Dear Players/Parents
Last season, 2015/16, Essex Junior Squash. continued to build on the success of the 2014/15 season with record numbers of young players taking part in our events. The Essex Junior Squash volunteer committee is looking forward to your continued help and support for what promises to be an exceedingly busy season ahead.
We ran 10 Inter-County teams last season with 3 teams making the National Finals in Nottingham. Both the girls and boys U17 teams narrowly lost in the final, the U13 boys played exceptionally well and became National Champions – well done all!
4 County Training squads and 4 Development Squads were held involving 115 juniors.
We ran 3 Inter-County Friendly fixtures with Kent, Middlesex, Suffolk and Surrey, the Essex teams performed very well finishing first in 50% of the ties. More fixtures are planned for next season.
Both the Essex Junior Closed (Essex players only) and Essex Junior Open were held at the Cpl Budd VC Gymnasium with over 230 players taking part in the 2 events.
The Grand Prix Series (aimed at giving young players their first experience competitive squash) has grown considerably from its launch last year, this season 7 rounds were held at clubs across the county and we are planning 8 rounds next season. Huge thanks to all the clubs that hosted the Grand Prix events.
C-R-Y We have decided to adopt C-R-Y (Cardiac Risk in the Young) as our official charity and include their logo on all our shirts for this season. C-R-Y’s aim is to prevent young sudden cardiac deaths through awareness, screening and research. They run a screening programme to detect heart problems and prevent sudden death. On average the UK loses 12 young people each week to this preventable condition, Italy introduced compulsory screening for a young sports club members some years ago and has reduced the tragic incidents by 90%. Please encourage everyone in the age14-35 group to be tested. http://www.c-r-y.org.uk – testing is free, painless and takes 10 minutes!
National Rankings – At the end of the season there were 69 Essex Juniors on the ESR National Ranking lists, a great reflection of the hard work of players, parents and coaches.
Season 2016/17 – The Development Squad Commitment fees will remain unchanged for the coming season.
* The total cost of 4 Development training sessions, Inter-County Friendlies plus
1 Training Shirt will be £40 per junior.
Key dates for the Season:
Essex Junior Closed 24th & 25th September 2016 – Cpl Budd VC Gymnasium, Colchester Garrison. Essex Junior Open – 4th & 5th March 2017 – Cpl Budd VC Gymnasium.
Development Training
Sunday 4th September 2016
Marconi Club, Beehive Lane, Chelmsford CM2 9FH Epping CM16 4LU
Sunday 20th November 2016
Epping Sports Centre, Hemnall Street,
Sunday 19th February 2017
Woodford Wells Club, Monkhams Lane, Park Drive, Woodford Green IG8 0NL
Sunday 14th May 2017
Maldon Squash Club, Park Drive, Maldon.
Please complete the payment slip you received in the post and return together with the Parent Consent Form by 31st August 2016
Many thanks in advance
David Harris – Chairman