Squash News up to 2004 |
The Squash Program is supported by Neverfail Springs and Squash Victoria |
| Dates are press release or publication date. | |
|
|
Squash stars return from successful Junior Championships, 13 October 2004
Talented Moe squash players Simon Stephens (under 19) and Claire Stephens
(under 13) along with Leongatha’s Robert Templeton (under 15)
and Nicola Templeton (under13) and Bairnsdale’s Haley Wright (under
13) have recently returned from a successful Australian Junior Squash
Championships in Canberra.
These five athletes, all members of the inaugural Gippsland Sports Academy squash program were chosen to represent their state from results and tournaments in the previous 12 months and their State Junior league results. The championships, held from the 27th September to 3rd October consisted of both an individual and teams event for the 16 athletes selected.
The first week of competition saw the singles event with both Simon and Claire enjoying a fairly successful week. Simon who went into the Championships with an Australian ranking of 19 also finished with a ranking of 19 in the under 19 boy’s competition. Simon also won two of five matches in the team’s event.
Claire who started the week with a ranking of 19, tasted success in two of her five games, seeing her ranking jump to number 13. Claire said "the squash program has played a part in her success".
Nicola won two matches but was unable to hold onto that form going down in her other two matches. Nicole still holds her Australian ranking of thirteen in the under 13 age group.
Victoria came into the event with high expectations in the teams event, looking to better their fifth placed finish in the 2003 Australian Junior Squash Championships. Victoria finished fourth overall after being seeded third in the Championships. The teams overall result is calculated from the performances of all eight teams. The Under 13, Under 15, Under 17 and Under 19 boys and girls.
The Gippsland Sport’s Academy would like to congratulate Simon, Claire, Robert, Nicola and Haley and the rest of the Victorian Squad on their successful involvement at the Australian Junior Squash Championships.
Go to top of this page Recent News Summaries News Summaries to 2004
Young squash stars pull on the big "V", 10 August 2004
Five young, talented Gippsland Squash players will be heading to Canberra in September for the Australian Junior Squash Championships. Selections for the Victorian team were made last week and of the sixteen athletes competing for the Vic team, five will be from the Gippsland region.
Morwell youngster’s Brad Soutar (under 15) and Simon Stephens (under 19) were selected along with Robert Templeton from Leongatha (under 15), Nicola Templeton from Leongatha (Under 13) and Bairnsdale’s Haley Wright (under 13), who is the youngest girl on the team. All four athletes are part of the Gippsland Sports Academy squash program, which has only commenced its first year of activities in the Academy.
The Victorian team was selected by the athlete’s results from the last twelve months, tournaments in the last year and also State Junior League Results. Athletes also participated in some High Performance training camps throughout the year, and they’re performances at these camps was also taken into consideration when selecting the squad of sixteen.
The National Junior Titles will involve four different age groups, Under 13, Under 15, Under 17 and Under 19 boys and girls. Two athletes per age group, both boys and girls will represent the Victorian team. The first week of competition will involve just the individual section, which is open for anybody to enter.
The best young talent in Australia will be vying for the individual title of Australian Junior Squash champion, which will make for some spectacular matches. The second week of competition is the team’s event, where the 16 athletes will represent Victoria and compete against the six other states. The Victorian team will have high expectations going into the tournament, looking to better their fifth placed finish last year in the teams event.
Victorian Institute of Sport head coach, Roger Flynn, will be the coach of the Victorian team and Gippsland local, Neil Young will also assume a role on coaching panel. Neil has been coaching Squash for 6 years and is also Head coach for the Gippsland Sports Academy.
Simon, Brad, Robert, Nicola and Haley will be leaving in September and we wish them the best of luck at the Australian Junior Championships in the ACT.
Go to top of this page Recent News Summaries News Summaries to 2004
Squash stars return from successful Junior Championships, 13 August 2004
Talented Moe squash players Simon Stephens (under 19) and Claire Stephens (under 13) along with Leongatha’s Robert Templeton (under 15) and Nicola Templeton (under13) and Bairnsdale’s Haley Wright (under 13) have recently returned from a successful Australian Junior Squash Championships in Canberra.
These five athletes, all members of the inaugural Gippsland Sports Academy squash program were chosen to represent their state from results and tournaments in the previous 12 months and their State Junior league results. The championships, held from the 27th September to 3rd October consisted of both an individual and teams event for the 16 athletes selected.
The first week of competition saw the singles event with both Simon and Claire enjoying a fairly successful week. Simon who went into the Championships with an Australian ranking of 19 also finished with a ranking of 19 in the under 19 boy’s competition. Simon also won two of five matches in the team’s event.
Claire who started the week with a ranking of 19, tasted success in two of her five games, seeing her ranking jump to number 13. Claire said "the squash program has played a part in her success".
Nicola won two matches but was unable to hold onto that form going down in her other two matches. Nicole still holds her Australian ranking of thirteen in the under 13 age group.
Victoria came into the event with high expectations in the teams event, looking to better their fifth placed finish in the 2003 Australian Junior Squash Championships. Victoria finished 4th overall after being seeded 3rd in the Championships. The teams overall result is calculated from the performances of all eight teams. The Under 13, Under 15, Under 17 and Under 19 boys and girls.
The Gippsland Sport’s Academy would like to congratulate Simon, Claire, Robert, Nicola and Haley and the rest of the Victorian Squad on their successful involvement at the Australian Junior Squash Championships.
A squash program is likely to begin within the next couple of months. Executive Officer Robbie Coyle is thrilled by this proposed program and the efforts made so far by Victoria Squash Federation Executive Officer Paul Vear and VIS Head Coach Roger Flynn, Mr Coyle said, "Paul and Roger have been vital in the planning stages of the program and the relationship recently developed is ideal, enabling terrific access to the State Sporting Association". The Academy will conduct trials in late May for aspiring squash athletes.
Go to top of this page Recent News Summaries News Summaries to 2004
New squash program - Induction Day, 8 July 2004
The Gippsland Sports Academy conducted their induction day for the 2004 Squash program. This is the inaugural year of the squash program in the Academy, which will run until mid December this year.
There are sixteen athletes in the squad with the ages ranging from 10 – 18. The athletes are from various areas throughout Gippsland.
Craig Keamy, Rob McFadzean, Darcy StJohn, Hannah Fuhrmeister, Matthew Terrill and Haley Wright are the athletes selected from East Gippsland.
Brendan Chapman, Mark Kofoed, Matt Lang, Bradley Soutar, Clair Stephens, Simon Stephens, Jarrod Stewart and Nathan Stewart are the athletes selected from the Latrobe City.
Robert and Nicola Templeton are both from Leongatha.
The induction day was held on the 26th of June included an introduction to Academy personnel, the squash coaching panel, program sponsors and representatives Paul Vear (Executive Officer) and Roger Flynn (Head Coach) from the Victorian Squash Federation (VSF). The VSF have been critical in developing the program in conjunction with the Academy and it is envisaged that the plan for the Academies program will be mirrored in the other regions in Victoria.
The athletes also underwent a musculoskeletal assessment conducted by Academy physiotherapist’s Darren Lay and Katie Palmer. The musculoskeletal screen tests the flexibility and posture of the athletes. From the screening the assessments are forwarded to the Academy strength and conditioning consultant, Mr. Phil Shelley in order to devise a home training program to assist in rectifying any problems and enhancing any standout areas.
Academy Head Coach Neil Young and Mr. Flynn then sat with each of the athletes individually in order to get a feel for the athlete themselves and to set some achievable performance indicators. Supporters of the squash program this year are Ken Westfield Electricals (Bairnsdale), GO TO Pty Ltd and Gippsland Environmental Services.
Following all the formalities of the induction day the athletes then travelled to Morwell for a short introductory training session again under the watchful eye of the coaching panel and Mr. Flynn. There are big expectations for the athletes in the squad as the focus is to improve their technical skills but also their match play performances.
The squad will conduct its first training session this weekend at the Lakes Entrance Squash Centre, which will be followed by another three sessions. The program will conclude with the squad attending the VSF High Performance Program Camp in Melbourne in December.
Go to top of this page Recent News Summaries News Summaries to 2004
Squash is introduced as Academy’s eighth sports program, 21 May 2004
The Gippsland Sports Academy is about to launch its eighth sport, squash. The new inclusion of Squash into the 2004 program brings great excitement and change for the academy, which has put on 3 new sports in the last 12 months (Tennis, Athletics and now Squash).
The 2004 squash program aims to lift the profile of the sport within Gippsland along with improving the quality and performance of athletes in the program. Along with training, the academy covers areas such as nutrition, psychology, time management and goal setting.
Although without a program sponsor, the academy’s Executive Officer, Robbie Coyle, said it was very pleasing to see a number of contributing sponsors get on board early to help kick start the inaugural program. Ken Westfield Electrical, Gippsland Environmental Services and GoTo Pty Ltd have made the initial process that much quicker and more effective with their early financial involvement.
Another key to the inclusion of the Squash program is the State Bodies’ involvement. The Victorian Squash Foundation (VSF) through their Executive Officer, Paul Vear, has thrown their support behind the Academy. Along with Victorian Institute of Sport Head Coach, Roger Flynn, Paul has been involved in the program planning from the outset. This continues the Academies recent push of ensuring the sports programs State Bodies are involved. The benefit of such a relationship is improving access to administrative support, financial support and coaching support.
With the input of the VSF in Squash and the support from local businesses, the Squash program looks to be travelling in good stead for the future. "With all the administrative and process’ now set in stone, we can focus on identifying the talent for our 2004 squad." Coyle explained today.
The academy’s squash program is looking to have a squad of ten to twelve Gippsland athletes with the vision of expanding into the future. All squash athletes ranging from 13 to 23 years old can be selected.
The program will include various training sessions throughout 2004 and hopefully will conclude with a High Performance Camp to be run by the VSF in conjunction with the VIS coaching staff. Athletes from all levels of competition (local, state and national) are welcome to participate at the selections trials this weekend.
Selection trials for the 2004 Squash program will be conducted this coming weekend: For East Gippsland Athletes, Saturday 29th May 2004 at the Profile in Bairnsdale with a 9.00am start and concluding at around 12.00pm . For all other athletes, Saturday 29th May 2004 at the Morwell Squash Centre from 2.00pm through to 5.00pm.
Go to top of this page Recent News Summaries News Summaries to 2004