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 24th Nov:
REDISCOVERING EDGASTON PRIORY…
It was only the second time I stepped foot in
the beautiful Birmingham club. And it is as stunning as I remember it. The
outside grounds, with 29 tennis courts and outdoor swimming pool, are
breathtaking. The club itself, another indoor swimming-pool, and 10 squash
courts, bar, restaurant, pool room, etc., a very welcoming reception
staff, and some great squash loving people, makes you want to sign up
right away….
David and Kay man the bar
Although it was a comfortable victory for Nottingham, I still had a very
interesting evening, met a bunch of great people, had a beautiful meal,
watched some good squash, and talked with me mates….
What more do you want????
Framboise |
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EN BREF
... from Edgbaston
All you didn't know you needed to know about the National Squash League
... |
SIR SIMON IMPERIAL
 Simon
Parke, that well known Nottingham figure, played well tonight against
Steve Coppinger, the number 3 student player from Birmingham
University. Yes, you may say that his opponent was not a high ranked
player, but don't you agree that it especially those players who are hard
to play, as they don’t play a “conventional game”, and may surprise you
with some unexpected shots…
And that's a bit what happened in the first game. Sir Simon was wrong
footed a few times, and by the time he came round to the ball, it had died
on the back wall. So the first game was very tight indeed, 2/2, 4/4, 5/5,
6/6. But a few tins from a nervous Steve, and some great volley
interceptions from Parke later, Nottingham was leading 1/0 in 9 minutes.
In the second, the pressure started to hit the young man, who tried
volleying too much, attacking too soon, not being patient enough, although
his attacks had the Nottingham man on the run a few times. But very
quickly, Simon was up 4/1 then 8/3 to finally take the second 9/5 in 6
minutes.
The third was a bit one sided, as it was now Steve that was wrong footed,
and forced to tin more than he would have wished. Up 7/1, Parke gave up a
few points under the beautiful attacks of his opponent, but a perfect
length forehand drive and a deep cross court gave him the match, 9/4 in
the third in 4 minutes.
Number 2:
Gregory Gaultier bt Adam Stevenson
9/2, 9/4, 9/3
 No
offence to my opponent, but I was a bit disappointed not to play
Adrian Grant or Peter Barker, as I trained quite hard for it. But,
next time…
Gregory Gaultier |
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Number 3:
Simon Parke bt
Steve Coppinger
6-9, 5-9, 4-9
 “I
enjoyed the match very much. Simon's strongest point is that he
picks up everything. I thought I hit a few good shots, but it kept
coming back.
I also realise that I played silly shots under
pressure, that is something I may have to work on. But I was very
motivated for the match, and I’m ready for my next one…”
Steve Coppinger |
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So where did I go
wrong ??? |
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PAM FINDS A
NEW MENTAL STRENGTH
I’m happy to say that Pam Nimmo played very well tonight, although
my patriotic fibre makes me wish that she would have played well against
somebody other than my adorable compatriot Isabelle Stoehr…
 No,
tonight, Pam was too hungry, and Isabelle too imprecise, and the French
exquisite drop shots could find nothing but the cold metal of the tin.
But
overall, we had 45 minutes of beautiful squash, and the crowd got involved
in the match, hoping that Isa, as they call her, would score a point for
the home team.
Pam started very strongly in the first game, and found herself at game
ball 8/2 quite logically, as she was controlling the game, the T, and the
pace of the rallies. Isabelle slowly started to claw back, up to 7/8. But
a backhand mis-hit give the first game to the Scot, 9/7.
The second was much closer to start with, 2/2, 3/3, 5/5, 6/6. The rallies
were long, the two ladies hit long, hard, nice drop shots - although Pam
may want to watch her backhand drop, as it’s often far too high - but she
still found the good angles and took the second 9/6.
Things are really not looking good for Priory…
Even worse, Nimmo gets match ball in the third, 8/4. And suddenly, Stoehr
lets everything go, varies her game beautifully, hitting hard, dropping
delicately, lobbing, volleying… much to the joy of the crowd, she grasps
the game, saving four match balls…
But Pam was just too strong tonight. In the fourth, while the supporters
still hope for an Edgbaston victory, Isabelle can’t do much against the
length of her opponent. Quickly, Nottingham is up 5/1, then 8/2, and with
a perfect length beautiful crosscourt, Isabelle is wrong footed a last
time, and loses 9/2 in the fourth. |
Number 5:
Pamela Nimmo bt
Isabelle Stoehr
9/7, 9/6, 8/10, 9/2 |
 “Well,
I had the help of the boys, Parkie and John White. Also, just before
the match, I was talking with a friend, who really helped me to
relax, and to get rid of the mental block that's been riddling me
for a few years now.
I just decided to “do my best”, and enjoy the moment, enjoy playing
squash, enjoy the fact of playing in front of a crowd. After all,
I’m 27 years old, if I don’t do it now, when…?”
Pam Nimmo |
Number 4:
Nick Douglas bt
Philip Nightingale
10/8, 9/6, 9/4
 “I’ve
been playing squash since a very young age, and I enjoy it very
much. I used to be in the top ten of my age group.
But circumstances in my life forced me to stop playing seriously.
Now, at 29, I just played my first British Open, and I loved it! I’m
going to start on the Satellite PSA. Squash is just in my blood…”
Nick Douglas |
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WHITE-STIFF:
NOT IN EXHIBITION MODE….
 The
ranking between these two might have been quite different, but don’t
believe for a second that it was an easy walk in the park for White.
Hadrian Stiff is what you could call a very clever player. Imagine the
place where you REALLY don’t want the ball to go, and that’s exactly where
the young man will put it…
Yes, and he knows how to drop, very quick hands, and like John, plays
shots that leave the crowd murmuring “what was that?... did you see it?...
how do you call that…” He also delays his shots very well, and runs fast…
The three games were seven minutes each. Not much you may say, but don’t
forget we are playing up to 9, and that John isn’t exactly the kind of
player to play drives on the backhand forever and ever….
The third was the closest, as the tall Scot, up comfortably 5/1 then 8/5
match ball, relaxed slightly, and made a few mistakes, due mostly to the
pressure his opponent was placing on him. Hadrian, point by point, clawed
back to 8/8, saving three match balls, but finally admitting defeat 10/8.
But like I said in my title, this was NOT an exhibition match, and John
had to work blipping hard to win his match in 3…. |
Number 1:
John White bt
Hadrian Stiff
3-9, 4-9, 8-10
“Hadrian knows the game of squash very well, and you can’t afford to
play loose shots against such a player….”
John White |
CHANGE OF TIN…
After the women’s match, in came John White and Hadrian
Stiff… only to realise that the tin was still the high one. So
the game became to hit the ball to warm it up, without hitting the
two poor guys in charge of the change…
Like I said, we had a good time… |
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Edgbaston
Priory 0-5 Norwest Holst Nottingham
Hadrian Stiff lost to
John White 3-9, 4-9, 8-10
Adam Stevenson lost to Gregory
Gaultier 2-9, 4-9, 3-9
Steve Coppinger lost to Simon Parke
6-9, 5-9, 4-9
Philip Nightingale lost to Nick
Douglas 8-10, 6-9, 4-9
Isabelle Stoehr lost to Pamela Nimmo
7-9, 6-9, 10-8, 2-9 |
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EN BREF
... from Edgbaston
All you didn't know you needed to know about the National Squash League |
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