SQUASH MASTERS Special Edition EUROPEAN MASTERS CIRCUIT 2014-15

RANKING IS A CHALLENGE

Pavel SladecekOPENING IN

PRAGUE

Colin WhiteVAPIANO BUDAPES

2 EUROPEAN MASTERS

Introduction .................... 04

Masters News .................. 04

Czech Masters Open ....... 05

Budapest Vapiano ........... 06

Polish Open Cracow ......... 07

Dear Master Squash Players,

Welcome to this 1st edition of the newsletter. We know you can find many of these photos and results online, but we wanted to create something very visual, well lets agree at our age it becomes more difficult to read, so photos are better!

We know that Masters Squash is one of the fastest growing sections in our sport, so we wanted this newsletter to show the many positive aspects from the 1st ESF Masters Circuit in 2014, hopefully we have learned from our mistakes, we know there have been some, but we plan an even bigger, but better circuit in 2015.

Many times we are always looking for “new” squash players, but why not try to persuade some of your “old” squash friends to get back into the sport? Motivate them to play again with the idea to travel to some great cities in Europe, to enjoy some great squash, but the chance to see old friends and make new ones!

Keynote Speech

SQUASH MASTERS

MASTERS CIRCUIT NEWSLETTER

EDITORIAL STAFFColin White

Pavel Sladecek

CO N T E N T

3EUROPEAN MASTERS

Director Jackie Robinson

Committee MembersPeter Koeck

Mark Woodliffe Pavel Sladecek Davide Babini Colin White Martin Wren

ESF MASTERS SUB-COMMITTEE

27 Feb-01 MarSpanish Open Masters

Valencia, Spain

10-12 AprCzech Open Masters

Prague, Czech Republic

15-17 MayHungarian Masters Open

Budapest, Hungary

26-28 JunGerman Open Masters

Krefeld, Germany

27-30 Aug European Masters Championship

Malmo , Sweden

11-13 Sep Italian open Masters

Riccione, Italy

1-9 OctEuropean Masters Games

Nice, France

23-25 OctPolish Open Masters

Poland

27-29 NovDutch Open Masters

Netherlands

2015 EVENTS

Italian Riccione Open .... 08

Krefeld International .... 09

Dutch Open .................... 10

Ranking Is a Challenge .... 11

World Masters 2016 ....... 11

CO N T E N T

4 EUROPEAN MASTERS

Good news Peter Köck on the road to recovery

The potential of developing a European competition programme for masters has been discussed for a few years, and the success of this year’s inaugural European Masters’ Circuit shows there’s a huge appetite amongst masters for more high quality competition, with a social buzz, in attractive European cities.

I’d like to thank the ESF Masters’ Committee for their hard work in launching the Masters’ Circuit, and the 6 venues for hosting tournaments.

2015 will be even busier, with growing interest to host masters events, alongside European Masters Championships in Malmo in late Aug and the European Masters Games in Nice, France in October. Who suggested masters players need rest!

Thank you to all those players who have supported the European Masters events this year, . . . . . and please encourage your friends to enter some of next year’s events.

Wouldn’t it be great if we could eventually grow the Masters Circuit to something like the European Junior Circuit with its 28 tournaments in 27 different nations/cities ? Why not ?

Best wishes, Zena

ESF are pleased to be able to report that Peter Köck, long standing member of the Championships Committee and a member of the more recently formed Masters Committee, has made some good progress after suffering two strokes during the summer. These left Peter in a critical condition but the latest news is that he is out of intensive care and now being cared for by a health centre where he continues to make progress. We know the whole squash community will wish Peter all the best during this recovery period.

The recently formed ESF Masters committee met for the first time in Prague during the EMIC. It was agreed to set up a Masters circuit in 2014 with six events. They also acknowledged that a ESF Masters Ranking system was urgently needed. We were delighted that events took place In

Zena WoolridgeESF President

Prague (April), Budapest (May) Riccione (Sept) Krefeld (Oct) Krackow (Oct) and we look forward to the Dutch event at the end of November. All events were well supported, and much enjoyed by all. Our sincere thanks to all the event organizers and sponcers. Sadly we have to report that the hoped for Ranking

Jackie Robinson, Masters Sub-Committee Directorsystem has not yet fully been established but we are assured by the ESF main Board that this will happen in 2015. Next year will be a busy time for ESF Masters, with 6 or more Circuit events, the EMIC in Malmo at the end of August and the European Masters games in Nice in early October.

5EUROPEAN MASTERS

At the beginning of 2014 year started ESF Masters Tour and first tournament was Czech Masters Open in Prague, Czech Republic. This tournament was held first time as an international event in 2012 and was entered by hundred of players from all over Europe. The following year tournament was not organised as there was European Mas-ters Championships 2013 in Prague. The first official event of new European Masters Tour with less than 80 players successfully launched a new project in April. Not mentioned domestic players the largest group came from Germany numbering 20 players.

There was opened 10 categories with the largest group of men 50+. As regards the results the podium in two youngest categories of men 35+ and 40+ was occupied exclusively by do-mestic players. In other groups medals were shared among to players also from other countries.

You can find more details about the tournament on the website http://www.cz-squash.net/Pages/czmo2014/draw_en.aspx

M35+ 1. Vit Barnas [3/4] 2. Ales Knotek [2] 3. Vlastimil Kozak [1] M40+ 1. Petr Vesely [1] 2. Jan Dansa [2] 3. Lubos Walter [3/4]

W40+ 1. Iris Stockbauer [1] 2. Denisa Linhartova [2] 3. Nina Janisch [3/4]

M45+ 1. Lahourcade Guillaume [3/4] 2. Istvan Bottyan [3/4] 3. Peter Balint Nagy

W45+ 1. Elanit Alayof [1] 2. Doris Lewalski [2] 3. Romana Adamková [3/4]

M50+ 1. Jonas Ulvsback [1] 2. Jean-Marc Fraipont [3/4] 3. Marko Kruse [2]

M55+ 1. René SCHYNS 2. Uwe Marrek [2] 3. Jaroslav Zajpt [3/4]

M65+ 1. Bernd Götsch [1] 2. Enzo Zini [3/4] 3. Dieter Jörn [3/4]

Tournament ResultsCzech Masters Open 2014

There is full photogalery on https://www.flickr.com/photos/squashacademy/collections/72157643424429725

Women’s +35 1. Brabcova Sona: Czech Rep2. Barbara Bene: Hungary3. Termel Katalin: Hungary

Mens’s +35 1. Török Albert András: Hungary2. Terlecki Jarek Poland3. Fézler Zsolt Hungary

Women’s +40 1. Linhartova Denisa: Czech Rep2. Udvardni Nóra: Hungary3. Füzy Lenka: Czech Rep

Mens’s +40 1. Oliveira Gilberto: Germany2. Lőrinczi Attila: Hungary3. Vaclav Uhlir: Czech Rep

Women’s +45 1. Lacoste Sylvie: France2. Adamkova Romana: Czech Rep3. Becker Störte: Germany

Mens’s +45 1. Marcolini Alessandro: Italy2. Štěpán Marko: Czech Rep3. James Hyatt: England

Women’s +501. Lewalski Doris: Germany2. Alayof Elanit: Israel3. Bryars Claire: France

Mens’s +50 1. Sorio Giorgio: Switzerland 2. Fraipont Jean-Marc: Belgium3. Cabassi Luca: Italy

Mens’s +55 1. Orduna Sergio: Switzerland 2. Marrek Uwe: Germany3. Schyns René: Belgium

Men’s +60 1. Ustariz Juan: Spain2. Götsch Bernd: Germany3. Eric Robinson: Wales

Vapiano Budapest Masters

6 EUROPEAN MASTERS

Tournament Results

The 2nd stop on the new ESF Masters Circuit, was the Vapiano sponsored, Budapest Masters at Griff Squash Club in Budapest. 85 players from 15 different nations took part, with 7 nations taking home titles, in the 3 day squash event, which also included:

Thursday: Meet and Greet-Live coverage of British Open

Saturday: Welcome Drink, snacks and Live Music at the flgship Va

piano restaurant on Fashion Street in downtown Budapest.

Friday: Free Night Bus Tour around Budapest, with a Welcome Drink and Live Music at the Caledonia Scottish Pub.

We were very proud to orgaise the 1st Vapiano Budapest Masters, and we are already planning for a big-ger, better event in May 15-17.

So please join us at the 2nd Va-piano HUNGARIAN Masters 2015.

Polish Masters Cracow

7EUROPEAN MASTERS

Polish Masters Squash Open which took place October 23-25th in Cracow this was the next stop on the ESF Masters Circuit. It was the first time for event of this kind to be organized in Poland.

We are very happy and proud to announce that Polish Masters Squash Open was a successes and the players enjoyed it greatly. We had 77 players from 15 countries playing in 8 events with 6 men and 2 woman categories. The Tourna-ment was graced with special presence of European Squash Federation Masters Sub- Commit-tee- the director Jackie Robinson and committee members-Martin Wren and Colin White.

We had social events each night, with lots of players attending, es-pecially at the last one, closing par-ty in “Baroque Restauratnt&Coctail Bar”.

Whole event concluded with clos-ing ceremony, on which prizes and medals for the top players were awarded personally by the Masters Sub- Committee, President of Polish Squash Federation, Tomasz Banasiak and Tournament Director, Maciej Maciantowicz. A special thanks must go to Colin White who helped so much over the tourna-ment.

MEN

M35+1. Rybalchenko Kostiantyn2. Spoljar Domagoj3. Maciantowicz Maciej

M40+1. Aroyo Isaac2. White Colin3. Krawczyk Jan

M45+1. Lahourcade Guillaume2. Blanco Miguel3. Nagy Peter

M50+1. Ulvsback Jonas2. Canot Frederic3. Paal Felix

M55+1. Frietsch Günter2. Blöink Hans Jürgen3. Owen Chris

M65+1. Valentim Fernando2. Robinson Eric3. Adams David

WOMEN

W35+1. Witkowska Dominika2. Leiber Stefanie3. Kulp Alicja

W45+1. Kulp Alicja2. el Ghanam Petra3. Adamkova Romana

Tournament Results

8 EUROPEAN MASTERS

Italian OpenThe inaugural Italian Open Masters event which was held in Riccione 12-14 September was a great success. Overall there were 128 competitors from all over the world including America, England, France and Germany. The event attracted many top Masters players the most noteable of which was the ex World Top 20 player Renan Lavigne (France) who won the Over 35 competition. The Over 50 category was particularly popular with a full draw of 32 players. The M50+ tournament was won by the Swedishman Jonas Ulfsback in a spectacular final against the englishman Mark Hildred. Riccione lends itself well to hosting International events due to it’s coastal location and booming tourist Industry. Having events in Riccione always creates a friendly / holiday atmosphere for the competitors and this years Italian Open Masters was no exception with us recieving good feedback from the players. We look forward to the Italian Masters being a regular event in the ESF masters calendar. We hope you have enjoyed the tournament here in Riccione, and hope to see alla of you again next year!

M35

1 - Renan Lavigne (Francia)

2 - Andrea Torricini (Italia)

3 - Paul David Johnson (Galles)

W35

1 - Melanie Kreisel (Germania)

2 - Stefanie Leiber (Germania)

3 - Cristina Di Sacco (Italia)

M40

1 - Lorenzo Conti (Italia)

2 - Dan Jansa (Rep. Ceca)

3 - Andrea Guatelli (Italia)

M45

1 - Alessandro Marcolini (Italia)

2 - Guillarme Lahourchade (Belgio)

3 - Pierluigi Morelli (Italia)

W45

1 - Felicitas Dohring (Germania)

2 - Storte Becker (Germania)

3 - Wolff Cornelia (Germania)

M50

1 - Jonas Ulfsback (Svezia)

2 - Mark Hildred (Inghilterra)

3 - Giorgio Sorio (Svizzera)

M55

1 - Sergio Orduna (Svizzera)

2 - Renè Schyns (Belgio)

3 - Klaus Wetzstein (Germania)

M60

1 - Sergio D’Arrigo (Spagna)

2 - Udo Dackwieler (Germania)

3 - Cosimo Iacopetta (Italia)

M65

1 - David Michael Adams (Inghilterra)

2 - Claudio Hassler (Svizzera)

3 - Alex Sinclair (Scozia)

Tournament Results

9EUROPEAN MASTERS

The 17th German Masters was held in Krefeld with 166 participants from 14 nations , a new record for the event and making it the biggest of the ESF Masters Circuit so far!!!

A great Squash event was held, with a lot of great matches held over the 3 days in every age group. The results meant that the titles were divided between 6 countries:12 x Gold to Germany 3 x Gold to England 1 x Gold to Belgium, 1 x France, 1 x Scotland 1 x Sweden

Of course no event in Germany, especially Krefeld is complete without the.....”wait for it” “LEGENDARY” players party which lasted until 05:00 in the morning, you also wonder how the club and players were able to be ready for the play only a few hours later.

In summary, a very successful event was held, but no event can have that success without a lot of hard work and planning by the organisers, who did a great job and everybody left happy.

Hopefully even the ones that partied until 05:00 :-)

W35: 1. Alison Goy (ENG) 2. Sabrina Gerhards (D) 3. Michaela Schneider-Niefer (D)

M35: 1. Stefan Leifels (D) 2. Robert Stelzl (D) 3. Jaroslaw Terlecki (PL) W40: 1. Melanie Kreisel (D) 2. Iris Stockbauer (D) 3. Denisa Linhartova (CZ)

M40: 1. Gilberto de Oliveira (D) 2. Ralf Ibele (D) 3. Götz Mönninghoff (D) W45: 1. Anke Achtermann (D) 2. Claudia Kruse (D) 3. Monika Wesselkamp (D)

M45: 1. Guillaume Lahourcade (B) 2. Stepan Marko (CZ) 3. Daniel Oeschger (CH) W50: 1. Silvie Lacoste (FRA) 2. Doris Lewalski (D) 3. Alicja Kulp (ENG)

M50: 1. Jonas Ulvsback (SWE) 2. Giorgio Sorio (CH) 3. Frederic Canot (FRA)

M55: 1. Simon Gogolin (SCO) 2. Leif-Persson Viberud (SWE) 3. Udo Kahl (D)

M60: 1. Stuart Hardy (ENG) 2. Gerard Sidoun (FRA) 3. Alan Hathway (ENG)

W65: 1. Ingrid Keuntje (D)

M65: 1. Terry Norman (ENG) 2. Phillip Guy (Wal) 3. Bernd Götsch (D)

M70: 1. Hans Peter Rihm (D) 2. Klaus Wegner (D) 3. Tony Schnell (D)

Tournament Results17. Int. German Masters

M70+1. Desmond Sacco / South Africa2. Tony Schnell / Germany3. Harry Brinkmeier / Germany

M65+1. Terence Norman / England2. Claudio Hassler / Switzerland3. Harvey Richard Kember / England

M60+1. Stuart Hardy / England2. Peter Karlsson / Sweden3. Erik Kooijman / Netherlands

M55+ 1. Sergio Orduna / Switzerland2. René Schyns / Belgium3. Chris Owen / Wales W45+/50+1. Sylvie Lacoste / France2. Doris Lewalski / Germany3. Alicja Kulp / England

M50+1. Jonas Ulvsback / Sweden2. Giorgio Sorio / Switzerland3. Luca Cabassi / Italy

M45+1. Fredrik Johnson / Sweden2. Alessandro Marcolini / Italy3. Daniel Werner Oeschger / Switzerland W35+/40+1. Karin Thiel / Netherlands2. Bea de Dreu-Spitse / Netherlands3. Stefanie Leiber / Germany

M40+1. Gilberto De Oliveira / Germany2. Alex Kramer / Netherlands3. Isaac Aroyo / Italy

M35+ 1. Dave De Beule / Belgium2. Filippo Madella / Italy3. Paul David Johnson / England

Dutch Masters Open

Tournament Results

The first Dutch Open Masters

edition organized by the squash

federation was a great success.

With 86 players from around 20

different countries we created a

solid base to grow in the coming

years. One of the highlights of this

edition was the nightly boat tour

through the canals of Amsterdam.

At the end of this trip a large

amount of the players went for a

drink in the centre of Amsterdam.

The day after the final matches

were played and so the tourna-

ment ended with some exiting fi-

nals. We are looking forward to the

next edition and hope to welcome

you all next year!

10 EUROPEAN MASTERS

Ranking Is a ChallengeIt is with great regret that the Masters Rankings have not been issued as promised. We have been in constant communication with Visual Reality the computer firm dealing with these rankings for over a year but we still await the final details. You might ask why we continued with this company but it seems logical to use them as they

already do the WSF and ESF Junior Rankings. We are mindful that the success and enjoyment of the ESF Masters circuit is very dependant on these rankings and we are hopeful that they will be delivered shortly.Last info after the deadline - RANKINGS NOW AVAILABLE !!

As a sporting event of international dimen-sion, the European Masters Games have developed a concept that fulfills the ambi-tion of Nice: a European sports capital and an exemplary city when it comes to setting up innovative strategies for seniors. Being the player of your own physical condition lifelong is an important message that I want to share with all, and this is why I was keen to position Nice as host city of this competi-tion to turn it into a major event in France in October 2015. A showcase of health through sport. Nice picked 27 sports, which will be practiced on 40 venues. Those sports match the city’s potential, culture and the profile of Masters Games’ participants over the years.More details you can find on the website www.emg-nice2015.fr

European Masters, Malmo, Aug 27-30

The WSF Masters Championships in 2016 have been awarded to South Africa (RSA) and is planned to take place in Johannesburg in August of that year. South Africa have a tremendous record in com-peting in, and organizing, world masters events and we are sure that this event will be both popular and very well organized.

I have been appointed WSF Techni-cal Delegate for this event and will be carrying out an inspection visit in mid February this year and following this much more informa-tion will be available - watch this space…. Martin Wren

World Masters 2016

European Masters Games , Nice, Oct 1-9

27-30 August, Malmo, Sweden.The biennel EMIC returns to the Masters calendar in 2015, with the fourth champion-ships being held in the squash capital of Sweden, Malmo. The beautiful city follows in the footsteps of Krefeld, Porto and Prague in hosting the event. Considering how success-ful the 2013 event was in the Czech capital, Malmo will have to work hard to create the same buzz, but we are confident they will, with all the knowledge and experience they have of holding successful squash events. Just to remind you, Prague had nearly 500 players across all age groups, plus a glass court and live streaming on the Internet. With the ESF Masters Circuit into its second year, we are hoping that these numbers can be the same or maybe even more! Why not spend a long weekend in Malmo playing some squash, enjoying Swedish hospitailty, catching up with some old friends or mak-ing some new ones? For further details contact Thomas Troedsson at thomas.troedsson@europeansquash.com

11EUROPEAN MASTERS

2015 EVENTS

27 FEB-01 MAR SPANISH OPEN MASTERS, VALENCIA, SPAIN

10-12 APR CZECH OPEN MASTERS, PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC

15-17 MAYHUNGARIAN MASTERS OPEN, BUDAPEST, HUNGARY

26-28 JUNGERMAN OPEN MASTERS, KREFELD, GERMANY

27-30 AUGEUROPEAN MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIP, MALMO, SWEDEN

11-13 SEP ITALIAN OPEN MASTERS RICCIONE, ITALY

1-9 OCTEUROPEAN MASTERS GAMES, NICE, FRANCE

23-25 OCTPOLISH OPEN MASTERS, POLAND

27-29 NOV DUTCH OPEN MASTERS, NETHERLANDS

Special Edition EUROPEAN MASTERS CIRCUIT 2014-15