This Is Guernsey

By Rob Batiste

HAMPSHIRE junior squash is fast being taken over by Peter Bridgeman’s expanding and improving elite group of youngsters. Bridgeman, the island’s director of squash, estimates that as many as a dozen local boys and girls will win county representation this season after a successful two-day trip to the annual county championships in Winchester.

Three Sarnians came away with titles and another four were runners-up.

‘I always thought we’d have three county champions and a few runners-up, but all the juniors performed really well,’ said Bridgeman, who took a party of 18.

‘Below under-19 level, Hampshire is looking to Guernsey to produce most of their players,’ he added.

Guernsey are particularly dominant at the under-13 boys’ level where four, including new county champion Oliver Brehaut, can expect Hampshire caps.

Bridgeman puts the game’s resurgence at junior level down to reaping the benefits of the Investec schools squash programme which was the brainchild of his predecessor, Gareth Webber, but which has been taken forward by him.

‘After three years we can now see the full benefits of the programme and apart from the need for a few more coaches and a few more squash courts, it’s going very well,’ said Bridgeman.

Playing numbers are well up, too.

‘It was Gareth’s idea but I had to put it together.

‘We now have 70 to 80 playing on a regular basis, which is two to three times a week, and the Saturday leagues are producing some healthy competition.

‘They now have a ranking list to follow and it helps to see where they are on the GSRA website.’

It’s success produces other benefits, too, says Bridgeman.

‘The system is feeding itself.

‘We also have more girls playing than ever before.’

Guernsey’s three newly-crowned county champions are Natalie Dodd and the versatile Brehaut brothers, James and Oliver.

Dodd won the girls’ under-15, 17 and 19 combined tournament, winning all four matches, the last of which was in the final against fellow Sarnian Issey Norman-Ross.

James Brehaut did not drop a game in his four matches to take the under-15 boys’ championship and in the final beat Ben Roderick for the loss of just four points.

Oliver had it a shade tougher and had to beat three fellow Sarnians - Jack Tacon, Gareth Banton and Janick Radford - to take the under-13 title.

Tacon and Banton took quite a few points off Brehaut but could not take a game, unlike Radford who took the first 9-3 before succumbing in four.

Bridgeman was not surprised by the outcome.

‘James was always going to win and I’d like to see him now move up to the under-17 competitions. That’s what he needs to do to succeed.

‘Oliver played extremely well. He’s a natural sportsman.’

Led by Dodd, the Sarnians completed a 1-2-3 in the girls’ combined event.

On Dodd, the director of squash said: ‘She’s got a wise head on her shoulders and her fitness levels have improved.

‘She’s been motivated because the other two girls [Norman-Ross and Katie Simpson] are looking to beat her.’

Dodd said that she had had to dig deep to win.

‘I was pleased with my performance in the semis where I played Emily Heyes.

‘After losing the first game, I kept my confidence and played some of the best squash I’ve ever played. I eventually won 3-1 after keeping up the pressure and not relaxing.’

Article posted on 29th September, 2006 - 12.00am