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Squash
This is the first year Churcher’s have entered a team in the National Schools Squash Competition. In the first round we played extremely well but lost to both Charterhouse and Lancing College and in the second round we played Reeds and Sevenoaks. We won in matches against Reeds, however only the top team went through to the Plate final. Unlike all the other schools we have played, we do not have squash courts at Churcher’s (yet!). Our playing base is at Herne Farm in Petersfield, where we meet on alternate Fridays. Some pupils are members of clubs outside school, Lockie Mann represents Sussex Under 13s and Toby Jackson trains regularly with the county development squads.
With enthusiasm and participation building, the pupils have been lucky enough to have two coaching sessions with squash legend Peter Genever. Peter was until last year the Malaysian National Squash coach and in his playing days reached World Rank 23. He was very impressed by the standard of our team and we hope to make squash coaching a permanent fixture in the Churcher’s calendar. In the Autumn Term, our staff squash players, who are lower down the World Squash Rankings, took on the players in a fun Staff vs Pupil challenge. Mr Leysen’s enthusiastic display proved too much of a challenge for some of the players, Mr West showed off a mix of table tennis, tennis and squash skills and Mr Gibbins moved like a young gazelle on the court.
Our aim next season is to extend participation in the sport further and to be able to enter two teams in the National Schools Competition, an U14 and U17 team.
Mrs C Mann
