Click onto the Aycliffe Juniors Rankings List
Aycliffe Club Championships
July 2008
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Men's Club Champion
2008 |
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Aycliffe Club at Durham & Cleveland Awards Evening |
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D&C Junior Female Player of
the Year |
D&C Junior Male Player of
the Year |
D&C Junior under
15 County Champions |
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Aycliffe squash club had a tremendous night at last weeks Durham and Cleveland Squash presentation night held at Norton cricket club. Junior teams at under 11 and 13 were in the top 3 after a season of competition and the under 15s team were Durham and Cleveland Champions. The highlight of the evening in the junior categories was the presentation of the Durham and Cleveland junior players of the year, with the Aycliffe club winning both awards. Helen Dowson won the female junior Player of the Year after another tremendous year, playing for the County teams at under 15 and 17 age groups as well as playing at No. 2 seed in the Aycliffe women’s team. Robert Harrison goes from strength to strength and his award of male junior Player of the Year is reward for all the hard work he has put in since starting as a 9 year old at the Oak Leaf Sports Complex. The presentations were made by Mr Kevin Whitfield of Whitfield Building Services Ltd, whose kind sponsorship of the Durham and Cleveland Squash Leagues has just been extended for the coming year. The club, based at the Sports Complex in Newton Aycliffe will be entering junior teams at under 11, 13, 15 and 17 age groups in next years Durham and Cleveland leagues. If there are any juniors that would like to play team squash or just learn to how to play squash for fun or fitness, weekly coaching takes place every Tuesday through the summer and new players are always made very welcome. |
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Aycliffe Club Gain Silver Accreditation |
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Pictured Left to Right: Julie Bowtell (ladies team captain & club treasurer), Mark Shipley (England Squash), Councillor Brian Hall (Mayor of Great Aycliffe Town Council), Carole Dixon (Ladies Representative) Jed Hodgson (Chairman), Alan Skinner (publicity) and Margaret MacFarlane (child protection representative). Aycliffe Squash Club has just been awarded the England Squash Silver Charter Award, which recognises developments and improvement in elements of the clubs management and coaching operation. The club is one of only a handful of squash clubs in the North of England to gain this prestigious award, demonstrating the setting up of schools links to develop the infrastructure of squash in the vicinity of Newton Aycliffe. Sport England has worked in consultation with a range of national governing bodies to develop core criteria recognising the work the club has done working with children and young people, with the committee ensuring an environment that is child-friendly and free from discrimination and unfair behaviour. Creating partnerships between clubs and schools helps to create continuity between school sport and sport in the wider community. The club is part of the Oak Leaf Sports Complex and committed to everyone having the right to enjoy their sport in an environment free from threat of intimidation, harassment and abuse. The award was made by England Squash Area Manager, Mark Shipley, who presented the award to club Chairman, Jed Hodgson and the Mayor of Great Aycliffe Town Council, Councillor Brian Hall who took time out of a busy schedule to also attend the award ceremony. Also present was Derek Snowball, the Oak Leaf Sports Complex Manager, who has worked with the squash club to gain the award. Congratulations were received from club sponsors Holiways Ford and ‘Awards for All’ who also recognised the work the Aycliffe club had done in developing squash in Newton Aycliffe. |
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Aycliffe Player at Tchnifibre British Junior Open 2008 |
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Over 450 of the worlds top junior squash players from 34 countries around the world travelled to Sheffield this month for the world’s top competition, the Tchnifibre British Junior Open. Aycliffe top junior squash player, Sarah Dowson finished in overall 17th position losing only one of her 4 matches to last year’s winner, Olivier Blatchford from the USA. To meet the no.1 seed in the second round was not the ideal preparation but confidence was high after despatching Hannah Measures from Surry, 3-0, dropping only 6 points in the first round. Despite playing well against the no.1 seed, 14 year old, Sarah could not match the pace and power of the American girl and things did not get any easier in round 3 with a very physical game against Ankita Sharma from India, who was seeded 9/16 for the competition. After losing the first game 7/9, Sarah got the measure of the Indian girl and won the next 3 games 9/5, 9/2, 9/4 in a bruising encounter. The final game of the weekend saw Sarah take on Welsh no.2 Hannah Williams in another tough match and despite tiring, Sarah still managed to produce a 3/0 win, 9-6, 9-7, 9-3. As well as the clubs sponsors, Sarah also had help with travelling and overnight costs from an Individual Sports Grant organised by Ian Davey from Sedgefield District Council. Recent good form has seen Sarah rise to no. 6 in the January England Squash National rankings and also a call to train with the full National squash at the last training session in Manchester. Sarah together with twin sister Helen started training at the Aycliffe club, which is based at the Oak Leaf Sports Complex several years ago as absolute beginners. New junior and senior players of all ages and abilities are always made welcome with weekly training and coaching every Tuesday evening from new starters to the more advanced, ring 01325 300600 for more information. |
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National Squash Competition at
Aycliffe Squash Club |
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Pictured: Aycliffe Squash Club chairperson Jed Hodgson with Mr Geoff Bedford from Holiways FORD together with all the winners and runner ups. Not pictured Under 11s winner Jo Dale and runner up Adam Gardner. Aycliffe squash club held its first ever national squash competition last weekend with children from all over the country competing in 76 games over 2 days in under 11, 13 and 15s boys and girls events. The venue was held at the Oak Leaf Sports Complex whose staff pulled out all the stops to ensure that it was a massive success; THANK YOU. Manager Derek Snowball came down on Sunday and was impressed with the standard of squash and also delighted to meet ex-complex manager Richard Vitty who now coaches in Newcastle and had brought down several of his top juniors. Also in attendance was Northumbria squash coach and professional player David Barnet, who was also supporting his junior players. The standard of competition was exceptionally high with the under 11s competition being the first to finish on Saturday with Redcar’s Jo Dale claiming a well deserved winners trophy, beating Adam Gardner from Chester-le-Street. Aycliffe’s Hadyn MacLean just missed out on 3rd place after finishing strongly in the 3rd/4th play off. Sunday saw the climax of the under 13 and 15s competitions with Katie Burke from Wakefield finishing as runner up in the girls under 15s final to the nationally ranked Sara Dowson from Newton Aycliffe. Despite playing great squash the Yorkshire girl could never match the pace and power of the Aycliffe teenage. The under 13s girls final was decisively won by Northumbria’s Maria Bainbridge beating Jessica Winda from Cumbria in a showcase of junior girl squash. The boys provided the packed galleries with fantastic entertainment throughout the weekend with the under 13s event eventually won by Luke Mabbott who got stronger and stronger throughout the weekend. Luke’s final partner was Jesmond’s Richard Ridgeway who had previously scored a stunning 5 set semi final marathon win over No.1 seed Stephen Twaddle from Gosforth. The boys under 15s final saw a welcome return to competition squash from Norton’s Daniel Hockborn who was in a menacing mood throughout the early rounds, playing some great squash. After a hard fought semi final against Cumbrian raider, Jonathan Honeyman, Daniel beat Aycliffe player David Gardiner from Chester-le-Street’s who trains at the Aycliffe club in the final. The rapid improvement by David looks set to provide the exciting prospect of more final meetings in the future from these 2 top juniors. All children received a commemorative medal and a T-Shirt printed by Andy from Custom Planet in Durham. Throughout the weekend the committee was flooded with comments from first time visitors to Aycliffe on the fantastic squash and food facilities provided by Great Aycliffe Town Council as well as the helpful Oak Leaf staff. One of the longest serving club members, Kevin Martin gave up 2 afternoons of his weekend to come down and mark game after game which was enjoyed by Kevin and appreciated by all of the children. The weekend event was sponsored by Holiways FORD of Aycliffe Industrial Estate and Holiways director Mr Geoff Bedford made the presentation after watching several of the finals. Geoff said “I think it is great to see so many children spending their time in such a healthy way and obviously having a great time”.
Without the help from Holiways, Great Aycliffe Town
Council, Awards for All, Aycliffe Physiotherapy and KOOLCA$H,
the event would not have been able to take place but thanks to
those mentioned, plans are already underway to make this a
yearly event and expand the age groups to make next years
competition the biggest and best in the North of England. |
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Great Season Start for Aycliffe
Squash Juniors The club also had a strong showing at the recent Durham and Cleveland County closed competition with Sarah Dowson beating her sister to add the under 15 championship to her under 13s title. Hayden McClean and David Gardiner won the plate competition at under 11s and 17s with Josh Devlin runner up in the U9s plate event at his first attempt. Top junior boy Robert Harrison was runner up in the under 19s final to the nationally ranked Joss Harris despite being almost 2 years younger and continues to impress at the highest level. Robert was in devastating form when playing in his own age group of under 17s at the recent Quadrant Junior Open in Preston, winning the final for the first time. Robert had started the season in the same vain of form which saw him winner at both the Ilkley and Boston competitions at under 15 age group at the end of last season.
The girls have also shown some good form with County under
15 champion Sarah Dowson runner up in the
Prince
Junior Grand Prix held in Birmingham, matching her runner up
spot in the Solihull Arden Classic also held at Birmingham this
year. Sara is looking to go one place better with home
advantage in the Holiways FORD Junior open held at the Oak Leaf
Sports Complex in Newton Aycliffe on 8/9 December. Junior
players from all around the country are expected to compete in
this inaugural event, which will see many local players take
part in their very first competition. |
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Aycliffe Club Championships August 2007 |
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Well Done to the Club Champions 2007. Neil Ross and Sara Dowson (pictured with Chairman Jed Hodgson
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Awards
for All Grant for Aycliffe squash club has just had the great news that it has been granted a lottery grant from ‘Awards for All’ of £7,500.
Awards for All (www.awardsforall.org.uk)
is the small grants scheme
administered by the Big Lottery Fund on behalf of Lottery good
cause funders, Arts Council England, Big Lottery Fund, Heritage
Lottery Fund and Sport England. The scheme makes awards of
between £300 and £10,000 to grass roots community groups and
voluntary organisations.
They also fund
projects for people to take part in art, sport, heritage and
community activities, as well as projects that promote
education, the environment and health in the local community. |
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WELL
DONE to Aycliffe
Ladies who finished in 4th place in the Durham & Cleveland
squash leagues. The ladies finished one 1 point behind
Bedale Ladies who the Aycliffe team had beaten 4-1 on the
opening day of the season.
Well Done
to Aycliffe Juniors Alex MacFarland and Hayden McLean on being
picked for the Durham and Cleveland County under 13s team.
Alex is the current under 11 County Champion and despite only
being 8-years old, Hayden has been brought into the squad after
showing so much promise and making so much improvement.
Aycliffe squash club
have gained the Bronze Accreditation from England Squash. The
Bronze Club Charter lasts for 2 years and is an indication that Aycliffe
squash club has a development program that will:
- Increase the number of adults and juniors playing squash through sound playing and competitive club programmes
- Increase the recruitment education and development of coaches and volunteers
- Improve the infrastructure of the club network
Benefits to the club achieving England Squash Club Charter Bronze Accreditation
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Alex
MacFarland
Durham & Cleveland
under 11s County Champion
Well done to
Aycliffe junior player Alex MacFarland
who became Durham & Cleveland
County Champion.
The Aycliffe club had a good turn out at the County
Championships with Haydn Maclean winner Plate final under 9s, James
Keogn winner Plate final under 11s, Jamie Maclean winner Plate final
under 15s, Sarah Dowson under 15s runner-up and Helen Dowson Plate
final
winner. David Gardner also played very well by reaching the semi-finals
of the boys under 15s.
Alex
MacFarland
Pictured with club coach
Bill West
Aycliffe Juniors at the Mamut English Open 2006
Sarah and Helen Dowson were the Aycliffe squash club representatives in the Mamut 2006 English Open held in Sheffield. It was the first competition for the twins at the older under 15 age group after a recent birthday and the competition could not have been tougher.
The top 20 players from all over England as well as the French No.1 and Welsh No.1 & 2 all gave battle in a field of the highest quality. Despite playing against girls, in some instances, almost 2 years older, Helen finished in overall 15th position with Sarah ending in 11th position.
Well done to both girls!
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Congratulations
for National Rankings May 2007 Durham & Cleveland's |
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Sarah Dowson |
Helen Dowson 20th position girls under 15s |
Heather Graham |
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Robert Harrison |
Matthew Setterfield 42nd position boys under 13s |
Anthony Leatherland 99th position boys under 17s |
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Andrew Scott 43nd position boys under 19s |
Joshua Harris |
Joshua Harris |
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Darren
Shimwell 39th position boys under 19s |
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