Club news
It’s been a busy and exciting time at the Club. This is the “epicenter “of the squash season in Edmonton with inter-club matches, training camps and tournaments abounding. It is hard to keep up, but here are a few highlights:
RAF squash team exhibition match
It is not often that a squash club is invaded by the armed forces of a foreign power. However, that is exactly what happened on November 24, 2016 when the Edmonton Squash Club hosted the Royal Air Force Squash Team for an exhibition match. The 12 members of the RAF team, here to participate in the Edmonton Open/PSA event, lined up against our pros and a few brave club members. The result: good natured competition, excellent squash at all levels of play and a great sense of camaraderie. Thanks to the RAF, the participants and the spectators who came out to watch the Club’s version of the Battle of Britain.
ESC doubles club championships
This past weekend the Club hosted the ESC Doubles Club Championships. This tournament was a success on many levels. The event attracted 21 teams including Men’s Open, Men’s B/C, Women’s Open and a Mixed event. Close to 40 matches took place over the four days. The championship attracted a loyal crowd of supporters and onlookers. Judging by the laughter and cheers a good time was had by all.
Congratulations to:
Men’s Open Champions – Andrew & Eliot Linklater, Women’s Champions – Carolyn Kennedy & Aya Okamoto, Men’s B/C Champions – John de Vries & Brooke Rothwell and Mixed Champions – Greg Wagner & Lisa Marciak.
Sponsorship opportunities
Led by Jim Dawson and Paul Gutteridge, the board has put together a sponsorship package for the 2017 calendar year. We will be sending out a separate email soon to the membership with more details, but for an idea of what this entails, visit www.edmontonsquashclub.ca/sponsorshipoffer
Note about using sweat towels to clean blood
With the cold and dry winter weather, we are seeing more nose bleeds on court. Please note that we are charged replacement costs by our linen company for blood-stained towels, so we would encourage you to come to the front desk for more suitable materials to dress wounds or mop up blood drops from the court.
Court cleaning
A huge thank you to all of the club members that came out to assist with washing the court walls. The old saying of “many hands make light work” was in clear evidence on December 2 when ten members gave up some of their Friday morning to help with this necessary task.
Upcoming Events
Anniversary & Christmas Season Celebration/Drop In
Please come out and celebrate the holiday season and the first anniversary of the Edmonton Squash Club. A drop in will be held on Wednesday December 21st at 6pm-9pm. Enjoy some eggnog and refreshments with other club members. Bring your Christmas spirit and your racquet.
Upcoming Court cleaning
The next court cleaning will take place this Friday December 16 from 9:30am-Noon. Coffee, tea and a snack will be provided to the volunteers during the morning.
What’s Happening at the Pro Shop and Lounge
Check out the expanded inventory at the pro-shop. Items such as head and wristbands, balls, shirts, water bottles and grips make excellent stocking stuffers. Or, if you are looking beyond stocking stuffers or simply want to treat yourself, consider the fine collection of racquets and squash shoes, including the new Salming Race R9 court shoe. This is a robust squash shoe that offers extra lateral support and enhanced ankle protection.
Judging by the up tick in sales it seems that the members and their guests are making use of the lounge for their post-match refreshments. For those who are interested in craft and artisanal beers, the lounge is now stocking Blindman River Session Ale, an American-style IPA brewed in Lacombe, Alberta. It has been described as “featuring an intense dry hop aroma and delicious hop taste with muted bitterness, it finishes dry and leaves us wanting another. It’s a beer we can hand to friends knowing they’ll dig it. It’s a style we keep coming back to, no matter where our tastes may wonder”. Tasting notes include lemon, orange, faint spruce, floral hops and some bready notes, and we think it’s an easy drinking and refreshing beer perfect for a post-match hang out. Please remember that every purchase of food or a beverage is a contribution to the Club. Now that’s the sort of charitable donation almost everyone can get behind!
Staffing and Holiday Hours
December 23rd – Staffed from 3pm-7pm
December 24th – Club Open 5am-Midnight, No staff on-site.
December 25th – Merry Christmas! Club Open 5am-Midnight, No staff on-site.
December 26-30th – Staffed 4pm-Close
December 31st – Club Open 5am-Midnight, No staff on-site.
Sunday, January 1st – No staff on-site
Finally
On behalf of Jeff, Ibrahim, Paul, Anne, Sandra, Roshni and the Board of Directors, a sincere thank you for your support. We wish you and your families a safe, happy and healthy Christmas!
Squash News
PSA World Tour
Recent PSA World Tour featured tournaments included the 70k AJ Bell British Squash Grand Prix won by Nick Matthew and the 100k Channel VAS Championship where Paul Coll (NZL) triumphed as a qualifier! On the women’s side Victoria Lust was the champion of the 25k Monte Carlo Classic.
Closer to home, Diego Elias won the Reid Built Homes Edmonton Open in dominant fashion, losing only one game in his four rounds of play. Replays of the matches can be found on Youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcLBQ1hqZIR5ZpzOuXzrARA
A few entertaining rallies from the past month:
Paul Coll can do the splits – can you?
The Canadian Junior Open was held from Dec. 10th-13th. Congratulations to Abdelrahman Dweek of Calgary for winning his 3rd consecutive title in that tournament in the U-15 category! His younger sister Jana came 3rd in the U-13, and fellow Calgarian Brett Schille placed second in the U-19.
Squash Links
Nick Matthew talks about relaxing your grip when you’re under pressure in a rally
Will playing chess help your squash game (sample of 1)?
http://www.thedp.com/article/2016/12/penn-squash-chess-players
Cameron Pilley describes his technique for hitting the fastest squash ball in history
http://nymag.com/speed/2016/12/how-to-hit-a-squash-ball-harder-than-anyone-else-on-earth.html
A story about Reyna Pacheco, a previously undocumented immigrant to the US currently ranked 76th in the world depite being only 4′ 10″ tall!
http://www.ozy.com/rising-stars/the-squash-pro-who-grew-up-an-undocumented-immigrant/72135
A study based on 14 years of data from national health surveys in the UK suggests that racquet sports (including squash) are the best source of physical activity to prolong life
https://www.englandsquash.com/news/squash-is-the-best-exercise-to-prolong-life-study-reveals
