Following September’s Team Blitz, the first individual tournament of the 2011/12 season has just concluded. The Hackers is open to players from league five and below and has regluarly been a strong indicator of who will be upwardly mobile in the following seasons.

Although not making the final, the Hackers was an excellent vehicle for Luke Ditchburn who really caught the eye as one of the most improved players of this season. Following an excellent result against Anne Gollogly who is suspected of trying to get her handicap up for the next big comp in January, Luke went out to finalist Sam Hill.

The final was a titanic struggle and an utterley absorbing watch for a decent size crowd. Mark Wass has been in very fine form and just narrowly missed out on a successful challenge into league 3. Sam too has been on the challenge trail and made into league 5 for next month so both players were very much on song.

The match was never within any one player’s control and inevitably went all the way to a final set. Mark generally had the edge in this game however and worthily gets his name on the winners’ boards for the first time.

Anyone over 10 is more than welcome to fitness training this year. Those under 10 are also welcome as long as a parent is with them throughout. Sessions will generally be on Mondays and Thursdays. Mondays will be meeting at Redcar Squash Club for 6pm then we’ll do the work around the beach. Thursdays is meet at 6:30 at Claireville Stadium, Middlesbrough. Call Dominic on 07734985111 if you need transport. Planned dates, which can change due to work commitments, are:

Thurs 19th May,

Monday 23rd May, Thursday 26th May

No training Monday 6th June as am at Maastricht,  starts again: Thursday 9th June

Monday 13th June, Thursday 16th June

Monday 20th June, Thursday 23rd June

Monday 27th June, No training Thursday 30th June as I’m away in Scotland

Monday 4th July, probably no training on Thursday 7th July as I’m expecting to be in London

Monday 11th July, Thursday 14th July

Monday 18th July, Thursday 21st July

Update on the funding: Sport England are reviewing how to allocate the government cuts to the National Governing Bodies. That means part of the England Squash money – currently sitting at £125k – might be compromised. They are however very keen to emphasise to us that we are one of only nine projects over the next two years that they are supported and they are very enthusiastic about what we bring.

Away from that side, the weekly lottery ball is bringing in a steady flow as well as delivering a few winners. The juniors have chipped in with a cake morning and there are several members doing a sponsored Boxing Day Dip so get sponsoring them if you’ve not already.

Funding has just been submitted from the local council and we should hear in the early months of 2011. Letters are available if people have companies who might be able to donate some money – contact Dominic Hill on 07734985111 and I’ll get the letter over to you or can approach them myself with your contact details.

For the first time in a long time, Redcar managed to have someone as county vets champion and for the first time in living memory, which at this age is about 2 weeks, Redcar doubled up and got two. Bill Leaver triumphed in his first attempt at the Over 60s using a running game in the early phases to negate his opponent’s wonderful touch play. Bill then steadily progressed to take control and command both offensively and defensively. Dominic looked to be progressing smoothly in the Over 40s taking the first two games with assurity but his opponent raised his game and as the third drew to a climax, it could have gone either way. Dominic however just nicked it to give Redcar its unique double.

The Redcar Junior leagues started off where last season finished up – looking to be a tight battle between Jack, Emily and Greg. With this month’s activity on Saturday morning’s though, there have been numerous part-played matches which means a suite of new players will be joining the leader board include Patrick, Conor, James and Colm.

Many congratulations go to Emily McSorley who has just been invited to attend regional training squads. This should offset the disappointment of not being able to take the recent county title due to a lack of opposition

Paul Wilson is checking around again for interest in the 2011 Isle of Man tournament. Redcar have attended in both of the last two years and it is every bit about social as squash – there is actually a ban on players of county standard and every range of player standard is represented. A reminder of last year’s contingent looking somewhat fresher on the ferry outover: