World
Championship Cologne 2010
Report
GBVETS Annual
Tournament 2010/11
Application forms available
GB VETS TAKE ON THE FRENCH!
Courtesy of
Derek Tullett
and his son Jonathan, seven Kent GB Vets plus wives and partners flew to Nice
to do battle with the might of the French over the weekend 29th May
– 1st June 2010.
All action took place in
baking temperatures at the Antibes Squash and Fitness Club which, by the way,
Derek and Jonathan now own!
If the almost unbearable
temperatures were not bad enough, two more problems arose even before a ball
was hit. Firstly, whilst the average age of the GB Vets was a respectable 60,
the French average was at least half that, with a brilliant lady player just
17! Secondly the games were to be played PARS to 11 which can produce very
short games. However the hot courts favoured longer rallies so the games were
not that short.
On the Saturday four matches
were lost 0/3 – Robert Smith, Gordon Freakes, Jon Miles (only 41 and not yet a GB Vet) and
Nigel Belle. Only Nigel managed to get
close, losing 8/11, 10/12, 10/12.
Two matches were extremely
well contested, both
Dave Leach and Peter Willmor
battled hard but lost 1/3.
But the match of the day was
between Karen Hume and the 17 year
old French lady. Neither of course wanted to be beaten
– either by an over 50 year old or by a teenager! After a seesaw match which
was of an extremely high standard, highly entertaining and played in the best
of spirits, Karen managed to win 3/2 – 12/10, 11/13,
2/11, 12/10, 11/9.
The weekend also saw some
most enjoyable squash doubles games, Racketball,
gourmet meals and a great day in Cannes!
So whilst the French may
have won the squash it would be fair to say that the Brits won the après
squash!
It is to be hoped that this
will become an annual fixture and hopefully next time the teams will be more
evenly matched both in age and ability.
Our grateful thanks go to
Derek and Jonathan and to Gloria Saunders for hosting a most fabulous weekend
of squash and brilliant fun.
Nigel
Belle
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GB Vets from the left: Nigel Belle,
Karen Hume,
Peter Willmor,Dave Leach, Robert Smith, Gordon Freakes,
Derek Tullett.
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Jonathan Tullett on the right receiving
the trophy
from his father Derek
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Club Finals
Weekend at Broxbourne 17th & 18th April 2010
( Click on Text on pictures for links
or enlargements )