Boasts & Lobs

In the recently held UPEI Invitational Squash tournament, Mike Buchanan
(aka Mr. B) emerged as the winner over Lester Jinks (aka Lester) after a
hard fought 5 gamer.  The timing is coincidental I’m sure that he be
crowned the winner so close to his idol Justin Timberlake being crowned
as one of People Magazine’s Sexiest Men Alive list however, unfortunately
for Mr. B, his victory celebration was cut short and overshadowed with
controversy by remarks Buchanan made to the Squash PEI body following his
match.  Mr. Buchanan was classy and honourable in thanking tournament
organizers, fellow competitors, and his final opponent during his
acceptance speech but then he opened a hearing on himself after inviting
everyone in attendance to Mill River for the next tournament stating
that this is the year that fellow arch rival and former coach Scott
Gamble will terminate his reign as 10 year defending champion.
Investigators are working on this case and it is being viewed as a
possible case of “False Advertising” to which a full investigation is
being undertaken to consider the fact that Buchanan may be working with
the organizing committee of the tournament and is using this as a
marketing draw for the event.

In speaking with Mr. Gamble on the issue he had this to say “I’d be
lieing if I said that the comments didn’t surprise me.  Mikey B is a
class act and a thrill to compete against and to have him taint such a
respectable sport like this is nothing less than shocking.”  Gamble also
noted that although he’d love to extend his winning record on his home
court, he may consider sitting this one out to avoid any bad media and
distractions for his fellow companion.  ”Mike is fighting hard after his
early season injury, and I’d hate for this to set him back mentally”
said Gamble. “I don’t think the kid knows what kind of fuel he’s just
thrown on the fire” he added.  Mr. Buchanan was unavailable for comment
at the time of the story.

Now as we head into the Christmas season, both competitors along with
many others will intensify training efforts and try to focus on the game
ahead.  Both Gamble and Buchanan are anxiously awaiting the arrival and
opportunity to play/train with Peter T. Webb as he is scheduled to
appear on the home courts of Mill River (pending approval) in the coming
weeks after answering the call to the West.

The Journalist

Well, the latest Squash PEI web poll has just about run its course. The topic is “whether or not the wearing of eye guards should be manditory for all (read: not just juniors as our current eye guard policy states)) during sanctioned events”……ah yes….the age old debate.

I am not surprised that the vote was more or less split right down the middle judging by how many people I see wearing (or not) eye guards.

Question……if we require juniors to wear eye guards, why not adults? Is it really about the “right of passage into adulthood”….that we somehow become “old enough” to make decisions to put ourselves in harms way?…..hummm….sounds like the same argument which was unsessessfully use when seatbelt legislation was being brought in……but, unfortunately, successfully (in some jurisdictions) in the case of bicycle helmet laws.

So what…..you are only hurting yourself….right? I remember an incident in London Ontario about 13 years ago. Two very experienced players were playing a match. Neither one wore eye guards. One of the players was struck in the eye by a cross court drive from the back corner. His opponent…..the person who took that shot (by the way….it was not his fault!) …to this day has never again picked up a racquet. Only hurting yourself?……I think not!

I will leave you all with one final image……..and a reminder to even the experienced skilled player who think that they are immuned to such injuries….

Jonathon Power in the 2002 World Championships….forced to withdraw due to injury.

JP knocked out of World Open       December 16, 2002
after being struck in the eye by Palmer’s racquet

Jonathon Power started off this semi-final in great form, and quickly established a lead in the first game which Palmer was never going to recover. Palmer clawed his way back into contention though, and the match seemed to be developing into another classic encounter. Power took the first 15-13, but a series of lets at 14-13 set the pattern for the second game.

The second, and final game went point for point up to 10-all, with decision after decision demanded of the referee. The packed crowd was enthralled, with the squash, the drama, and the anticipation of one player taking control. Then, suddenly, at 10-10 the real drama began.

Palmer played a backhand drive, and Power was caught on the eye by Palmer’s racket on the follow-through. Power went dramatically to the floor, and was attended to on court. After inspection by a doctor and a delay of over an hour, it was determined that Power was unable to continue, and that Palmer would proceed to the final.

“This is the last way I would have wanted to reach a World Open final,” said a distraught Palmer, brought onto court to tell the crowd of the decision.

Gawain Briars, Chief Executive of the PSA, explained the process. “The doctor decided that Power was in shock and possibly suffering mild concussion and that any movement of the head could complicate things. He insisted Power should have hospital inspection before playing again.

“That brought two sets of rules into play. Under WSF Rules accidental injuries are allowed unlimited time to recover within the time schedule of the competition, which meant Power could have played the next day before the scheduled Saturday final. But PSA rules state that all matches must be at least 18 hours apart.

“I was prepared to bend the PSA rules a bit for the sake of the players and the tournament, but I had to leave David the option of refusing to play twice on one day, including a World Open Final.”

In the absence of agreement to play on Saturday the match was effectively conceded to Palmer. For Power it was the second successive World Open final where he has bowed out injured, losing out to Ahmed Barada in 1999.

Hi All,

Well, three weeks into my Squash-Country Tour, and we are almost home….

 After spending several squash-less days in London (the two clubs I played out of back in the day are both closed!), we spent a week in Sudbury….I am happy to report that squash is thriving in this northern Ontario area!

Thumbs up to the Sudbury YMCA! An excellent facility for the traveling squash player. The facility is less than ten years old, and has four international courts. They have a club pro, and a very active squash community. I can not say enough about the very accommodating atmosphere from the facility staff and members. I was able to get on the court on three separate days, and thoroughly enjoyed playing squash with the local talent, including Jamie Chappell (see pic), who gave me a great match and a half on my last day in town.

Thanks guys…….I’ll be back again! Let me know if you are ever on PEI. Don’t forget to bring your squash gear.

Hi All,

Six days into my road trip with the family, squash gear in toe, and I FINALLY got on a squash court! We checked into the Delta Kitchener-Waterloo. Sure the rates are good, the location is central for treks to the African Lion Safari, Niagara Falls, St. Jacobs Market, etc., the pool, fitness equipment, bowling lanes, indoor miniature golf, and pool tables, etc are great for the family…..but honestly….we are here because the hotel fitness facility has three squash courts!!!!!…..yah baby!…..and entry is free with the room booking.

The squash club is about 150 members strong…..most are intermediate club players. They run round robins several evenings per week all year round. I left my room number with the front desk, and the club players contacted me the next evening. I just finished playing two hours of cut-throat with a group of seven players (see picture below)….I had a great workout, and played some excellent squash. Thanks also to the very helpful and personable staff!

I give the Delta Kitchener-Waterloo thumbs up as a great stop-over option to any squash player traveling in southern Ontario….next stop…..London Ontario…..I think I will check out my old clubs….the “Town and Country”, and the “Good-Life Fitness Centre”……updates to follow…..

Derek 

Dody Crane has genrously offered her cottage in Brudenell for a party on July 27th. We will build a gof tournament around that! Probably 9 holes after work at the Academy followed by a great night at the Dodster’s. Save the date. Details to follow!

UPDATE!!!!……click here to view details…….

Women’s Squash Tournament Huge Success

Stratford, PE - The 2007 “Just Us Girls Fashion Café” Diva Invitational Squash Tournament was held over the past weekend at UPEI and was deemed by organizers to be a huge success. “We wanted to put on an event that attracted new women and girls to the sport of squash, and we were thrilled with the response,” says Kirstin Lund, tournament chair.“Out of a draw of 52 women and girls, which is the largest women’s draw ever for a Squash PEI tournament, 20 were first time tournament players and half of them had started playing squash just weeks before the event.” Many of the women participating in the tournament took advantage of women’s skills clinics leading up to the tournament and organized by Cynthia Dunsford of Squash PEI. For the past 7 months Dunsford has been holding squash clinics for women at the UPEI Sports Centre on Monday nights.“Before you knew it, we had between 6-10 women showing up who had never played before. Monday nights became very popular at the UPEI squash courts. And with some of the more experienced women joining us it has been a great way to teach and encourage women new to the sport,” Dunsford says.The tournament also saw the youngest girls ever to play in a Squash PEI sanctioned event, with four girls aged 9 registered in the junior division.

Thanks to Judy Hansen:

Anyone with photos for the Squash PEI Flickr site, just send them my way and I’ll upload them asap. How all those great airport shots from the Canada Games?

Thanks,
Cynthia

(PS. don’t send me every photo you took, just select some of your faves with short descriptions of who is who and what not)

Well now…..I was on the court yesterday and I got in the way of a nice low hard shot (my fault!)…..thought I would share the results with everyone….there is no mistaking the signature halos (purple, A, and red, B) of bruising from being hit with a squash ball! The picture was taken 24 hours after the incident.

The last time I was hit that hard was about two years ago when I played Steven Banks in the final of the Rustremover (same spot….my fault again!). I was hit in the first game, and apparently it became quite an attraction to the crowd to watch the bruising develop and change colors as the match went on!….well…..at least they got their money’s worth!

The 2007 “Just Us Girls Fashion Café” Diva Invitational Squash Tournament is open to women and girls only. It will be a weekend not only of squash playing but of other things “girly” - a “pj party”-themed social, spa treatments, an exclusive night of shopping at Just Us Girls Fashion Café, chocolate and chick flicks.