|
|
June 2010:
Corren
Confidential ... |
Australia's Mike Corren has just equalled the 26 PSA
titles won by squash legends David Palmer and Amr Shabana
(albeit winning rather less in prize money in the process),
and is almost certain to become the "most-winning" current
player some time this summer.
Naturally we had to have a word with him ... |
 |
|
Ranking History
SquashInfo
PSA record
 |
 I
know you don't like making too much fuss about it, but it
must feel good to be bracketed with Palmer and Shabana ?
Look mate I really don't think about it in terms of Dave or
Amr. It's chalk and cheese obviously. Still, I had a fair go
on the circuit, made the 30's without coaching or funding
and gave it my best. I am at total ease with all that side
of it.
I look at what I do now as a 'hobby', a hobby I take
seriously, but I play purely for the love of the game. So in
that sense yeah sure, I don't find the comparison
'comfortable', but you know ... winning one PSA title isn't
easy! There are a lot of good players that still strive for
it so ... sure, I can live with 26!
 Your
first title was in Hong Kong 14 years ago, had you played
many events before that or did success come straight away ?
It did in terms of PSA, just lucky I guess! I didn't win my
next title till 2000 though so ... I played three years full
time on the NZ circuit before venturing on to the PSA
circuit playing quality players like Paul Steel, Glen Wilson
and Wayne Werder every weekend ... it was a great measuring
stick.
And what about your junior career ?
Pretty much non existent ... I was a pudgy little bugger,
more pies than court sprints! I really didn't take the game
seriously till I was about 18 or 19.
Which of your titles gave you the most pleasure ?
Hard to say, every win since snapping my Achilles is pretty
good! I suppose the more recent ones are fresh in the
memory, had a great match with Robin Clarke in Ottawa late
last year. It went all the way to the wire, was extremely
hard but also fair ... it was a satisfying match. Hopefully
he thinks the same way!
And which was the hardest to win ?
I don't know about that but I know which was the hardest to
lose. Ottawa in 2004 ... lost to Joey Barrington 17-16 in
the fifth after about 2hrs 18min ... I 'think' he hit the
back wall nick on match ball. It took about five bottles of
red wine that night to recover from the shock!
 You've
had a few injuries over the years, were you ever close to
giving up ?
I was close at the end of 2008. I ruptured my Achilles at
the end of 2006 and after I recovered I really felt I didn't
do justice to myself for a good 18 months, I felt I was
making a fool of myself to be blunt. I made the decision to
give it one more shot, train hard and see what happened.
It worked out 2009 was one of my better years, I really
enjoyed it. Have also had my fair share of back injuries
over the years ... but I did read somewhere that large
mammals shouldn't be in an enclosed space ... they should be
out in the open sea! So I was warned!
You've been based in Australia, Holland, USA and New
Zealand - I guess home is always best, but you must have
some good memories of your other bases ?
Oh for sure, in fact ... the above places were so good I now
have no sense of where home is! I will always have great
memories of NZ and I have a very strong desire to get back
to Europe for a stint. I sincerely hope my nomadic days are
not over yet!
At 36, have you set yourself a retirement target,
either in terms of time or titles ?
Yes, July 17 2015. (really ... I have no idea)
And after that ?
 In
my last PSA form I said that I wanted to be a guardian of
small woodland creatures ... everyone thought I was joking,
can you believe that?!
I am actually quite serious about that, I have already
collected a hamster, a few tit mice (with wheel), some
ferrets and a family of badgers. I would like to start a
travelling circus of sorts, maybe not a three ring ... but
certainly at least two rings.
I think I would look the part with top hat, cane, velvet
suit and pipe ... the feats and tricks we would produce ...
wondrous!
Final thought ?
I think I can safely say Dave and Amr won't be losing any
sleep over the 'record'! However my bank manager is ... but
that's the way the mop flops right?
 |
| Ten to finish : |
| Tea or Coffee: |
Coffee |
| Meat or Veg: |
Meat and three veg
... aussie style |
| Coke or Pepsi: |
Coke ... with Bundy
Rum |
| What's on your ipod
? |
Pink Floyd, Dire
Straits, Beatles, Beach Boys, Zero 7 etc etc (old
stuff ... like me!) |
| Favourite book ? |
Murder in the
squash court ... the squash bible |
| Thing you hate most
? |
the word no |
Best squash player
of all time ? |
Jahangir ... Hunt
and Jansher second. Dittmar personal fav |
| Half-Full or
Half-Empty ? |
Can be both within
the same minute |
If you hadn't been
a squash player ? |
The King of England |
| Three famous people
you'd invite for dinner ? |
Do famous people
even eat toasted sandwiches ? |
|
 |
|
