Boys U-19: The triumphant Essex squad with coach Dave Webster
ESSEX Junior Squash is riding high again after the county’s under-19 boy’s squad were crowned National inter-county champions at Edgbaston…11 years after they last claimed the title.
The seven man team turned the form book upside down by dismantling favourites Yorkshire 4-1 in the final shoot-out having disposed of in-form Merseyside in the semis.
Spearheaded by England junior international Richie Fallows, currently ranked one in the country, Essex delivered performances that had coach Dave Webster purring with delight.
“The core of this team has been together since the age of 13 so I can’t tell you how proud I am of them. They played brilliantly and gave me their all and were there for each other throughout,” said Dave, who coaches at the Connaught Club in Chingford.
“All our hard work has paid off. I’ve had this team to work with for a few years and it was part of me out there on the weekend, it was magic! It’s a victory too for the entire Essex coaching set-up and the committees who have been superb.”
The squad was made up of Richie Fallows (Stratford), Owain Taylor (Colchester), Jagpal Sehmbi (Leyton), Daniel Wheeler (Colchester), Richard Horswill (Ongar), Charlie Belcher (Chingford) and Guy Tallentire (Colchester).
Girls U-13’s
Back Row: Amy Aspinall (Harwich), Elli Barrott (Ardleigh), Piper Tatum (Wivenhoe)
Front Row: Ruby-mae Hudson (Ardleigh), Mikayla Mann (Harwich)
And the county was further boosted by the appearance of the Essex under-13 girls’ squad who battled through to the inter-county final showdown at Pontefract in Yorkshire.
Led by two Harwich players, Amy Aspinall and Mikayla Mann, Essex finished third behind Yorkshire and Buckinghamshire producing a standard of squash that suggests the squad can only go from strength to strength.
Coach Chris Chitty was full of praise for the side, which was completed by Elli Barrott from Ardeligh, Piper Tatum (Wivenoe) and Ruby-Mae Hudson (Ardleigh).
“The girls dug in and played their hearts out, ” said Chris. ” Their heads never dropped despite playing some strong opposition and they can be proud of their performances. They all played with great attitude and sportsmanship.”