Wales Squash: UWIC Academy of Squash prepare for Europe after taking more titles -- What a season!

The UWIC Academy of Squash women's team looking nervous before the match (above) but overjoyed after the final result (below) - Julia Wells, the captain, with the trophy, and on her right: Amber Pereira, Shona Kerr, Becky Field, Stacey Grew and Gemma Benjamin

WALES COLLEGE SQUASH TRIUMPHS
CARDIFF - Even by the high standards set by UWIC in all its sports, their Academy of Squash had their best season ever. This season their women's first team won the British Universities Knockout Championship, for the first time, and were runners-up in the Welsh Premier League, thus qualifying for the European Club Championships.

Four seasons ago they did not have a women's team. This season they also ran a second team who, although they did not win many matches, fulfilled all their fixtures.

Their men's first team won the British Universities Premier League, the British Universities Knockout Championship and the Welsh Premier League, also qualifying for the European Club Championships. The men's second team won the British Universities 2nd Team Knockout Championship and the South Wales Division 1. The third team were unbeaten all season, winning the South Glamorgan Second Division.

BRITISH UNIVERSITIES LEAGUE
The BUSA Premier League consists of the eight teams that reached the quarterfinals of the Knockout competition the previous year. These teams then play two 'inter-county style' weekends to determine a 1 to 8 ranking. They then re-enter the Knockout competition later as seeded teams. The finals men's weekend was played at Edgbaston Priory between UWIC, Birmingham, Nottingham and Loughborough Universities.

As seeded, the final match, between UWIC and Birmingham was to decide the competition. The course of the match was determined for UWIC, by (No. 1) Greg Tippings arriving back from a PSA tournament in America with only minutes to spare before being on court, and Steve Evans (No. 3) driving up from Brighton, playing, and then having to drive all the way back because of prior work commitments.

BARRINGTON II
UWIC won 4/1, Paul Allen losing to Joey Barrington at two - it was the last match, which was a dead rubber.But the number 2, Paul Allen - member of the England U19 team that won the World Cup in Cairo - had to work harder against Joey Barrington, son of the famous Jonah. At No. 3 in the order, Wales 'A' international Steve Evans overcame Tim Richards, who was hampered with a calf injury. The UWIC No. 4, Brian O'Hora, who represented Ireland at the recent European Championships, managed to reverse a defeat by Steve Ayling in the respective Premier League match Some of the team 'relax' before the matches - watching the England-Wales rugby match did little for team harmony.

UWIC men's second team completed a memorable day for the top Welsh sports University by winning their match 5-0. Graham Williams, formerly of Wycliffe College, played at number one in the second team championship final, and showed little concern for the feelings of his opponent as he finished easy winner. Chris Davies, ranked 15 in Wales, showed the benefits of years of experience in the South Wales Premier League and won his match easily. Stafford Murray, at number 3 and who, in student terms is approaching his dotage, was the world number 1 at under 16 years of age, had racket skills that were far too advanced for him to have any problems with his match.

Gethin Lynch, from Merthyr Tydfil, had a tough match at number 4 but managed to eventually wear his player down for a 3/1 victory. John White, a first year student from England, showed considerable maturity in coming back against his opponent but eventually lost 10/9 in the 5th. Greg Dainty and James Roue were travelling reserves but had made valuable contributions to the team performances at earlier stages of the competition.

WOMEN'S ACCOLADES
This is the fifth year in a row for the first team and the third time in four years for the second team. The championship win by the women's team gave their Director of Coaching, Dr. Mike Hughes, the most pleasure. " It has taken a lot of work to get the women's side of the Academy going - this is an even bigger thrill than when the men won it the first time."

Add to these achievements that the Academy men's team recently won the South Wales Premier League by beating St. Mellon's in the new style playoffs, and that their women's team were runners-up to St. Mellon's, and the season was obviously a memorable one. Both teams are going to represent Wales in the European Club Championships this September and are currently training hard, no rest this summer for this group of students! One can see why Dr. Mike Hughes, the coach and Director of Squash at the Academy, claims that they are the best University squash teams in the world.

CLUB OF THE YEAR
The Academy of Squash was also awarded the 'Club of the Year Award' and Mike Hughes was also named 'Coach of the Year' at the UWIC Sports Personality Annual Dinner. At a university that excels at sport as UWIC does, to win both these top awards in one year is probably the greatest recognition of their achievements possible.

Finally, further congratulations go to the players of the Academy, and Wales, for having 2 players in the Great Britain Squash squad who were preparing for the World Student Squash Championships to be held in Pilsen this July - well done Paul Allen and Julia Wells.

Julia Wells receives the Woman Player of the BUSA Finals weekend award from Jonah Barrington, SRA President, still gracious even though he had to watch his son lose to UWIC yet again.

Paul Allen relaxes before the BUSA Premier League match against Joey Barrington - Thanks boys, no pressure!

Stafford Murray receiving the men's second team trophy from Jonah Barrington, Stafford was also awarded the Male Player of the Weekend trophy

Dr. Mike Hughes (right) Director of Coaching at UWIC Academy of Squash, with Miguel Ruiz, a Spanish visiting student, prepare for the long journey home by bus. Miguel was not eligible for BUSA, but a valuable member of the Premier League Squad, "I really enjoyed the weekend of great squash, superb atmosphere!"

There was a 'small' celebration when the team returned to Cardiff with a welcoming buffet provided by the Students' AU and the Chief Executive of the University, Prof. Boyle, and the Head of the School of Sport & PE, David Cobner, both bought congratulatory rounds of drinks (soft ones of course).