Dom Calls It A Career - Plus Interview - Players' Reactions ↓ by Elliot Selby
7th July 2011- After 12 years on the International Circuit, Dominique Lloyd-Water has announced her retirement from the WISPA World Tour.
Lloyd-Water, who recently turned 30 year old, has had an extremely
successful junior and senior career amassing numerous prestigious
titles along the way and representing England. She had a fantastic
final win-loss record on the tour, appearing in nine WISPA finals and
winning eight of them! She reached a career high ranking of 18 back in
November 2006 and hovered around the top twenty for the next four
years.
Dominique first took to the squash court aged seven near London,
introduced by her playing parents. [Soft Break][Soft Break]A sparkling
junior career saw her win two junior British national titles, become
European junior individual and team champion, and represent England as
a junior no less than 24 times.[Soft Break].[Soft Break]But squash
nearly lost her to swimming as she was at regional level, but
fortunately for squash she didn't like the early morning training
before school started!
I caught up with Dom recently to find out her thoughts on her
retirement and what she has planned for the future. Here is what she
had to say:
Has it sunk in yet?
“It's been two weeks since I made my decision to retire, but yes
it still feels very weird after playing professionally for twelve
years. At first it was hard to say the word 'retire' and read it!!!! It
was a long thought out decision though. I had been deliberating for
quite some time about whether to continue playing the tour before
deciding I'd come to the end of the road.”
What made you decide to retire now?
“After having a six month lay off from the tour in 2010 (from
June to December) due to a foot injury, I got a taste for what life
might be like without squash and whilst I missed playing, it was nice
to experience a life without packing your bags every few weeks to
travel somewhere to train or play. I found I really enjoyed being at
home with friends and family. The injury happened just after I had
bought a flat and with a mortgage to pay, I knew I had to find a way to
pay the bills. I qualified as a Personal Trainer in 2009 and so when I
got offered some work, I jumped at the chance. I found I really enjoyed
it and when I was able to start playing again in January, I decided to
combine the squash with Personal Training. Whilst I was enjoying
playing again, I knew I wasn't as focused as before. The Personal
Training was going well and I was really enjoying it and the thought of
playing tournaments was not filling me with the same joy. This is when
I started to question things and I think turning 30 in June was the
thing that made me realise I am at an age where I have to do what makes
me happy. I guess the injury (although a negative at the time) gave me
an insight into other aspects of life which triggered the decision to
move on from squash.”
What are you going onto do?
“I am now hoping to add to the Personal Training work I have
already got. I really enjoy it, you can see all about it on my new
website www.domlloydwater.co.uk!”
What have been your greatest successes in Squash?
“My greatest achievements in squash have been representing
England (24 times junior and 5 times senior). Getting my caps as a
senior means such a lot to me and I am so pleased I managed to play for
my country over the last couple of years. I was part of the England
team this year that won European Gold which is fantastic. I got to the
semis of the nationals this year (2011) which meant an awful lot as
that was the furthest I had progressed in the tournament. Beating my
seeding to get there made it even better. I was European junior
individual champion and team champion.”
What are you going to miss most about the tour?
“I will miss seeing my friends on the tour particularly the
English girls with whom I have shared so many special moments with.
Tania, Jen, Laura, Alison, Sarah and Emma have given me some great
memories and I feel with the squash girls you can always pick up where
you left off even when you have not had any contact for a while. Of
course there are lots of other players I have known for a long time and
I will miss....I have had some amazing times with players on tour. I
will also miss tournaments where you get treated like VIPs for a week
where the hotel, food, scenery, organisers are all fantastic.”
What are you not going to miss about being a professional?
“Most people know I have an unfortunate fear of flying. Ask Jen
how many laughs I have given her on flights due to me becoming near
hysterical. Unbelievable when you think of how many flights I have been
on! So I won't miss flying and I won't miss the hours of travelling to
get to a venue.”
What is your best memory from the tour and favourite tournament?
“Favourite tournament is probably Hong Kong. I love it there and
I have really good memories from Mick (Biggs - her boyfriend)
travelling to that tournament with me. Now I'm not playing it is
certainly a place I want to go back to soon! The tournaments in Qatar
hold really good memories for me as I always stayed with a friend
(Maureen) along with Tania.”
And how do you think people will describe you as a squash player?
“I think people would describe me as a squash player as 'STEADY'!
Who knows....I might be wrong!! A close second would be 'the most
attacking player out there' (wink, wink)!!”
Finally…
“I would like to say a huge thank you to my parents who have
supported me through the good times and the bad with my career in
squash. They have always been 100% behind me and always believed in me.
Without them, I could not have achieved what I did. I would also like
to thank my boyfriend Mick, who has encouraged me to work hard and
believe in myself. He has been so supportive for the last five
years.”
Everyone at WISPA would like to congratulate Dom on a wonderful career
and we wish you the best of luck for your future as a personal trainer
and in everything else you do.
Quotes from Players:
Dommers.. Aka scooo!! I'm going miss your wierd and wonderful ways!! We
have had some great fun times together and I will always remember the
'Girls' moment!!
It seems likes ages ago since the Middlesex days where we first got to
know each other. They were Good times! Then training at Potters and you
would panic everytime about those dreaded courtsprints!! Least you
won't have to do those anymore!
Well done on all your squash achievements and good luck with everything you do now! See you for a Wagas!
Love Al aka mooo! X x Alison Waters
“I first met Dom when she was 7 and I was 9 on the junior circuit
and we have been friends ever since. She was great fun to be with on
the tour and she always managed to make people laugh! I will certainly
miss not having her around and I know the other girls will too. There
have been too many good times and great memories over the years to
write down but Dom knows what they are! I wish her all the best for her
new venture as a personal trainer, I know she will, and has already
started to do really well. Happy retirement Dom and good luck!” Tania Bailey
“Dom, you'll be missed on tour, loved having the battles with you
over the years, from Home Internationals to Dutch league finals, I
always enjoyed playing you and your fairness and grace with which you
played would be a good lesson for any upcoming English squash player. I
wish you the best in your next career, I 'm sure you'll take to it like
a duck to water and your humour will get you far. I'll definitely miss
the 'dom-isms' on tour, always liked having conversations with you at
the tournaments!
Take care and enjoy the next stage x” Aisling Blake
'Congratulations on a great squash career. We've had some laughs over
the years and I was sad to hear about you retiring but I wish you every
success for the future... Where ever that takes you. Good luck, love
Laura.' Laura Massaro
“How do I sum up the retirement of Dom Lloyd Walter in a few
words? I haven't known Dom as long as most of the other English girls
but right from when I started on tour she made me feel welcome and soon
became a good friend. Tough on court, you always knew you were in for a
battle and I never saw her giving less than 100%. It feels fitting that
our last tournament together was representing England and winning the
European Team Championships. But it is off-court that I will remember
her best. I can safely say that nobody else on tour has ever made me
laugh as much or as often and I will miss the fun we had rooming
together and her completely unique take on life. I'm pleased she has
found another field which she is as passionate about as squash though
surely it takes a mad woman to enjoy running around the parks of
Weybridge at 5am!? I know that I haven't seen the last of her so while
this is a sad day for me personally it is a sadder day for the whole
WISPA tour because with her retirement we have undoubtedly lost one of
our most genuine and likeable characters.” Emma Beddoes
Dom.....I have been fortunate enough to have shared lots of years on
the circuit with you. Many happy moments, a few teary ones after we
lost matches....but overall my time with you has been nothing but a
joy. I truly hope we will continue to stay in touch irrespective of
your career change. There are far too many moments to list here that
bring a smile to my face and a warmth to my heart. Our years at
Cloisters Wood, then theres random coincidences with boyfriends and
presents... :-) so many many more.... I will miss you on the circuit
and wish you every success in your future endeavours. I have no doubt
you will be truly successful. You deserve the best there is. You are so
kind hearted and genuine and life on the circuit would NOT have been
the same without you!! Thank you for the happy memories, let's continue
to make some more! All the best. Lauren xx Lauren Briggs
Congrats on a great career Dom. You should be really proud of what
you've achieved and how hard you worked to get there. I'm sure it must
have been a difficult decision to retire (believe me I know!!) but I've
no doubt you'll do well in whatever you endeavour. More importantly
though you'll be missed by the players who knew you because you're just
a lovely person and possibly one of the funniest people I've ever
met...without ever meaning to be!! Good luck Dom.
Lots of love
Vanessa xx Vanessa Atkinson
I have known Dom for the past couple of years since moving to
Guildford. Over the last 12months I have worked closely with her and
really got to know her as an athlete an as a person. From afar she
always seemed dedicated and a model professional. Since working with
her she has proved to be this but also much more. She is honest
,gracious, kind, thoughtful, intelligent and humorous. All words that
you would struggle to put in a sentence to describe successful sports
people from other more high profile sports. It has been a pleasure to
work with Dom as she always gives her all and is so keen to improve
herself which in turn kept me on my ties and I will always be grateful
to her as I have also learnt a lot from her. Finally I wish her all the
best in her new career. With her personality and dedication I know she
will be a success. She has been and will continue to be a fantastic
role model to future squash players. Graeme Williams (her coach)
I have known Dom for around 15 years now and the phrase that springs to
mind as I look back over the years is 'never a dull moment!'. Since our
days as England juniors through to recent times as senior
internationals, Dom has always been a great friend, a true professional
and a source of constant entertainment! Without a shadow of a doubt Dom
will be greatly missed on the WISPA tour, there really is nobody like
her. Many of my fondest memories so far involve Dom and that is of no
coincidence...she brought so many laughs and moments to tournaments in
a way I'm not sure anybody else could. As a player Dom has always been
a completely dedicated professional and given her all to her sport,
resulting in a hugely successful career and one that she should be
extremely proud of. Dommers, I know the decision to retire was not
taken lightly as much as your love for the game but I have no doubt
that by using the same qualities you put into your squash career, your
professional training career will continue to blossom into another
successful passage of your life. It's a sad time in some ways, but
massively exciting in others.
Lots of love Jenners Jenny Duncalf