behindtheglass ISSUE 01 / February 2018

Time“ to end the season on a high ” Exclusive interview with Commonwealth Games Team England star Declan James

Premier Squash League University of Nottingham vs Warwick & Kenilworth 27 February 2018 David Ross Sports Village Standings Premier Squash League 2017/18 DIVISION A P W L TF TA GF GA Pts University of Nottingham 6 6 0 21 9 69 45 99 Warwick/Kenilworth 5 3 2 13 12 50 46 65 University of Birmingham Lions 6 2 4 13 17 53 60 63 Pontefract/Woodfield 5 2 3 14 11 52 45 62 UWE /Elite Squash Bristol 6 2 4 9 21 46 74 51

DIVISION B P W L TF TA GF GA Pts Tradition @ RAC 6 5 1 18 12 67 54 92 Coolhurst 6 3 3 17 13 62 51 77 Bexley 5 3 2 15 10 55 34 70 Luxfords St George’s Hill 5 2 3 13 12 50 48 60 Chichester 6 1 5 7 23 37 73 42

niversity of Nottingham extended their In Round 7, tonight’s visitors Warwick & Kenilworth unbeaten run in the Premier Squash League to hosted Birmingham Lions in a tie that went to a U13 matches, with a comprehensive 5-0 away deciding match thanks to an impressive comeback win victory against Elite Squash Bristol. Bristol’s only from Birmingham’s over Nafiizwan points of the game coming as Brian Byrne and Josh Adnan. The home side had a ‘secret weapon’ though, Masters stretched Nottingham’s top two of Adam with world #3 Ali Farag making his debut and the Murrills and Declan James to five games. Victory Egyptian duly clinched the match with a three-nil win. tonight will secure top spot in the PSL resulting in a playoff tie against the second placed finisher in a wide Welcome open Division B. Welcome to David Ross Sports Village for Tonight’s fixtures tonight’s Premier Squash League action between University of Nottingham and Dan Tilley DIVISION A Director of Sport Warwick University of Nottingham Pontefract/Woodfield Bristol he University is delighted to be of only a handful of permanent all We are delighted to welcome vs working in partnership with glass courts in the UK. our friends at Warwick this 27th February, 7pm TNottingham Squash Rackets evening, in what is their club and Toyota Nottingham to host The University helps to provide a inaugural season in the DIVISION B tonight’s Premier Squash League significant opportunity for young Premier Squash League. It is match. The University has a rich and people to secure a world class great to see the league being Luxfords St George’s Hill proud heritage in squash with players education, alongside one of the expanded and developed. vs Coolhurst such as Gawain Briars, Emma Beddoes most comprehensive higher and Peter Marshall graduating from education performance squash Finally, I would like to thank 27th February, 7pm the University. programmes in the country, and Toyota Materials Handling for NEXT UP - ROUND 9 we hope this venture with the their continued sponsorship Tradition @ RAC University of Birmingham Lions The investment in David Ross Sports PSL will further embed our status of our Premier Squash League vs Bexley vs University of Nottingham Village has reinforced our intent with as one of the leading Universities team. I hope you all enjoy the 27th February, 7pm 13th March, 7pm squash following the creation of one for squash in the UK. action with us this evening.

2 behindtheglass / February, 2018 behindtheglass/ February, 2018 3 Interview “We have a great opportunity to press forward and close out the season in with Declan James style.” It has been a metoric rise for Declan James, in a year that has seen him selected for the Team England squad who will shorly head out to the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth games.

orn in Nottingham, 24 year What kind of old squash star Declan James challenge will Bhas quickly become a crowd favourite for University of Not- Warwick bring this tingham. James overcame his first evening?They have a world round loss to Chris Simpson by class squad so if they bring their beating him over 5 sets in the team at it’s full strength it will return leg at the Parks. The require season best performances valuable point secured a fifth from every member of our squad. straight victory for University of It’s a challenge we relish. Nottingham, all but securing top

spot in the PSL back in January. Your ranking is now His career has grown from up to #26 in the world, strength-to-strength since he burst onto the PSA World Tour in which part of your 2013 as an unseeded player to game has developed triumph at the Nottingham Open to the most?I wouldn’t say one win the first tour title of his career. thing in particular. It is just the Just 20-years-old at the time, the culmination and onwards progress former European Junior Champion of years of hard work, working announced himself on the big stage away at lots of little things. It’s and has never looked back going on funny as a season can turn on one to win successive PSA Tour Titles or two good results sometimes. I’ve ith James rising up the and developing into one of the most That’s now thirteen We’re close to the post “They have gained some momentum and I’m rankings early this year, established players on the circuit. matches unbeaten in season. Who would looking to carry that forward. Wthere is no doubt that the a world class possibilities are endless in 2018. He Last year, James narrowly missed the league, how hard you like to face in the squad so if they will line up in the all glass court out to Mohamed Elshorbagy, the What are your goals is it to maintain that playoffs? I’m not too worried tonight looking to extend his world number 1 and defending about who we face in the playoffs, bring their for 2018?Pushing into the top dominance?A lot of those fantastic run and deliver another champion, in the Tournament if we make them! When it gets to team at it’s full 20 is a nice goal. Mainly, I concern matches have been 3-2 which crucial point for the high flying of Champions’ giving the world that stage you have to put out your myself with enjoying my squash, indicates we have shown a lot of University of Nottingham. a glimpse of what is to come strength it will improving as a player and a person. heart even when having to come best side against whoever you are with an emphatic high energy As ever, I want to push the top guys from behind. But when you get on playing just to have a chance. require performance. Tonight’s one to watch and give them something to think a run like that you start to believe We are defending champions and season best about. 2017 ended really positively so we know what it takes to come We caught up with Declan to find out you can win any match in any Declan James so I believe 2018 will be even circumstance which is a great through a playoffs, something that performances”. more about his fantastic season and I know we can achieve again. v Iker Pajares look ahead to what his bright future better. thing to carry forward. has to offer >> All Glass Court, DRSV

4 behindtheglass / February, 2018 behindtheglass/ February, 2018 5 THE VISITORS WARWICK Travelling from the West Midlands, Warwick look set to bring a strong side to David Ross Sports Village and the squad has been blessed with a number of internationals in their PSL team this season. irmingham-born Sarah-Jane Perry Ribadas before opening his PSA World made her Tour breakthrough in Tour title account later in the year at the B2011 as she defeated Tania Bailey City of Prague Open. in the final of the Manor Open to capture her first Tour title. Pajares beat Jan Koukal 11-8, 11-9, 8-11, 11-6 to lift his maiden PSA World Tour She collected a further three titles a year title. Further titles soon followed for later and finished 2012 in the world’s top Pajares when he beat Edmon Lopez in 30, having leapt up over 35 places in the the Otters International JSW ISC final and World Rankings since the start of the then at the Malaysian Squash Tour VII to 2017. England’s Perry also finished run- clinch victory over Chi Him Wong. ner-up at the British Open, and helped England triumph in the women’s final at More titles soon followed in 2017 this the European Team Championships as time clinching victory at the Seapiax she beat France’s No.3 Camille Serme for Lorient Open and Jersey Squash Classic just the second time in her career. when he beat Martin Svec and Jaymie Haycocks respectively. Similar to and Declan James, Sarah-Jane Perry is set to join the Warwick & Kenilworth currently lie in squad heading our to Gold Coast 2018 2nd place of Division A in the Premier Commonwealth Games where she will Squash League and will be hoping to make her Team England debut at secure a spot in the playoffs as the Oxenford Studios. regular season reaches a conclusion.

A talent who has also featured this Tonight’s one to watch season for the West Midlands side is Declan James professional squash player Iker Pajares Bernabeu who is ranked No.64 in the v Iker Pajares World. The Spanish national joined the All Glass Court, DRSV PSA World Tour in 2013 and has seen his World Rankings go from strength- to-strength to break into the world’s top 100 for the first time in 2016. In 2016, Pajares reached his first final at the Seapiax Open Lorient where he finished runner-up to Carlos Cornes

6 behindtheglass / February, 2018 NICK MATTHEW OBE NICOLAS MÜLLER FEBRUARY PSA RANKINGS Otherwise known as ‘The Wolf’, Nicolas is firmly established as Nick Matthew OBE first drew the Switzerland’s greatest player, #8 Nick Matthew squash world’s attention when, in being the only Swiss player ever to 2006, when he became the first reach top 20 in the World rankings #24 Nicolas Mueller English player to win the British in 2012. He then reached a #26 Declan James Meet the Open men’s title since 1939. From career-high of #17 in December then on his career rocketed, seeing 2014. In 2016, he reached the #62 Richie Fallows him reach World No.1 in June 2010 semi-final of the IG Open De Paris, #82 Adam Murrills and winning both the British Open where he narrowly lost out to and the World Open three times. Declan James over five games. #67 Chris Binnie The British No. 1 has enjoyed He also reached the semi-final Players #76 Chris Hanson an illustrious career which was stage of the CCI International JSW crowned by an honour from Her ISC but was knocked out of #207 Adam Auckland he University of Nottingham HANA RAMADAN CHRIS HANSON Majesty the Queen of England who the tournament by Mohamed #210 Matt Broadberry squad features some of the Joining the PSA World Tour in 2011, Chris has swiftly climbed the world awarded Matthew an OBE in her Abouelghar over three games. Tworld’s top squash players Hana claimed her first World title in rankings since making his first birthday honours list in 2015. Securing the Charlottesville Open #229 Lewis Walters including World No #6 Nick 2015 at the Brqthru Pharco Alex- PSA World Tour appearance back Having secured the Premier Squash Title in late September showed he’s #253 Owain Taylor Matthew and University of andria Open, breaking into the top in 2010. Born in New York, Chris league title last year as captain, in strong form this season. Nottingham student’s Coline 50 in the following year. Originally became the US National Champion Nick will be looking to repeat the Aumard and Hana Ramadan, from Egypt, Hana now studies at the end of the 2016-17 season as feat in 2018. CHRIS BINNIE #33 Coline Aumard both amongst the world’s top 50. physiotherapy at the University of well as winning two bronze medals Jamaican national Chris Binnie is Nottingham and won the British from the Pan American Champion- DECLAN JAMES the Jamaican and Caribbean top #67 Hana Ramadan The squad has had a fantastic Universities women’s singles title ships so heads into the Premier Declan, who is originally from ranked player. With a career-high 2017/18 season which has been in 2016 and 2017. Squash League season in top form. Nottingham, has been rapidly ranking of #72 from 2016, Chris rounded off with the selection of climbing his way up the world won his 8th Caribbean champion- HIGHLIGHTS FROM TODAY’S both Nick Matthew and Declan COLINE AUMARD RICHIE FALLOWS rankings reaching the top 25 this ship title in August 2017 without PSL GAMES AT DAVID ROSS James in the Team England squad Coline is one of the best French Richie is another of England season for the first time. After a dropping a game. Off the court, SPORTS VILLAGE who will shortly be heading out to players on the world PSA Tour, Squash’s top young players and is promising start to the year at the Chris is the Assistant Men’s coach the Gold Coast for the 2018 with a huge year in 2014 where a former National and European Tournament of Champions, Declan for the Trinity College Connecticut You can catch all the action from Commonwealth Games in she lifted three tour titles. Coline Champion. He competed in the drew attention World No.1 squash programme in the United tonight and our other matches Australia. went on to break into the World top PSA World Tour for the first time Mohamed Elshorbagy, who named States. via our Facebook page. 30 in 2016 and continues to rise aged only 17 in 2012 and has been him “certainly one of the best Here’s a quick overview of some up the rankings. Coline is also a cur- a consistent presence ever since. young English players coming www.facebook.com/ of the players who make up the rent student at the University of This year saw him break the World through. uonsport University of Nottingham Premier Nottingham, studying for an MA in top 60 after victory at the PSA Tour Squash League team. Education. event in Toulouse.

8 behindtheglass / February, 2018 behindtheglass/ February, 2018 9 Get social with us

@UoNSport behindtheglass Sponsors We would like to thank our sponsors for their fantastic support this season.

Tonight’s Teams

University of Nottingham Warwick & Kenilworth

Declan James Iker Pajares Adam Auckland Mahesh Mangaonkar Lewis Walters Mark Fuller Matt Broadberry Nick Wall Hana Ramadan Grace Gear

David Ross Sports Village Beeston Lane, Nottingham NG7 2RD

VIGATIO A N If you are interested in supporting our University of Nottingham N Premier Squash League team then please call 0115 748 7000 or email [email protected]

Phone: 0115 748 7000

Email: [email protected] Online: www.nottingham.ac.uk/sport