Terrific to see so many Essex Juniors playing in the 47th Essex Senior County Closed Squash Championships at Club Kingswood at the weekend.
Alice Green retained her A title and Mikey Tallentire came away with the C crown after meeting Brandon Higgins in the final. Check out some of the great photographs posted by Niall Engerer and the Racket Up Squash Academy team who did a fantastic job organising the event.
*The event attracted the most entries ever for an Essex Closed Event (119).
*Biggest prize pot ever (£2500)
* Most matches played (146)
Both 2017 Men’s & Women’s Champions, Richie Fallows and Alice n were able to retain their A title despatching their opponents 3-0 in the finals.
Some words from ESRA Chairman, Dave Neller –
“Wow, what a spectacular weekend of superb squash, so good to see everyone giving it their all. Must be the only sport where being 2 – 0 down and 10 -1 down in the 3rd only makes you more determined that you can still win! It was also great to see so many talented juniors in the mix, the men’s C final being contested by two juniors, the ladies A won by a junior, and juniors featuring in nearly all events (I’m sure they’d have also sneaked into the vets if they had donned a moustache & beard!).
“There were many highlights for me, probably too many to mention, but the one that sticks in my mind is the world ranked (and ex Essex junior) Richie Fallows, knocking up on court before his match with a little 3-year-old girl, whilst next door two 60+ vets were battling it out!.
“Of course what makes this event successful is all the unseen work done in the background by the organisers, and the sponsors who provide the prize money, trophies, shirts etc. So my personal thanks got out to the team at Rackets Up for the promotion and organisation, the sponsors Millane, Blind-Store, PLS, Consulting Direct, and Tony Mudd for their support which make this such a prestigious event. I also thank Club Kingswood management and staff for hosting the event and providing an excellent service at the club, and of course all of you who both competed and spectated, a great advert for Essex Squash which I am proud to be a part of.
“Essex Squash was founded in June 1938, so 2018 is our 80th year, and what a way to kick it off, thank you all and I look forward to building on the success of this weekend for future generations.”
