En Bref

British Open EN BREF Issue #4
Everything you never knew you needed to know
about the Wimbledon of Squash ... En Bref 2006

WHITEY - LAST BRITISH,
BUT NEW LIFE…

I hadn’t seen John White for months now, and I really missed the Tall Man so much. He is one of the most brilliant characters of the circuit, his humour, light on life, and style of play second to none.

But the man has decided to start to live from now on, instead of just years of travelling, suitcases, hotel rooms, crossing the world in all directions. He now wants to enjoy every second of the rest of his life taking care of his family.

If you want to hear what he’s been up to, just keep on reading…

So, you won’t be coming back for the British then…
No, this was my last British, I’ll still do a few major events, like Canary Wharf, the Worlds, and all the tournaments in the US I can drive to, like Richmond, Boston, New York, and other events, exhibition, that I can turn into holidays for the family. The long travelling days are over.

Tell me more about that job in the States…
I applied for a job about a year ago for the Franklin and Marshall College, 45 minutes from where I live, and it all went very quickly, less than three weeks after the interview, I got the job, and that was the start of a complete new life.

It’s not a 15 hours on court job, because I just couldn’t have done that anymore, the body is not able to take it, it’s more a managerial role, I’m in charge of the Men and Women Teams, organising training schedule and travelling, competition, etc. I’ve got some meetings to attend, I work a lot on email and on the phone, which means that I can work from home.

Let’s talk about your family now…
Well, the kids are fine, they are growing into terrorising the neighbours with the little bikes, and can you believe that Tyler turned nine! I must say that one of the main reasons for taking the job was that the package includes all schooling expenses when they get the age to go to College (4 years at $50,000 a year), which is ideal of course… It was perfect.

And Suzy is much happier too, she is now able to establish a regular schedule, she is able to play tennis again twice a week, have a life really. And now that I’m here all the time, I realise even more how hard it must have been for her with me gone most of the days.

Still playing for Scotland in the future?
I’m still playing for Scotland of course, but for the last Europeans, it was a bad timing, Tyler's 9th birthday, and Kyra first holly communion (she is 8). And it wouldn’t have been clever to just come and play for the two first days, and then go when the team actually needed me for the playoffs.

So, what does the future look like for you?
Listen, squash has gave me a life, but now, my family comes first, and I’ll keep on playing for Scotland, I’ll keep on playing a few events I can drive to, but any family commitment will come first. I’ll probably come for the Worlds in Manchester, with the kids and Suzy, it will be nice to see all our friends again.

That job offer came at the perfect time, at the time I was starting to wonder what next… It’s a complete change of life. And now, when I’m at home, just come back from the College, and the phone rings, I don’t want to pick it up, because I might be swimming or playing with the kids in the backyard… I’ve never been so happy…

I missed a lot those past years, no more…

HELPFUL FAMILY

Legend Cubbins had a surprise visitor today, his daughter Ali, 23, came from Preston where she will soon start working to help sort out her father.

As Steve is going straight by train to Lee-on-Solent for the final of the Premier Squash League, he would rather travel light, so Ali just took away what Steve didn’t need… Like father, like daughter I tell you… Always ready to help…

But to make the day a bit more than just driving all the way from Preston for picking up a suitcase, she and her boyfriend Joe decided to watch a bit of squash. It was a nice birthday gift for her boyfriend actually, as he was 24 that day!

For whatever reason she came down, it was nice to meet her at last. Would you believe that, although I met Steve’s wife once, I actually never met his daughter! It was about time I would say…

British Open EN BREF Issue #3
Everything you never knew you needed to know
about the Wimbledon of Squash ...

ARRIVING AT THE VENUE…

It was such a treat on the quarters day to be able to walk to the venue, as the hotel we are in is virtually on the doorstep of the arena. You walk straight then turn round at the back, which actually gives on the waterfront, and the scenery is stunning at any moment of the day…

Surrounded by canals, docks, picturesque lanes, corners, and hidden places, this arena is blessed as much for outside that it is from inside, as I must say that I’m astonished by the beauty, the volume, the airy feel that you get from this arena.

A true world class Arena for a world class event…

NEW NICOL…

At last, AT LAST, Queen Nicol has got rid of her funny hair colour – she’s got the same hairdresser than Annelize, that says it all, poor thing – has grown it a bit, and I’m glad to say, looks absolutely stunning.

Well, yes, I a bit of a traditional girl as far as hair is concerned, sue me…

COURT CLEANER??? NOT ONLY…

One thing you can never take for granted in squash, is what you see sometimes doesn’t look like what it really is. For example, you see two young guys cleaning a court, and you don’t think, hey, that must be the Squash Chairman/Squash Head Coach and the Squash Treasurer and Assistant Junior Coach….

Well, that was of course the case in the LCC (Liverpool Cricket Club) where Andrew Breen and Alan Gibbons worked from morning to midnight, like so many people in that structure, to make the Dunlop British Open work.

He’s been a club member since the age of 6, have been involved in teams from junior level through to the first team, and have been involved with the junior coaching since I was 16, and the head coach since he was 18.

”We already give a lot of our time to run the squash section, but I wanted to make the best possible impression to everyone who came to the club over the last week”, he said. “So it was very important everything looked good (like the courts) and everything ran smoothly, so the players, spectators, referees and journalists all had an enjoyable experience.”

But of course, such an event is bound to encounter some difficulties. ”The biggest problem we had was the dust on the floors as we only had our courts refurbished the week before the tournament. This has meant everyday I have been at the club at 8am to brush, mop and hoover all the courts and then sit and brush the courts after every game and mop them after every match, so the players could give their all without worrying about getting injured.”

And don’t think that was part of the job description, as “It was all done as a volunteer, because we have a great passion for the game, and we couldn't miss out on getting involved in the most prestigious squash tournament in the world.”

And like old real team members, Andrew couldn’t not mention the other volunteers who worked alongside him during the week, James Dunningham, Anthony McCarthy, Ben Norton, Utpal Shah, everyone else at the club who made this possible, and Paul Walters and his team for bringing it to the club…

ANOTHER COURT CLEANER…

Like I said, don’t stop to the image you see. This man cleaning the glass court is not a pro at it, but does a bleeping good job, like he always does for the British Open. Actually, he was already the court attendant when his son won the prestigious title two years ago.

And his day job you may ask. Well, he hold the shop at Sheffield Club Hallamshire. Of course, you have recognised Hedley Matthew….

”I can’t believe how well he is cleaning this court, all those glass walls”, laughs Sue, his wife, who you may remember wrote a diary for us in Bermuda for the Worlds. “I wish he was cleaning a few of the many windows we’ve got at home, as in all the years we’ve lived there, he’s never cleaned one!”

Don’t mind her, Hedley, she is just jealous because you do it so well…

British Open EN BREF Issue #2
Everything you never knew you needed to know
about the Wimbledon of Squash ...

BIRTHDAY GIFT…

Here I am, seating next to a young boy and his mum, and they seem to enjoy the game between Shabana and Davide, so you know me, I start to chat with them.

Well, it just happens that Matthew Thornton not only plays squash at Grantham Squash Club, but also plays for his County at under 19!

And to crown it all, he wrote a few weeks back to David Palmer, and as it was Matthew’s birthday yesterday, the Australian offered to play a whole hour with him.

And he enjoyed every second of it, that boy…

Happy birthday, Matthew…

GUARDIAN TONY…

You’ve got those people that are the soul of place. Tony, who been working in the Cricket Club for “donkeys years” as in 15, is one of them.

He is trying to keep the riff raff out, and I guess he was not sure what to do with us, ha ha ha! He’s been so kind and helpful, always smiling, always trying to help. But also, keeping the member happy, always there to help, to bring the food around, to make sure the place looks nice and tidy… A real gem… Like all the people here I must say…

And when you ask him what he thinks about the club, “it’s fantastic”, he says, “it’s just wonderful, I wouldn’t want to work anywhere else, and this is the best place you’ve never come to”.

And you know what, he meant every word…

Glasses stop play ...
It's great to have your family come and watch you play, but it's a little embarrassing when the referee stops play mid rally because someone's glasses have dropped onto court - especially when they're your Dad's ....

Quotes:

“Can you please stop sweating????” Jens Schoor to Jesse Engelbrecht

”Let please”
the ref: “Not today…”

Jetrho Binns, after yet another tin:
“give up squash!!!!”

British Open EN BREF Issue #1
Everything you never knew you needed to know
about the Wimbledon of Squash ...

SUNNY LIVERPOOL

As some of you know, I’m now living part of the time in the South of France – yeah, I know, tough job but – where it’s pretty sunny most of the year, and in London to work. And as I was packing in France, I thought, do I take my sunglasses? Don’t be ridiculous, I replied… Well, it proves that I know about as much about weather as I know about squash. Not much.

It’s been not only gorgeous weather, with people taking the sun, enjoying the breaks to take a bit of an early tan. But it’s also been scorching hot, which could be a good thing if we were on a beach somewhere, but which tends to lengthen rallies and matches, and can handicap players who just can’t finish off a point. Thank God, that place is full of doors and windows, and we are able to create a draft that makes the temperature inside much nicer.

Once again, the line of the day goes to our photographer David Barry, “well, the courts are non air-con,” he noticed. “WE ARE IN LIVERPOOL, WE DON’T NEED AIR-CON, for crying out loud,” we replied.

Seat belts in buses in Kuwait, Air-con in courts in Liverpool. Only David….

AMAZING ATMOSPHERE

Being in a member’s club has the great advantage that you're stepping into a place which overflows with activities for all ages and styles.

As the men's qualifying finals were going on yesterday, we were working amongst bridge players in the afternoon, with tea, biscuits and all, then in the evening a quick quiz night, while at another level, some cricket players, all in their glorious white outfits, were putting the world rights, not to mention a great bingo night that was organised in yet another bar next to the court level.

For us, it’s just great, it’s like stepping in another world, maybe another time maybe, where people still had activities that don’t involve hi-tech, speed and violence…As an English friend of mine used to say, “so English, so splendidly English”…

KARIM – THE OTHER SIDE

While I was in Hurghada, I had a long chat with “Mrs Engy”, Engy Kheirallah, who got married to lucky Karim Darwish last December, and who seemed to have to adapted her life and moved it upside down. But what does Karim feel about the situation, and how does HE adapt and feel about his new life. Let’s find out…

How did it all start?
”Engy and I actually really “met” during the World University Championships in 2001, where we got to know each other, we talked, we did some shopping together, and I very quickly realised I liked her personality.

Then, when she came to train in Cairo, we went to the movies, we went out and had a meal, I really liked who she was, and a few months later, I told her that I'd fallen in love with her. We got engaged in 2005…

What do you really appreciate in her?
I like her personality, she is so free, so independent, she is not demanding, and she is funny, she always has a smile on her face, she likes to laugh. I don’t like people who are always serious. She is like a friend, like one of the boys, as well as being my wife.

How do you organise your life?
I’m lucky because we live in a large house, I live with Engy on one floor, and I’ve got my parents in the flat above. My parents have proposed to help with the household work, and the cooking, because Engy is so busy with her squash and her career, but she wanted to have a go at cooking.

Is it tough for you to adapt?
Before marriage in Egypt, boys we don’t do anything, and my mum did everything for me, so I was used to that life, and I have to adapt to my new life, and it’s hard for me sometimes.

I get mad at Engy sometimes, because I tell her that now, she has other priorities, that she is married, and that she’s got to take care of the house, and of me!!! But I must understand that she loves her squash so much, and I’ve got to give her a chance to do what she loves doing…

What do you like the most about being married?
Living with somebody you love is so much nicer that being separated from them, like we used to be. She used to live in Alexandria, I used to live in Cairo, and we could only see each other 2, 3 times a month, and that was very frustrating for us…

And about the future?
Engy and I are keen to have a family, and although we are going to wait around a couple of years, because Engy needs to do what she’s got to do in squash, we are both looking forward to having children.

I am ready for that, and so is Engy…