It was never going to be easy for Wales’s over 60s women’s team at the home internationals in Galway. Jill Campion, Lynne Davies and Sîan Johnson are all at the upper end of the over 65s age category, plus, with just three in a team, there was no margin for error.
In their first match, v England, Sîan couldn’t quite get into her stride against Julie-Ann Pegram, losing in a closely fought 4 games. Next Jill Campion got off to a good start against former British National Champion Hilary Kenyon, taking the first game, but Hilary then used her volleys and cross-court drops to good effect to win the next three games relatively comfortably. Lynne Davies saved the day by beating Tammy Bennet in a very tight five setter, giving an overall result of a 1-2 loss.
The next morning Wales faced Ireland. Sîan played well to be Josie Grogan comfortably 3-0. Jill had a similarly good 3-0 win against Rosie Barry, as did Lynne against Mary Keyes. The team’s spirit lifted slightly – at least third place assured, and, importantly, Scotland had beaten England 3-0….
The Welsh ladies were unable to have much impact on the strong Scottish team of Sue Strachan, the current European over 60s champion, at 1, Rosie Wilson at 2, and Julia Horsburgh at 3, all losing 3-0, leaving Scotland the clear overall winners.
Captain Jill Campion said, “We knew that beating Scotland and England would be tough but also knew that on the day the matches could go either way. Lynne played exceptionally well, but Sîan and I both felt we didn’t quite do ourselves justice. As ever, it was great to get together with squash friends, some of whom we only get to see once or twice a years and it is always a pleasure playing at the Galway Lawn Tennis and Squash club. This year there was the added pleasure of seeing the Welsh 35-40s team fight their way to victory, playing superb squash to beat the other three teams,
