Surrey Health & Racquets In Hat-Trick Bid In New PSL Season
from ESR Media
October 11, 2011 - The 28th season of the Premier Squash League (PSL), supported by Dunlop, gets underway today (Tuesday) with Integrity Surrey Health & Racquets bidding to become the first club to win the world's most prestigious squash league title three times in a row.
The Croydon club, first winners of the title in 2008, were victorious again two years later - then successfully defended the crown in 2011. Surrey Health & Racquets host UWE Bristol in their opening tie.
“Surrey Health & Racquets are very much looking forward to defending our PSL title after a fantastic season last year,” said team manager Pete Smith, the club’s Head Squash Pro. “We go into the season with the same squad as last year and the players are looking forward to starting at home against Bristol. The members are very much looking forward to getting behind the team again and seeing world class squash, and with the club now owned by Virgin Active we are looking forward to an exciting season ahead.”
University of Birmingham are newcomers to the PSL this season: “Our squad is led by midlands-based world No37 Chris Ryder – and the aim of this new venture is to bring world class squash to the university whilst giving past and present students the opportunity to play and watch the best league in the world,” said team manager Jonathan Tate.
The west midlands league debutants travel east to face former champions MB Nottingham – with Ryder lining up against the home club’s newcomer Chris Simpson, ranked 14 places below.
“In Group B, Benz-Bavarian Duffield will be looking to fulfil their potential and challenge for the title that they have won on three previous occasions,” said PSL organiser Chris Nutley. “They were deeply disappointed last April to lose in the semis and with world No1 and 2 Nick Matthew and Jenny Duncalf leading the team, they will be confident of success.”
Duffield host Oxfordshire Health & Racquets, led by Australian Cameron Pilley. “It's another exciting season for the Oxford club in the PSL league,” said team manager Jason Martin. “We are delighted we continue to enter a team and we have some familiar faces and our usual mix of world class stars and local heroes Cameron Pilley, Madeline Perry and Scott Handley to name three.
“Unfortunately one of our stalwarts (ex Birmingham Uni student) Chris Ryder has understandably been recruited by the new Birmingham outfit, as have Jaymie Haycocks and Katie Quarterman. On the positive side Mark Cairns is back and we hope that the fantastic Thierry Lincou provides some extra fire power at the top of the order. With Virgin Active Health Clubs acquiring all Esporta clubs our biggest decision was over what the team name would be this year!”
While Derbyshire club Duffield will be making their 19th successive appearance in the league, Team Chichester will be marking their 17th – led for the first time by Malaysian Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan. Chichester will visit last season’s runners-up TWP St George's Hill in Weybridge, where Adnan will face the hosts’ number one Tom Richards.
“Chichester’s line-up this season provides strength in depth with a full squad that includes world no 39 Nafiizwan Adnan at one, supported by Robbie Temple, Max Lee, Olly Pett, Piedro Schweertman, Anthony Graham and Alex Ingham - showing a slightly new line-up than the Chichester of old,” explained team spokesman Mike Phillips.
But in a shock move Chichester hero and stalwart Tim Vail, a veteran of nine seasons with the south coast club, has jumped ship to pull on the Exeter Diamonds shirt. Vail will face third string Dylan Bennett as Exeter host IGT Winchester.
Tuesday 11 October 2011
1st round line-up:
Group A:
Benz-Bavarian Duffield v Oxfordshire Health & Racquets
Nick Matthew v Cameron Pilley
Jonathan Kemp v Scott Handley
Stephen Coppinger v Mark Cairns
Andy Whipp v Ben Coleman
Jenny Duncalf v Madeline Perry
MB Nottingham v University of Birmingham
Chris Simpson v Chris Ryder
Eddie Charlton v Jaymie Haycocks
Mark Fuller v Christopher Hall
Declan James v Nathan Lake
Emma Beddoes v Jessica Mudge
Group B:
Exeter Diamonds v IGT Winchester
Stewart Boswell v Joey Barrington
Campbell Grayson v Marwan El Shorbagy
Tim Vail v Dylan Bennett
James Snell v Jethro Binns
Victoria Temple-Murray v Catherine Finlayson
TWP St George's Hill v Team Chichester
Tom Richards v Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan
Nicolas Mueller v Robbie Temple
Joe Lee v Max Lee
Charles Sharpes v Olivier Pett
Laura Massaro v Annabelle Collins-Ballands
Integrity Surrey Health & Racquets v UWE Bristol
Peter Barker v Mohamed El Shorbagy
Adrian Grant v Lucas Serme
Adrian Waller v Hadrian Stiff
Ben Ford v Chris Clare
Alison Waters v Nikki van der Heijden
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