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September 2007:
Nose2Nose with Peter Nicol MBE ...
Duncan Steele meets a squash legend in Genova |
Peter Nicol MBE is a name in the
squash world that everybody knows and admires, but how well do we
know Peter ?
 We
know what he has won and his history on a squash court ... but who
is Peter Nicol off the squash court, what does he like, do, think.
With the help of his good friend Pete Genever I collected
info on him to go Nose2Nose with him in Italy at the Prince
Cup held in Genova last weekend.
We talked a little Squash and a lot of dribble.
Peter Nicol is one nice guy, humble chatty and very stubborn. He has
very bad eyesight, in a sport where vision is a key to success he
would be considered blind. He has a large head, is a history buff,
prefers architecture to art, has a sweet tooth and has become a bon
vivant since moving to London, he drives his car very fast and
believes, like me, that a man can fake an orgasm.
 Thankfully
he has an opinion on every subject and has an unnatural obsession
with the Hoover Dam, he loves listening to Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen
and Ray LaMontagne, favourite film is Arthur with Dudley Moore,
would like to learn to fly, considers himself a good hand in the
kitchen making Soy glazed salmon, doesn't support any particular
football team but enjoys international matches, he speaks German and
would like to learn French, spent a few days walking up to Everest
Base camp and organised a surprise meeting between his girlfriend
and her mother on a bridge in London.
Ladies and Gentleman ... Nose2Nose with Peter Nicol MBE ...
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The Prince Cup is a handicap tournament held in Genova, with
48 players taking part this year.
Winner: Arceci beat Blanco
3/4th Bo beat Carenzio
5th Roncucci
National number one Simone Rocca also played an exhibition
match with Peter.
 "What
an honour it is to play with Peter, we in Italy can only learn from
him.
"He is so humble. Last time Peter came to Italy was in 1993 and I
played him in the National Club Championships ... 14 years later I
play him again... same result!!"
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Nose2Nose |
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1. Any pre match habits?
No not really, but if I start doing something in a tournament I’ll
repeat the same ritual throughout the whole tournament … but only
for that tournament.
2. Funniest player on the circuit?
Power, without doubt … irritating at times but very funny.
3. Nick Matthew told me that he picks your brain as much as
possible as anything learnt from you has a huge value. What is the
most valuable advice somebody gave you?
Listen to everybody. Everybody has something that you can learn
from, if it can help you in your situation or not is another thing,
plus a lot of advice is crap but within that crap is something that
can help you.
4. Sporting idol outside squash?
Michael Johnson… apart from being a great athlete, he is a great
sports commentator … straight down the line, honest. I would love to
meet him, maybe train with him but most of all chat with him.
5. Train with him ... you mean run with him … but I heard from
our friend that you can’t run … I quote “He can’t run properly, he
almost goes backwards”. Is it true you are a lousy runner?
Ha ha… I know who told you that!! Well I’m not the best runner, when
preparing for the Commonwealths I went on the track with Pete
Genever and Tim Garner who are both good runners so in comparison to
them I’m pretty bad … well yes … I’m pretty slow … struggle to hit a
15sec 100m … that’s slow isn’t it?!!
6. You have a very large head is that true?
I know who told you that as well!! Yes I do… I find it difficult to
find headbands or headgear to fit me properly!
7. MBE, what was it like meeting the Queen ... did you have
clammy hands when you shook her hand?
Oh yes but thankfully she wears a glove! There was so much protocol
involved. After shaking her hand I had to walk backwards , I wasn’t
allowed to turn my back to her. She is quite an amazing lady, she
really doesn’t know all of the people that she is meeting as we were
about 200, but there was somebody there whispering in her ear
telling her who the next person was that she was meeting, then she
asked a couple of nice questions , gave me my MBE and that was it.
8. Why isn’t Peter Nicol MBE written on your business card?
It’s a nice design isn’t it … I designed them and did them for all
of us in the company … but I forgot to put MBE after my name, simply
forgot, and having an MBE after your name is the easiest way of
getting a business appointment!!
9. What advice can you give to anybody wanting to improve at
squash?
Oh that’s simple … work hard and enjoy your squash.
10. I heard you have an unnatural obsession with the Hoover Dam
in Arizona to an extent that you obliged your friends to hire a boat
to visit it!!?
Ha ha ha … yes. It started when I was travelling in the States and
going from one tournament to another we seemed to drive past it
every time … so one day we stopped and took a boat to visit it.
11. A sporting challenge you’d like to accomplish outside squash?
None really … but thinking about it I would probably be interested
in doing the Round the World Yacht race.
12. Your best shot? And worst?
Best is my drive … worst is my drop … well, anything that requires
touch!
13. Have you ever mis-hit a shot that won you the match?
No not that I can think of, I’ll leave that to you Dunc, but it is
the best shot in squash it’s a winner every time, if you could
perfect the shot it would great!
14. Most memorable rally?
Playing Simon Parke in the Quarter finals of the Tournament of
Champions in 2002. First rally was 6mins long … that’s long isn’t it
… then the whole match followed more or less the same course.
Brutal!
15. Who were your training partners?
Anybody at the club in Chingford … could have been a junior, pro,
club player old and young … I trained with everybody.
16. Worst loss?
I got hammered in 13mins by Del Harris in Pakistan in 1993 … long
way to go for 13 mins of squash!
17. Why do you curl your top lip when you hit the ball?
I don’t do it just when I hit the ball, I do it when I’m
concentrating … even when I tie my laces I do it slightly … it’s
just the way I concentrate.
18. You play tennis as well. Is it possible to play both tennis
and squash without damaging your squash ?
My last few years on the circuit I also played tennis when I was
free … looking at some of the people playing here today … there are
quite a few that are playing tennis on a squash court!! So yes it is
possible with no harm done to somebody who wants to improve his
squash.
19. You also play golf … what’s your handicap?
10 … 11!
20. 10 or 11?
More 11 ………
21. Did you enjoy yourself here today in Genova?
Yes I did … tiring but all very good fun. Thank you Prince Italia
for inviting me.
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ON THE SPOT:
Wine or Beer ; Wine
Pizza or Pasta ; Pizza
Blonds or Brunettes; Brunettes
England or Scotland ; England
Which scoring ; American
Briefs or Boxers ; Nothing
Mountains or Sea ; Sea
Rugby or Football ; Football
Dvd or Cinema ; Cinema
Long hair or Short ; Long
Sweet or Sour ; Sweet
Meat or Fish ; Meat
Coffee or Tea; Coffee
Night or Day; Night
Pyjamas or no ; No
Bath or Shower; Shower
Cat or Dog; Cat
Spring or Autumn; Autumn
TV or Book; Book
Town or Country; Country
Nightclub or Pub; Pub
Tent or Hotel; Tent
Early or Late Riser; Early
Eat at home or out; Home
Pete Or Peter; Peter
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