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Sporting Season Review
Squash Season Review
Benjamin Bryant Durham University Squash Club Captain the neck, leading the league for the majority of the first term until their top of the table clash with arch-rival Newcastle, whom they had already beaten earlier in the season. In a thrilling encounter, Newcastle ran out as narrow winners and went on to claim the league title leaving Durham second. For such a young team coming second in the league, our best position in several years, is a great achievement and with some work during the offseason the team looks poised to make the league title their own next season. As previously mentioned, the Ladies entered a 2nd team and in a tough league including multiple 1st teams, they lost only once and achieved one of the results of the season. Travelling to league leader, Leeds, on the final day of the season, they came away with a win to put them joint top and only goal difference denied them a league title at their first attempt.
As a club we always knew that the 2011/12 season could prove difficult, with the entirety of the 2010/11 men’s top ten having left and a single girl remaining from the Ladies' squad. A year of rebuilding the squads and starting again seemed on the cards. It turned out that we were half right. After a gruelling preseason where our few remaining veterans were whipped into shape by stalwart coach, Bill West, we headed into Fresher’s week needing a large infusion of numbers and talent. We weren’t disappointed; new recruits Jemma Ockwell, Hannah Blythe and Zoe Taylor formed the backbone of a highly successful girls' team and club numbers swelled to record highs. The club was able to enter a 2nd Ladies team into the BUCS
competitions for the first time in several years, as well as running four men’s practice squads and, for the first time ever, two squads for complete beginners. Such a rapid expansion was only possible thanks to the dedication of Bill, who committed more of his time than ever before whilst remaining his always helpful and cheerful self, and our team of club members who helped train the lower squads, especially club fitness guru, Ben Harrison. Thank you all. With membership double that of last year, morale and club spirits were high and with the help of social secretary, Cole Sims, everyone bonded well and was ready to get down to playing some squash. The Ladies' 1st team, ably led by Kathryn Beeson, exploded out the blocks to take the BUCS Northern 1A by the scruff of
Sadly for the Men things went less smoothly, despite a large intake of solid squad players that bode well for the future, the 1st team were missing just one or two real quality players at the top of the order and despite some close defeats went without a win on their way to relegation in BUCS. The 2nd team, bolstered by new faces Walter Kerr, Andy Ankrah and Tom Withers struggled at first but developed all through the season winning their last few matches. In the final game of the season they easily overcame ancient foe, Newcastle, but fell just one game short of the required 5-0 score line and were undeservedly relegated on points difference. The 3rd team commendably held their own in a division of 2nd and 1st teams and are poised for a run at promotion next year. So, a mixed season, but the future looks bright. Both Ladies' teams look on the brink of a title and, with an extra year of experience and players returning from abroad, the men's teams should be able to retake all lost ground and then push on from there. We may not have laid the firmest of foundations but next season looks like it will be an exciting one.
2011/2012 - A Sporting Review