with Malcolm Willstrop

FINAL THANKS The referees Jack Allen and Roy Gingell didn’t have much to do, which is to the credit of the players who, as they do these days, produced high quality squash and mostly high quality sportsmanship. I might have never been here, but for the intervention of Stephen Linfitt and Colin White and since I have enjoyed the tournament and Budapest so much, I have much to thank them for. I have done my limited best to bring events in Budapest to life for SquashSite readers and also to repeat how well Jeno Marky and his team have done in presenting a PSA event with real style.

And Anita loved it ... I already feel a bit down, because it's over. Can not find a right word to express my feelings what the Dunlop Hungarian Open Competition meant to me, had wonderful, helpful and great people around me and the players were fantastic. Probably you receive similar notes afterwards, but to me, to be here and meet all the competitors and Mr. Malcolm Willstrop, who is a "father" of all the players - only because he knows them so well - made the whole event even more familiar. The referees Jack and Roy were ever so kind and lead the games strict but fair. Let me say thank you very much for your hard work to design the website so well, and to have Mr. Malcolm with us levelled up the event - sending his words after the games to you - higher than the press did here in Hungary. THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO ALL OF YOU AGAIN! Hope to see you back in Hungary at Római Teniszakadémia - Vodafone Center in the NEXT year to have another great time together. Lots of love to you all ...

All White in the End ... Peter Nicol and John White, after last night’s excesses, had to face the Hungarian Challenge in the pre-final doubles match against Hungarian champion Mark Krajcsak and Zoltan Budar. Although the world stars started briskly the local pair were soon in contention and managed to win the first on a tiebreak 13/11. Determined to break their losing streak Nicol and White won the second 11/7, despite White leaving Nicol to play on his own from time to time. The international pair always held sway in the third despite the best efforts of the capable Hungarian duo to sneak a 2/1 victory.

Losers’ Night Out After Peter and James had lost their semi-final matches they joined forces with another loser, John White, to go into Budapest for a meal. They pointed out to me that as I was in each of their corners I was a three-time loser, which I thought was unkind. Arriving at the Danube we failed to find a table at the boat of our choice, refused another and having consulted the concierge at the nearby Inter-Continental hotel we ended up at the Mocca restaurant, which turned out to be a great success. So much so that Peter booked another table for tonight, though there appears to be some doubt about whether he will fulfil the booking. James advised me that I hadn’t been drunk for a while and told me to get stuck in, and I reminded him that I was coaching the Hungarian team the next morning. After a splendid meal, enhanced by the attentive wine waitress, whose advice was excellent, we found ourselves in a rather ordinary bar. So Peter and I returned to the hotel, since I was in urgent need of sleep and he was looking for t.l.c, as is his wont. We left John and James to fend for themselves and hopefully to take care of each other. When I saw them all at breakfast they looked relatively fresh, and Peter and John will test themselves when they play the exhibition doubles before the final tonight. James, of course, is very disappointed not to have been asked!

Thanks, Jeno ... The Dunlop Hungarian Open was a credit to all concerned. For a country of Hugary’s standing in squash to stage a tournament of such quality beggars belief. Jeno Marky, who owns the Romai Teniszakademia, and who masterminded the event, is clearly to be reckoned with and the glass court he has constructed is really quite wondrous to behold. No only that but the floor, absorbent, is real quality and hardly caused a problem with foothold. The ball did pick up the blue off the floor, but Jeno assures me that will be remedied and I don’t doubt it. The setting was splendid, as were the enthusiastic crowds, who loved every minute of the action. Jeno’s hospitality was extended to a meal for the players, referees and the staff at a first class restaurant – his favourite – where the host entertained us musically with the help of the resident band, His staff, Natalia Tarjany, Erzsebet Urban and Anita Szalay could hardly have been more helpful.

No Rest In Budapest I wasn’t intending to come to Budapest for the Hungarian Open, but an invitation from Stephen Linfitt, whom I coached many years ago in the North Walsham days, was too hard to resist. Apart from trying to keep Squash Site readers informed, I have already coached Sandor Fulop and Mark Krajcsak, two of Hungary’s leading players. I am doing a clinic for coaches this morning and tomorrow coaching a group of the National squad, all organised by Colin White who has done so much for squash in Hungary. The bonus is that I have been able to be in James’ corner and also enjoy Budapest and the tournament generally.

There will be no slowing down, returning to Pontefract. There is a squash music night at Dunnington, near York on Friday which sold out in three hours, and a social day at York Races on Saturday with Susan and Catherine to give me a welcome change of scene. Then to Manchester for the British Open. Back to today, and after the clinic two intriguing semi-finals …

Hungarian Party for the Players The party was good and everybody enjoyed themselves. Had a goulash for the first dish, steak or turkey for the second and many of the players tried the Hungarian special sweet called somlói. They were surprised at the amount of the sweet, but everybody liked it! Anita Szalay

Good to see Jack Allen back in action, partnered by Roy Gingell. Sport needs strong officials. Jack had just returned from Iraq where he had been troubleshooting, so I don’t suppose any player here will bother him. Roy’s equivalent to Jack’s adventures was to see the Stereophonics in Cardiff. I had been to see them in Sheffield recently, so we swapped experiences.

Peter Nicol seemed in high spirits, fresh from an enjoyable time in Paderborn. On his own admission his perspective on life is as good as it’s ever been, so thankfully we can look forward to another productive season for him.

I found a delightful Hungarian restaurant in an equally delightful square close to the tournament hotel. Called Diligence, it was a coaching house when Diligence first past on its way to Vienna in 1752. The food and ambience were of the highest order.

A Fine Court The court, the creation of club owner Jeno Marky, is splendid to behold and its playing characteristics are excellent. Once the problem with the ball picking up the blue from the floor is solved, as I am assured it will be, it will be as good a court as can be imagined.
A Spectacular City   Budapest is a thriving and vibrant capital city and on the drive from the airport to the hotel a view of the Parliament building and the Royal Palace from a bridge crossing the Danube was spectacular indeed.