POINTFORE DEVELOPMENT EVENT

RHONDDA LEISURE CENTRE 27 FEBRUARY 2011

Squash Wales has found another superb venue for its beginners’ road show. Wynford Ludlow has been the coach in the Rhondda for many years and has encouraged so many children to take up squash. This event is being held as a “thank you” to Wynford for giving his time for the sport we all are passionate about, football! Oh, I mean squash. Wynford is a great football coach as well, but he makes sure that all his pupils can play both sports. Wynford has organised squash sessions during every school holiday, so that the school children make the most of their free time.

The Sports Centre had 4 courts, the local authority has decided to put “spinning” bikes on one court, permanently, thus reducing court time. Squash is growing in popularity at a remarkable rate and we are returning to the boom time of the eighties. It is very difficult to book a court at peak times in any leisure centre in Wales.

There were so many children who turned up to play in this inaugural event that we needed that fourth court. But, as ever, Squash Wales made the most of the situation and produced a fantastic day for players, parents, supporters, coaches and staff.

Tino Sidoli from Abercynnon, aged 8, won the Under 9 and Under 10 events, beating two Rhondda boys, Joe Thomas and Jimmi Bates. The Gammon twins. Anwen and Bethan, who play at the Vale, played out the Under 10 final. Bethan winning this time. However, Anwen came back to win the Under 11’s beating Eleri Rowlands, Llanelli, in the final. Bethan came third. Lewis Clemments from Rhiwbina, unseeded, played his way to the title all the way from the preliminaries, beating Cole Oram, another Rhondda boy, in the final.

The last two events brought together the under 14’s and Srikar Mumidi from Carmarthen, aged 9! Srikar is unique. He has no nerves. He loves to play squash. Anyone, at anytime. The only thing that bothers him is his big brother, Venkat, who could be a great squash player, but he took up badminton and is a Welsh International. Brothers!

Kathryn Field, Swansea, won the girls, beating Farrah from St Mellons in the final. Kathryn’s sister Nicola came third.

Thank you to Squash Wales staff, Hugh Griffiths and Chris Rees plus volunteer helpers, Paul Webber, Bob Perry, Ross Scaccia, Tracy Gammon, Donna Till….and sorry to anyone I’ve forgotten. 

RESULTS

Girls U10 ish

1. Bethan Gammon Vale
2. Anwen Gammon Vale
3. Lowri Woodward Llantrisant
4. Emily Burrows Rhiwbina
5. Lauren Randal  Rhondda
6. Stephanie Randal Rhondda

Girls Under 11

1. Anwen Gammon Vale
2. Eleri Rowlands Llanelli
3. Bethan Gammon Vale
4. Harriet Till Caldicot
5. Hannah Hughes Rhondda

Girls Under 14

1. Kathryn Field Swansea
2. Farrah McCarthy St Mellons
3. Nicola Field Swansea
4. Alex Hughes Rhondda
5. Emily Burrows Rhiwbina

Boys Under 9

1. Tino Sidoli Abercynnon
2. Joe Thomas Rhondda
3. William Salter Rhondda
4. Owen Evans Abercynnon
5. Ben Hughes Rhondda
6. Damien Borg Aberdare
7. Morgan Jones Aberdare
8. Osian Webber Swansea

Boys Under 10

1. Tino Sidoli Abercynnon
2. Jimmi Bates Rhondda
3. Danny Flynn Rhondda
4. Thomas Rees Rhondda
5. Samay Mehta Rhiwbina
6. William Salter Monmouth
7. Ioan Webber Swansea
8. Owen Evans Abercynnon

Boys Under 11

1. Lewis Clemments Rhiwbina
2. Cole Oram Rhondda
3. Cameron Thomas Rhondda
4. Aran Chaplin Abertillery
5. Ioan Webber Swansea
6. Macaulay Mallett Cardiff
7. Samay Mehta Rhiwbina
8. Elliot Rogers Monmouth
9. Shaun Williams Rhondda
10. Anthony Clemments

Boys Under 14

1. Srikar Mummidi Carmarthen
2. Elliot Webber Swansea
3. Tom Falmer Vale
4. Kiran Parry Aberdare
5. Calvin Till Caldicot
6. Nathan Hughes Rhondda
7. Mark Lewis Swansea
8. Alex Dighton Aberdare
9. Connor Thomas Rhondda
10. Liam Doyle Rhondda
11. Josh Haines Rhiwbina

Hope to see all these talented young players and more at the next Development Days;

·      Merthyr Leisure Centre 6^th March

·      Maesteg Sports and Social Club 10^th April

·      Llanelli Squash and Tennis Club 15^th May