The Colchester Schools’ Roman Cup tournament came to a thrilling climax last week with the two titles being decided by the narrowest of margins.
Run by coaches from the Off The Wall Squash Academy at the Colchester Garrison, the Roman Cup is its third year having been launched as an entry level event to attract school children to the sport.
The event has grown each year and at last week’s 2016 finale, over 95 schoolchildren from eight schools making up 23 teams competed in Year 5 and Year 6 age groups producing some staggering impressive and competitive squash.
After three rounds of matches where points from every match counted towards the overall title, The Year 5 event ended with two teams, Ardleigh 1 and Great Bromley, tied on identical points. The mathematicians had to work overtime to calculate all the points again taking into account head-to-head results between the two teams plus points conceded in other matches. Only then could the result be announced with Ardleigh 1 being crowned champions.
Then, when the slide rules were brought out to establish who had won the Year 6 crown, it was another incredibly tight affair. Amazingly, Lawford 1 pipped Ardleigh 1 by a single point claiming the award by the narrowest of margins.
Head OTWS coach Lauren Selby was full of praise for the event and quality of squash produced by the young players. She said:” This has become an amazing event and the standard of squash is getting higher and higher. With both trophies being decided by such a narrow margin of points shows the level of competition now being played. I couldn’t be more proud of the players and the progress they are all making.”
After the action, the trophies were presented by Essex Under-19 Champion Aaron Allpress. All the players were also presented with a commemorative Roman Cup T-Shirt supplied by event sponsors Stringer’s World, one of the country’s leading sporting goods companies who are based Manningtree, Essex. Click on their logo to visit their brilliant online shop.
Individual awards –
Most Improved – (determined by the coaches based on the players’ improvement this term)
Year 5 Most Improved Girl Erin Wellum-Bevan – Bradfield
Year 5 Most Improved Boy Sonny Carr – Langham
Year 6 Most Improved Girl Ella Long – Brooklands
Year 6 Most Improved Boy Edward Reeve – Adleigh
Best Player Awards – determined by the points for (and against) over 3 rounds of the Roman Cup
Year 5 Best Girl Rebecca Morley – Ardleigh (Rebecca also won this in Year 3 & Year 4)
Year 5 Best Boy Dylan O’Brien – Lawford
Year 6 Best Girl Leah Brooke – Lawford
Year 6 Best Boy Mason Miller – Great Bromley – won by one point – Mason had 132 points and Jamie Smith (Ardleigh) had 131 points – quite incredible after 15 matches
Full Roman Cup results and finishing positions.
