Thu 16/05/2013 16:00	Israel[ISR]	–	[POR] Portugal	1-2	Tipi Park – court 2
	Thu 16/05/2013 20:00	France[FRA]	–	[SCO] Scotland		Tipi Park – court 5
	Fri 17/05/2013 09:30	France[FRA]	–	[ISR] Israel		Tipi Park – court 3
	Fri 17/05/2013 09:30	Scotland[SCO]	–	[POR] Portugal		Tipi Park – court 4
	Fri 17/05/2013 13:30	Scotland[SCO]	–	[ISR] Israel		Tipi Park – court 2
	Fri 17/05/2013 13:30	Ireland[IRL]	–	[POR] Portugal		Tipi Park – court 3
	Fri 17/05/2013 19:30	France[FRA]	–	[IRL] Ireland		Tipi Park – court 5

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8^th  Annual General Meeting of Irish Squash Federation Ltd 

This year’s AGM will commence at 2.00pm on Sunday, 9^th June 2013

in Irish Sport HQ, National Sports Campus, Blanchardstown Dublin 15

(Please note our new address)

• Agenda 2013
• Nomination for Board of Irish Squash Fed Ltd 2013
• Provincial Rep Nomination 2013
• Minutes 2011-2012 AGM
• Club Rep Nomination

Any individual wishing to serve on the Board (and to be able to serve or act in any other capacity)  must be a paid up Individual Member or Honorary Member of Irish Squash.

It would be important to note –

• The Agenda for the AGM provides for the transaction of any business of which 21 days notice has been given to the Hon. Secretary.  Such notice should be submitted in writing to the Irish Squash Office not later than 9.30a.m. on Monday 20th May

and

• Similarly, the Nomination of Club Representative and Alternative Representative; the Nomination of Representatives designated by a Provincial Association and the Nomination for Election to Position on the Board of Irish Squash Forms should be submitted to the Irish Squash Office not later than 5.00pm on Friday 31^st May, 2010.   The forms enclosed herewith can be used, although more are available from the Irish Squash Office on request.

At the AGM the Report of the Board, the Reports of the Provincial Associations (if available) will be distributed.

We look forward to as many members as possible participating in the interests of the game of Squash in Ireland. 

Ed Dunne

President

Perry’s Experience Shines On In Texas

Madeline Perry has become the latest WSA World Tour player to win back-to-back titles in 2013 following a successful Texas Open campaign and following from her win in her home ‘Irish Open’  2 weeks ago.

Madeline has a good win in 4 games vs Latasha Khan, the world number 30 from the USA. For Aisling Blake following her very successful European Team Championships, where in the final she beat world number 4 Alison Waters, unfortunatly she lost in the 1st round to World number 8 England’s Jenny Duncalf in 4 games.

Forth seeded Madeline then beat sixth seeded and world number 17 Rachael Grinham from Australia very convincingly 11-7, 11-5, 11-2.

Just one seeded player failed to make it past the opening round of the well attended WSA Silver 35 event, as Misaki Kobayashi beat Samantha Teran to the quarter-final spot after a lengthy five games.
The Japanese qualifier didn’t fare as well against second seed Jenny Duncalf in the quarters, with the Englishwoman demonstrating her experience and quality to reach the semi-final round.  Duncalf was joined by the rest of the top four seeds in the semis, as Natalie Grinham saw off a commendable challenge from Sarah-Jane Perry in five-games, along with victories for top seed Joelle King.

Grinham’s long quarter-final match did nothing to impact her longevity against Duncalf in a cat-and-mouse semi-final battle.  The Dutch representative came from a game down against the higher seed and was pegged back again in the fourth before clinching the deciding fifth game to reach her 44th WSA career final.

Madeline Perry - through to another final

Meanwhile No.1 seed Joelle King saw a good start against Perry quickly levelled by the experienced Irishwoman, who launched an excellent display of cool-headed, strategic squash to beat the New Zealander, ranked five places higher, in four games.
It was world No.10 Grinham who started better in the final by clinching the narrowest of opening games against Perry, ranked just one place behind her. The high level of experience from both players was evident to the crowds as Perry countered in the second, drawing level after another closely fought game.  Grinham responded in kind to take the lead again, but was beginning to show signs of fatigue in the fourth game, which Perry closed out by the largest margin of the match so far.  A third five-game encounter proved too much for the Dutchwoman, and Perry closed out the fifth and final game to win her eleventh WSA World Tour title, her second in succession.

Final: [4] Madeline Perry (IRL) bt [3] Natalie Grinham (NED)  9-11, 11-8, 8-11, 11-5, 11-6
Semi-finals: [4] Madeline Perry (IRL) bt [1] Joelle King (NZL)  9-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-7 [3] Natalie Grinham (NED) bt [2] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) 2-11, 11-4, 11-9, 5-11, 11-0
Quarter-finals: [1] Joelle King (NZL) bt [5] Kasey Brown (AUS) 14-12, 8-11, 11-8, 11-3 [4] Madeline Perry (IRL) bt [6] Rachael Grinham (AUS)  11-7, 11-5, 11-2 [3] Natalie Grinham (NED) bt [8] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) 11-5, 11-8, 8-11, 4-11, 11-9 [2] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt Misaki Kobayashi (JAP)  11-7, 11-4, 11-2

1st round: [1] Joelle King (NZL) bt Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) 11-4, 5-11, 11-9, 11-9 [5] Kasey Brown (AUS) bt Sarah Kippax (ENG) 11-8, 13-11, 12-14, 11-4 [4] Madeline Perry (IRL) bt Latasha Khan (USA) 11-7, 11-5, 9-11, 11-7 [6] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt Nouran Gohar (EGY) 11-4, 11-9, 11-5 [8] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) bt Line Hansen (DEN) 11-3, 12-10, 11-9 [3] Natalie Grinham (NED) bt Emily Whitlock (ENG) 8-11, 12-11, 11-5, 11-13, 11-3 Misaki Kobayashi (JAP) bt [7] Samantha Teran (MEX) 13-11, 11-9, 5-11, 9-11, 11-3 [2] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt Aisling Blake (IRL) 11-2, 11-7, 4-11, 11-2

On Friday 3^rd May in Fitzwilliam seventy two players from Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales started out to compete in the Masters Home Internationals Men Over 45 & over 65 and Women Over 45. By Saturday afternoon bodies were struggling with lactic acid overdoses and games of squash were terminating.

Ireland got off to a great start in the Over 45s as David Borton, egged on by his flag waving groupies (his wife and children) who created a great atmosphere, won a titanic fifth set 9/7.
Wales were strong and England even stronger. David Young was probably the stand out player in the tournament, but finally Scotland were beaten 5.0 by Ireland.

The over 65s beat Wales 12-9 thanks to an extraordinary performance from Tom Cantwell, who repeated it against Scotland on Saturday to bring Ireland into second place behind England. Captain Arthur Adair who was injured while winning his first game led the team to a very creditable second place.

The Over 45 women finished in third place behind two strong countries England and Scotland. Dympna Riordan won a very tough match, but Joan Gorham’s performance against a very good Welsh lady was probably the stand out performance. Rosie Barry should be very pleased with her team’s efforts.

David Flynn’s team won the sartorial best dressed award, while the poorer pensioners eclipsed them in the real test- winning squash matches!

TEAMS – IRELAND

Women O45

Caroline Coyle, Sheryrl Abernethy, Rosie Barry, Claire Jones, Joan Gorman, Dympna Reardon

Men O45

David Flynn, Tony Maher, Kevin O’Rourke, Kevin Ronan, Jonathan Simpson, Michael Cowhie, David Burton

Men O65

Seamus Daly, Arthur Adair, Tom Cantwell, John mc Bride, Brian ferris, Ciaran Roche, Harry Cullen

Ciarán Roche

Masters – Women O40/Men O40/O60

The above teams are playing vs Scotland, Wales & England in Nottingham the weekend of 10th/11th May.

TEAMS – IRELAND

Women O40

Jenny Dillon, Eleanor Lapthorne, Rosie Barry, Michelle Jackson, Joan Gorman

Men O40

Philip Coleman, Jonathan Simpson, David Ayerst, Ciaran McCoy, John Dillon, Adrian Lesson

Men O60

David Gotto, Martin Maher, Alf Kavanagh, John Kielty, Robert Peel, John Young

[nggallery id=26]

On Friday 3^rd May in Fitzwilliam seventy two players from Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales started out to compete in the Masters Home Internationals Men Over 45 & over 65 and Women Over 45. By Saturday afternoon bodies were struggling with lactic acid overdoses and games of squash were terminating.

Ireland got off to a great start in the Over 45s as David Borton, egged on by his flag waving groupies (his wife and children) who created a great atmosphere, won a titanic fifth set 9/7.
Wales were strong and England even stronger. David Young was probably the stand out player in the tournament, but finally Scotland were beaten 5.0 by Ireland.

The over 65s beat Wales 12-9 thanks to an extraordinary performance from Tom Cantwell, who repeated it against Scotland on Saturday to bring Ireland into second place behind England. Captain Arthur Adair who was injured while winning his first game led the team to a very creditable second place.

The Over 45 women finished in third place behind two strong countries England and Scotland. Dympna Riordan won a very tough match, but Joan Gorham’s performance against a very good Welsh lady was probably the stand out performance. Rosie Barry should be very pleased with her team’s efforts.

David Flynn’s team won the sartorial best dressed award, while the poorer pensioners eclipsed them in the real test- winning squash matches!

TEAMS – IRELAND

Women O45

Caroline Coyle, Sheryrl Abernethy, Rosie Barry, Claire Jones, Joan Gorman, Dympna Reardon

Men O45

David Flynn, Tony Maher, Kevin O’Rourke, Kevin Ronan, Jonathan Simpson, Michael Cowhie, David Burton

Men O65

Seamus Daly, Arthur Adair, Tom Cantwell, John mc Bride, Brian ferris, Ciaran Roche, Harry Cullen

Ciarán Roche

Masters – Women O40/Men O40/O60

The above teams are playing vs Scotland, Wales & England in Nottingham the weekend of 10th/11th May.

TEAMS – IRELAND

Women O40

Jenny Dillon, Eleanor Lapthorne, Rosie Barry, Michelle Jackson, Joan Gorman

Men O40

Philip Coleman, Jonathan Simpson, David Ayerst, Ciaran McCoy, John Dillon, Adrian Lesson

Men O60

David Gotto, Martin Maher, Alf Kavanagh, John Kielty, Robert Peel, John Young

[nggallery id=26]

Ireland M[IRL] – [WAL] Wales M

Match overview

Order	Event	Ireland M[IRL]	–	[WAL] Wales M	Score	Points			Duration
1	MS1	Arthur Gaskin [IRL]	–	[WAL] Peter Creed	6-11 9-11 3-11	0-1			0:46
2	MS2	Brian Byrne [IRL]	–	[WAL] Scott Fitzgerald	11-9 10-12 9-11 4-11	0-1			0:49
3	MS3	Steve Richardson [IRL]	–	[WAL] David Haley	12-10 10-12 Retired	0-1			0:39
4	MS4	Michael Craig [IRL]	–	[WAL] Joel Makin	14-12 5-11 5-11 4-11	0-0			0:54

Battle for 11th place between Ireland & Wales. These teams met in the pool games where it was 2-2 with Wales winning on the countback. Arthur first up vs Creed who he lost to 3-0 in the pool match and I am afraid it was the same again Arthur going down 3-0, 6,9 & 3. Next up Brian Byrne playing at no. 2 as Derek ryan is not playing thereby giving 17 year old Michael Craig his 1st senior cap. Brian won the first 11-9 but lost 3-1in a close game 12-10,11-9 11-4 in 49 min.

Steve Richardson next up, won the first in a tight set 12-10, lost the 2nd by the same score and because Ireland could not win on countback retired.

Michael Craig making his senior debut won a cracking first game 14-12 showing some great touches against his much more experienced opponnent. Michael is a great natural talent andit showed however Makin made it more difficult for him over the rest of the match winning out 3-1 in the end. Michael was selected for this event to develope him as a future Irish international and this exposure will certainly have achieved that.

So a 12th place finish for Ireland which was satisfactory and close to seeding.

Next up for the men is the World  team Championships in Mulhouse, France in mid June. Good luck guys.

Thanks to all who logged into www.irishsquash.com for these European Championships and come back soon for more news on Irish Squash.

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Ireland’s women’s team are in a second successive European final as they beat France and the Netherlands in the closing stages to reach the final of the European team championships in Amsterdam last evening. What an achievement for the team of Madeline Perry, Aisling Blake, Laura Mylotte & Ciara Moloney and their manager Anne Costello.

And what a semi final  vs The Netherlands it was  – Aisling Blake set the tone with an emphatic 3-0 win but our number 1 and most experienced player and world no. 11, Madeline Perry lost a tight match 3-1. So it was all down to Connacht’s Laura Mylotte, the experienced but part time player and boy did she draw on her experience. Winning the first 2 sets, Mylotte drops the 3rd, having been tied at 6-6, a loss of concentration cost the Galway girl the game 6-11. In the fourth set…. 6 all…7 all…8 all…9 all…9-10..9-11 Mylotte drops the 4th and the match comes down to the final set.

Nerves of steel, experienced Mylotte takes the 5th 11-9 and Ireland are in the FINAL! What an achievement for Ireland! The final takes place on Saturday at 10.00 Irish time.

Ireland’s men got to the semi final of the 2nd division and lost narrowly to the host nation, The Netherlands and play Wales for 11th place on Saturday afternoon.

Keep in touch with all the real time results on www.irishsquash.com or go onto the tournament site for live streaming http://www.squash.nl/page/24385/Web-streaming-Day-4

England W[ENG] – [IRL] Ireland W

Match overview

Order	Event	England W[ENG]	–	[IRL] Ireland W	Score	Points			Duration
1	WS1	Laura Massaro [ENG]	–	[IRL] Madeline Perry	11-7 11-5 11-2	1-0			0:29
2	WS2	Alison Waters [ENG]	–	[IRL] Aisling Blake	5-11 9-11 6-11	0-1			0:28
3	WS3	Jenny Duncalf [ENG]	–	[IRL] Laura Mylotte	11-4 11-5 11-2	0-0			0:23

First up Madeline vs. Laura Massaro. Good Luck IRELAND!!

2-0 to Massaro, first point to Madeline 1-4 down, 2-4, 4-4, great nick by Madeline 5 all, 5-6, 5-7 down, 6-8, unlucky tin 6-9, lost 11-7. 2nd set – 1-0 to Madeline, great rally  2-0, stroke to England 2-1, 2 all, 2-4 down, 2-5, slipping 2-6, lovely short shot 3-6, 4-6. Lovely cross court drive by Massaro 4-7. Great drive by Madeline 5-8, 5-10, shot into tin 5-11.

3rd set 2-0 down, 4-0 tough game, 5-0 Madeline playing well but Massaro makes no mistakes. lovely nick by Madeline 2-6, 2-9. Set to Massaro 11-2 somewhat flat but nothing Madeline could do, 3-0. Massaro is the world number 2 and looks every bit of it!!

Another tough match for Ireland Aisling plays world number 4 Alison Waters but we know Aisling will give it all!!

1st point to Waters Aisling nicks 1 all, tin by Waters 2-2, 4-4, nick by Aisling 5-4 up, no let more effort required 6-4 to Aisling. 8-5 up, 10-5 game ball, first set to Ireland 1-0. 2nd set – no let 1-0 to Aisling, great get by Aisling 2-1 up, 3-1, unlucky 3-2 up, 5-4 up. Aisling unlucky, stroke to Waters 5 all, Aisling back in 6-5, great stuff!. 7-6 up after superb nick by Waters, 8-6 up. Great rally at front of court 9-7 up, 10-7 game ball, 10-9, great drop 11-0, 2-0 up in sets!! Aisling is playing superbly.

3rd Set – 1 all, 2-1 up, 3-1, 3-2, Aisling in control on the tee 4-2, 5-2, 6-2, great drop, stroke to Ireland 7-3, what a rally, Aisling is pulling Waters all over the court and getting to everything 9-3, 9-4, 9-6, 10-6, match to Ireland after superb serve and backhand drop into the nick. Well done Aisling!!

From one Connacht woman to another – all down to Laura Mylotte from Galway who did it yesterday. Tough ask for Laura vs. the no. 8 ranked Duncalf but with what she showed last evening never say never!!

1st set – mistake by Laura 0-1,  down, 0-2 down, 1-3 down, 2-4, tin by Duncalf 3-5, unlucky 3-6, 3-7, another tin 4-7, 4-9, 4-10, game to Duncalf. Second set – first pt to Laura 1-0, couple of mistakes 1-3 down, slipping 1-6, 3-7, 4-8, 5-8, game ball to England 5-10. Tough for Laura 2-0 to Duncalf. Third set – 0-3 down, Duncalf in full control 0-4, 1-7. Nothing Laura could do 11-2 in the third. So win for England 2-1. However magnificent tournament by Ireland again to get another silver medal in Europe!!

MEN

Ireland’s men also face the host nation in the semi final of Division 2.

Netherlands M[NED] – [IRL] Ireland M

Match overview

Order	Event	Netherlands M[NED]	–	[IRL] Ireland M	Score	Points			Duration
1	MS1	Laurens Jan Anjema [NED]	–	[IRL] Arthur Gaskin	11-3 9-11 11-3 11-6	0-0			1:02
2	MS2	Sebastiaan Weenink [NED]	–	[IRL] Derek Ryan	11-8 11-4 11-2	1-0			0:29
3	MS3	Bart Ravelli [NED]	–	[IRL] Brian Byrne	11-3 0-0 Retired	0-0			0:08
4	MS4	Rick Penders [NED]	–	[IRL] Steve Richardson	8-11 11-4 11-8 0-0 Retired	0-0			0:43

Derek Ryan went down in the first match after his exploits last night, 11-8, 11-4, 11-2 in 29 min. Just too much for the 42 yrs veteran.

Gaskin goes down in the 1st 3-11, Gaskin ties his match 1-1 (11-9), Richardson v Penders in the 3rd tie as Gaskin goes down in the 3rd set 3-11. Richardson takes the first 11-8 while Gaskin battles on at 3-4 in a very fast and physical game. Gaskin goes down in the 4th 6-11, Holland are now 2 matches up, Richardson drops 2nd 4-11… Ireland are under immense pressure!!

Richardson loses the 3rd and Ireland’s men are beaten by the Dutch as they can’t win on countback. They lads played well against a good team.

So it is Waleson Saturday afternoon for 11th place tomorrow.

WOMEN

Ireland’s women go into today’s semi final full of confidence after beating France yesterday who lost a close semi to England this morning 2-1.

 Ireland W[IRL] – [NED] Netherlands W

Ireland W[IRL] – [NED] Netherlands W: 2-1

Match overview

Order	Event	Ireland W[IRL]	–	[NED] Netherlands W	Score	Points			Duration
1	WS1	Madeline Perry [IRL]	–	[NED] Natalie Grinham	8-11 11-9 5-11 5-11	0-1			0:45
2	WS2	Aisling Blake [IRL]	–	[NED] Orla Noom	11-6 11-8 11-4	1-0			0:27
3	WS3	Laura Mylotte [IRL]	–	[NED] Milou van der Heijden	11-8 11-4 6-11 9-11 11-9	1-0			0:49

Aisling is 2-0 up, 11-6, 11-8 and 7-4 in the third, great start by Ireland. Now 9-4. Won it 11-4, superb squash from Aisling, setting down the marker!! Next up Madeline, Natalie Grinham, world no. 10, 1 place higher than Madeline so a great match in prospect!!

Madeline lost the 1st set 8-11 having go stroke for stroke to 8all, but then lost 3 pts in a row. now 3-2 to Grinham, 3-3,4-3 to Grinham, 6-3, 7-5, 7-6, Perry coming back! 8 all! Perry 9-8 up. 10-9 game ball to Perry. Game to Perry 11-9 in 23 min. 1-1 in the match, what a match. 3rd game ran away from Madeline after her effort in the 2nd lost it 11-5.

2-1 in sets to Grinham. 4th set Perry down 1-2, 1-4 down, 1-6, looking bad for Madeline. Come on Madeline, dig in!! 3-7, 5-9, match ball to Grinham. Match to Grinham 11-5 in the 4th.

All down to Galway’s Laura Mylotte!!

Laura won the first 2 games 11-8 and 11-4 but lost the next two 6-11, 9-11. Cracker of a game from Laura winning 11-9 in the 5th so Ireland win 2-1 and are in the final vs England tomorrow afternoon.

The match lasted 49 minutes and was the first win for Laura in this championship and what a time to do it!!!

So for a second year in a row Ireland’s women’s team are in a European team Championship final vs as usual England. A tough prospect but one the team will look forward to and who knows?!!!

Good Luck! Aisling, Ciara, Laura and Madeline, their manager Anne Costello, and coachs Hadrian Stiff & Paul Bell.