Racketball has proved increasingly popular at King’s Life. (Picture by Tom Tardif, 0819085)
RACKETBALL will have its first Channel Islands champion by the end of the weekend.
The sport has been incorporated into the Scope Furnishings CI Squash Championships at Beau Sejour with men’s, women’s and junior titles all up for grabs.
Introducing racketball is part of the Guernsey Squash and Racketball Association’s aim to build up this new, yet competitive, sport in the island and the Sarnians will be among the 12 men and five women contesting the new trophies.
Nick Taylor, Jersey’s director of island squash and one of England’s top racketball players, is the strong favourite for the competition, but Guernsey players Steve Le Ray and Greg Clinton-Tarestad are hoping to provide him with a strong challenge.
On the women’s side, Sarnians Katherine Jensen, Karen Robinson and Sally Ingrouille face Jersey’s Sarah Taylor and Nikki Faux.
The squash tournament also includes some strong, predominantly Guernsey, juniors, some of whom compete regularly in the UK; such as Jack Turvey, Tom Stewart, Niall Adams, Katherine Jensen, Jack Tacon, Harry Martel, Charles Stenner and Elliot Bourge.
On the men’s veterans side, Mark Roberts, former island champion, will compete for the first time in the over-45s age group.
He is the top seed against a strong and experienced Jersey field headed by John Wood and Hugh Jones and from Guernsey, Steve Falla, Mark Sheppard and Simon Bourge.
Steve Le Ray, the current over-35s island champion, will face the tough challenge of playing David Merrien in this age group whereas Neville Johnson, island B champion is favourite for the over- 55s title.
Five of Guernsey’s six Commonwealth Games selection squad will participate in the main competitions, with Chris Simpson the only missing player.
Zephanie Curgenven, now ranked 189 in the world, and Henry Birch are both returning from the UK for the event and are especially keen to put in a strong performance to influence the GCGA Delhi selection committee.
Kate Cadigan, the current CI champion, and Nick Taylor, the former world No. 13, are the top seeds.
Issey Norman-Ross, Natalie Dodd and Ross Kneller are the other Guernsey players who hope to make a semi-final place.
‘This potential quarter-final line-up gives us an idea about the quality our players will have to produce to make it through,’ said Ben Rosec, Guernsey’s squash development officer.
‘Issey and Natalie should end up playing the strong Jersey players, Sarah Taylor and Olivia French, respectively. The Guernsey girls have yet to beat these opponents but their ongoing improvement and the support of a home crowd should be to their advantage.
‘The state of mind these players adopt in preparation will be the key. They all have great squash skills and a good attitude on court so the secret will be to find the right balance between determination and keeping relaxed and clear-headed,’ he added.
The men’s final is scheduled for 1.30pm tomorrow, the women’s showdown at 12.30.
Article posted on 7th November, 2009 - 2.29pm
Most Commented: