Oliver takes first in South Regional Junior Squash GB Tournament 2016

On the first weekend of November, Racquets Fitness Centre juniors Oliver and Emily Coulcher-Porter entered the South East Regional Junior Squash GB Tournament 2016. It was held at Winchester Tennis and Racquets club, where juniors from across the whole of the South Region travelled to compete for their place in the South Regional squad.

Oliver Coulcher-Porter pulled through to win the Under 11 boys, taking the title of South Regional Champion 2016. Oliver’s younger sister Emily, aged only 8 years old, achieved second place in the Under 11 girls.  This secures her spot as second seed in the South Regional squad.

Both were feeling confident and prepared, Oliver having won the age group above (under 13s), the same as Emily in the Abingdon Junior Open the previous week.

Despite being ill with a sickness bug a few days prior, Oliver battled his way through the top 14 opponents in the region. He proved far too strong and didn’t drop a game throughout the whole tournament. In the South Regional boys under 11 final, he played an ‘old’ rival who has an England Squash Ranking of 8 in the country. This was a test of Oliver’s mental strength, however he won 3-0, scores being 11-7 11-7 11-7. His opponent stated, “I simply didn’t know how to beat him”. At the end of the match, a rather thin and pale Oliver was able to say, “I was feeling really tired, but all the training at Racquets and in county training gave me the confidence and self-belief that I could pull through”.

Oliver is now ranked #6 in the Boys Under 11s UK Rankings.

Eight year old Emily beat her rival in the Semi finals comfortably, showing how quickly her game has come on in such a short period of time. In the South Regional girls under 11 final, Emily lost the first game 12-10. Her opponent was 2 years older and much more experienced, Emily was definitely the underdog. This was Emily’s first major final; her coach Ben Hedger  said, “she showed excellent determination and focus during her match, and I am extremely pleased with her performance even though the result didn’t go her way.” However the England coach watching felt she was more than capable of winning next time.  Emily’s current Girls Under 11s UK ranking is now #12.