Derbyshire Sport website search

Enter keyword - eg. athletics

Sixth place for Ashley at Belgian Junior Open U15 event

5 November 2008

The Derbyshire Junior Boys No.1, and England No.5, represented Brampton Manor/Hallamshire Squash Clubs as 64 of the best junior players from Europe, Eastern Europe, Israel, Egypt, Pakistan, and India contested the prestigious ESF Super Series event.

In total the event attracted an entry of 365 players in the under 13/15/17/19 boys and girls categories.

It was Ashley’s first major event in Europe in his first year of under 15 competition, and he was keen to repeat the success of his last visit into Europe in 2007 when he took the under 13 Irish Junior Open title at his first attempt.

The under 15 category in Europe is a much tougher age group to play than the under 13s and for Ashley it has meant an increase in his physical training programme, more hours on court with stronger opposition, an increase in solo practice, and more time with his coaches in preparation to make the step up, and to stay competitive.

Ashley is fortunate enough to be a member of the England under 15 National squad and gets the benefit of guidance and input from his National coaches and his mentor Nick Matthew, plus he has the opportunity to train and play with the best juniors in the Country.

Ashley was seeded 13 for the tournament, and had a bye in the 1st round.

His 2nd round match was against Manuel Wanner from Switzerland, and he won 3-0, (11-2, 11-6, 11-7).

Ashley’s third round match was against Martin Svec, the No.4 seed and No.6 in Europe, from Czechoslovakia. A second year under 15 and a very strong player. Surprisingly Ashley won 3-1 in just under 30 minutes. 11-9, 3-11, 13-11, 11-8.

The Quarter Final saw Ashley play Richard Schrader, the No.5 seed, and European No.9. Again a tall strong second year under 15, from the Netherlands. This proved to be Ashley’s best match and his decisive match of the tournament. The match lasted an hour and nine minutes with one of the longest games of the tournament, Ashley lost, 3-1 to Schrader 5-11, 11-9, 20-18, 11-9.

That put Ashley into the 5-8 play off’s. Having to re-compose himself Ashley had to play his 3rd match of the day, at 8.30pm, against yet another tall strong second year under 15. This time Peter Hruzik the No.9 seed, and No.13 in Europe from Slovakia. A 42 minute match saw Ashley win 3-1. 11-3, 10-12, 11-8, 11-5.

Sunday saw Ashley play his last match, for 5th and 6th place, against 12-year-old Daniel Polichuck from Israel, the No.3 seed, for the tournament, No.25 in Europe at under 15, and the current European under 13, No.3.

Both players were tired but they put on one hell of a match as Daniel won the first game 12-10, with Ashley down 0-6 at one point. The second game followed a similar pattern with Ashley behind and pulling back only to lose 12-14. The last game was a dig deep one as Ashley went 1-10 down and fought back only to lose the game on a tight stroke decision by the referee at 8-10 to lose the 8-11 and the match 3-0.

The tournament was won by Oliver Holland from Nottingham, the England and European No.1, and No.1 seed, who won a brilliant final against the Egyptian No.2 seed, and European No.5, Ahmed Abdel Latif, 3-1.

Ashley is now preparing to compete in the Irish Junior Open at the end of November and the British Junior Open in January.