Hurghada to give Kuwaiti Clues ...

Hurghada, at which Amr Shabana makes a welcome return to action, and where all the top Egyptians are involved, will be informative for the prestigious Kuwait Open and will provide players there with useful match play after the recent break, which was no doubt welcome for several players.

There are some heavy first round matches: Wael el Hindi v Cameron Pilley, Ong Beng Hee v Laurens Anjema; Lee Beachill may well be tested by Borja Golan and the grouping of El Hindi, Pilley, Ong and Anjema is formidable indeed.

Should the last sixteen go according to seeding expectation there are several interesting matches. Beachill v Palmer, Abbas v Ramy Ashour, Willstrop v Barker and Iskandar v Lincou.

These are all better than second round matches, for sure. The last eight could produce the following line up: Shabana v El Hindi (who has plenty to do to get there), Gaultier v Darwish (whose path is eased by Stewart Boswell's withdrawal), Lincou v Willstrop and Palmer v Ashour.

If they Materialise any one would be acceptable as a final. Gaultier does well against Shabana, so he will not be fazed by the potential semi final, but he has Darwish to get past first. Ashour has yet to lose to Willstrop, so he ,too will have plenty of confidence, not that he lacks that anyway.

Clearly how well Shabana does in Hurghada is a major factor. He will certainly be fresh, if he has been getting some sleep, but I have a feeling he will not find things easy. Willstrop was in fine form before the rest and it will be interesting to see if he comes back after the break in the same form. Ashour and Gaultier have both had minor hiccups by their standards and will be eager to show they are minor.

This is all based on seedings working out, which they rarely do nowadays. Predictions are nigh on impossible and I defy anyone to tell me who is favourite; after Hurghada perhaps, but not now.

Squash diminished by zero status
The Guardian: Without a Steve Redgrave-type figure, how can squash become anything more than a minority sport?   Join in the debate ...

He describes the Canary Wharf crowd as white, male 30/40, pink shirted - whatever that implies - and drinking Budweiser as if corporate hospitality is squash's province. I was there for three days and the crowd was certainly not all male; I doubt if his age classification was correct, though it s obvious that in mid week in Canary Wharf there would not be the usual number of children. As for his racist implication with the word white, shame on him. The game is truly international and universal and his inferences are despicable. Should he come to Pontefract, which may be beneath him, he would see players from all over the world, of all colours and race, practising happily together on a daily basis. In fact no one thinks about colour until people such as him cause us to.

Nor does he mention that Canary Wharf was sold out all week: the crowds were involved and informed and they enjoyed the players as much as the players appreciated them. He prefers to say "I did not gain much by watching the players in the flesh rather than on TV." How sad is that, if watching a final of considerable skill, which took two world class players to the bottom of their physical wells, did nothing for him. That's  a reflection on him, not the game of squash, nor the two players, Cameron Pilley and James Willstrop. He sounds like a couch potato to me. Would that he had remained there.

Typical of the distortion of fact is that he describes the final of little more than an hour, when the actual figure of 78 minutes was readily available. He seems to be implying that an hour is not much, but he should remember that players hit every other ball and play is continuous, which separates from most other sports. He complains about referee interaction - another distortion - since Pilley and Willstrop scarcely asked for a let between them. And what about his paper's favourite sport ,soccer ... referee interaction of a prolonged and unacceptable sort.

To state that squash needs a Steve Redgrave is quite ludicrous and incongruous. Any sport would be proud to associate with such a man but rowing has no great profile despite his five gold medals. I seem to remember, too, that it took the media a long time to recognise his mammoth achievements. Just how long did it take the appalling BBC Sports personality of the year, where Peter Nicol's two Commonwealth golds didn't even get a mention, to recognise the great man, whilst sporting minnows by his standards, were feted.

Of course squash gets no national coverage ... sports editors are obsessed with the appalling game of football, which sets standards of cheating and gracelessness .. .look no further than Ferguson and Wenger, second to none.

There is little room for anything else and if the Guardian or any other newspaper wishes to pander, for whatever reason - economic, presumably - to people who follow the game, this is what an eminent, far more eminent than Mr. Irish, journalist had to say recently:

"Why do respectable, educated people have anything to do with the moronic cult of football-a celebration of  cheating, shamming, spite, crudity and greed."

Perhaps the Guardian should take a look at itself if it wishes to sanction the uncalled for and unwarranted attack on a far more worthwhile game.

Irish's final statement that when Peter Nicol, a truly great sportsman and personality whose influence has been felt by many, changed from Scotland to England was when he attracted attention. That may be so, but that's a reflection on the press and not on Peter.

It s a pity that England s top ten world players, who conduct themselves properly and are reasonably articulate to boot, are given no credit for their achievements as world team champions, the men beating 29 countries, if the media thinks the game is not universal.

It is true that squash has not been properly marketed, but England Squash now have a Marketing Department and the splendid company Capitilise are involved now and will be at the worlds. But the game has managed well enough without The Guardian and I am sure that the player who gave Mr. Irish an inter view in good faith, will feel justifiably betrayed.

If Mr. Irish wants a sport to sort out, let him see if a soccer player will give an interview without a fee. I doubt it and let him not pretend that the sport his paper writes most about does need sorting out ... because I'm telling him, as someone who teaches children...it does. Go to it ... I look forward to his offering and please don't ever come back to squash. We don t need you.

The worlds of squash and rugby league united for a benefit night for Leeds Rhinos captain Kevin Sinfield, who has been with Leeds for ten years, at Pontefract Squash Club.

A team of Rhinos and a team of Rugby League personalitied took on the might of Pontefract's talented young women's team - Lauren Siddall, Kirsty McPhee, Becky Botwright, Deon Saffery and guest player Jeannine Cowie, the British O35 champio.

The Rhinos team was Kevin himself, Gareth Ellis, Ryan Hall, Jamie James Buchanan and Francis Cummins. The personalities were former Rhinos now National coach Tony Smith - a keen squash player who first brought them to Pontefract for squash - Richard Agar, the Hull assistant coach, and former Great Britain and Wigan prop Neil Cowie.

Needles to say the rugby players were put to flight.

Rob Burrow was also in attendance, and James Willstrop, fresh from his Canary Wharf win, Lee Beachill and Vanessa Atkinson represented the world of squash.

Jamie James Buchanan entertained the audience as guest speaker with tales of Kevin and turned out to be as funny as I had been told he was.

Obviously fancying a similar night on his own behalf, he reminded me politely that it was his benefit year in 2009 ...

Lost for Words, directed by Sylvan Richardson, a combination of professional, semi-professional and amateur talent, provided splendid musical entertainment. Hannah Nicholson, Andy Proctor, Martin Sunderland the vocalists, supported by club member Alan Norrish, a new England Over 40 international famous for his Elvis Presley impersonations, and gifted 11 year-old Ella Grayson who sang 'Somewhere over the 'Rainbow' quite remarkably for one so young. She is also a very talented squash player.

Kevin thanked the club for staging the event, re-affirming the strong links the Rhinos have with Pontefract Squash Club, two sports happily brought together for a common cause.

British Championships – Afterthoughts

The absence of Nick Matthew and Peter Barker's injury certainly eased James Willstop's task, but his form has been such in recent months that he would not have been easily beaten whatever the circumstances.

Lee Beachill must be happy at reaching his seventh British final six weeks after a hernia operation. Beating Adrian Grant in the semis was a fine effort and at all times his racket looked as good as ever.

Alison Waters was deservedly rewarded with the British title on her third appearance in the final. She staved off a strong challenge from Laura Lengthorn-Massaro from whom there is more to come for sure.

It is good to see some of the younger players making an impression, Tom Richards and Victoria Lust both performing creditably.

To have Peter Marshall back is a bonus. He played extremely well to beat evergreen Alex Gough and local legend Nick Taylor to win the O35 title. He reminded everyone just how tough and resolute he is and though his technique perhaps shouldn't be copied, everything else about him should.

Yawar Abbas and squash at Manchester's Sportcity go hand in hand. Fitting that he should take the O40 title, even though he is struggling to accept that he is forty. If that's his problem, things are unlikely to get better.

Other illustrious names were on the roll of honour: Pat Kirton, Philip Ayton, Howard Cherlin and Adrian Wright. Jeannine Cowie, wife of former GB rugby league star Neil, a local girl, was thrilled with her success in the Over 35's.

Rugby League was well represented – Neil was there, of course, legend of his game, and Tony Smith, former Leeds Rhinos and new GB coach, was at the final.

The physios, who are there in support of the players, never cease to amaze me. Always available, ready to help and uncomplaining, no matter how late it is, they are much appreciated for their invaluable work. Thanks Cheryl, Graham, Phil, Sylvan ...

Well done England Squash for making the women's championship 11 scoring american. How much easier to watch England's world class players and no problem for them adapting to it. If ever an argument is needed in its favour, try the half-hour first game between Peter Marshall and Nick Taylor.

Publicity surrounding the tournament was massively improved with several Sunday newspapers reporting on it, and TV in attendance. England's new marketing division, Howard Harding and the excellent marketing company, London-based Capitalize, deserve congratulations for their efforts.

No doubt Manchester Leisure were using the championship as a guide towards the World Championships in October. There was certainly a sense of strict organisation about the event. However it has always been well organised and it is to be hoped it retains its friendly and welcoming feeling it has had over the years. To lose that would be a disaster.

11-Jan-08:
Beachill on way back ...

Since there were rumours about Lee Beachill's future ,which were unfounded, an update might be appropriate.

Last Friday lee had an operation in Leicester for a sportsman's hernia. He is already back in the gym, feeling more comfortable by the day and will be back on court very soon. National league at the end of the month, the Swedish Open and the British Closed are his immediate aims.

There is no question of retirement: he is hitting the ball as well as ever and his enthusiasm, which may not be on his sleeve, is intact. Although unable to play a full playing part in England s world team success I understand from coaches and players alike that he was a considerable help in India. I can vouch for his ability between games.

No doubt he will be eager to perform well in the British Closed, in which he has a record second to none.

But Ricketts will be missed ...

It is hard to imagine anything much worse for a professional sportsman or woman to have their careers cut short through injury, which is what has happened to Australian Anthony Ricketts.  

A winner of the British Open, the Super Series and the Tournament of Champions amongst others, Anthony for a long time managed a knee, which has been subjected to many operations. Finally after long treatment in Australia he has accepted the inevitable and officially retired.

Famously strong and athletic Anthony also had a manic streak, which I once wrote about after a performance against Ong Beng Hee in Manchester at the British Open. A couple of hours later, after the article appeared on Squash Site he approached me and asked if he could have a word. I asked if it was about what I had written, to which he replied:

"No, but my mother has seen it and she agrees with you."

Off court he was good fun and a credit to his profession. He spent much of last year at Pontefract with the better half, Shelley Kitchen, and they were a popular couple.  I spoke to him very recently and he was remarkably upbeat, already coaching, something I knew always appealed to him, in America.

It is good that he will not be lost to the game. I told him to make sure his protégés didn't copy his technique, to which he added, laughing, "nor my manic streak!"

I have no doubt he will bring the same professionalism and success  to his coaching that he did as a player. Everyone at Pontefract who knew him will wish him well.

1. That the women’s game adopts American scoring so that we have a universal system.

2. That the game is properly marketed: there have been some promising signs from England Squash’s newly-appointed marketing division.

3. That we maintain standards of behaviour and fair play and are assisted in this by stronger refereeing.

4. That the over-age problems at junior level are resolved.

5. That Ramy Ashour recovers from his injury problems – he is an important addition to the world scene.

6. That Amr Shabana gets the recognition in Egypt that he deserves. To criticise him for his ‘failure’ - losing to David Palmer is hardly that – in the world team championships is scandalous.

7. That the squash public gets behind betting. As I have repeatedly maintained, mostly to deaf ears, betting is crucial and will raise the profile of the players and the sport more than any other factor, believe me!

8. That Ziad Al-Turki is recognised for his efforts to improve prize money. No-one wants football money, but present levels need to be two to three times as much.

9. That the problems with the glass floor, so manifest in Bermuda, are sorted. It almost spoiled what was a splendid event. The players deserve credit for getting on with it, risking their limbs, even if not their lives.

10. That the world championships in Manchester are an unqualified success. Manchester, through Jim Quigley and his team, have done as much as anyone for the game.

1. That soccer starts setting an example, especially to all the youngsters who follow the game. David Platt, whose voice is bad enough, recently gave out “that was a good foul!”. With commentators like that, the game has no hope!

2. Sportsmen and women stop publicly crediting some divine power when successful. My naïve conception is that God is even-handed to all. Privately, that’s fine.

3. Rugby Union at international level gets back to handling the ball, like Welsh teams used to when the Welsh could play rugby. Remember Edwards, John, Dawes, Bennett, Williams, Davies …. Bulldozing over from a yard is hardly entertainment.

4. That I see better value in 2008 than Croatia at 15/2 to beat a rank England side in the final qualifier for Euro 2008. A friend had 9/1 and a fortnight in St Lucia as a result! We’ll be so lucky …

5. That the Cheltenham Festival and Canary Wharf Classic, two of my favourite events, stop clashing.

6. That tennis in this country realises that we have no players, except the one-offs, because the game is still embedded in middle-class society. Jonah Barrington released squash from that burden, tennis needs a Jonah.

7. That a sense of fair play is restored in all sport. Drugs are sport’s doom, but there is much else that needs addressing.

8. That the media give more balance to their coverage of sport – 90% soccer and the rest, if you’re lucky.

9. That sports realise when they are lucky to have shining lights at the top of their game – tennis has Federer, racing has Dettori and McCoy, rugby union has Wilkinson, cricket has Vaughan …

10. That the BBC Sports Personality of the Year is done away with, and all other award ceremonies which do not recognise genuine achievement in all sport.

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