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03-Dec
Willstrop earns national acclaim
From Pontefract & Castleford Today
Malcolm Willstrop, the head
coach at Pontefract Squash Club, has won national acclaim at a
star-studded ceremony in London.
The man credited with putting Pontefract at the forefront of world
squash was inducted into the coaching Hall of Fame at the glittering
UK Coaching Awards 2004 at the Cafe Royal.
The Mussabini Medal was presented by HRH The Princess Royal, who is
patron of Sports Coach UK, at an event attended by last
year's UK coach of the year, Sir Clive Woodward. The award
recognises coaches who have achieved outstanding success at world
class level.
Said Willstrop: "I am both delighted and honoured to be recognised
by sports coach UK in such a way."
Willstrop, 67, is in Doha, Qatar, for the World Championships and
his award was accepted on his behalf by Michael and Cindy Todd,
the owners of Pontefract Squash Club.
During Willstrop's 18 years at Pontefract, he nurtured an unrivalled
number of leading players to earn the club an international
reputation. Lee Beachill underlined Pontefract's influence on
the world stage when he recently became the world number one, and is
in today's World Open final in Qatar, while Willstrop's son James,
who lifted the World Junior crown in 2002, has a current world
standing of 12.
Pontefract players have won five European titles and both the club's
men and women's teams have landed European club championships.
Record In 2002 he guided Pontefract into the record books when the
club became the first to claim three separate titles in the English
National Club Championships.
Another feature of his coaching career is the number of ex-players
who hold high positions in the game. Gawain Briars is chief
executive of the PSA, Ian Robinson is Director of Squash at
Surrery University, David Campion, Willstrop's step-son, is a
national coach, Yawar Abbas is a central figure in Manchester
Leisure and several other of his former pupils hold important
coaching roles.
Well-known for his insistence on good discipline, Willstrop has
maintained long relationships with many of his players, Beachill,
having been with him since the age of eight, being a prime example.
Malcolm Willstrop Week
major feature on Malcolm by
Framboise Gommendy
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