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Expect Distribution International Team Challenge
Thu 18th September 2008, Queens Sports Club,
Halifax |
What a Night!
Paul Hornsby reports
There was a full house at Queens Sports Club for the long
awaited return of World class competitive squash on the show
court.
Shortly after 7.00pm all spectators were seated and the players
were welcomed onto court to a fantastic reception. The
atmosphere was electric before a ball had even been struck.
First onto court was Madeline Perry, who has been based
at Queens for the past decade, taking on world number five
Jenny Duncalf.
Although there are 10 ranking places between these two, it is
always a close affair. The court was hot and the rallies at the
beginning of the first were well contested and many of them ran
into several minutes of entertaining squash. Thankfully, we had
decided to play Super League style scoring (PAR to 9 points, 2
clear at 8 all). It was Madeline who reached 8 first and just
clipped the tin on a forehand volley drop. Jenny capitalised on
this and secured the first 10-8. From then on Madeline seemed to
find more and more winners and took the remaining games 9-4,
9-7, 9-7.
A great match to start the evening.
Once the tin was lowered and we had presented one of our
juniors, Danny Bray, with a special award for excellence
from Expect Distribution, we were on to match number two.
Alister Walker v Laurens Jan Anjema.
 This
was undoubtedly the match of the night with a fantastic display
of athleticism along with some amazing shotmaking. It was Ali
who led most of the way taking a close first, and after LJ had
levelled by taking the second, he also took the third. The
fourth was nip and tuck all the way and towards the end it was
LJ who looked the stronger.
Ali had his chances at 7 all but LJ nicked the game 9-7. The
fifth seemed to slip away from Ali due to a few errors and
several outright winners from LJ. At 7-1 down, Ali found a
couple of winners himself ands clawed it back to 4-7, but it was
a case of too little too late and another backhand crosscourt
volley nick that LJ had been hitting throughout the match,
secured him the match 8-10, 9-6, 6-9, 9-6, 9-4. After the match,
both players paid tribute to each others quality of play and
sportsmanship during the match which the crowd fully agreed
with.
With the match standing at 1-1 it was down to the decider and
what a match was ahead of us. World number eight Nick Matthew
taking on Gregory Gaultier, World number two.
On paper it would appear that Greg was the clear favourite, but
anyone with knowledge of squash of this level knows that Nick is
a class act and is more than capable of matching anyone in the
world on his day. It was indeed Nick that looked the more
impressive in the early stages, taking the first 9-4.
His immaculate performance continued into the second with
incredibly accurate racket work, looking to pick up the pace of
play at every opportunity and forcing Greg into several unforced
errors, Nick took the second game 9-4.
It was difficult to see how a slightly off colour Greg was going
to find his way back into the match, but he was not going to lie
down easily! He came out fighting hard in the early stages of
the third and managed to come out the better at the end of some
breathtaking rallies with both players showing why they are
considered two of the best athletes on the planet.
It was close all the way and at 8-7 Greg had an opportunity to
pull a game back but clipped the tin on a straight volley drop
which Nick was nowhere near. ‘Its not my day’ said the Frenchman
with a smile, but he continued to fight and five brutal rallies
later it was Nick who secured the game and the match 9-4,9-4,
11-9.
It was great to see squash of this level again at Queens so
thanks to the players for their superb performances. As
commented by LJ in his post match interview, the crowd were
brilliant too, so to everyone who was lucky enough to get a
ticket on the night- thank you for your contribution to a great
night!
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15-Sep
Matthew steps in
Paul Hornsby reports
As predicted, tickets for the event went very quickly and we were
completely sold out of both seated and standing tickets a fortnight
before the event. Our sponsors and members are very excited about
seeing the world's best players in action again on our courts
following the loss of Super League last year.
Unfortunately, due to an ankle injury which has not completely
recovered in time along with an illness over the weekend, James
Willstrop is now not available for the match. We have, however,
secured the services of World number 8 Nick Matthew as a
replacement. Nick, who was forced into a 9 month lay off following
shoulder surgery, has recently returned to the PSA stage in style by
winning the Forrex Dutch Open just last weekend.
The remaining line up remains unchanged and a great evening of
entertainment is in prospect.
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Challenge stars
fly in to Halifax
By Ian Rushworth, Halifax Evening Courier
The big squash event Queens Sports Club coach Paul Hornsby
promised the fans this year following the collapse of Super League
will take place on Thursday, September 18, from 7pm.
Hornsby will be flying in two players for the Expect Distribution
International Team Challenge - France's world number two Gregory
Gaultier and the Netherlands' world number 15 Laurens Jan
Anjema.
That pair will link up with England's top woman player in the
current rankings, world number five Jenny Duncalf, in an
invitation team to take on a Queens side comprising world number
three James Willstrop, 32-ranked Alister Walker and
Ireland's Madeline Perry, who is ranked 15.
Willstrop has played Super League squash for Halifax for several
years while Walker played in the final campaign and Perry has been
based at Queens for several years.
 "It
is a pretty amazing line-up. Amr Shabana, the best player in the
world, lives in Egypt so we couldn't get him but we have the next
two in Greg and James."
"At Queens Sports Club we are dedicated to bringing the world's best
players to our courts.
"We have a very enthusiastic squash playing membership who have been
used to seeing the top guys in action throughout the last decade in
Super League. Unfortunately this has now come to an end, but thanks
to our continued support from our sponsors, Expect Distribution, we
are able to put this event on.
"In recent years we have had some amazing line ups and many epic
matches, but never before have we had two of the world's top three
players go head to head.
"The show court at the club holds around 120 people, so I’m
expecting to sell out very quickly, the atmosphere is always
fantastic!"
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Format:
3 player teams -
2 Men, 1 Woman
Line Up:
Nick Matthew v
Gregory Gaultier
Alister Walker v
Laurens Jan Anjema
Madeline Perry v
Jenny Duncalf
Tickets:
£15 Seated, £10 Standing
Availability:
From 1st September 2008,
first come, first served.
Club Tel:
01422 360487
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Queens Halifax |
Nick Matthew |
Alister Walker |
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Madeline Perry |
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Expect Distribution |
Gregory Gaultier |
Laurens Jan Anjema |
Jenny Duncalf |
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