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29-Oct:
Lambs Challenge
What can I say without appearing like I’ve
been bribed to say it….
I had such a lovely evening.
Well, it doesn’t get much better than this: a club less than an hour from
my flat, no congestion charge, no parking fee (after 6.30pm), two of the
best young players in the country, and two of the greatest players that
the sport ever bore…
Sorry, I just had a great time…
THE FUTURE OF SQUASH
That’s
how Tim Garner, the organiser/compere of the evening, introduced
the two marvels, Chris Simpson and Tom Richards,
respectively number 1 & 3 under 19. And he is so right. Each in their own
style: Chris, short, brown hair, quick, very confident, in control. Tom,
tall, fair hair, with nicks to spare, less confident, but no less
talented….
Tom seemed very apprehensive to start with, and Chris took the first game
quite easily, 4/11, in 6 minutes, a game that was a bit “scholaire”, as we
say in French, a bit “right out of school of squash”, no real flair, just
slightly above training mode.
The second was a different matter. Chris was still solid, but Tom was
attacking at last, stepping in front, taking the initiative, going for
shots. And the tactic paid off, and he found himself up 7/3. But those two
know each other's game like their back gardens, and slowly Simpson caught
up, 9/9. Two long rallies, two mistakes from Chris, and Tom was home free.
1/1.
In the third, those two boys showed the measure of their talents, deep
paced shots from Simpson that forced Richards to retrieve again, and
again, and again, tiring him just a little bit more than he would have
liked. But the crowd thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the rallies,
disputed, full of kills, nicks, retrieving, attacking shots.
Unfortunately, we needed a winner, and Chris’ game applied just that much
more pressure on his opponent, forcing him to tin or mis-hit a few balls.
The hierarchy was respected, and in a best of three match that still
lasted 25 minutes, Chris Simpson, English number 1 at under 19 won 11/5 in
the 3rd.
Chris Simpson bt Tom Richards
11/4, 9/11, 11/5 (24m)
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The Lambs Challenge
Chris Simpson v
Tom Richards
John White v
Jonathon Power |
“I was quite nervous to start with, so I held back slightly. All our
matches always go 3/2. Chris' great strength is the way he “grinds”
his opponent. My normal game is an attacking one, but Chris prevents
from playing my own game. I feel I lack a bit of confidence in my
own game. When I play well, I feel that I can do anything…”
Tom Richards
“We play each other all the time, we know each other’s game very
well. Tom has got some lethal nicks, I really dread them! What I
love about his game is his ability to play full intensity all the
time, he doesn’t pace himself, volleys as much as he can, and he
plays flat out … ”
Chris Simpson |
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THE MATCH
If only all matches could be like this one: brilliant, entertaining,
funny, and relaxed… No animosity, no anger, no nastiness… I sign at the
bottom of the page any day…
But come on, it doesn’t come much better than this, John White, the
biggest hitter on the circuit, with a height that allows him shot angles
that the rest of the world can only fantasise on, and Jonathon Power,
the Magician that taught the magicians, whose racquet seems made of
rubber…
Those two don’t dwell on never ending straight drives, they don’t play “by
the book”, they invent, surprise, create a different form of squash. Yes,
they still look for (and find) great length, great width, but their squash
defies the established rules…
And I just LOVE IT!
ALL
JONATHON
The beginning of the match was all Power’s. John was hitting well, and
found some great length, but Jonathon was in command, changing pace and
direction, delaying his shots, and putting his opponent under pressure.
11/6 for Power in 9 minutes.
STILL JONATHON
White started the second with a mission, and quickly went up 4/0. But
mistakes crept in, although he played some beautiful lobs, one in
particular that pressed Power to say “Oh no…” while trying to get it out
from the back wall. 6/6. 8/8. 15 minutes later, Jonathan took a strong bet
on the outcome, 11/8. He was now up 2/0.
At that point, John was obviously extremely tired, Jonathan wasn’t. And to
tell you the truth, I didn’t think White could get a game out of his
sleepless body. Once again, the tall man proved me wrong…
JOHN
CLAWS BACK
The third saw a real performance from both players. Although the
atmosphere was very relaxed, both players joking with the ref Dean
Clayton, smiling while playing at each other’s shots, the exhibition
mode had switched to competition spirit. John didn’t want to lose, and
certainly not in three games. Power switched on the magic button, White
the guts one, and they offered us a beautiful tiebreak, 3-1 for John.
Honour was saved.
THIS IS HURTING
That’s what John said to me just getting on the court for the fourth. Once
again, he gave it all…
I’m not going to explain to you the next two games. How do you explain
beauty, magic, talent and inspiration? You don’t. You look, you gasp, you
wonder, you admire, you laugh… Drop shots and retrieving from hell by
Jonathon, nicks, angles and perfect length cross courts and drives for
White, deceptions from them both…
But alas, sport cries out for a winner, and tonight, it was John, it could
as well have been Jonathon. Who cares really. We had our match….
John White bt Jonathon Power
6/11, 8/11, 11/10(3-1), 11/7, 11/8
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Q&A ...
You're not in the British Open?
Power: “I’m not going to the British Open, because I've had
5 tournaments in a row, and I need a rest before “My” British Open, the
Canadian Classic in Toronto. Not to mention that there will be a lot of
good players out in Nottingham…!”
How
does sex influence your squash?
Power: “Well, I've just spent five long weeks on my own,
it’s been 5 very long weeks, but I have been playing some good squash
though…”
After winning everything, and having nothing to prove to anybody, why
do you still compete?
Power: “I still compete, because I just enjoy running around
a squash court. That’s why I started on the professional circuit in the
first place. The only thing I don’t enjoy is to be injured, only this year
I got seven injuries. But when I’m injury free, I just enjoy my squash,
and that’s why I keep on playing…”
What
squash player did you look up to when growing up?
Power: “I look down on everybody… No, I took little pieces
of everybody….”
White: “Brett Martin”.
What profession would you have attempted if not a squash player:
Power: “At 12, I had to choose between 5 sports, as my
parents would only let me play one sport. So I guess I could have chosen
another sport, I don’t think I would have been a nuclear physicist…”
White: “A sportsman, no matter what”.
What are your favourite shots:
Power and White: “Deception. It feels good to send your
opponent the wrong way…”
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POWER
THANKS GARNER
At the end of the evening, after Tim Garner had finished thanking
all the people that helped in organising the evening, Jonathan Power
wanted to stress the role of Tim Garner in the organisation of the whole
event.
“Without Tim”, he said, “we wouldn’t be here tonight, he organised my
coming here, and John’s, so thanks Tim….”
And the crowd cheered the discreet efficient man….
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