14/05/12…..Thame Sports club tops both Men and Women’s squash league
RACQUETS Fitness Centre in Thame is celebrating this week after regaining the Men’s Oxfordshire Squash League Championship this season, and winning the Ladies’ equivalent.
Simon Martin, for Raquets Fitness Centre, told Thamenews.net: “For the men, this victory is particular sweet as they have regained the title after being runners up for the past five years to Abingdon and Wallingford.”
THAME Racquets ladies? team report, contributed by Sandra Kessell:
A significant 120 points separated Thame Racquets ladies? team from their nearest rivals, Banbury West End, as they romped home to win the Oxfordshire Squash winter league. The team triumphed in all 14 of their matches, overall taking 181 games for, 61 against.
Stepping up to the number one slot, 15-year-old Aisling Guerzoni, of Aylesbury High School, visibly grew in confidence and resilience as she claimed notable victories. Losing in just three of her 23 outings, only county senior players Julie Peachey and Helen Knowles were able to hold their own against the promising youngster.
Veteran Anne Terry had her own battles against long-standing adversaries, and as if to prove her fitness, took seven of her 20 matches to five sets. She emerged victorious in 15 overall.
Captain Lorna See dropped only two of her games, one of those after retiring with an injury from a stray stroke, while Mary Woods played steadily mid-team ? she and Sandra Kessell lost only three matches out of 19 and 24 respectively. Jane Cahill, whose season was cut short by a broken finger, held her own in all but two of her challenges.
Key to success this year was Racquets Ladies? new-found strength in depth. Lorna was able to call on Rachel Humphreys (victorious in 3/8 outings), Tessa Bradon (4/7) and newcomers Christina Gamble (2/3) and Kathryn Tyler (1/1), while Sally Orris and Sarah Hadley also won their single outings.
Banbury and Abingdon 1 came second and third in the league respectively – a particularly bitter blow for Abingdon who pushed Thame Racquets during their encounters, but who were awarded an eight-point penalty which resulted in second and third places being reversed.
?No doubt our rivals will be out to exact revenge in the forthcoming winter season,? said Lorna. ?But while our senior players are getting more senior, we?re delighted to watch youth progress and improve and so we pronounce Aisling our player of the year and look forward to the challenges of 2012-13.?
Want to join Racquets?
Squash and racquetball players who would like to join Racquets Thame should contact Simon Martin, tel: 01844 261754. The friendly sports club in the centre of town has four squash courts and a gym, fitness classes and social events.
Special thanks for sponsors
Simon Martin also expressed the club’s appreciation for the support of JPreis Ltd, the company run by Greg Collins, the son of the Partner who sponsored the men’s 1st team to Victory. Greg also played in the winning team that won the Oxon league 10 years running between 1979-1989. Simon also thanked Savoy Sharm & Meritus Hotels for their support, as well as all the team Captains:
Men’s 1sts Oxon- Champions div 1 – Alex Preston
Mens 2nd team- Oxon Runners up Div five – Dave Rushmer
Mens 3rd Team – Oxon Div seven 3rd place – Roger Ridler/Nick Wynd
Ladies 1st team – Oxon Ladies Champions Div one – Lorna See
Congratulations are also due to the Men’s Racketball team (2008/09 National champions) who are now in the Quarter finals of the National team championships.
Racquets runs sessions for all ages from 4-80 years of racketball & squash so if you would like to learn a new fun/healthy/indoor sport see the centre’s website: www.racquets-fitness-centre.com for details about all coaching. Rackets and balls are supplied.
