Grampian Squash opening Junior FUN Tournament for ‘Futures’ players

The first tournament of the squash season for the Junior Development players in Grampian was hosted at Aberdeen University’s Butchart Centre on Sunday the 7^th of October. Twenty three novice players of all ages, from all areas of Grampian met to battle it out in friendly competition in a day-long series of squash matches. MacDuff Squash Club, who fielded the biggest contingent of competitors, set off in the early hours of Sunday morning to ensure that their players arrived in good time to start their matches, albeit bleary eyed. While other young players from Garioch, Banchory and Aberdeen squash clubs had the luxury of a more relaxed breakfast before being delivered to the tournament venue in Old Aberdeen.

The competition produced a series of ding-dong matches, with closely contested ties seen throughout each of the three groups. In group Argentina, Michael Berry from Garioch finished in pole position, edging the MacDuff players Liam Reid and Richard Greig into second and third place, respectively. Madeleine Reader and Sally Bruce, both from Aberdeen Squash Racquets Club, turned in credible performances by securing fifth and eight places, respectively in this predominantly male group. The Brazil group was topped by Jonathan Read (ASRC), with Richard Hollins (MacDuff) producing probable the best fight back of the group to wrest second place from Jonathan’s brother, Nicholas (ASRC) in a 2-1 thriller. Another MacDuff player who caught the eye was Cameron Birnie, who just lost out in a hard fought match to the eventual winner of this group. In the third group, Columbia, Robert Seymour (Garioch) was taking no prisoners, dropping a total of only three points over all his matches, in his successful thrust for top position. Jack Thomson (Banchory) sailed through his first two matches, before being knocked into second place by the free-scoring Robert. However, The ‘Stars of the Show’ were undoubtedly Lauren Barron, Molly Gray, Robyn Watt (all MacDuff) and Nicole Joss (ASRC) who played throughout the tournament with big, beaming smiles. The match between Nicole and Lauren will long be remembered for the number of changes of serve that ensured as each player tried unsuccessfully to serve while suffering from a fit of giggles. The final match of the tournament was between Lauren and

Molly, and predictably it proved to be an hour long marathon tie, with each of the girls trying her utmost not to beat her opponent. Back and forth went the serve, each girl apologising if she won a point! Danny Molyneux, the tournament organiser and marker of this game, drank a litre of water through this match and still ended up with a croaky voice as he meticulously called out the score, serve after serve after serve. Eventually, however, the deadlock was broken and blushing Molly reluctantly accepted that she had won the match.

For the great majority of these players, this was their first foray into competitive, albeit friendly, competition squash. The experience of playing different opponents, in unfamiliar surroundings with an audience cheering and clapping good play can be daunting. The evidence from this tournament is that these Grampian Squash Developmental players met the challenge in a positive and sporting manner. The future of Grampian Squash is in the hands of these Junior players, and it appears that the future is bright.

Grampian Squash would like to thank Danny Molyneux and his backroom staff for organising and hosting this event. To all the competitors who took part, and to their parents - Well Done.  The next FUN tournament in the Grampian Squash calendar will be held on Sunday the 4^th of November, at Pecten Squash Club (Shell), Nigg, Aberdeen.  Where we can all look forward to another exciting, enjoyable and thoroughly entertaining series of competitive squash matches.