Thame’s professional squash player William John crowned Oxfordshire County champion
Last weekend the 17-19th April William John received his first county championship title.
The competition was held for the first time in 4 years at Racquets Fitness Centre in Thame and it was a great success with participants coming from all over Oxfordshire to compete.
The tournament started in Friday night and after coming through the first rounds of the tournament the grand final approached on Sunday afternoon. It had been a fantastic weekend of squash from players young and old but this was the long awaited match.
Prior to Will’s final Simon Martin the clubs manager and a coach alongside Will stated “We are so pleased to have Will, who started here aged 4, bidding to become Oxfordshire champion now aged 22. It’s a real testament to what can be achieved when you nurture talent in a promising child who then goes on to apply themselves to the highest degree”
Will went on to defeat Alastair Roberts in the grand final. It wasn’t an easy task with Roberts taking the first game . It looked for a minute like the local favourite might be struggling with his opponents determination and fitness. However the young pro did not yield and found another gear to his game to sail home clinching the match 3 games to 1.
After the match Will expressed “I am really excited to have won my first senior county title, I have 3 or 4 titles from my junior days but when you step into the senior game it really is difficult to make th transition. But this is a real reward for the years of hard work,”
Many of the members and participants in the tournament were thrilled to see such a high level of squash. One lady said “I can’t believe how good you guys are! It really is an inspiration to watch such a high level of squash being played here in Thame!”
Will has recently finished his professional squash tour around the world to join the Racquets team as the club pro and along with Sue and Simon have been working within the local community and especially the schools to spread their passion for the game of squash.
One teacher from a local school has noticed that after a few weeks into one of the clubs squash programs that certain children have shown increased attentions span and behaviour in lessons. The club and the school are keen to explore this correlation.
If you would like to take up the wonderful game of squash then please come and see us at your local rackets and fitness club in Thame, Racquets Fitness Centre.
