CSSC 2019 Team Squash Championships

Six teams of three men and two ladies made their way this February to Nottingham’s prestigious Squash Club located in “The Park”. HSSRA’s “A” Team had arrived as defending champions and were hoping to make it a “three in a row” storyline - they had also arrived in force with, for the first time, a total of three teams. They would however face stern opposition from last year’s Runners-Up Team “North West”, last year’s Plate Winners DSTL and a newly formed composite team “Allsorts” Captained by Marian Holmes the CSSRA President. All teams would line up on the Friday into two groups of three teams, playing in a Round Robin format. Winners and Runners-Up from each Group would progress into a knockout Semi-Final format on the Saturday whilst third placed teams would compete with each other in the Plate Event Final.

In the first Tie of Group 1 DSTL would play the newcomers “Allsorts”. The Allsorts’ Captain Marian Holmes nearly got their campaign off to a flying start when playing DSTL’s experienced Carol Stone but finally had to capitulate in a long hard fought five game battle. Allsorts Number One player Frazer Richards however was soon to show his class against DSTL’s very able Number One player David Nethercott with Richards winning a fine match 3-1. That was as good as it got for Allsorts with DSTL eventually running out four one winners. The next Tie saw Allsorts returning to court against HASSRA A’s formidable line up. Allsorts Number One player Frazer Richards however was once again in a determined mood and in a fine game of squash defeated HASSRA’s Number One player Jonathan Simpson without dropping a game. The final result however went convincingly to HASSRA four matches to one. The final Tie between HASSRA A and DSTL was hard fought, but eventually brought the defending Champions a winning result however not before DSTL’s number five player Deb Atkinson produced one of her best ever performances by defeating HASSRA’s Captain Sian Hughes in a long hard fought five game battle! Both HASSRA A and DSTL would progress into the semi final whilst Allsorts would compete in the Plate Final.

In Group 2 last year’s Runners-Up, North West faced up to HASSRA’s newly formed “C” Team who unfortunately were one player short owing to a late withdrawal. This was to prove no pushover for North West however and although they took a four nil victory in the end, North West’s Paul Lane and Becky Campbell both had to go to five games before finding victory against Gurjinder Sandhur and Rob Frame. The next Tie saw HASSRA’s B and C Team do battle against each other. Whilst the outcome was a predictable five nil win for the B Team, Micky Gallagher did push Chris Beldon all the way before losing a close battle in their fifth game. The last Tie between North West and HASSRA B was a close encounter and with the match finely balanced at two matches each, the number two players went on court to decide the encounter. At the end of a five set thriller it was North West’s Dan Willets who emerged on top when defeating Chris Beldon. North West and HASSRA B would progress into the Semi Finals and HASSRA C into the Plate Final.

The first Saturday morning Semi Final brought together the HASSRA A and B teams. The B Team’s number four player Ruth Sleigh did start strongly against Keeley Grindle but could not sustain her early form and predictably the A Team was to prove too strong for their valiant opponents winning the Tie five matches to nil. The second Semi Final between North West and DSTL teams was a much closer affair. North West’s Sheena Ferrie got her side off to a good start and played well to defeat her plucky opponent Deb Atkinson three games to one. Things however started to look a little darker for North West when both Paul Lane and Jim Fay both lost tight five game matches to the DSTL players David Nethercott and Carol Stone. With DSTL in the driving seat they wasted no more time when both Stuart Scourfield and Adam Khan both won their matches against Dan Willets and Becky Campbell. HASSRA A and DSTL would progress to the Final and North West and HASSRA B to the third and fourth place Playoff.

The Plate Final appropriately had brought together the two new teams - Allsorts and HASSRA C.

Since HASSRA C had only four players in their Team, Allsorts Captain Marian Holmes had gallantly stepped aside (or was it exhaustion?) to let Janice Muller move up the playing order. Janice did not disappoint and produced a fine game of Squash against her opponent Camella Camm to put her Team one match up. HASSRA’s number three player Rob Frame however soon levelled the Tie by winning a close encounter with Barry Dearlove. The reliable Frazer Richards soon steadied the Allsorts nerves and proved too good for his opponent Gurjinder Sandhur. The outcome of the final match between Allsorts player Sam Farnham and HASSRA’s Micky Gallagher was now crucial to both teams, Sam however held his nerve and came through a tough test with a 3-1 win and so sealed the Plate Trophy for Allsorts.

The third and fourth place play off between HASSRA B and North West was a competitive encounter but which finally saw the HASSRA Team of Adam Ward, Chris Beldon, Kevin Jackson, Ruth Sleigh and Carol Whittington, get over the line with a fine four one win.

The Main Final was a rematch from the Friday Group 1 encounter between HASSRA A and DSTL. The opening match between the number five players Sian Hughes and Deb Atkinson was a chance for the HASSRA Captain to gain revenge for her earlier defeat on Friday. Sian started this quest in strong form by winning the opening game, only to be pegged back when Deb won the second game. Sian however regained control and fought hard to secure victory by winning the next two games. Things continued to go HASSRA’s way with strong performances from Jonathan Simpson, Paul Atkinson and Keeley Grindle. The final match between the number two strings, saw DSTL’s Stuart Scourfield take an early lead, HASSRA’s Ryan Avison however quickly regained control and eventually won 3-1 to secure a five nil match victory for his Team. HASSRA A had retained their third Title in a row!

Congratulations go to HASSRA A for retaining their Championship Title and to the Runners-Up DSTL, their best ever placing. Congratulations also to the new Team Allsorts for winning the Plate Competition. The Squash Team Event this year attracted a total of ten new players. We hope you all enjoyed the experience and that we see you all again next year when our new Organiser Jackie Codman will be in charge.

Prizes were presented by the Civil Service Squash Rackets Association President Marian Holmes. A social evening and Quiz was held on the Friday for players to relax and enjoy. The Quiz was ably organised and hosted by Jim Fay and turned out to be a replica of the following day’s Squash Final this time however being narrowly won by the DSTL Team with HASSRA A in a close second place. Thanks were extended to all the participating players, to our Massage Therapist Graham Spencer and to Nottingham Squash Rackets Club for the use of their fine facilities.