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 Bermuda
EN BREF FINALS Day
Everything you never knew you needed to know about the Bermuda Masters |
I’M DOOMED…
This was the first day I was going to be able to actually relax under the
sun, have a stroll down the beach, walk in the sand, etc…
Nope.
 No
sun today, a strong wind that makes the temperature drop quite
considerably… That was it for my day dozing on the beach. But it was not
raining, and I decided to have a good walk anyway…
And I liked what I saw.
I didn’t have to walk far to be amazed by the view. A superb golf club,
the beach, the sand, the swimming pool…
The hotel I must say is absolutely stunning. People don’t know what to do
to help you, from the porter who blamed himself for the bad weather, and
apologised for it, to the reception, the concierge, the housekeepers,
everybody has been wonderful.
 
So, thank you to Ross Triffitt to
have invited me to the Island, and to have offered me the chance to stay
in this sumptuous hotel…
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RELAXING REFS…
Peter Kramer and John Massarella, two international referees
that came from England to
 operate
in the tournament rented a scooter today to enjoy the island.
“We just spent the whole day on the bike, it was wonderful”…
Oh well, it’s a tough life being a ref, but somebody’s got to do it… |
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 DESMOND
FOUNTAIN: LIFE LIKE…
His work was the first thing I laid my eyes on when I climbed down the
stairs of the plane. I had the impression that somebody was sitting
quietly on a bench, smiling at us.
 In
fact, it was a bronze statue by internationally renowned local artist
Desmond Fountain…
Since then, I saw statues of him everywhere on the island, in the
Southampton Fairmount Hotel, in town, and in particular one that caught my
eyes, at a roundabout just before town.
 It’s
actually a life-size sculpture of a famous Bermudian, Johnny Barnes,
the “Spirit of Bermuda”, who from 5.30 to 10pm from Monday to Friday,
greets the people passing by him, telling them that God loves them, that
he loves them, and wishes them a good and nice day…
Johnny is a national figure around here, and if by chance, he is not at
the corner one morning, local radios are inundated with calls from worried
Bermudians wondering what is wrong with him.
I must say the effect of those statues is quite remarkable, and can fool
you. Well, it did fool me, then again, I’m easy to fool, I hear you say… |
Bermuda
EN BREF Day FIVE
Everything you never knew you needed to know about the Bermuda Masters |
MR
EDWARDS… WHAT A PRO
 It’s
in adversity that one sees the professionalism of the man… Well, just
before James started playing against one of his “heroes”, Robert’s mic
suddenly went… dead.
Not easy to speak in front of a large audience, with players hitting the
ball as if their pay depended on it, and with, in the background, a huge
ventilator roaring away…
 That
was not going to stop the Voice of Squash. He just lifted his voice as the
performer he is, and zoom, went on speaking as if nothing happened.
A few minutes later, the mic was on again, and he was able to go on with
his normal ease…
I tell you, years and years of practice to make it appear easy… |
MARTIN, THE
MASSAGE THERAPIST
FROM CANADA
 As
the Canadian Champion Jonathan Power had a few physical troubles in the
past years, the clever man has asked his Canadian massage therapist to accompany him
to the Bermuda Island. The man in question, Martin Brissette, is
French Canadian, and we had a very nice conversation during the night
session.
“I take care only of athletes”, said the charming man, “Boxing mostly,
amateur and professional, athletics a lot as well, tennis, professional
football.”
He has been taking care of the Canadian Champion for about three years
now.
“Players have got to understand that moving well on a court is not
something to be taken for granted, they’ve got to work at it, and look
after their body…”
And you can take my word for it, it’s not the first time I heard a physio
voicing these kind of thoughts… Must be true, then, mustn’t it? |
ROSEMONT
HOTEL
 I
mentioned to you several times how Karen and her sister Lorry
have been wonderful during my stay in the Jewel that is Bermuda.
I must say I wasn’t surprised to hear that they all run a small family
hotel, called as their family name, the
Rosemont hotel.
 I’ve
not been there yet, but if they run their business the way those two have
run my life for the past few days, I would love to stay there if I ever
come here for a little break far away from the madness.
So, if you are in the neighbourhood, why don’t you come and stay there for
a little while. Mention “squashsite”, and the best welcome will be given
to you, you have my word for it…
www.rosemont.bm
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EFFICIENT ZOE
 We
didn’t have a good start, Zoe and I, as she didn’t know who I was,
and quite frankly, didn’t know why I wanted to make photocopies of score
sheets…
But since, we are getting on pretty well, thank you… After every match,
she promptly brings us (the journalists) results and score sheets (you
know, the sheet the refs write the scoring, the lets, the length of the
match…), which allows us to work efficiently, precisely and rapidly.
So thanks to Julie, and thank you, dear Zoe, for your kindness and your
promptness… |
“I’M READY NOW…”
 I
thought that it was my lucky day when the drop dead gorgeous David
Palmer’s coach Shaun Moxham pronounced those words this evening as
I was quickly grabbing a diet coke from the VIP bar.
WRONG!
What happened is that a few days ago, I asked him if I could take a
picture. He replied “no, I would prefer to wear something more appropriate
than that T-shirt,” with a malicious smile…
Oh well, at least, today, I got a nice picture… |
REMARKABLE PALMER
 You
may remember one of my articles in Pakistan, where I was telling you how
amazed I was by the friendship that reigns between some of the players,
and I gave you the example of James Willstrop and Nick Matthew, able to
play their best squash, fight like hell on court, and then, ten minutes
after their shower, be sitting next to each other as if nothing happened.
Well, what David did today was quite remarkable. You know that he took a
real blow yesterday, losing in front of his home crowd, after having spent
a lot of preparation for the tournament. He could not have been in the
best of moods, and especially towards the man who actually took “his”
tournament away from him, John White.
But you may not know that those two have been friends, close mates
forever, and that they are actually sharing a house at the moment. Well,
Julian Rose, an ex player living on the Island, is welcoming David
Palmer in the side apartment of his home, a flat that David calls home,
and John is occupying the spare bedroom.
 That’s
how close they are…
In passing, Julian mentioned that the after dinner conversation last night
didn't preclude the match...
Today, John was playing Nick Matthew, and David didn’t hesitate to come to
the venue, face all his supporters, his admirers, us the press, everybody,
even accepted to speak with Robert before John’s match, and simply said
about yesterday’s match “John was just too good, that’s all there is to
it.”
Not only that, but he was the one to advise John between the games.
The “Marine of Squash”, as Robert calls him, was even taller today than he
normally is… |
EVERYBODY IS IN BERMUDA
La crème de la crème, I tell you…
 Not
only do we have the 32 best players in the world, some of the best
referees in the world, probably the best glass court in the world, we have
some pretty good friends that come from all over the world, like
Melissa for example, who I had the
great
pleasure to meet in New York for the ToC.
She came straight from the US to see the tournament, using the excuse that
her husband is actually working in Bermuda for a few days… Good one,
Melissa, good one…
Like I said, EVERYBODY is here… |
CLINIC FOR THE REFS
We have the chance to have one of the top refs in the World in Bermuda
this week, Mr Graham Waters. I did a
mini-portrait of the
man a few weeks ago in the ToC, New York.
Today, he held a clinic to “refresh”, to “brush up” the referees present
in the event. Although top guys in their countries, national or
international all accept that they are not infallible, and that a bit of
studying of past matches can only be beneficial…
So, keep up the work, guys, and you out there, don’t forget that those mad
officials take all abuse, negativity, insults sometimes, not only for
nothing, but most of the time, it actually costs them an arm and leg to in
expenses to sit in the hot seat…
So, next time you see a ref, come on, offer him/her a good stiff drink,
believe me, they blipping deserve it… |
NO
BRAIN
I knew that I was not all there, but now I know there is no redemption
possible anymore…
 You
have to know that I love earrings. Not real ones, just cheap imitations,
clip on ones. Anyway, nearly all of them were stolen in my car at the
Nationals. So I have very few left.
This morning, I put one pair on, then realised that it was too posh for my
outfit, changed them.
Or so I thought.
I only changed one. And it’s only as I took them out to rest my ears for a
little while, that I realised that I had been wandering around the venue
with non matching earrings…
Poor girl, she has finally lost it… |
Bermuda
EN BREF Day FOUR
Everything you never knew you needed to know about the Bermuda Masters |
AT THE CLUB
Having the matches split over two venues is not that easy when you are
trying to cover the event, and because of the time clashes, it was the
first time today I was actually able to see a match at the Bermuda Squash
Rackets Association Club.
What a charming club it is…
You are immediately welcomed by “Oh, I know who you are, I actually love
your column,” smile and warmth that would make anybody’s day. Junior
offered me some food, no tea or coffee unfortunately, as they were out.
Well, at the venue, there is no tea of coffee available anywhere, so I
guess that everybody must have been rushing on the club’s reserves… I was
sooo disappointed, as when I saw the kettle, I thought “Ah, the cup of tea
of the day”. Nope, I wasn’t the first one who had the idea…
Then a great match between James and Anthony, the rematch of Pakistan and
New York, a loooong match, the result of which I was trying desperately to send to Steve from my mobile… which wouldn’t work.
 Patrick, the squash Pro of the Club, saw me struggling, and immediately
offered to help me out. “Please, feel free to use our phone,” he said. And
he even dialled the phone for me, as I NOT that gifted with that 011
prefix, I get confused, yes I know, not clever the French woman…
A great atmosphere at that club, I actually love the warmth, the kindness,
the helpfulness of the people there. So thanks to everybody there,
members, staff, Patrick, Junior, you really made my short visit one to
remember…
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STEVE LINE’S
WORK IS ON ROBERT’S WALL
 While the players are warming up, Robert Edwards, the Voice of Squash, is
always inviting squash people to come and have a chat in front of the
crowd. And today, it was Steve Line, the official photographer of the
tournament, whose photos you’ve been admiring on the top websites, ours of
course, but everywhere in the world, and that for a number of years, 23, I
believe…
Steve has been photographing squash, badminton and other sports with brio
and flair, and some of his photos are actually famous, like the fantastic
photo he took in front of the pyramids.
 He took the opportunity while in Bermuda to bring his charming wife
Jenny,
who is waiting patiently for him to finish working on the photos you are
actually seeing on the site on our reports… And she is nice to have
around, a bit of a feminine presence is so nice to have…
Steve explained to us while talking with Robert that the quality of the
photo doesn’t come or depend on the speed of the ball, but actually of the
intensity of the light, and that on the glass court, although very well
lighted, the light is not that bright, and making photos is not that easy
a task…
I’m learning a bit more every day … |
BIG BROTHERS &
BIG SISTERS…
One of the joys of doing my job is to meet new people. Well, today again,
while watching Thierry against the Prince of Egypt, I was sitting next to
a delightful lady, who was participating in every shot that those two mad
people were playing on the court.
“You are having a great time, aren’t you?” I asked her… “Oh yes,” she
smiled. “I used to play racquetball in America, and I just adore all
sports. I came to watch the event last year , and I had so much fun that I
came back this year.”
 Well, this charming lady,
Esmé Williams, is actually the Executive Director of the Big
Brothers and Big Sisters of Bermuda, an organisation that chooses to help
in particular children from single parent families, who need support,
mentoring and role models. A fantastic idea that has been helping kids for
years and years.
Once again, sport is a fantastic way to meet so many different people… |
Barry
Sound & Vision |
Rita
the Cook |
Mel & David
Happily married |
Referees
Thankless task |
Gawain Briars
Many talents |
Bermuda
EN BREF Day THREE
Everything you never knew you needed to know about the Bermuda Masters |
ROSS IS SHIPPING ME
HOME…
Well, if he isn’t, he should be, because I have caused only chaos since I
arrived on the island. And not only on the island, I hear some people say…
 Not
only did I arrive a day late, forcing the poor Karen to miss THE match of
the tournament for a Bermudan, Nick Kyme versus Thierry Lincou, I then
left my adaptor plug in the hotel, so couldn’t work on my laptop, then the
convertor I bought in England died on me, forcing the Karen's sister Lorri
to tour round around the island
 trying
to find one (with no success I’m afraid), then I requested to have a
photocopy of the score sheets, and, and, and…
But both Ross and Julie, his wife, have dealt with the Framboise storm
with calm, kindness, and professionalism. They had to deal with a
hurricane last year, that devastated the island.
They are used to tornados… |
ENGLAND IS HERE…
 The
English camp is stronger than ever this week in Bermuda.
Funded with the help of the Lottery money, the World Class Performance
Program is well represented here by David Pearson, National Coach,
David Campion, who works more especially with the juniors, and
Stafford Murray, who specialises in analysing data and games for the
English Institute of Sport, allowing the players and their coaches to make the necessary
adjustments to arrive at perfection.
David was interviewed by Robert just before Adrian’s game, which
unfortunately for England, didn’t go that well. But there are sooooo many
English players in the top 32, they’ve got a lot of work left to do… |
SIDNEY
This morning, we were driven from the hotel to the venue by a flamboyant
taxi driver called Sydney Robertson, a charming, witty, and very
funny man.
He has been driving taxis on the island since 1978, and has passed all
sorts of diplomas that also allow him to conduct tours of the island.
He is the kind of person that makes you start from the minute you meet
him, and basically, makes your day…
If you ever come to the island, you’ve got to give him a call… Radio Cabs
(441) 295 4141 call # B69…
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WHAT A TEAM
The first thing that strikes you when you arrive at the venue is the
tremendous amount of work that has been done to transform a gym into a
stunning squash venue. The second thing that you can’t help noticing is
the enormous amount of volunteers that are here to help run the event, and
make it a success.
Everywhere, you’ve got people of all ages, genders, colours, all of them
with a smile on their face, always ready to help, always cheerful, always
efficient.
To clean the court between games, for example, you normally have one,
sometimes two people, but here???
 Between
8 and 10!
And they are squash lovers as well, like the two cheeky boys Jason and
Micah, who are not exactly sure who they would like to win, but after
oscillating between Peter Nicol and Lee Beachill, they finally both agreed
on Nick Matthew.
The volunteers are the soul of a tournament, you know… In fact, they ARE
the tournament…
Thank you. |
Bermuda
EN BREF Day ONE
Everything you never knew you needed to know about the Bermuda Masters |
FIRST EVENING IN BERMUDA
...
Last night was a bit hectic, I must say…
You are in your flat in London, packing up while the roofer is repairing
the leak on your roof, as you had water pouring down through your ceiling
four days before.
 The
taxi picks you up, a regular driver, a funny Nigerian with whom you put
the world right at each travel. Then the airport, the brief meeting with
Gawain Briars, then in a box for seven hours with nice people that keep on
feeding you.
Then you step out, it’s still daylight, it should be night, you queue at
several gates, are welcomed by the most charming of volunteers, drive on a
narrow lane deep into funny houses of all colours, but with a common
denominator, white roofs, as they are covered by a special white substance
that collects water from the rain to a tank situated in the roofs, and
provide the Bermudans with drinkable water all year long.
Then you arrive in a sumptuous venue, with hundreds of scooters parked in
front, and you hear, “match ball”, as Thierry Lincou and Nick Kyme are
battling hard on the glass court.
You meet player after player, smiles and warmth all around, cheers guys,
you make me feel welcome, and… useful…
 You
are introduced to dozens of people, and as you are jet lagged you have no
idea who they are, what they are doing, then some familiar faces, referees
that you actually like very much, this is going to be a good week,
referees you don’t know yet, officials, wives, Mel Palmer, and Céline
Lincou… And Jade Lincou of course…
Robert Edwards welcomes you with a loud “welcome to Bermuda Fram!”, and
starts giving you notes on the day’s events, a chicken and rice dish
swallowed in 2.5 minutes, arriving at the hotel, connecting to the
internet, having a stiff earl grey in company of Gawain and his family,
back to writing the quotes, the notes from Robert, the en bref, it’s now
4.30 UK time.
I’m tired.
FIRST MORNING IN BERMUDA
Awoke at 7am. Well, 11am in the UK… Opening windows, what a view!
A pigeon is looking at me. I’m looking at him. We get on fine.
Having my breakfast while sorting out my phone. Not succeeding to connect
to the calling card the tournament offered me.
They ARE lovely people you know…
Starting working, in English, in French.
This is going to be a good day…
Framboise |
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WHAT ARE THE ODDS…
 I
was sitting in the plane near a charming young man called Alfie, who
started talking to me the minute I sat in my seat, having spotted my
“Squashsite” shirt.
Well, it just happens that the boy used to train with Jonah Barrington in
Millfield Academy for a year.
“It was very hard to start with, he is very demanding, to the point I
really wondered if I wanted to go on. But after that difficult start, I
did enjoy my year there very much, Jonah makes you feel good about
yourself, about what you’ve achieved…”
Now, the traitor has defected to badminton, but his father in law to be is
a squash fanatic, and will probably be coming to the tournament in
Bermudas…
Come on, what are the odds… |
LITTLE MISTAKE
The official story could be that I wanted to finish what I started, the
BSPA tournament in Esporta. Well, if I wanted to be in Bermuda for the
first match, I would have had to leave Sunday afternoon, and miss the
final.
Looks good and professional doesn’t it?
More simply, we just made a mistake booking the flight! So instead of
leaving on the third, I left on the fourth… and missed the Opening Meal,
the Opening Ceremony, and only saw the last shots of Thierry and Nick's
match…
But Super Robert Edwards was in the wings, and as usual saved the
day…
Here are his impressions on the beginning of the fantastic Virtual
Spectator Bermuda Masters…
ROBERT EDWARDS IN BERMUDA
 “I
arrived in Bermuda to find the island on fire. After two hours travel from
my home in West Wales, I then took a coach to Gatwick, another 5 hours.
Three hours in company of David Palmer, his lovely wife Melinda and Shaun
Moxhan. And then a 7h30 minutes flight before we hit the Jewel in the
Atlantic that they call Bermuda.
I was on autopilot by the time my driver took me not to my hotel, but to
the venue to meet all my great friends that produce that magnificent
tournament.
Bermuda hospitality consists of pouring copious amount of a local nectar
called “light and breezy”. Four hour later, I finally crashed in my
beautiful suite looking out over the crystal clear waters that surround
that beautiful island. I fell asleep with a smile on my face at the
prospect of running and presenting another wonderful tournament on the
magnificent island.
Since then, the tournament has produced the most wonderful dinner in the
Hamilton Princess, which posesses a view to die for. 150 diners that
included tables of sponsors-aficionados and team members, rose as one to
applaud the players as they, one by one, entered the room and took their
seats.
An evening to remember…
 Finally,
the squash could start, as the crowd returned, following the success of
last year, to see the gladiators perform. An opening ceremony drummed with
the Bermuda Regimental Corp of Drum, led by Drum Major Furbert. The
player walk-on representing 11 of the 12 nations present in the
tournament, lines of children with flags, and then, to open the tournament
officially, the President of the BSRA Stephen Young, escorted by Deputy
Premier Doctor the Honourable Ewart Brown, Minister of Tourism and
Transport onto court.
The National Anthem finally completed the introduction, and the Real
Squash started…
Local boy and world number 70, Nick Kyme, was brought on court with
one of the biggest introductions that I have ever afforded on the world
tour. He responded with a valiant effort against the rampant world number
1 and World Champion Thierry Lincou.
In all honesty, the result was never in doubt, but by the time Thierry
raised his hands in victory, Nick had left enough sweat on the court to
remain the crowd’s favourite. They acclaimed their boy for a long long
time… The right result. But a moment of squash magic, and a night that Mr
Kyme will remember for the rest of his life.
And then, I saw Fram appear through the crowd, and my duty as stand-in for
the lovely lady was complete. I will hand over to her and head for the
golf course…
Good luck Fram, and welcome to Bermuda… |
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BIG MISTAKE
 Look
at that.
Bad idea, Wael, bad idea.
And do you know who did that to him?
Joey Barrington.
“I went to the Academy to help with coaching the kids, and one afternoon,
we didn’t know what to do to entertain ourselves, so Joey offered to cut
my hair. The kids were having a good time, laughing their head off as Joey
was cutting my hair.”
Joey, what ever you do, don’t give up the day job…
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