The Women’s Squash Association (WSA) is marking the 30th anniversary of its formation this week with celebrations at the British Open in May and the US Open later in the year.
Founded in February 1984 at the Belfast Boat Club in Ireland, the originally-named Women’s Squash Players’ Association (WSPA) boasted 23 members and elected New Zealander Robyn Blackwood as its Chairwoman and Australia’s Rae Anderson as Secretary/Treasurer.
The first WSPA World Ranking list was topped by New Zealand’s Susan Devoy – who went on to achieve an unprecedented 105 months as the women’s world number one.
The Association later changed its name to the Women’s International Squash Players’ Association (WISPA), before being re-launched as the Women’s Squash Association (WSA) in 2012.
Over the past 30 years, the Association has attracted some 5,000 players from all corners of the globe who have competed in more than 1,200 events on the international Tour.
12 players – from six countries (New Zealand, Australia, England, USA, Netherlands and Malaysia) – have topped the world rankings over the three decades, with reigning world number one Nicol David having held the title unopposed since August 2006!
The 29th WSA World Championship will be held in David’s home city of Penang next month, when the 30-year-old Malaysian is set to extend her remarkable record to eight titles.
Founder Chairwoman Robyn Blackwood was delighted to hear of the Association’s latest milestone: “Thirty years ago there was a groundswell of support from players for a professional association and importantly, a world ranking system for women squash players that was current,” said the former world No3.
“It was a buoyant and exciting time in squash with significant numbers of professional players and circuits around the world to compete on. The establishment of WSPA was the next logical step. We established the world rankings, and the associated systems, very shortly after our inaugural meeting at the Belfast Boat Club.
“It is great to hear that WSA is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Congratulations to all those who have been a part of its success.”
Current WSA President Kasey Brown added: “All professional women squash players should be proud of the growth that the Association has achieved over the past three decades and we are indebted to players like Robyn and Rae for their foresight back in the 1980s.
“WSA boasts some of the fittest athletes on the planet, competing day in day out on a flourishing WSA World Tour which is active on all continents – from traditional squash nations like England, Australia and the USA, to newer territories like Mexico, China and Malaysia,” added the world No13 from Australia.
“I am delighted to be part of a new WSA board which is determined to grow the Tour over the coming years, led by the WSA vision to Inspire; Empower; and Entertain: Inspire future female generations to embrace squash as a professional sport; Empower girls and women on and off the court; and Entertain the world.”
For all the latest WSA Tour news: wsaworldtour.com

Minister Michael Ring TD, Minister of State for Sport and Tourism has launched the Volunteers in Sport Awards 2014.  An initiative of the Federation of Irish Sport in conjunction with the Irish Sports Council, the Department of Tourism, Transport and Sport and The Community Foundation of Ireland, the Volunteers in Sport Awards are run to honour the work of volunteers in Irish sport.

Minister Michael Ring TD “The work of volunteers is the foundation on which sport in Ireland is built – without volunteers there would be no sport in Ireland.”

The first awards were presented in 2007 and are designed to recognise the contribution, commitment and dedication of the 500,000 volunteers who give so generously of their time to sport every year. Sport remains the single biggest driver of voluntary activity in Ireland.

Ten winners will be selected to receive an award from the nominations received. An Overall or Lifetime award to honour a volunteer, who has consistently given of their time for a sport, a team, or an event over many years, will also be awarded. Full details of the scheme and how to enter can be found on line at www.volunteersinsport.com

Previous winners include Liam Sheedy, who managed Tipperary to All Ireland Senior success in 2010, Oliver O’Neill, youth coach and father of Olympic Boxer Darren O’Neill and Dublin City Marathon organiser Jim Aughney.

Nomination forms can be accessed through http://www.volunteersinsport.com/ The deadline for nominations for the 2014 Volunteers in Irish Sport Awards is 12noon, Friday 25^th April 2014.  The awards will be presented to the winners at a ceremony in the Aviva Stadium in early Autumn.

Carlow Junior Squash Open 2014
Carlow L.T.C
 
14/15/16th March 2014
 
Enter on-line at
 
 
 
http://www.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/tournament.aspx?id=8E7B3045-54C3-43F3-BD34-49AE15F9C643

 
Closing date 10th March 2014
 
 
Dermot O’Brien
087 6431386

The Senior Interprovincials were played out on Saturday 22^nd February at ALSAA in Dublin, with teams competing in Mens A and B from Leinster, Ulster and Munster. The winners of the Mens A were Leinster captained by Kevin Moore along with Oisin Logan, Pat Morrissey, Cillian Dunne and Ronan Peyton. The winners of the Mens B were Ulster whose team included Steven McAteer, Peter McNiece, Martin O’Neil, Michael McElroy and Ashley Black. Unfortunately Connacht were unable to field teams and there was no womens competition.

The 4 court venue proved very popular with both players and organisers alike allowing everyone to easily keep in touch with all the matches as they progressed.

The results of the matches were as follows:

Mens A

Match 1 – Leinster A 3-2 Ulster A

Match 2 – Munster A 3-2 Ulster A

Match 3 – Leinster A 5-0 Munster A

Mens B

Match 1 – Ulster B 3-2 Leinster B

Match 2 – Munster B 3-2 Leinster B

Match 3 – Ulster B 4-1 Munster B

SCHEDUELE OF PLAY

LEINSTER

A TEAM

 Kevin Moore

Oisin Logan

Pat Morrissey

Cillian Dunne

Ronan Peyton

Paul Byrne

B TEAM

Howard Gill

Philip Coleman

David Buxonat

Oisin Dunne

Kevin Ronan

Robert Fay

MUNSTER

 A TEAM

Jaime Balbuena

Johnny Hurley

Clive Morgan

Philip McSweeney

Dave Knox

B TEAM

Ken O’Keeffe

Conor O’Donoghue

Ray Crowley

Aidan McDonnell

Francis Power

Mark Furlong

ULSTER

A TEAM

M Craig

D Waring

N Pollock

J Hastings

C O’Kane

D Leeson (reserve)

B TEAM

A Megaw

M Gilliland

M McIlroy

S McAteer

P McNeice

A Black (reserve)

Interprovincial Scoring:  According to Irish Squash Tournament Rules, the Championship shall be decided as follows:

• · Firstly by:    Number of ties won (Connacht V Munster = ‘Tie).  Beat all other provinces and you win!

• · If equal, then by :  No. of Matches won plus bonus of 3 (No. 1 v No. 1 = ‘Match’)

• · If equal, then by:  Positive difference between games won and lost (No. 1 v No. 1 score of 3-1 gives a positive difference of 2)

• · If equal, then by: The result between the teams involved.

• · Order of play 5, 4, 1, 3, 2.

This years Squash Intervarsity Competition was  hosted by University College Cork (UCC) on the 21st and 22nd February 2014.

There are 18 Irish players playing in the French Junior Open being played in Lille from the 20th – 23rd February.

To view 1st round matches see here – http://www.irishsquash.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/French-Junior-Open-First-Matches-2014.xls

GOOD LUCK TO THEM ALL!

Mount Pleasant Men’s A Final – Derek Ryan vs. Michael Craig

14^th-15^th February 2014

                                                                  at the Belfast Boat Club

Tournament Director: Michele Jackson            Tournament Referee: Frank Marks    

The 2014 Ulster Masters took place the weekend of 14/15th February in Belfast Boat Club. With an entry of nearly 70 players in 11 events, there was some  some great masters squash over the 2 days. For the first time from Ulster,  Irish Squash TV streamed live. However we had broadband difficulties so only were able to stream half the play on the Saturday.  The matches are up on Irish Squash TV for viewing on demand so make sure to log on and look back at some of the matches – http://sportslive.aertv.ie/

For all the results and winners see here –

 http://www.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/tournament.aspx?id=A6CCF685-CD52-4E7F-BC27-16A9ADF79A37

Irish Squash Federation Ltd

This weekend saw the highlight of the domestic Junior calendar with the playing of the Junior Nationals. There were events from U11 to U19 for both boys and girls. Dermot Dineen and his committee did a superb job with over 90 players taking part.