Squash Club Championships

Having had squash lessons every fornight for the past six months it is time to cut the mustard. How good will I be in this year's squash club championships? Last year I finished 5th which I wasn't unhappy with, but this year I've spent money on improvement.

On the Saturday morning at eleven o'clock I find out I have a relatively easy draw. There are 32 people taking part in a mens knockout draw of five rounds. For the finalists three games on the Saturday and two on the Sunday.

The first couple of games are easy. It's always a surprise when you find out you can beat quite accomplished players easily, but squash is a game where players can be accurately grouped according to ability. There are very few real upsets. After winning the first two games 3-0 I'm cruising; feeling good and warmed up. If not actually in 'the zone', then certainly heading towards it. The only drawback with these tournaments is the waiting involved, not long enough to really go home and come back, but long enough to get bored between games.

The third round (quarter final) is on Saturday evening and against a player I regularly train with. We are evenly matched, but I usually end up winning, and so it turns out today. Having a referee and a prize to play for brings out both our competitive edges, there is a bit of bumping and pushing and some bad tempered moments but I end up winning 3-1. I cycle home at seven o'clock happy with the days work.

Sunday's semi-final starts at 12:30. I'm playing the number 1 in my squash team (I'm number 2, some might say appropriately). Again we're pretty equal so it'll be another tight game. Will my lessons pay off?

With Linda watching and in spite of a strong start, I lose the first game. I walk the second game 9-0 and then the agro starts. Arjan, my opponent, starts his dirty tricks. Arguing with the referee, a little push here, a little shove there. It's enough to break my concentration and I Iose the third game after making a number of mistakes, now 2-1 behind. The fourth game, unfortunately, goes the same way. My concentration and rhthym are once again broken up, and I can't get going. It's a frustrating way to lose.

We haven't got on to 'keeping your concentration when your opponent tries dirty tricks' in my squash lessons yet.

The 3/4 place play-off is a bit of a let down. I win easily, beating the loser from the other semi-final 3-0. So I end up third. Not bad, of course. Better than last year. But I could have done better I think.