Some big issues coming up !

 

 

It is difficult to believe that the Club has been up and running for over three years. In that time we have tried to move things forward both on the squash playing front and in other areas of the Club. The intention was for this momentum to continue over the next year with a number of major items on the horizon.

 

Our membership continued to be strong and it was pleasing to see a number of younger members joining and playing in the leagues. The Club's website has been influential in the recruitment of new members and, following its initial three month trial last year, the on-line booking system has been a resounding success, with a subsequent increase in the number of court bookings.

 

At the AGM in May, the Officers for 2010-11 were agreed as follows:

Chairman - Mark Davies;
Secretary - Jim Tunley;
Treasurer - Kevin Jones;
Assistant Treasurer - Mannon Goddard;
Team reps - Garry Fisher; Sian Hughes; Rob Evans;
Schools Liaison - Margaret Meadowcroft;
Maintenance - Gareth Williams;
Ordinary Members - Craig Stevens ; Geraint Jones .

 

Court Maintenance: This year we had concerns about the front wall on Court One - it required some plastering work, which would be an expensive job if the Club were to have this carried out by professional court specialists (and we did get to the point of sounding out the Sports & Social Club for possible financial help).
A new fan was installed, also on Court One, to help stop any condensation problems and, as part of the cleaning cycle, we also ensured that both court floors were being brushed and mopped on a more regular basis, this out of a concern that they were becoming slippy (as a result of the front wall problem !).

 

Changing Rooms: Since taking over the Squash Club at Brymbo, the view had been that the Men’s shower area was in need of a major makeover. With help and support from the Cricket Section, discussions began to take place with the Directors of the Sports & Social Club for their agreement to the refurbishment and for funding assistance (the Club and the Cricket Section both thought there may be a requirement to contribute an amount towards the project). This work was eventually approved but would not be started until the Autumn of 2011.

The Ladies changing rooms were not forgotten - we also looked at that area though they were not in such a desperate state. Necessary work on the Ladies area was eventually completed before the start of the new season.

 

Our teams in 2010 ...

 

The Wrexham Brymbo Ladies First Team won the North West Counties Division Two Championship in the 2009-10 Season and were promoted to the prestigious First Division. This was an amazing achievement by all concerned and though it would require a massive step up in playing standard, all were up for the challenge.

 

Wrexham Brymbo Ladies Team 2009-10 (Alice Jones not present)

 

Our Ladies Champions with their Trophy

 

Unfortunately, however, there was also bad news for our Ladies Teams as the Second Team had to withdraw from the League - we were unable to sustain our Team to meet fixtures due to a combination of injury and an insufficient number players.

 

In the North West Counties Squash Leagues, our Thursday Team won their League and went to the Divisions Play Off Finals on 8th May 2010 against Crow Wood (Burnley) for the overall Division 4 Championship.
Crow Wood had only lost one game all season but, with a great team performance by all the players, we won the match 5 – 0.

 

The match result was as follows:-
Rob Evans beat Paul Downes 3-2
Neil Rawlings beat Nick Uttley 3-0
Mark Davies beat Ian Thornber 3-0
Geraint Joines beat Andy Townsend 3-0
Gareth Williams beat Andy Quinn 3-2.
Our travelling reserves for the match were - John Evans and Hannah Davies.

 

Congratulations also to Neil Rawlings on being awarded "NWCSL Player of the Season" in the Division 4 South West League.

 

Together with our Ladies gaining promotion, these were great results for our Club after just three years since our formation.

 

The Champions with their Trophy

 

North Wales League: Our First Division Team finished third in their league while the Seconds and our Junior Teams both finished the season in respectable positions in the Second and Third Divisions.

 

The Second Team started the season badly as a Team based at Buckley, who were about to give up in Division 2 before transferring to Wrexham Brymbo, where we had capacity of players who wanted to play team squash.
Unfortunately, due to their poor start, the team were initially relegated to Division 3 by one point. However, there was some Christmas cheer - because an extra team had joined the League it meant that the Second Team were given a reprieve and remained in Division 2.

 

Our Junior Team in Division 3, was superbly managed by Paul Gowing - they had a steady season with at least 3 or 4 juniors playing in each match - gaining some great results and invaluable experience.
The following juniors played during the season – Perry Shoemark, Alice Jones, Joseph Newnes, Jack Gowing, Aled Goddard, Emily Jones and Richard Ackerley.

 

 

Dec 2010: End of Term Report ...

 

Ladies Team – Our team is finding life hard in the North West Counties First Division with only one win to their name this season. The gulf in standard between this and the Second Division is very wide and, for some of our players it is a step up too much. However, for the excellent experience it provides, hopefully we may be able to turn things around in the second half !

 

The NWCSL Thursday Team is enjoying its time in the Third Division after gaining promotion last season from Division Four. Prior to the last two games of the first half, we were top of the league but injuries and unavailability of players in those matches has seen the Club slip back to fourth position. Regardless, this is still quite an achievement with a small squad of players.

 

The North Wales League Teams have had a great first half with our First Team winning the First Division title, on the last match of the half.
Meanwhile, the Second Team having struggled to stave off relegation for most of the season, found their form with players winning their last 4 matches to remain quite comfortably in the division. They will, however, be facing stiff opposition in 2011 as our Juniors Team have won promotion to Division Two and will be keen to put one over against the 2nd team !
Mike Povey took over the reins as Captain from Paul Gowing this season and with some of the juniors showing the good form we knew they were capable of, they finished second in their league. It will be a big step up for the Juniors Team but one they will relish !

 

Congratulations to the following who played in our Juniors Team this year –
Richard Ackerley, Perry Shoemark, Jac Gowing, Emily Jones, Alice Jones, Aled Goddard, Joseph Newnes (all juniors) plus Mike Povey, Tommey Howell and Jim Tunley.

 

North Wales League - Juniors Team 2010-11

 

North Wales League Winners 2010-11

 

Our Juniors in 2010 ...

 

The Wrexham Schools Squash Programme maintained its focus with some local schools and, following their successful visit to the Club with Year 4 pupils in September 2009, we hosted a taster session for Year 5 pupils from the Marchwiel Deiniol Primary School on 17th March 2010.

 

We had a super morning thanks to coaches Johnny Jones and Margaret Meadowcroft, the Class Teacher, Miss Beynon, Headteacher, Mr Terry Walker and, of course, the young people for taking part in this two-hour taster session, which comprised all of the twenty Year 5 pupils taking part in a range of skills and fitness fun exercises.
As a follow-up, all were invited back to the Club for a more squash specific session in the hope that some will want to continue with their coaching.

 

See the Marchwiel youngsters with their Teacher and Coaches:Year 5 pupils

 

With support from Mike Workman, Squash Wales Director of Coaching & Development, the Club embarked on a whole-school Mini Squash arrangement as part of the Wrexham Schools Squash Programme and, in October 2010 we visited the pupils at Wat's Dyke County Primary School.

 

During the day, all pupils were able to take part in this introduction as part of a Squash Wales initiative and, judging by their terrific response (and noise levels), they loved it !

 

Over a number of years, Wat's Dyke School and their Headteacher Alun Evans, have developed a good relationship with the Squash Club, always providing encouragement to their pupils to try other sports. The School now has its own portable mini squash kit and the day was a great fun and a success in allowing pupils to very quickly improve their racquet and ball skills - we hope we may have seen some new squash stars in the making.

 

Mini Squash at Wat's Dyke

 

Using the Mini Squash Wall at Wat's Dyke

 

Concentration at Wat's Dyke

 

Squash Wales PR from the day

 

 

During 2010, our Junior Coaching was maintaining good strength at around 25 juniors, with a number of promising youngsters on our books. A few players - Thomas Hewitt, Perry Shoemark, Emily Jones, Llinos Evans and Hannah Davies - had all represented North Wales in Inter County matches during the year.

 

January 2010

 

New Lesson Plan

The Club's introduced its latest Lesson Plan - to view just follow the link:

 

Junior Squash Lesson Plan

 

A tough British Junior Open for local girls

Hannah Davies and Emily Jones played at Sheffield in the prestigious British Junior Open. This Tournament, effectively, is the World Championships of Junior Squash and was dominated in all categories by young Egyptian players.

 

Our two local girls faired differently - Hannah did really well to finish the Girls Under 17 competition in 22nd place; while Emily lost her first round match in the Girls Under 15 event in five sets but then had to leave the Tournament through injury.

 

Youth Test Series

Later in January, Hannah Davies travelled to Edinburgh as part of a Welsh Team playing in the Youth (Under 20/18) Test Series.
Played at Heriot-Watt University, the event was for players nearing the end of their junior but commencing the senior stage of their careers. Players were specifically chosen in the Under 18 and Under 20 age groups, to compete against players from Scotland and England.

 

Wales came third in the Under 20s group to Scotland, then England, while in the Under 18s series, Wales came second to England.
Playing for the Under 18s, Hannah had a great weekend winning all her matches.

 

February 2010

 

An excellent weekend in ... Lille

Hannah Davies competed in the French Junior Open Squash Championships as part of a strong North Wales contingent and made it through to the Final of the Girls Under 17 event.

 

Over four days of intensive squash, the Welsh players achieved some great results. Hannah was Runner-up in the Girls Under 17 event, this following an epic semi-final battle with Katie Smith (England) which went all the way in the 5th game - 12 points to 10.

 

In the Final, Hannah lost out to local French girl, Melissa Alves, but she was pleased with her work in a tournament which had a bigger and much stronger field than the Swiss Junior Open Tournament she won back in December 2009.

 

Other notable Welsh achievements came in the Under 13 girls where Lowri Roberts and Elin Harlow met in the 3rd /4th playoff, with Lowri just coming out on top this time.
Alex Pendleton also made the semi finals and over half of the squad had top 15 finishes.
Another superb weekend for Welsh Squash.

 

Hannah with her French Open Runner-Up Trophy

 

An excellent weekend in ... Bangor

Thomas Hewitt played in the Gwynedd Junior Open at Bangor over the weekend of 13 - 14th February to reach the Final in both the Under 11 and Under 13 events, beating two Under 13 boys to get there.

 

ASDA initiative starts ...

The Squash Club was asked to take part in the ASDA Sporting Chance 2010 initiative which started at February half term; an initiative to open up sporting opportunity.

 

Under 11 Squash gets stronger !

The good work that goes on at Club and Regional level in North Wales through Development Squads continues from strength to strength - that's the word from Squash Wales:

 

A great year for Under 11s Squash

 

March 2010

 

Midtown Open - our juniors do well.

Some of our juniors played in the Midtown Open Tournament at Deeside and here is how they got on -
Under 15 Boys – Winner: Perry Shoemark
4th: Edward Avery
5th: Oliver Green
Under 15 Girls – 3rd: Jazmine Hughes
Under 11 Boys - 3rd: Thomas Hewitt
Pointfore Tournament
Under 9 Boys – 2nd: Owen Cartwright
3rd: Benji Parish
Under 11 Boys – 2nd: Owen Platt
Under 11 Girls – Winner: Hannah Philpott
3rd: Rebecca Parish

 

Marchwiel Deiniol Primary School - a second group

Following their successful visit to the Club with Year 4 pupils last September, we hosted a taster session for Year 5 pupils from the Deiniol Primary School on 17th March.

 

Our thanks for a super morning to coaches Johnny Jones and Margaret Meadowcroft, the Class Teacher, Miss Beynon, Headteacher, Mr Terry Walker and, of course, the young people for their part in this latest taster session, run as part of the Wrexham Schools Squash Programme.

 

The two-hour session comprised all of the twenty Year 5 pupils taking part in a range of skills and fitness fun exercises. As a follow-up, all will soon be invited back to the Club for a more squash specific session after which we hope that some will want to continue with coaching. Well done to everyone for a superb session.

 

Follow the link to see the Marchwiel youngsters with their Teacher and Coaches:Year 5 pupils

 

Achievements at Welsh Junior Open

Four juniors from the Club travelled down to Cardiff over the weekend 12 - 14 March 2010 to take part in Wales' premier junior squash tournament (and European Grand Prix event).
Those taking part were Thomas Hewitt, Emily Jones, Perry Shoemark, Llinos Evans and Hannah Davies.

 

All our players did really well and their results from the tornament were:
Boys Under 11 - Thomas Hewitt 12th place
Boys Under 15 - Perry Shoemark 19th place
Girls Under 15 - Emily Jones 7th place
Girls Under 17 - Llinos Evans 17th place and
Girls Under 17 - Hannah Davies - First Place and National Champion.

 

April 2010

 

19th and 2nd in Europe !

Congratulations to Hannah Davies on achieving a nineteenth place in this her first European Championship, in Vienna.

 

Just turned 17 years, Hannah has done well as she moves into the stronger Under 19 group.
At the same Championships in Vienna, over the Easter weekend, the event moved into a Team Championship and Hannah was part of the hugely successful Welsh Under 19 Mixed Team that took the Silver Medal at the European Championships.
The Welsh Team eventually made it through to the Final after beating France 2-1.
This set up the match against England on Sunday, 4th April for the European Championship.
A very strong England Team came through to win the Championship, with Wales in second place, France in third and the Czech Republic in fourth position.
Well done to all members of the Welsh Team.

 

The winning England Team in Vienna, with the Welsh and French Teams

 

Read all about it in Hannah's European Diary.

 

Hannah's European Diary

 

October 2010

 

2010 British Under 19 Inter-Counties

Three Wrexham Brymbo Squash Club members were part of the successful North Wales Team that beat both Worcestershiree and Warwickshire at Worcester on 9 - 10 October to move into the second stage of this important national event.
Emily Jones, Hannah Davies and Llinos Evans were joined in the team by Tesni Evans (Saints) and Chelsea Thomas (Towyn) - our congratulations and best wishes to the team for their future events.

 

In the North Wales Boys Under 15s, our Club was represented by Perry Shoemark - congratulations to him and the other players on a successful weekend.

 

Report on the Girls and Boys U 15 & U 19 North Wales Inter-Counties Teams

 

Click here to see our North Wales girls -

2010 North Wales Inter-Counties Team

 

Mini Squash in Wrexham

A whole-school mini squash approach was brought to the pupils at Wat's Dyke County Primary School on 13th October, with support from Mike Workman, Squash Wales Director of Coaching & Development.

 

During the day, all pupils were able to take part in this introduction as part of a Squash Wales initiative and, judging by their terrific response (and noise levels), they loved it !

 

Over a number of years, Wat's Dyke School and Headteacher Alun Evans in particular, have developed a good relationship with the Squash Club, always providing encouragement to their pupils to try other sports. The School now has its own portable mini squash kit and the day was a great success in allowing pupils to very quickly improve their racquet and ball skills - let's hope we may have seen some new squash stars in the making.
Many thanks to Mike and Llinos for their help in making this such a fun day.

 

Mini Squash at Wat's Dyke

 

Using the Mini Squash Wall at Wat's Dyke

 

Concentration at Wat's Dyke

 

Squash Wales PR from the day

 

British Junior Closed Championships 2010

A number of juniors from across North Wales took part in the national junior squash championships held at the National Squash Centre and The Northern Club in Manchester, from 28 to 31 October.

 

STOP PRESS - Hannah Davies achieves an overall 5th place in the British Closed Championships, while her friend Tesni Evans from The Saints Club, was runner-up.
Our congratulations to both these young players on a superb achievement.

 

November 2010

 

Juniors travel to Neston

Several of the Club's juniors received a warm welcome at Neston when they played in a friendly match on 28 November and all had three or four matches against good competition.
Players taking part were Hannah Davies, Jac Gowing, Perry Shoemark, Jazmine Hughes, Tyler Hughes, Ryan Davies, Morgan Williams and Thomas Hewitt.

 

Some juniors were unable to make the visit due to illness or the poor weather conditions - but thanks to the parents of those who were able to be there and, of course, to our hosts at Neston Cricket Club.

 

Our Juniors at Neston

 

Sports Award ...

Congratulations to Hannah Davies who was one of the finalists at the Wrexham Sports Awards 2010, Junior Sports Personality of the Year. This category contained a very strong field of nominees and was won by the Wrexham AAC athlete, Sion Roberts.

 

North East Wales Open 2010

Juniors from the Club are always encouraged to enter this important local tournament, which was held at The Saints Club, Prestatyn, from 19th to 21st November.

 

December 2010

 

Welsh Squad call-up

Congratulations to Hannah Davies on being called to Welsh Under 20 Team for the 2010 Test Matches at Lilleshall on 11/12 December.
The Test matches provide an opportunity to give exposure to players in a tough competitive environment; playing under pressure for their country.
The format for these international matches is to play each of the home countries twice, with 3 men and 2 ladies per team.

 

Welsh pair excel at Swiss Open

The strength of junior welsh squash came through again at the Swiss Junior Open Championships as Hannah Davies took on her local friend and rival, Tesni Evans (Saints Club) in the final of the Girls Under 19 Event on 5th December.
Higher seeded Tez eventually took the Championship 11-6, 11-5, 11-7, but very well done to both on their achievements.

 

Continuing to impress throughout 2010, with an outstanding performance, Hannah Davies reached the French Junior Open Finals finishing in second place; Hannah also went on to win the 2010 Swiss Junior Open , the Welsh Junior Open as well as the British Colleges Squash Championships (representing Yale College, Wrexham) this season.

 

Darren takes Championship title

Two amazing games of squash took place as part of the Club's 2010 Championship Finals on 12th November 2010.

 

The 3rd place play-off was won in emphatic style by Rob Evans beating Mark Davies 3 - 0.

 

The Championship Final match lived up to all expectations where, from 2 - 0 down, Neil Rawlings came back to take the match into a fifth set against Darren Lee. With some excellent squash from both players, Darren came through to win the set 9 - 7.

 

Congratulations to our new Champion and the other three players on their achievements. To see our finalists, click on the following link:

2010 Championship Finalists

 

 

Our 2010 photo gallery ...

 

Click to enlarge Click to enlarge

 

Click to enlarge Click to enlarge

 

 

 

 

 

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