FORMER world champion Laura Massaro added a touch of class to a women’s tournament at Bishop’s Stortford Squash & Racketball Club over the Easter weekend staging an exhibition match against World No.20 Nicolette Fernandes, from Guyana.
Previous Stortford club coach Lauren Selby, together with the Essex Junior Squash Committee, had signed the two big names to headline the tournament and exhibition.
Last year a promotional event was launched to raise the profile of ladies’ and girl’s squash in the county. The success that event gave the organisation a great platform to repeat the same format this year.
Female squash players of all ages and abilities travelled far and wide to take part in the event.
The venue was perfect, a historically proactive club who are always looking at ways to develop female squash and racketball. Tickets were sold very quickly, a clear sign that female squash is growing in popularity.
During the day a fun tournament was organised. All the participants were women and girls; they were put into teams named after sporting heroines. After getting over the initial nerves, the players were in fantastic spirits, plenty of team encouragement and some close matches (who said females aren’t competitive?!). It was a joy to watch players young to ‘experienced’ supporting each other and offering words of advice.
After three hours of intense squash, the winning team was Rebecca Adlington! The team consisted of team captain Colleen Campbell, Sarah Webber, Amy Aspinall, Laura Adkin and Lily Main.The triumphant team scored themselves some impressive creme egg mugs and of course some Easter chocolate!
MAKE MINE A DOUBLE: Lauren, Deon, Sarah and Alice before their showdown
Following on from the afternoon’s festivities the exhibition evening commenced with four keen players going on court against the professionals. The four ‘victim’s had silently bid to have a 15 minute match against Laura or Nicolette. All of the players came off looking slightly overheated with some severe jelly legs!
Next came a doubles match which gave a whole new meaning to car-crash squash. Newly crowned England U15 champion Alice Green partnered former professional and coach Lauren Selby. Their challengers were Essex county player Sarah Neller from Kingswood and Welsh International Deon Saffery, currently ranked 44 in the world. The rallies were chaotic bordering on dangerous and the crowd were treated to some entertaining squash as Deon and Sarah walked away with a 2-1.
The main event of the evening was the match between Nicolette and Laura. The Guyanan international flew out of the blocks playing some aggressive squash as she took a 2-0 lead.
Nicolette unleashes a strong backhand drive
Laura gathered herself in the third game; her dominance of the T had her opponent running around the court. The outcome, Nicolette had a very sweaty top. At the end of the third game, which Laura won, Nicolette decided it would be a good idea to take off her top and throw it into the crowd. She then proceeded to scuttle off court to put on some clothes, creating great amusement around the court.
Laura clawed back the fourth game to put us into a decider. It seemed Nicolette had too much firepower in the fifth and won the match.
Both girls were a huge inspiration to all those who came to watch. Their athleticism and skill were quite outstanding and they certainly weren’t afraid of sweating. This event was a celebration and the buzz at the end certainly made everyone feel like there is plenty to celebrate. The money raised is going to help Essex Junior Squash develop female squash in the county. A wonderful day for all involved, same time next year?
