Tours

A number of Sports Academy players trained hard to be selected for the three weeks Squash Tour of Canada 2010. Eventually three players were chosen and by December 2009 players were training both on court and in the gym at Hunts County Squash Club. Helped by International Sports Academy coach Tania Bailey and Elite SA Coaches Galen Le Cheminant and David Morgan (Tour Leader) the players looked fit and ready to go by the time of their departure - August 24^th: during the early part of 2010, one of the players Ahmed El Refee was offered an internship in London that prevented him from travelling, so the remaining players Robert Dadds & Peter Dickinson set off for Calgary where they were met by David Morgan who had travelled out earlier to approve all the arrangements. Over a three week period, Robert and Peter played fifteen matches against club sides, made up of the best senior and junior players the clubs could turn out. In addition, the two players competed in the prestigious Sun & Surf Squash Tournament in Vancouver, with players from all over North and South America playing. From Vancouver there was two day visit to Whistler - setting of The Winter Olympics - where as well as a match against a club there, rides on the ski lifts to the top were part of the itinerary. In Victoria on Vancouver Island, both players joined in a Summer Training Camp at Victoria SC, where National Squash Coach Stuart Dixon put players through their paces and organised matches with past Pro-Tour players. With matches most evenings across Alberta, and BC and Training Sessions with David Morgan in the mornings, the players had to make do with afternoons to see the country, but with great hosts to look after them, they were able to visit Banff in The Rocky Mountains, shop, dine out on many occasions and get a real feel for The Canadian way of life. Match results were excellent with an overall 90% win from all matches: loses were mainly to National Team players from Canada. Both Peter and Robert agreed it was not just a great experience to play squash daily under tough competitive conditions, but also the experience of living in another country and mixing with so many great squash playing families, was one not to have been missed!

Playing on Tour can be tough: living out of a suitcase and eating between training and playing quite tiring, but both players handled it well. "This is my 12^th Junior Squash Tour of Canada since I lived there from 1975 - 84" said David Morgan, "and each time I am surprised at the great way young players respond to the pressure. Both Rob and Pete gave of their best, showed marked improvement and were praised wherever they went for their professional approach to playing, good manners and continuous humour: I had said that 2010 would be my last Long Distance Tour, but if I am sure that I can get the same cooperation, hard work and results that I got last year, I may well find myself on another Canada Tour in 2012-13! It is really up to our current group of young players to show they are up for it"

All Sports Academy Tours are approved by England Squash and supported financially by fund raising, sponsorship contributions and in particular by Harrow Sports, who both in the UK and Canada, provided a complete range of equipment from rackets, clothing, shoes, luggage etc.

Future Tours include Portugal, Germany, Holland, N.Ireland and clubs in the UK.

SA Head Coach Colin Griggs and General Manager James Powley are always keen to discuss with any junior players interested, plans for future trips! Please use the form on this page if you require further information.

"Tour Coach David Morgan with Rob and Pete"