Cornwall Squash and Racketball

CCSRA news! At our last meeting we decided to make every effort to set up the leagues and plan events from Sept-Dec 2021 hopefully with all restrictions lifted by then (aka Step 4). Events: County Junior Closed, County Masters Closed, County Closed Championships and Racketball Festival with others too! Even if some protocols are still needed these events should be possible TBC. We also hope to KICK START THE LEAGUES again from SEPTEMBER – clubs/captains have been contacted to ascertain team numbers in two divisions as before. WE WILL CONTACT YOU AGAIN FOR DEFINITE TEAM NUMBERS EARLY IN AUGUST. Rebuilding after CV will be necessary hence 21-22 being dubbed THE PHEONIX SEASON. The Committee decided to hold a ‘normal’ CCSRA AGM in September. We have also made every effort to talk with all our clubs and centres and offer support with reopening – Matt is our guru here! Life will return to normal and we will be playing squash and racketball and sosialising with club friends again so let’s prepare it now! Your comments are invited…….

Following the PM’s announcement to the nation last night 4th Jan all gyms and indoor sports venues must close. Sadly we all know that this lockdown could be harder than the first but there is an acceptance that this is necessary to protect the population and the NHS as the new variant is accelerating cases, admissions and deaths. We wish you all the very best and look forward to better times in the months ahead. Stay safe and please follow the rules.

Dear All, this year’s CCSRA AGM, was dubbed ‘Extraordinary’ for obvious reasons. It was held at TS&LC on MONDAY 12th OCTOBER 7:30pm. Four out of 6 of our ‘affiliated’ squash clubs and venues were represented – Falmouth Sports Club, TS&LC, Penzance Pirates and Newquay Sports Centre. Eight people attended online using TEAMS. You can read some of the reports below; I recommend you pay particular attention to our Development Plan (Powerpoint slideshow) which outlines our plans for the next few years. Obviously, the pandemic has had a severe impact on our leisure activities and squash is only now slowly resuming in all our venues. There is hope that if the virus is under control and backed up by encouraging data, Es will allow us to move to Phase 3 when we will again be able to consider team matches and events again. We do not envisage this happening for the rest of the year so enjoy your social squash and racketball. You can read the AGM Minutes by clicking on the above tab. Please stay safe all of you and we urge you to comply with all the guidelines in place.    

EAGM Agenda 2020                 Safeguarding Report 2020             Chairman’s Report 2020

CCSRA Development Plan 2020 Matt

CCSRA has taken the unprecedented decision to continue the suspension of all inter-club league matches until January 2021. This decision wasn’t taken easily but given that we continue to be in Phase 1 of ES’s Return to Squash and all the indicators point to a difficult Autumn, it was the only sensible choice. This mirrors what is happening nationally. However, we hope to complete last season with our PLAY-OFF FINAL and our knock-out cup competitions (Pawle and Hine). We will of course keep you posted of any new developments.
Reminder: CCSRA AGM to take place early Autumn – date TBA.

Reigning champion and county captain Jared London made it a modern era record-breaking 6 in-a-row titles by beating Phil Thomas 3-1 in an enthralling final. In the Plate Final young Fin Irish, the rising star from Bude SC, notched up his first county senior title by beating Falmouth’s Huw Gibbon 3-1 in a tense but more tactical final. The semis and finals were broadcast live (with live scoring) for the first time with viewers from as far away as Qatar watching. The results from all 50+ matches over the weekend can be found at http://www.sportyhq.com . To see more pictures and to click on the link go to the EVENTS tab and click on COUNTY CLOSED CHAMPIONSHIPS 2019/20. You can also see more photos on our FB page. Thanks to all who supported the event…….

Well, it all kicked off at Western Terrace in the last and deciding match of the Autumn League when home side Falmouth 1 had to beat TR2 Young Pretenders by more than 10 pts to make history! Captain Matt was delighted to report on a successful evening for Jonny et al. They made it by two points with their 12-4 victory. A very fitting climax to an exciting league and that means Falmouth have booked the first place at the End-of-Season Play-Off Final to decide overall Cornwall Champions. There must have been oodles of Christmas cheer in the Falmouth club house following the match. 

Bude SC eased over the line with a win at 2nd placed Falmouth 3 (Huw’s team) to continue their good run of titles in recent years. Captain Rob has declined promotion due to a ‘weakened’ squad with key players away in January & February. Those teams languishing at or near the foot of Div1 can therefore sigh a huge relief! Relegation may be on the cards, however, if Bude SC do the double by April with the knowledge that their squad will be that much stronger again by Sept. especially if their migratory #1 decides to over-winter in Cornwall!

The ever popular Cornwall Squash Masters’ Closed took place at TSRC over the weekend of 23rd/24th Nov. Brian, our ‘Main Man’ as always, organised the draws in the six categories. Stevie D (Truro) won the O35s, Matt H (NQY) took the O45s, Tim S (Truro) the 50s, pirate Nigel B won the O55s and Truro’s Dave M beat all comers in the 60s and 65s. Diane and Mike (DAM Civil Engineering ltd.) proudly sponsored the event again with Diane presenting the trophies with Brian on finals night. Full results and photos to follow….
Cornwall County Racketball Championships – 9th and 10th November @ The Falmouth Club to enter contact Mark Newton – to find out what happened click on the RACKETBALL TAB and then COUNTY RACKETBALL CHAMPS. Also, for more photos go to CornwallSquash on FACEBOOK – please LIKE & SHARE.

Truro SRC Junior Grand Prix – 11th and 12th January 2020 contact Tim Smith for details.

Cornwall County Squash Championships (Closed) – 25th and 26th January 2020 @ Truro SRC to enter contact Tim or Tony after Christmas.

Racketball Festival – APRIL 2020 date TBA.

Pawle Cup & Hine Plate – knock-out rounds in April, finals @ The Falmouth Club in May date TBA.

Last year’s Finals

Cornish Racketballers did us proud at the National Championships in Birmingham at the University’s world Class Sports Centre. Shuv Garland led the contingent of 5 which included ex-Pirate Mike Phillips who won the O60 competition. Shuv made it to two finals, the O50 and O55, but was shaded out each time but being silver medalist twice is an amazing achievement – WELL DONE OUR SHUV! Her Falmouth team mate and county President Terry Becket, playing in the O70 category, WON THE PLATE competition in his first attempt at the nationals. Both Pirates, Pete Eddy and Nigel Bell, lost in the second round. Pete lost by the narrowest of margins 12-10 in the fifth to just miss out on the semis. Had he made it he would have had an uphill task against ‘old pirate’ Mike Phillips who won the ‘60s’ without dropping a game! All credit to the Cornish at the nationals flying the flag of St Piran so proudly. Small county but big ambitions! For those interested a date has been fixed for our Cornwall Racketball Championships at Falmouth over the weekend of the 9/10th Nov next. See you there! More on our RB page and on our FB…….