The Inaugural Inter-Club Challenge between Wenty Leagues and Canterbury Leagues Squash Clubs was held at Canterbury Leagues Club at Belmore on Saturday 4th November.

Both clubs presented very competitive squads of 18 players. There were a total of 6 divisions with a team of 3 players placed into each division based on their Sporty HQ ratings. Due to higher ratings of the Canterbury Leagues Club, player selection involved those with ratings above 700.

We had 12 Current WLSC Pennant players & 6 Friends of WLSC registered for the Challenge. For our Friends of WLSC, Cameron McElroy, Adrian Cook, Sam Abdallah, Teddy Ragg, Grant Smith & Anne Bennett, the Club Vice-Captain Wendy Fox presented each of them with the current playing shirt in gratitude for their support and for representing our club.

Each match was PAR 15 and the best of 5. As the HQ ratings were quite even across the divisions, a handicap system was not used. The winner of the day would be the Club who won the most rubbers and as there were 18 rubbers, the teams had to win at least 10. 

It was certainly a great experience. The Canterbury Leagues Squash Club have got a great set up. Similar to what we used to have at Wenty Leagues up until 1995, when the squash courts were located within the club premises. They have 3 glass-backed courts which are in great condition with plenty of room for spectators to watch. Their club room is located on the top floor overlooking the courts. It actually feels like a “Cauldron” which I am unashamedly quite envious of.

RESULTS: We dominated in Division 1 (Peter Bastow, Cameron McElroy & Michael Schultz) winning 2 matches to 1. We were competitive in Division 5 (Ricardo Blazquez, Trevor Ryan & Gary Donovan) and Division 6 (Nishen Naidoo, Fiona Briggs & Anne Bennett) both teams losing 2 matches to 1 but with lots of close matches. Unfortunately, we were outclassed in Division 2 (Clive Aviet, Adrian Cook & Sam Abdallah) and Division 3 (Teddy Ragg, Mark Forland & Grant Smith).

There were a few great 5 setters; with Sohaib Virk v Cole Wells, Peter Kim v Bernard Worsley, and Ayan Zeeshan v Teddy Ragg (15-12 in the 5th). But the highlight of the afternoon was the seesawing battle between Nancy Ricardo and Nishen Naidoo (20-18 in the 5th).

You can view all the results here: Inter-Club Challenge 2023 Match Results

THANK YOU: To all the players & spectators, especially the Friends of WLSC, thank you for proudly representing our club both on and off the court by wearing the club’s playing shirt, playing in the right spirit, for being on-time, for scoring and refereeing the matches, and for making the event run so smoothly.

A special thanks to WLSC Life Member Wendy Fox who assisted with organising & running the event. Thank you to the Canterbury Leagues Squash Club, especially their hard-working committee Christine McIntyre, Kerrie Lynch, Susan Smith, Dolor Robertson and Joanne Karaboikis for welcoming our players to their Cauldron and their hospitality in providing supper and drinks.

It is safe to say that the Inter-Club Challenge certainly achieved its objective. That is, to promote the game of squash, to socialise amongst ‘like-minded’ squashies, to build a rapport and widen the squash network. In fact, the Secretary of Canterbury Leagues Squash Club Dolor Robertson told me that it had been over 15 years since the last Inter-Club Challenge. Well, that is far too long ago! 

It is our intention to make the Inter-Club Challenge a home & away event in 2024. We will extend an invitation to the Canterbury Leagues Squash Club for the 1st Leg of the Inter-Club Challenge in mid-2024 at our Cauldron at Northmead so please look out for details in the coming months.

And for those keen on representing our proud squash in its 60th year in 2024, I have the following advice, Keep Fit, Keep Squashin’.

Regards,

John Musumeci, WLSC President

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