Anna Kimberly in action in action for top US college Trinity where she is now studying and playing squash
Essex’s British Under-19 Champion tells her own story
I was first introduced to squash at aged 11 by Chris Vine who brought a squash workshop to my primary school. From then I started playing regularly at my local club, Ardleigh Hall, and at the University of Essex as a part of NESA (North Essex Squash Academy), directed by Chris. At the beginning I was also playing football at the Ipswich Academy of Excellence (from a young age I’d always had my eye on being a professional), but I soon realised that I needed to pick one sport over the other as I didn’t have enough time to fully commit to both. Thankfully I chose squash, my choice governed both by my love of football drying up and squash offering me something new and exciting. Soon I started playing in county and regional tournaments (achieving early success) and representing Essex in the county u13/15 teams.
It wasn’t long before my ranking started to rise and I needed to start entering larger tournaments, further afield, for a bigger challenge. About the same time, at 13 years old, I started training with Lee Drew, who was the new coach at Ardleigh, and really started to help push my game on. My first silver sanctioned tournament was in Chichester and I lost every match. Understandably I felt pretty deflated on the way home, but by seeing the better players and wanting to be like them, it gave me a stronger feeling of motivation to train harder, improve, and do better next time; and I did.
By the time I was 15 I had reached both the semi-finals of the British and English Closed u15 and was winning silvers. And by the time I was 16 I reached the no.1 spot in the u17 English rankings, one of my first real landmark achievements in squash.
Anna winning U19 British Championships
Jumping to 17/18 I was a consistent top 5 player and had started to play in European tournaments to get a wider experience of playing different players and in different places; one of the great opportunities squash has given me. It was an important step up to go abroad and widened my perspective on both the squash world and the real world. To name a few places, I have been to Switzerland, Poland, Hong Kong, Germany, Portugal, France, and have had an interesting and enjoyable time in every place. At 18 I achieved probably my greatest feat which was winning the u19 British Championships, which was coupled with securing my no.1 ranking.The trophy looks nice in the living room, but it means so much more than that: it represents all the gut wrenching court sprints, ghosting sessions, circuits and intense hours hitting a ball against a wall I undertook in order to get better and win.
Nearly at the end of my junior career, I hope that I can inspire younger players and help them recognise that squash, and any other sport for that matter, holds great benefits. From losing all my matches in Chichester at 13 to winning the National u19 title at 18, I can safely say that anything is possible if you are prepared to work hard and throw yourself wholeheartedly towards your goals. It is tough, but the rewards cannot be matched. I really am thankful for all the effort I have put in as I am reaping the rewards. However, I know that I am just on the first step of the ladder and that there is so much more to do and learn. One of the most exciting aspects of sport is knowing that you can you can always go further and become more- you just have to be prepared to go through the process to get there.
Furthermore, as another example of what opportunities squash can open up for you, I have been able to use squash to help me get a place at a university in America (Trinity College) where there is great support to play squash and get a fantastic education at the same time; something which is important to me. After university I intend to become a full time player.
WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS: Kimberley (fourth from right back row) with her Trinity team who are national champs