Home Nations Squash Masters O75 Captain’s Report. Galway, Ireland.
April 2025
Venue:- Galway Lawn Tennis Club.
Accommodation Centre:- Ardilaun Hotel.
O75 Team:- Jon Phillips, Stephen Evans, Duncan Jones, Geoff Perrett.
Just planning and getting to Galway, on the west coast of Eire, for this tournament, deserves recognition of an achievement by the O75 Welsh team who arrived, with various tales of overcoming travel logistics, but with high spirits, optimism and expectation for the tournament, competing against teams representing England, Scotland and Ireland.
At O75 level, each rubber consists of 3 matches in the playing order of; 3,1 and finally no.2 and commenced on the Friday evening against the normally all conquering England team. However Jon Phillips who was winning his first Wales Masters international cap, and playing at No.1 produced an excellent performance to beat Barry Featherstone 3 games to 2, which was an outstanding individual achievement. Unfortunately the strength in depth of the England team resulted in a 2-1 match win for England.
The following morning, the Welsh team got off to a great start beating Ireland 2 matches to 1 with wins for Stephen Evans and Duncan Jones. In the afternoon Scotland were the opponents. Geoff Perrett got Wales off to a terrific start getting to within a match point of winning 3-1 but not quite able to close the match out. Stephen Evans followed this up with a 3-1 win over Alex Sinclair but leaving Scotland eventually winning the rubber 2 matches to 1 and enabling them to become the Tournament winners, as they had also beaten England in the morning session.
So in conclusion every team member can be proud of their contributed points to our total of 19, which achieved a creditable 3rd place in the tournament. Award presentations and acknowledgements were expressed after an excellent formal evening meal, at the Ardilaun Hotel. Congratulations to the Wales Ladies O55 and Wales Mens O35 teams both of whom achieved Tournament Runners-Up in their categories.
The weekend concluded with a hearty and robust evening of music and dancing where the Welsh contingent were well represented.
My thanks to Ireland Squash Masters, tournament organizers and Wales Squash for administration and support.
My thanks to the team for the effort and great team spirit and also to wives, families and friends of Wales O75 team who travelled, supported, advised and coached us during the tournament. It was indeed a great time had in Galway.
Stephen Evans
(Captain Wales O75)
