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25-28 May, Szeged, Hungary |
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28-May:
England regain both titles in Szeged
 After
slipping to surprise defeats in the two events last year, England
reclaimed both titles in the European Junior U15/U17 Team
Championships after powerful campaigns in the two ESF tournaments in
Szeged, the fourth biggest city in Hungary.
Top seeds in both events, England swept through to the finals
without dropping any matches. In the U15 championship, England
brushed aside hosts Hungary, the tenth seeds, in the quarter-finals
before avenging their loss to last year's champions Germany in the
semi-finals, beating the fifth seeds 3/0.
In the other semi, Wales pulled off a surprise victory over second
seeds France to reach the final for the first time. And Welsh opener
Tesni Evans recovered from 1/2 down to beat England's Sophie Lemom
to give a jolt to the favourites.
But James Earles, the 14-year-old from Hull in East Yorkshire in his
second successive appearance in the event, made up for the
disappointment of losing in last year's final by beating Sam
Fenwick. Team-mate Nicholas Hopcroft, also 14, from Surrey, clinched
the title for his country when he beat Welshman Sam Huxtable in the
decider.
 In
the U17 event, the strong England squad again gained revenge over
2006 champions Germany in the semi-finals, the 3/0 victory over the
fourth seeds taking the top seeds into a final against second seeds
France.
Kimberley Hay, the 15-year-old from Newcastle-upon-Tyne who was in
the U15 squad last year, put England into the lead with a win over
France's Faustine Gilles. Alex Ingham, the 16-year-old from
Weybridge in Surrey who is the reigning Irish Junior U19 Open
champion, assured victory for England when he beat Lucas Vauzelle.
In the best-of-three dead rubber which followed, Manchester's Morgan
Hibberd made it a maximum-points win by beating Antoine D'Auzac.
In addition to Wales marking their best-ever finish in the U15
championship, hosts Hungary also recorded their best achievement,
ending in sixth position, while event newcomers Turkey finished
16th. In the U17 event, France equalled their runners-up finish in
2002, while sixth seeds Denmark ended a best-ever fourth, and
Scotland and Finland also repeated highest finishes of sixth and
seventh, respectively.
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 "We're
delighted to have regained the titles we lost lost year. Having won
back the U19 title earlier this year we're now back in the position
of holding all three.
"In particular it was a great achievement for the U17s to go through
the whole competition without dropping a match.
"The teams have performed really well, they've been so professional
in their attitude on and off court and we're very proud of them."
England Coach |
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U15 Quarters -
Sat |
Semis - Sun |
Final - Sun |
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[1] England 3-0 [10] Hungary |
England 3
Germany 0 |
England
2-1
Wales |
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[5] Germany 2-1 [11] Spain |
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[3] Wales 2-1 [4] Czech Republic |
Wales 2
France 1 |
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[2] France 2-1 [9] Belgium |
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U17 Quarters -
Sun |
Semis - Sun |
Final - Mon |
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[1] England 3-0 [7] Belgium |
England 2
Germany 0 |
England
3-0
France |
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[4] Germany 2-1 [11] Finland |
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[6] Denmark 2-1 [5] Netherlands |
Denmark 1
France 2 |
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[2] France 3-0 [8] Scotland |
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 U17 Final, England
3-0 France
Kimberley Hay 3-1 Faustine Gilles
9/1, 9/3, 6/9, 9/7
Alex Ingham 3-0 Lucas Vauzelle
9/1, 9/1, 9/3
Morgan Hibberd 2-1 Antoine d'Auzac 3/9, 9/5, 9/7
U15 Final, England 2-1 Wales
Sophie Lemon 2-3 Tesni Evans
5/9, 9/3, 9/3, 6/9, 5/9
James Earles 3-0 Sam Fenwick
9/1, 9/2, 9/0
Nicholas Hopcroft 3-0 Sam Huxtable
9/7, 9/7, 9/1 |
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 "It’s
the end of the competition. Unfortunately, we couldn’t create an
upset against England. As with the under 17, our under 15 have had a
great championship, every time we were very close, but the English
have proven to be the best. They get the triple crown in the three
junior competitions, and prove if needed that they stay the European
Reference.
"As far as France is concerned, we’ll have to keep on working to
maintain our rank and try and beat our “best enemy” one day. That
quest makes us better year after year…
 "Today,
our under 17s have given everything they had, and we have to
appreciate this silver medal to its right value. They know the
journey they have to walk to get to the number one position.
"But each and every player of our team has had an exemplary
tournament. They have been so close to each other, extremely
supportive after defeat, and the under 15 and under 17 was one and
only team for the four days of the tournament. It’s with that kind
of spirit that we’ll be able to improve. Yann Menegaux and myself
are very proud of our players, and we wish to congratulate them for
their behaviour on and off court."
French National Coach |
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Speaking from Szeged
courtesy of Tamás Dobos
and Pinter M. Lajos, editors of the locally printed Squash
News, translated by Daniel Szabo |
Youngster among the adults
Interview with Henrik
Mustonen from Finland
Although Finland doesn't belong to the so-called major squash
nations, the country has given quite a few world class players to
international squash-life. Now the Finnish team has arrived at
Szeged with a new talent, Henrik Mustonen, nicknamed Hekke, who is
currently in 2nd place in the ESF ranking for boys U17. The young
player answered to our questions after the U17 Finnish victory
against Ireland on Saturday morning.
Henrik, you have finished your last few Junior Opens in U17 with
really good results. Where were these tournaments and how satisified
are you with your play on them?
 The
first two were the Pioneer and the Dutch Junior Open last July. On
the Pioneer I finished in the 5th place, while on the Dutch I
finally ranked 4th. In November 2006 on the Belgian Junior Open I
was able to play even better, than I have done earlier, since I have
won a silver medal. I think it is a great result, because there were
at least five players with equal chances for the final victory. My
last Junior Open before this European Team Championship was the
Austrian one, where I managed to win a gold medal while playing
quite well.
Currently you are 2nd in the U17 ESF ranking. What are your goals
in the near future?
Since I am turning seventeen in November I think the Dutch Junior
Open will be my last one in U17. I am trying to race for first
position there. After that I am going to enter about five
tournaments in U19, maybe the Hungarian Junior Open will be one of
them, and I will also try to get into the Finnish team for the Men's
World Championship.
You have played on the U19 and the Senior European Championships
as well. Where were these tournaments and what does it mean for a
young player like you to play on senior level?
The 18th European Junior U19 Individual and the 24th European U19
Team Championships were held in Brussels in April, while the 35th
Men's European Team Championships took place in Riccione, Italy in
the beginning of this month. In the U19 event we finally ranked 9th
with the Finnish team, while in the individual field I finished in
11th place and in Italy our team became 12th. Of course it is not
the same to play against adults rather than against juniors, but I
have mostly trained my whole life with adults so it is not that
different.
Are you planning to be a PSA professional sometime in the future?
Is it possible to build up such a career in Finland at all?
Yes, exactly. That won't be easy, but I hope I can manage. It needs
a lot of quality training, since I have to improve a lot in all
things of the game, but mostly in strength and in being more
accurate.
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Nordic surprises
"I'm very proud of our U15 squad for doing their best against
France, and today they are trying to achieve 5th place.
"The victory over Spain and the defeat against France of our U17
squad in the pool matches means that we are going to meet England in
the quarterfinals” – continued Vlassaks.
"Finland and Denmark in U17 played surprisingly well for me,
qualifying for the quarterfinals from group C.
"In the U15 the Hungarian squad also showed good play, I didn’t know
they were at this level at this moment.
"I hope they will keep performing like this. But it is always
England which is in number one spot, and I think they are going to
meet France in the finals of both categories this time."
Belgium National Coach |
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FINNISH FANTASY
"I am really happy that we managed to get our place among the top
eight. We arrived to Szeged with a great group of people, and both
U15 and U17 teams form excellent companionship. We are continuously
analyzing the ties together, from which all of us can learn.
"Our U17 Team’s dominant player is Henrik Mustonen, who beat his
Irish rival 9:0 in all three games, but this was done not by
accident or any kind of arrogant behaviour, but pure tactical aim of
spending the least time on court in order to save fuel for later
matches.
"The road to a good final position is still long, and if it is
possible to win quickly, then we are to go for it. We are having a
great time in Szeged, the club and the weather is fantastic, and I
am hopeful for being able to carry on successfully."
Finnish Team Manager - after beating Wales against all
odds, and earning a quarter-final place |
ENGLAND GOING FOR GOLD
 "We had
a great day. We hoped that we could win all our matches, but it
makes me even more happy that we have done it with beautiful play."
"There weren't many upsets on the opening day, perhaps the Hungarian
victory over Switzerland in U15 was one of those few which couldn’t
be expected. With England now playing Hungary there should be lots
of fans and a fantastic atmosphere.
"Our biggest rivals are the French, the Welsh and the Germans, but
it won’t be easy to defeat us at all, since we have five excellent
players in both U15 and U17. Definitely gold is our aim, even
finishing in second place would make us disappointed."
"It is delightful to have more and more countries participating in
the European Championships, the continuous development of Hungary
and the Czech Republic can be clearly seen. The huge number of
participants representing their countries after a long and
exhausting season also shows great devotion to squash."
England coach |
Preparing for Hong Kong:
Dutch U17 team is fighting for top four
There is no doubt that the courts of Squash Club Szeged are familiar
for Milou van der Heijden, number one player of the Dutch U17
team, since the young squash talent won her first gold medal in U19
here in the Hungarian Junior Open last November.
 Milou,
you are back to Szeged again. How do you feel yourself on this
European Team Championship and how do you remember back to last
November?
I feel well, I am happy to be back in Szeged and to be back on these
courts again. My memories from the Hungarian Junior Open are really
good, I am glad that I won that tournament. I think I played really
well then and hopefully I can give that form on this championship as
well.
Which tournaments have you been participating recently?
I have played on the British Junior Open in January, which was my
last tournament in U17. In U19 I have been to several ones. For
example on the U19 European Championship in Belgium where we won a
bronze medal with the Dutch team. In the German Junior Open at the
beginning of this month I didn't play well, but in the Austrian in
March and the Flemish in February I won two silver medals.
Currently you are 15th in the ESF ranking of girls U19. What are
your goals in the near future?
 Well,
I am playing two more tournaments this year in U19. First I will
play in the Pioneer Junior Open in Cologne at the beginning of July,
then comes the Dutch Junior Open. After that in August I will go to
Hong Kong for the World Junior Women's Championship. My great goal
at the moment is to get ready for that event, to get fitter and
better till then. I hope I can do my best, but there will be so many
good players whom I don't know, since the Egyptians, the Malaysians
and the players of Hong-Kong don't play a lot in Europe. I just hope
I can put in a good performance, but probably two years later in
India I can go for the gold medal.
What are your expectations about this European Team Championship?
I really enjoy playing for my country, so it would be good to win
all my matches. I have already managed to win two of them on Friday.
I hope we can get into the top four with the U17 team, we are now
fifth seeds. Our biggest rivals, the English, the French, the German
and the Welsh teams are also really good, but I hope we can make a
surprise. We are working really hard on that. Our U15 team is quite
young, but this European Championship will be a good experience for
them.
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Official site from Szeged
En Français |
U15 Pools & Final Positions |
U17 Pools & Final Positions |
Hot Weather and a
Cool Club in Szeged
Daniel Szabo reports from Hungary
 Juniors
and coaches everywhere in their national shirts, hot weather outside
(32 Celsius), a cool club with all new facilities of a leisure
centre, the 7th European Junior U15/U17 Team Championships is under
way in Szeged, Hungary.
The city recently received the Europe Nostra award - something like
a European-heritage award - for its newly renovated beautiful
architectural values. Szeged is a charming city with its fairs,
wine-festivals, and various sporting opportunities ranging from
squash, swimming, golf and many others.
The organizers are delighted to have the privilege to host the
future squash elite of Europe in their hometown.
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Official site from Szeged
En Français |
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The French team ... news and photos from other countries welcomed
by
email |
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"It is for eight years
now that we have organized smaller or greater national and
international tournaments. The World
University Championship of 2006 meant the real breakthrough for
us.
"Last September we have proved for ourselves, for the Hungarian and
for the international federation as well that we are ready to
organize such great events of high standard at any time.
"Nevertheless I have to confess that we didn’t dare to dream about
twice as many contestants on these European Junior Championships as
on the World University Championship last year.
"A very cost effective mobile court is under construction in the
parking area. This is a good effort to increase the popularity of
this sport and to make it available for more people. We are about to
take it to smaller towns and of course to the schools.
"We would like to ask the players and the coaches to try out this
cheap court, resistant to any weather, and tell us about their
opinions. .
"I also have to mention that we already managed to sell the first
prototype of this court in Csongrád-county."
Club owner & Tournament Manager
"Most important is
that they are all young athletes, still developing.
"I hope that they will enjoy it and they will really get the most of
the experience of playing on a European event in their home
country."
Hungarian national team leader |
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Top-Ranked Players:
GU15: Andrea Malinová (SVK, 2. - playing in U17), Ilona
Langerweij (NED, 3.), Katerina Strakova (CZE, 6.), Tesni Evans (WAL,
9.).
BU15: Nicholas Hopcroft (ENG, 2.), James Earles (ENG, 4.),
Daniel Mekbib (CZE, 5.), Sam Fenwick (WAL, 13.).
GU17: Emilie Lamilango (FRA, 5.), Nathalie Pritchard (WAL,
6.), Kimberley Hay (ENG, 7.), Klara Janoskova (CZE, 8.).
BU17: Henrik Mustonen (FIN, 2.), Sam van Brusselen (BEL, 3.),
Hywel Robinson (WAL, 4.), Lucas Vauzelle (FRA, 5.).
English Alex Ingham, playing in U17, is currently 7th on the ESF
ranking of boys U19, while Dutch Milou van der Heijden, playing in
U17 as well, is 15th on the girls U19 ranking at the moment.
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This material
collected by Daniel Szabo, also using a locally printed
temporary newspaper named SQUASHNEWS, edited by Tamás
Dobos |
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"England
is the most likely to take both gold medals, but France, Germany,
Wales, Switzerland or even the Czech Republic can be really good
rivals. 
"The
list of participants is a lot longer than expected, but young
players are always very co-operative, which makes the tasks of the
organizers a bit easier. 
