Team News

We are continuing to see a good standard of squash in the Ladies section. The Ladies Team consists of two international players as well as ladies playing for Premier Divisions and who have played for their counties so we have a wealth of experience. However we are also seeing new lady squash players entering our competitions. The graded tournaments in particular give all standards a chance. In fact one such lady who entered a graded tournament couple of years ago made her debut in the Ladies National Team this year showing the progress she has made. The Ladies Ladder is also keenly contested and regularly updated.

The main fixture of the year for the Ladies is the Crown Services Tournament. This fixture initially started as a men's event and later we were invited to join them. However whilst the men play three teams, the Combined Forces, the Fire and Police Services the Fire Service sadly are unable to field a ladies team. The event is played at Nottingham which is an excellent venue and very popular with Civil Service squash. If anyone has an opportunity to play there don't hesitate......go! The facilities are second to none and it is one of the friendliest clubs I've ever been to.

This year we were missing our number one English International Heather Tweedle who had entered the British Open in Manchester. This was to prove costly in our match against the Police Ladies who had strength in depth but realistically this would not have changed the final score. Kay Dalton from HMRC made her debut and won in fine form against the Combined Services. It was a good performance and once again an enjoyable weekend.

If anyone is interested in playing for the teams or joining the ladder please please don't be shy and contact me!

Sian Hughes, Ladies Captain

Final Positions

The Civil Service Men’s Squash Team arrived at Nottingham Squash Rackets Club with something to prove. After winning the tournament the previous year for the first time in 25 years, we were determined to show that it wasn’t just a one off. Again we managed to field a very strong squad but when we arrived it was apparent that the other teams were also much stronger with several players making their debuts.

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??

For the first time this fixture included Ladies teams which meant an earlier start for all, however I will let the Ladies Team Captain Sian Hughes report on their matches. It was a 3pm start with our first match against the Combined Services Team (the best of the Army, Navy and RAF). They were stronger than in recent years and although we put up a good fight we lost the match by 20 points to 5 (2 matches did go to 5 games, myself and Marc Aldridge). The match between the Police and Fire Service though, turned out to be a bit of a farce. The Police won the first 4 matches easily but as their No1 turned up nearly 3 hours late the match had to be forfeited 20 – 0 to the Fire Service.

The Civil Service Ladies Representative side travelled to Cardiff to play two Welsh teams, the Over 40’s Ladies on Friday 26th November 2004 and the Over 45’s Ladies on Saturday 27th November. Both matches were played at the very friendly Cardiff Squash Rackets Club. The club is just 5 minutes away from the Millennium Stadium where that night Wales just happened to be thrashing, sorry, playing Japan at rugby.

The numbers four and five Jackie Codman and Sian Hughes went on first and despite both girls fighting hard they both went down 3-1 in their games. Things looked bleak when Janet Glynn the number three went on and lost the first game 9-1 however she soon turned the game around to win 3-1.

Sue Beecroft CSSC’s number two quickly got to grips with her game and clocked up another 3-1 win. Finally Heather Tweedle, back recently from the British Open, went on against the very experienced Lynn Davies but showed her current fine form in winning 3-0.

The next day following a swift warm up (in the shops!) in the morning the CSSC team were more than ready for their opponents in the afternoon. The over 45’s had come from further a field and with only one of the Over 45’s team playing on her home court the CSSC girls had gained an advantage of already getting used to playing on the courts with low ceilings.

This proved the easier fixture (unless it was the warm up that did the trick) Janet, Sue and Heather all won comfortably 3-0. Sian at five won 3-1, however match of the day went to Jackie Codman who despite being 2-0 down displayed courage and strength with long rallies, (yes women can do them) to fight back and win 3-2. Her opponent never gave up and it made for an exciting match. The prize for “Man of the Match” was a night on the town with the drinks on Jackie!