EventEngine Pro Squash 2002


Info
Latest US Open
2002 Reports
Draw/Results
Qualifier
Schedule
Contenders
Tickets online
Ticket info
Seating Chart

Daily Reports
Qualifying report 1
Qualifying report 2
First
Quarters
Semis
Finals

Photos
1st Round
Quarters
Semis
Finals

Background
Players
Historical results
Memorial US Open
The 2000 US Open
The 1999 USOpen

Also
Web advertise
2001 YMG Classic
2002 TOC NY

Last updated 09/16/2002

Top Pros Hold Court for Mass Juniors
[Complete Results]

By Martin Bronstein in Boston

SQUASHTALK TODAY
World Jrs 03 Cairo
English Open 03
PanAm Games
Spanish Open
Qatar PSA & WISPA
Hyder Trophy

RECENT EVENTS
Super Series
Atlanta PSA
SLC WISPA
Kellner Doubles
Irish Open

CURRENT CONTENT
Hall of Fame
News Index
Club Links
Gear Links
E-boast Newsletter
    (sign up now free)

US OPEN BRINGS PROS, KIDS TOGETHER

Sept 13 , 2002 ©2002 SquashTalk.com

A JUMPING JAMBOREE

Junior tries to move Power off the "T" (photo © 2002 Ron Beck)

The Junior Jamboree organised by John Nimick and Event Engine filled the 16 courts with keen young squash fans and the cream of the world’s squash players. Chris Walker was making his group doing serious court sprints, Lee Beachill was coaching them on straight drives, David Palmer was playing games with his charges. “Did you manage to win a point Dave?” he was asked facetiously. “I couldn’t lose one… the only way to lose a point was to serve out.”

Another Australian, Anthony Ricketts gave coaching his best shot but admitted afterwards that he had never coached anybody in anything in his life. Even the good players – and there were some pretty mean teenagers around – found that their best drive or drop could be retrieved by a player in the top twenty, with ease and a smile on the face.

Pros and Kids Together at Harvard (photo © 2002 Ron Beck)

It all started when promoter Nimick went to Harvard and saw the glistening new 16- court facility and imagined it full of kids. With the help of the club professionals in the Boston area and the co-operation of the Massachusetts Squash Rackets Association he put together the Jamboree which gave the young squash fans a chance at top level coaching, a pizza supper and free tickets to watch the final qualifying matches.

Then Nimick told the Professional Squash Association (the players’ organisation) what he was doing and that he would like all the players in the US Open to participate. And they all turned up, every single one of them.

It is doubtful whether Harvard coach Satinder Bajwa, who is also a promoter, has ever seen so much activity in his courts. The noise level was high, and the thumping of squash balls beat out a tattoo of fun. You couldn’t wipe the grins off the face of the parents as they watched their offspring rally with Thierry Lincou, John White, Stewart Boswell and Martin Heath. And autographs were being appended to programs, shirts, shoes and anything else that would remind the kids of a special day at Harvard.

The fact that the date was September 11 did not go unnoticed. While the country remembered the appalling events of a year ago with sadness and grief, mixed with anger and outrage, the Junior Jamboree reminded us that life must go on. With laughter.

Juniors with Alex Gough (photo © 2002 Ron Beck)

Juniors with Jonathon Power (photo © 2002 Ron Beck)