This year's Squash team event took place in January at the popular Nottingham Squash Club. A few organisational hic-cups and uncertainties resulted in a reduced entry of 6 teams and for some teams less strength than last year. However the composite Dstl team (The Defence Science & Technology Laboratories) pipped into second place last year by Revenue and Customs (RCSL) were not to be denied and came back with full strength and all guns blazing to take the top prize.
The first day of competition saw all teams play 2 matches in a Round Robin format. In group A, last years winners RCSL with their customary strength throughout the team and especially the ladies, efficiently won both their matches against a weaker than usual HASSRA side and the newly formed CSSC team. CSSC’s number one Tom Power, was the only player to make a dent in their sweep by beating RCSL’s number 1 Mike O’Brien 3-0. Tom having recently joined the CSSC Event team also beat HASSRA’s number 1, Chris Beldon, and when CSSC’s Marian Holmes clinched a long hard fought match 3-1 against HASSRA’s Jackie Robertson, the CSSC team were hopeful. However, HASSRA prevailed winning the remaining rubbers and the match 3-2 to finish in second place in the group.
In group B, last year’s runners up Dstl were to be challenged by the DSRA (Defence) team who came with strength in their men players as usual, but short of a lady. This match, won by Dstl, produced some great squash, especially at number 1 and 2 strings, the highlight undoubtedly being the DSRA and Dstl no 1’s, Marc Aldridge and Tim Burrell. This rubber was not only important in the outcome of their tie, it was also a ladder challenge for Marc on Tim and for Tim to prove that he was worthy of the title of singles champion, wrestled from Marc last November when Marc was not at full fitness. They both had a lot to prove and the resulting match was a cliff hanger of over 130 rallies resulting in a 3-2 win for Tim and an endorsement of his No 1 slot on the Mens ladder. The number 2 strings also had a memorable tussle. DSRA’s, Simon Amery keeping Tony Webb at bay for 2 games, but after Tony won the 3rd game, Simon was unfortunately forced to retire injured. Both Dstl and DSRA overcame the valiant efforts of the Land Registry team. The DSRA match against Land Registry resulted in possibly the longest match of the tournament. With the DSRA team being short of a lady, their organiser Terry agreed to stand in and play the Land Registry number 5 Maria Kerr. This was in effect a dead rubber but it took 157 rallies to complete – remember the minimum is 27 – and never looked as if it would end!
With the winners of the 2 groups being Dstl and RCSL, the final could have been a repeat of last year. However the schedule for the Friday was for the winners of the 2 groups to play the runners up from the other group in semi-finals. In the first semi-final between RCSL and DSRA, despite success for the RCSL ladies which gave their team a 2-0 lead, the Defence team’s men were too strong, resulting in a 3-2 win for Defence. In the other semi-final, HASSRA’s Keeley Grindle got them off to a good start winning her match against the Dstl no.5, Carol Stone. Chris Beldon playing at 1 took the first game off Dstl’s Tim Burrell,but this proved to be the only success for the depleted HASSRA team, and Dstl won 4-1.
Thus the final was a repeat of a match played the previous day between Dstl and Defence. With injury hitting DSRA’s Simon Amery, Dstl had an easier task then the previous day. Marc, however, was out to revenge his loss against Tim and did so with a 3-1 win. John Ashton, now playing at 2 for the DSRA, played an exceptional match against Tony Webb taking the first game 10-8 with some exciting squash. This game was probably the longest in the tournament, lasting over half an hour and with some 56 rallies. John couldn’t quite sustain this effort and though close to recovery in the 4th finally lost this game 8-9 and the match 3-1. Despite DSRA’s efforts, the Dstl team of Tim Burrell, Tony Webb, Stuart Scourfield, Helen Townend and Carol Stone were again able to take the match 4-1 and the title for the first time.
In the 3rd/4th play off the RCSL team, with valuable support from their ladies, Heather Tweedle and Pat High-Comer who were unbeaten through the whole tournament, were able to hold off HASSRA’s challenge to take 3rd place with a 3-2 win.
The consolation match between the teams who finished in 3rd place in the groups was between the 2 new entrants, CSSC and Land Registry. This was the first time CSSC staff had taken to the court in this event and Tom and Marian along with organiser Linda Parsley and member Simon Hill, made up this composite team. Although Tom Power had chalked up a 100% record, his team mates had been less successful. However in the play-off match against Land Registry, Simon managed a win over a tired Andy Treble and CSSC’s Chief Executive, Marian Holmes, still quite handy with a squash racket and having lost none of her determination, chalked up some of the longest games of the tournament and with her 3-2 defeat of Land Registry player, Kim O’Flaherty secured the match (and the only match win for her team). The Land Registry team was, however, to be congratulated for their efforts and it is hoped they will not be discouraged from entering again. With 4 of them coming all the way from Plymouth, they must have travelled the furthest as a team.
To make sure that no one missed an opportunity for using the courts, several friendly matches were arranged and Tom put on his coaching hat to provide some useful advice to players who had spare time and energy on the Friday morning.
Despite the small number of teams entered, the event organiser, Linda Parsley, was encouraged by the competitiveness and friendliness of the event. Fewer teams had enabled coaching opportunities, friendly games, lunch breaks and more socialising. Pampered by Nottingham’s hospitality, everyone participated in good spirit and collectively helped to make the event a great success.
The squash trophies and medals were presented by Marian Holmes of the CSSC, with the final positions being:
1st Dstl 2nd DSRA 3rd RCSL 4th HASSRA 5th CSSC 6th Land Registry
Detailed results from individual matches can be found by downloading the following Excel Workbook: >> Download <<
The next CSSC squash event is the singles being planned for November 2008, again at the Nottingham Squash Club. Before that there is a Racketlon event (four racket sports in one event) on 10th May 2008. For information on this and other squash activities, see the CSSC website and the Civil Service Squash Website (http://www.cssc-squash.co.uk).