Once again the Ladies were invited to the Crown Services Tournament. It was to be played at Nottingham Squash Club a top class venue.
Traditionally this tournament was set up for the men from the Crown Services.
This was the Civil Service, Police and Fire Services and an Armed Forces Combined team. In the Ladies Event teams from Police and Combined Services were represented, clearly not enough women fire-fighters as they were unable to produce a team!
The only ladies team managing to field five players the Civil Services Ladies were resplendent in their new orange and black kit. This was the first outing with new strip...........was it to be our lucky kit??
The CSSC team included two International players and two county players and yet we were still not at full strength!
Our first match was against the Combined services. Pat High Comer went on first and had a tussle to win the first game 10-8. She then lost the second 10-9 but regained her composure to win the match 3-1. Jackie Codman had a good game but her only blip was when she thought she'd won the game and lost concentration in the third losing 10-8. She won the match winning the fourth 9-4.
Helen Townend had a confident game against RAF stalwart Sam Stewart winning 9-2, 9-4, 9-3.
Due to traffic problems RAF doctor Lucy Lamb arrived late but Heather Tweedle gave a comfortable performance to win 3-1.
The Police Ladies were to prove another matter. With former England ranked Stephanie Brind at number one we knew we had a tough match. Helen went on first against, the smallest policewoman I know, Chris Smiley. Despite some long rallies (Helen had run the London Marathon earlier this year). Chris ran out the winner 9-2, 9-5, 9-6.
Captain Sian Hughes was next up and won the first easily 9-1. A battle followed in the second with Claire winning 9-7. Following some strong words from team mate Heather Tweedle - (roughly translated - win or the rest of us won't stand a chance!) an obedient Sian won v9-3, 9-2 to win the match 3-1. The pressure was then on Jackie Codman however Zoe Wellicome proved too strong with Jackie losing 9-0, 9-1, 9-3. The numbers ones went on but despite a brave performance from Heather, Steph, who hardly broke sweat, showed she was another class again winning the match 9-6, 9-5, 9-4.
Despite losing the match the team were able to sample the delights of Nottingham on Friday night safe in the knowledge that, unlike the men, they wouldn't have to play any matches the following day with hangovers!
