Foyle show improvement in squash invitational

The latest squash invitational took place at the Mid Ulster Club based at Cookstown recently which featured a representative team from Foyle.

Jude Anderson led her team Paul McCusker, John Crockett and Riain McLaughlin with a mission to give a tough yet fun account of themselves amongst the five teams competing from across the north west.

Matches got underway from 09.30am at the Cookstown Leisure Centre which has a fabulous setup for spectator squash due to its two neighbouring glass backed courts with tiered seating for audience enjoyment.

This was the second time such an event was held since Brooke Park in Derry in October which saw Ballyshannon club from Donegal emerge as victors and Foyle with the wooden spoon.

Three matches were held between like-ranked players in a round robin format until all 12 matches were played to yield the final tally with one point per 3 game match. An exhibition match was held at the end as a spectator finale between William Nicholson (Mid Ulster) and Ivan O'Mahoney (Ballyshannon) which lived up to the billing as expected and didn't disappoint, Mid-Ulster winning that contest 3:0.

In summary, Mid-Ulster emerged overall winners this time round on 27 points pipping Strabane into second on 24. In a reversal of fortune Ballyshannon came last on 12 points while Foyle improved into third spot with Limavady maintaining 4th.

A huge thank you must go to the organisers at Midulster at Cookstown LC and their supporters on council. There is obviously great energy there in what will be only their first year of foundation. Next round of the Invitational Squash Series will be in May and hosted by Limavady in the Northwest Squash Hub at Brooke Park, Derry.

Squash is now finally part of the sporting fraternity for Los Angeles Olympics 2028, and we wish to build on this platform of opportunity to encourage grassroots initiatives from interested schools in the northwest, learning together and indeed having fun competing.

Interested readers are signposted to more information about squash in the northwest by respective facebook social media Facebook.com/FoyleSquash. Options also available at LimavadySquash, StrabaneSquash, Mid-UlsterSquash or BallyshannonSquash.

One can also email foylesquash@gmail.com or Whatsapp/text call 07764499495.