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Exciting times
for Jersey Squash
May-05 |
by
Steve Law
World Squash
Day:
Jersey hits
2,666 shots
The Jersey Squash Club in the Channel Islands had 3 teams
attempting the world record as part of their WSD celebrations,
and amassed an incredible 2,666 shots in the full 60 minutes.
The team of John Farley, Trevor Griggs and Adele Kapp were
absolutely exhausted at the end but their error free
performance was the key to the record as the other teams each
made errors at various stages but still both managed to pass
the previous record but nowhere near Farley, Griggs and Kapp.
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Jersey Squash Club
Recreation Grounds
Plat Douet Rd
St Clement Jersey, CHANNEL, JE2 6PN
Phone: 01534 735773
Email:
info@windmillshotel.com
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A recent visit to the island by England Squash’s Head of
Development, Adrian Christy, and Area Manager, Emma Gibson,
allowed Jersey Squash to show what can be done in a community that
has all the ingredients for a development plan but until recently
had no development plan!
The Channel Islands has always had a healthy squash interest but
apart from the famous Jersey Squash Festival that for the
past 25 years has attracted hundreds of players from the UK to
Jersey, every October, Jersey has had to play second fiddle to
Guernsey. Not good considering that Jersey has twice the population,
approx 80,000 and twice the funding and resources at its disposal.
The reason is simple, Guernsey administrators had the forethought to
implement a development plan 10 to 12 years ago and are seeing the
benefit of that. Chris Simpson being the most recent success.
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The President of
the JSRA, Steve Law, sees their new strategy as the key to
similar successes.
“It started with the return to the island of Mike Hopkins
from the PSA Tour. Mike wanted to become the club professional and
island coach so we formed a sub committee to formulate a job
description. We quickly realised that we did not have the
infrastructure to support the position. No qualified coaches, no
funding, no idea!
A couple of us went off to England Squash to do our level 1 and 2
courses and it didn’t take long to realise the size of the task in
front of us” Steve continued, “ my course tutor was Chris Vine
from Essex and it was this contact that really set the wheels in
motion. Mike didn’t continue in the role but fortunately, enough of
us on the committee realised the importance of a development
strategy and I approached Chris to act as a consultant.”
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Crucially, the Education Sport and
Culture Department of the States of Jersey agreed to £ for £ funding
for a full time Director of Squash and the position was advertised
within England Squash.
“We had a good response but the outstanding candidate was David
Evans, former world No 3 and British Open Champion and
experienced coach. David had been to the island for an exhibition
match and must have liked what he saw, anyway, he was appointed to
the position and started on the 1st November 2004.
What he has achieved since then has been incredible. A Development
Committee was formed. With the help of Chris Vine an
achievable and staged development plan was designed and adopted.
David set about contacting all of the 28 primary schools to offer 6
weeks blocks of mini squash. Two of the larger secondary schools
were approached with 1 offering squash to it’s year 11 students as a
PE option and Victoria College offering all it’s students squash as
an after school activity on it’s own courts.
“The response has been astounding, all but 2 primary schools
accepted and to date we have completed 15 x 6 week blocks involving
almost 400 children. 98 Victoria college students participate in the
after school squash programme and 40 Les Quennevais year 11 students
completed their course.”
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Not bad
considering that squash, prior to David’s appointment, was not
present in a single island school, primary or secondary. On the back
of this interest David has also managed to sell the idea to a local
legal firm, Bedell Cristin and they have agreed to fund the
programme for 12 months with a view to carry for 3 years, covering
all coaching and facility costs, incredible.
Law continued “ We are very fortunate to have 16 squash courts on
the island, 2 excellent leisure centres outside the Jersey Squash
Club and a good number of schools to draw from, it’s criminal that
we hadn’t identified all this before. We now have enough level 2
coaches to support David in the short term but finding more, at all
levels, is crucial if we are to expand the programme and take the
better players to the next level. David is proving to be an
excellent coach and administrator and the level of interest in
squash at junior level, in particular, is extremely encouraging. ”
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All this activity has stimulated
interest from the existing senior players as well with leagues
starting at other centres and court bookings at the Jersey Club on
the increase. A level 1 coaching course is taking place 21st
and 22nd May, in Jersey, and is fully subscribed.
 “It
is an incredible challenge with a long way to go, there are so many
elements to a successful and sustainable programme but I believe
Jersey is proving that it’s possible. I would say the most important
element is having the individuals involved that can drive the thing
forward and also tap into the resources of bodies such as England
Squash who have been extremely supportive. Jersey Squash is very
lucky to have David, he is working extremely hard and there has been
good support from the local government, media, sponsors, volunteers
and both the JSRA and JSC committees. Our objectives are simple,
introduce squash to as many people as possible!
“Oh and maybe overtake Guernsey in the process!”
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