Our offbeat diary on squash in the media, on socials and general musings in the sport
Former English professional Alex Noakes is the new director of squash and athletics at Toledo Club in Ohio, US.
Noakes, 27, was working for a club in New York when he got a call from compatriot Eddie Charlton, the Toledo Club’s previous athletic director.
Toledo’s general manager John Danehy said the club conducted a global recruitment search for squash pros before narrowing down six finalists for the job.
In Toledo, Noakes will oversee with directing programmes for a community of more than 200 squash players.
What we’ve been listening to…
Squash goes youth
Four South East counties are being supported by England Squash to inspire a new generation of players to the sport.
The London Squash project will see Kent, Middlesex, Surrey, and Essex work collaboratively to spearhead a number of squash initiatives across the capital over the next five years.
The conceptual idea for the project was brought to the group by the chair of Middlesex, Tim Taylor, who has been fundamental in building the foundations within London together with the regional Development Officer Chris Vine.
The initial action phase will see the re-introduction of squash into the London Youth Games 2024, with at least 16 London Boroughs entering teams.
Stat Attack
Beating compatriot Ahmed Barada’s record set 30 years ago, Egypt’s Mohamed Zakaria – just 16 – makes history by becoming the youngest ever male Tour champion by winning the @PSAChallenger LA Open https://t.co/kNCiF6FjQL@MasrSquash @SquashLibrary @Mike_Dale1978 @SquashSite
— Squash Info (@SquashInfo) October 30, 2023
What we’ve been reading…
“Fort Erie decides that the one remaining squash court they do have should be used to store radioactive hockey stench. Shameful stuff.” How a Canadian reporter took his racket and went to the only squash court around, only to find a high school hockey team had rented out the court. View from Canada .. Niagara needs less pickleball, more squash.
How squash helped Abhay Singh drop 26 kilos in a year as a teen, and propelled him to stardom after Asian Games | Indian Express
Feature: Harrogate squash captain eyes first title in 25 years | Stray Ferret
What we’ve been watching
Back in business, away from home
Saffron Walden Squash Club is competing once again in the Cambridgeshire League – while they wait for repairs to the courts at their traditional home.
The ceilings of the courts at Peaslands Road leisure centre contain RAAC, the concrete problem that has become an issue at Hove SC. Players now have to go on a one-hour round drive.
Charles Arthur, the chairman of SWSC, said: “Though 1Life and Parkwood have told us that they have sought contracts on the remediation or repair of the ceilings, we still have no idea of the timescale for fixing them.
“It’s good to be playing again,” he said, “and Great Dunmow’s facilities and courts are excellent, but they’re 30 minutes’ drive from Walden.
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