 Bermuda
EN BREF FINALS DayEverything you never knew you needed to know about the Bermuda Masters |
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| I’M DOOMED…
This was the first day I was going to be able to actually relax under the sun, have a stroll down the beach, walk in the sand, etc… Nope.  No
sun today, a strong wind that makes the temperature drop quite
considerably… That was it for my day dozing on the beach. But it was not
raining, and I decided to have a good walk anyway…And I liked what I saw. I didn’t have to walk far to be amazed by the view. A superb golf club, the beach, the sand, the swimming pool…  The hotel I must say is absolutely stunning. People don’t know what to do to help you, from the porter who blamed himself for the bad weather, and apologised for it, to the reception, the concierge, the housekeepers, everybody has been wonderful.
So, thank you to Ross Triffitt to
have invited me to the Island, and to have offered me the chance to stay
in this sumptuous hotel… |
 RELAXING REFS… Peter Kramer and John Massarella, two international referees that came from England to  operate
in the tournament rented a scooter today to enjoy the island.“We just spent the whole day on the bike, it was wonderful”… Oh well, it’s a tough life being a ref, but somebody’s got to do it… |
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 DESMOND
FOUNTAIN: LIFE LIKE…His work was the first thing I laid my eyes on when I climbed down the stairs of the plane. I had the impression that somebody was sitting quietly on a bench, smiling at us.  In
fact, it was a bronze statue by internationally renowned local artist
Desmond Fountain…Since then, I saw statues of him everywhere on the island, in the Southampton Fairmount Hotel, in town, and in particular one that caught my eyes, at a roundabout just before town.  It’s
actually a life-size sculpture of a famous Bermudian, Johnny Barnes,
the “Spirit of Bermuda”, who from 5.30 to 10pm from Monday to Friday,
greets the people passing by him, telling them that God loves them, that
he loves them, and wishes them a good and nice day…Johnny is a national figure around here, and if by chance, he is not at the corner one morning, local radios are inundated with calls from worried Bermudians wondering what is wrong with him. I must say the effect of those statues is quite remarkable, and can fool you. Well, it did fool me, then again, I’m easy to fool, I hear you say… |
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Bermuda
EN BREF Day FIVE Everything you never knew you needed to know about the Bermuda Masters |
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EDWARDS… WHAT A PRO It’s
in adversity that one sees the professionalism of the man… Well, just
before James started playing against one of his “heroes”, Robert’s mic
suddenly went… dead.Not easy to speak in front of a large audience, with players hitting the ball as if their pay depended on it, and with, in the background, a huge ventilator roaring away…  That
was not going to stop the Voice of Squash. He just lifted his voice as the
performer he is, and zoom, went on speaking as if nothing happened. A few minutes later, the mic was on again, and he was able to go on with his normal ease… I tell you, years and years of practice to make it appear easy… |
MARTIN, THE
MASSAGE THERAPIST
FROM CANADA As
the Canadian Champion Jonathan Power had a few physical troubles in the
past years, the clever man has asked his Canadian massage therapist to accompany him
to the Bermuda Island. The man in question, Martin Brissette, is
French Canadian, and we had a very nice conversation during the night
session.“I take care only of athletes”, said the charming man, “Boxing mostly, amateur and professional, athletics a lot as well, tennis, professional football.” He has been taking care of the Canadian Champion for about three years now. “Players have got to understand that moving well on a court is not something to be taken for granted, they’ve got to work at it, and look after their body…” And you can take my word for it, it’s not the first time I heard a physio voicing these kind of thoughts… Must be true, then, mustn’t it? |
ROSEMONT
HOTEL  I
mentioned to you several times how Karen and her sister Lorry
have been wonderful during my stay in the Jewel that is Bermuda.I must say I wasn’t surprised to hear that they all run a small family hotel, called as their family name, the Rosemont hotel.  I’ve
not been there yet, but if they run their business the way those two have
run my life for the past few days, I would love to stay there if I ever
come here for a little break far away from the madness.So, if you are in the neighbourhood, why don’t you come and stay there for a little while. Mention “squashsite”, and the best welcome will be given to you, you have my word for it… www.rosemont.bm |
EFFICIENT ZOE We
didn’t have a good start, Zoe and I, as she didn’t know who I was,
and quite frankly, didn’t know why I wanted to make photocopies of score
sheets…But since, we are getting on pretty well, thank you… After every match, she promptly brings us (the journalists) results and score sheets (you know, the sheet the refs write the scoring, the lets, the length of the match…), which allows us to work efficiently, precisely and rapidly. So thanks to Julie, and thank you, dear Zoe, for your kindness and your promptness… |
“I’M READY NOW…” I
thought that it was my lucky day when the drop dead gorgeous David
Palmer’s coach Shaun Moxham pronounced those words this evening as
I was quickly grabbing a diet coke from the VIP bar.WRONG! What happened is that a few days ago, I asked him if I could take a picture. He replied “no, I would prefer to wear something more appropriate than that T-shirt,” with a malicious smile… Oh well, at least, today, I got a nice picture… |
REMARKABLE PALMER  You
may remember one of my articles in Pakistan, where I was telling you how
amazed I was by the friendship that reigns between some of the players,
and I gave you the example of James Willstrop and Nick Matthew, able to
play their best squash, fight like hell on court, and then, ten minutes
after their shower, be sitting next to each other as if nothing happened.Well, what David did today was quite remarkable. You know that he took a real blow yesterday, losing in front of his home crowd, after having spent a lot of preparation for the tournament. He could not have been in the best of moods, and especially towards the man who actually took “his” tournament away from him, John White. But you may not know that those two have been friends, close mates forever, and that they are actually sharing a house at the moment. Well, Julian Rose, an ex player living on the Island, is welcoming David Palmer in the side apartment of his home, a flat that David calls home, and John is occupying the spare bedroom.  That’s
how close they are…In passing, Julian mentioned that the after dinner conversation last night didn't preclude the match... Today, John was playing Nick Matthew, and David didn’t hesitate to come to the venue, face all his supporters, his admirers, us the press, everybody, even accepted to speak with Robert before John’s match, and simply said about yesterday’s match “John was just too good, that’s all there is to it.” Not only that, but he was the one to advise John between the games. The “Marine of Squash”, as Robert calls him, was even taller today than he normally is… |
| EVERYBODY IS IN BERMUDA La crème de la crème, I tell you…  Not
only do we have the 32 best players in the world, some of the best
referees in the world, probably the best glass court in the world, we have
some pretty good friends that come from all over the world, like
Melissa for example, who I had the
great
pleasure to meet in New York for the ToC.She came straight from the US to see the tournament, using the excuse that her husband is actually working in Bermuda for a few days… Good one, Melissa, good one… Like I said, EVERYBODY is here… |
CLINIC FOR THE REFS We have the chance to have one of the top refs in the World in Bermuda this week, Mr Graham Waters. I did a mini-portrait of the man a few weeks ago in the ToC, New York. Today, he held a clinic to “refresh”, to “brush up” the referees present in the event. Although top guys in their countries, national or international all accept that they are not infallible, and that a bit of studying of past matches can only be beneficial…  So, keep up the work, guys, and you out there, don’t forget that those mad officials take all abuse, negativity, insults sometimes, not only for nothing, but most of the time, it actually costs them an arm and leg to in expenses to sit in the hot seat… So, next time you see a ref, come on, offer him/her a good stiff drink, believe me, they blipping deserve it… |
| NO
BRAIN I knew that I was not all there, but now I know there is no redemption possible anymore…  You
have to know that I love earrings. Not real ones, just cheap imitations,
clip on ones. Anyway, nearly all of them were stolen in my car at the
Nationals. So I have very few left. This morning, I put one pair on, then realised that it was too posh for my outfit, changed them. Or so I thought. I only changed one. And it’s only as I took them out to rest my ears for a little while, that I realised that I had been wandering around the venue with non matching earrings… Poor girl, she has finally lost it… |
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Bermuda
EN BREF Day FOUR Everything you never knew you needed to know about the Bermuda Masters |
 AT THE CLUB Having the matches split over two venues is not that easy when you are trying to cover the event, and because of the time clashes, it was the first time today I was actually able to see a match at the Bermuda Squash Rackets Association Club. What a charming club it is…  You are immediately welcomed by “Oh, I know who you are, I actually love your column,” smile and warmth that would make anybody’s day. Junior offered me some food, no tea or coffee unfortunately, as they were out. Well, at the venue, there is no tea of coffee available anywhere, so I guess that everybody must have been rushing on the club’s reserves… I was sooo disappointed, as when I saw the kettle, I thought “Ah, the cup of tea of the day”. Nope, I wasn’t the first one who had the idea… Then a great match between James and Anthony, the rematch of Pakistan and New York, a loooong match, the result of which I was trying desperately to send to Steve from my mobile… which wouldn’t work.  Patrick, the squash Pro of the Club, saw me struggling, and immediately
offered to help me out. “Please, feel free to use our phone,” he said. And
he even dialled the phone for me, as I NOT that gifted with that 011
prefix, I get confused, yes I know, not clever the French woman…A great atmosphere at that club, I actually love the warmth, the kindness, the helpfulness of the people there. So thanks to everybody there, members, staff, Patrick, Junior, you really made my short visit one to remember…  |
STEVE LINE’S
WORK IS ON ROBERT’S WALL While the players are warming up, Robert Edwards, the Voice of Squash, is
always inviting squash people to come and have a chat in front of the
crowd. And today, it was Steve Line, the official photographer of the
tournament, whose photos you’ve been admiring on the top websites, ours of
course, but everywhere in the world, and that for a number of years, 23, I
believe…Steve has been photographing squash, badminton and other sports with brio and flair, and some of his photos are actually famous, like the fantastic photo he took in front of the pyramids.   He took the opportunity while in Bermuda to bring his charming wife
Jenny,
who is waiting patiently for him to finish working on the photos you are
actually seeing on the site on our reports… And she is nice to have
around, a bit of a feminine presence is so nice to have…Steve explained to us while talking with Robert that the quality of the photo doesn’t come or depend on the speed of the ball, but actually of the intensity of the light, and that on the glass court, although very well lighted, the light is not that bright, and making photos is not that easy a task… I’m learning a bit more every day … |
| BIG BROTHERS &
BIG SISTERS… One of the joys of doing my job is to meet new people. Well, today again, while watching Thierry against the Prince of Egypt, I was sitting next to a delightful lady, who was participating in every shot that those two mad people were playing on the court. “You are having a great time, aren’t you?” I asked her… “Oh yes,” she smiled. “I used to play racquetball in America, and I just adore all sports. I came to watch the event last year , and I had so much fun that I came back this year.”  Well, this charming lady,
Esmé Williams, is actually the Executive Director of the Big
Brothers and Big Sisters of Bermuda, an organisation that chooses to help
in particular children from single parent families, who need support,
mentoring and role models. A fantastic idea that has been helping kids for
years and years.Once again, sport is a fantastic way to meet so many different people… |
 Barry Sound & Vision |
 Rita the Cook |
 Mel & David Happily married |
 Referees Thankless task |
 Gawain Briars Many talents |
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Bermuda
EN BREF Day THREE Everything you never knew you needed to know about the Bermuda Masters |
| ROSS IS SHIPPING ME
HOME… Well, if he isn’t, he should be, because I have caused only chaos since I arrived on the island. And not only on the island, I hear some people say…  Not
only did I arrive a day late, forcing the poor Karen to miss THE match of
the tournament for a Bermudan, Nick Kyme versus Thierry Lincou, I then
left my adaptor plug in the hotel, so couldn’t work on my laptop, then the
convertor I bought in England died on me, forcing the Karen's sister Lorri
to tour round around the island
 trying
to find one (with no success I’m afraid), then I requested to have a
photocopy of the score sheets, and, and, and…But both Ross and Julie, his wife, have dealt with the Framboise storm with calm, kindness, and professionalism. They had to deal with a hurricane last year, that devastated the island. They are used to tornados… |
ENGLAND IS HERE… The
English camp is stronger than ever this week in Bermuda. Funded with the help of the Lottery money, the World Class Performance Program is well represented here by David Pearson, National Coach, David Campion, who works more especially with the juniors, and Stafford Murray, who specialises in analysing data and games for the English Institute of Sport, allowing the players and their coaches to make the necessary adjustments to arrive at perfection.  David was interviewed by Robert just before Adrian’s game, which unfortunately for England, didn’t go that well. But there are sooooo many English players in the top 32, they’ve got a lot of work left to do… |
| SIDNEY This morning, we were driven from the hotel to the venue by a flamboyant taxi driver called Sydney Robertson, a charming, witty, and very funny man. He has been driving taxis on the island since 1978, and has passed all sorts of diplomas that also allow him to conduct tours of the island. He is the kind of person that makes you start from the minute you meet him, and basically, makes your day… If you ever come to the island, you’ve got to give him a call… Radio Cabs (441) 295 4141 call # B69…  |
 WHAT A TEAM The first thing that strikes you when you arrive at the venue is the tremendous amount of work that has been done to transform a gym into a stunning squash venue. The second thing that you can’t help noticing is the enormous amount of volunteers that are here to help run the event, and make it a success. Everywhere, you’ve got people of all ages, genders, colours, all of them with a smile on their face, always ready to help, always cheerful, always efficient. To clean the court between games, for example, you normally have one, sometimes two people, but here???  Between
8 and 10!And they are squash lovers as well, like the two cheeky boys Jason and Micah, who are not exactly sure who they would like to win, but after oscillating between Peter Nicol and Lee Beachill, they finally both agreed on Nick Matthew. The volunteers are the soul of a tournament, you know… In fact, they ARE the tournament… Thank you. |
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Bermuda
EN BREF Day ONE Everything you never knew you needed to know about the Bermuda Masters |
| FIRST EVENING IN BERMUDA
... Last night was a bit hectic, I must say… You are in your flat in London, packing up while the roofer is repairing the leak on your roof, as you had water pouring down through your ceiling four days before.  The
taxi picks you up, a regular driver, a funny Nigerian with whom you put
the world right at each travel. Then the airport, the brief meeting with
Gawain Briars, then in a box for seven hours with nice people that keep on
feeding you.Then you step out, it’s still daylight, it should be night, you queue at several gates, are welcomed by the most charming of volunteers, drive on a narrow lane deep into funny houses of all colours, but with a common denominator, white roofs, as they are covered by a special white substance that collects water from the rain to a tank situated in the roofs, and provide the Bermudans with drinkable water all year long. Then you arrive in a sumptuous venue, with hundreds of scooters parked in front, and you hear, “match ball”, as Thierry Lincou and Nick Kyme are battling hard on the glass court. You meet player after player, smiles and warmth all around, cheers guys, you make me feel welcome, and… useful…  You
are introduced to dozens of people, and as you are jet lagged you have no
idea who they are, what they are doing, then some familiar faces, referees
that you actually like very much, this is going to be a good week,
referees you don’t know yet, officials, wives, Mel Palmer, and Céline
Lincou… And Jade Lincou of course… Robert Edwards welcomes you with a loud “welcome to Bermuda Fram!”, and starts giving you notes on the day’s events, a chicken and rice dish swallowed in 2.5 minutes, arriving at the hotel, connecting to the internet, having a stiff earl grey in company of Gawain and his family, back to writing the quotes, the notes from Robert, the en bref, it’s now 4.30 UK time. I’m tired. FIRST MORNING IN BERMUDA Awoke at 7am. Well, 11am in the UK… Opening windows, what a view! A pigeon is looking at me. I’m looking at him. We get on fine. Having my breakfast while sorting out my phone. Not succeeding to connect to the calling card the tournament offered me. They ARE lovely people you know… Starting working, in English, in French. This is going to be a good day… Framboise |
 
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