behindtheglass Sponsors We would like to thank our sponsors for their fantastic support this season. behindtheglass ISSUE 03 / March 2019 Tonight’s Teams

University of Nottingham Warwick & Kenilworth

Nick Matthew Iker Pajares Richie Fallows Mahesh Mangaonkar Adam Auckland Daniel Mekbib Lewis Walters Nick Wall

Coline Aumard Perry Sarah-Jane

David Ross Sports Village Beeston Lane, Nottingham NG7 2RD

If you are interested in supporting our University of Nottingham Premier 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 ”

University of Nottingham vs Warwick & Kenilworth 5 March 2019 David Ross Sports Village Get social with us

Welcome Welcome to David Ross Sports Village for tonight’s Premier Squash League action between University of Nottingham and Dan Tilley Director of Sport Warwick and Kenilworth. University of Nottingham

he University is delighted to be of only a handful of permanent all We are delighted to welcome our working in partnership with glass courts in the UK. friends from Warwick and TNottingham Squash Rackets Kenilworth this evening and club and Toyota Nottingham to host The University helps to provide a hope that they enjoy playing tonight’s Premier Squash League significant opportunity for young David Ross Sports Village. match. The University has a rich and people to secure a world class proud heritage in squash with players education, alongside one of the Finally, I would like to thank such as Gawain Briars, Emma Beddoes most comprehensive higher Toyota Materials Handling for and Peter Marshall graduating from education performance squash their continued sponsorship the University. programmes in the country, and of our Premier Squash League we hope this venture with the team. The investment in David Ross Sports PSL will further embed our status Village has reinforced our intent with as one of the leading Universities I hope you all enjoy the squash following the creation of one for squash in the UK. action with us this evening. @UoNSport 2 behindtheglass / March, 2019

SPO-264903-A2Poster-SocialMedia-NJT-JUN18.indd 1 18/06/2018 16:21 Standings Premier Squash League 2018/19 Northern Divison - A P W L TF TA GF GA Pts Warwick/Kenilworth 7 6 1 25 10 54 32 72 Team Pontefract 7 5 2 19 16 43 38 58 University of Birmingham Lions 7 4 3 19 16 44 38 56 University of Nottingham 7 3 4 15 20 38 44 47 Northumberland/Newcastle 7 2 5 13 22 35 50 41 UWE /Elite Squash Bristol 7 1 6 14 21 37 49 40

Southern Division - B P W L TF TA GF GA Pts Tradition @ RAC 7 5 2 25 10 55 32 70 Luxfords St George’s Hill 7 6 1 24 11 50 33 68 OFFICIAL KIT PARTNERS TO Welsh Wizards 7 5 2 20 15 46 28 61 Coolhurst 7 3 4 14 21 35 46 44 Bexley 7 1 6 12 23 37 52 40 UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM SPORT Chichester 7 1 6 10 25 31 53 34

University of Nottingham found themselves on the With two rounds to go and only the top two in each receiving end of a 5-0 defeat away to Pontefract in the division going onto the semi-finals, WarKens have a last rounds of Pre­mier Squash League action and will good lead in the Northern Division with all other teams be looking to make amends this evening. still in with a chance. The southern division looks to be VISIT PLAYERLAYER.COM between three, Tradition@RAC, Luxfords St Georges In the last round, tonight’s visitors bounced back from Hill and the Welsh Wizards. their first defeat with a comprehensive 4-1 home win over UWE/Elite Squash Bristol. This strengthened their division lead as they opened up a 14 point gap between themselves and current second place Ponte- fract.

Friday’s fixtures

DIVISION A - ROUND 8

Birmingham vs Bristol 8 March, 7pm NEXT UP - ROUND 9 University of Nottingham vs Newcastle Birmingham vs Pontefract 19 March, 7pm @ NRSC 8 March, 7pm

behindtheglass/ March, 2019 3 Interview with Adam Auckland

Injury has kept UoN Scholar Adam Auckland off court for long periods of this season, but after a succesful period of recovery he is back in action tonight looking to get amongst the points.

University of Nottingham Sport What kind of Scholar, 26 year old squash star Adam Auckland has been a loyal challenge will Green and Gold competitor since he Warkens bring this started his physiotherapy course OBE NICOLAS MÜLLER NOVEMBER PSA RANKINGS evening? with us. Otherwise known as ‘The Wolf’, Nicolas is firmly established as

Nick Matthew OBE first drew the Switzerland’s greatest player, Warwick have a strong team all the #N/A Nick Matthew Adam has spent most of the 18/19 squash world’s attention when, in being the only Swiss player ever to way down the order so every match season recovering from an injury 2006, when he became the first reach top 20 in the World rankings #20 will be crucial in getting the win on but he is back to play in his second English player to win the British in 2012. He then reached a the night! The talent on display in #25 Nicolas Mueller PSL fixture of the season. The last Open men’s title since 1939. From career-high of #17 in December the league this season is first class PSL fixture Adam played in was the then on his career rocketed, seeing 2014. In 2016, he reached the #57 Richie Fallows and Warken will present a serious first round against Northumber- him reach World No.1 in June 2010 semi-final of the IG Open De Paris, challenge for us tonight but we are #131 Adam Murrills land where he confidently won 0-2 and winning both the British Open where he narrowly lost out to looking forward to it. against Chris Wiggins. This contrib- and the World Open three times. Declan James over five games. #88 Chris Binnie uted to Nottingham securing a 5-0 The British No. 1 has enjoyed He also reached the semi-final #65 Chris Hanson win to start the season. an illustrious career which was stage of the CCI International JSW How does it feel to be crowned by an honour from Her ISC but was knocked out of #291 Adam Auckland Majesty the Queen of England who the tournament by Mohamed In the summer of 2018, Adam was back playing in the #294 Julian Tomlinson selected to represent Great Britain awarded Matthew an OBE in her Abouelghar over three games. in the FUSI World University Team premier squash league birthday honours list in 2015. Securing the Charlottesville Open #426 Lewis Walters Having secured the Premier Squash Title in late September showed he’s Championships. The team came after recovering from #404 Matt Broadberry league title last year as captain, in strong form this season. how with a gold medal, after they an injury this season? beat silver medallists Malaysia. Nick will be looking to repeat the feat in 2018. CHRIS BINNIE What is it like to be a #34 Coline Aumard We caught up with Adam to find out It has been a very long and frus- Jamaican national Chris Binnie is more about here tonight’s fixture and trating 6 months but in the last full time student and DECLAN JAMES the Jamaican and Caribbean top #61 Hana Ramadan look ahead to what the rest of the sea- Declan, who is originally from ranked player. With a career-high son has has to offer >> month the hip has shown great play in the Premier Nottingham, has been rapidly ranking of #72 from 2016, Chris progression and I can now play Squash League? without any pain. This will be climbing his way up the world won his 8th Caribbean champion- HIGHLIGHTS FROM TODAY’S my first competitive match being rankings reaching the top 20 this ship title in August 2017 without PSL GAMES AT DAVID ROSS completely injury free so I couldn’t I think studying alongside being season for the first time. After a dropping a game. Off the court, SPORTS VILLAGE think of a better way to get back a pro and playing in the PSL has promising start to the year at the Chris is the Assistant Men’s coach into it playing at home at the uni- given me the right balance and has Tournament of Champions, Declan for the Trinity College Connecticut You can catch all the action from versity in PSL! definitely helped me improve as a drew attention World No.1 squash programme in the United tonight and our other matches player and also academically. It is Mohamed Elshorbagy, who named States. via our Facebook page. great to compete in the same team him “certainly one of the best as former world champ and world young English players coming www.facebook.com/ number 1 Nick Matthew and other through. James is now the highest uonsport pros! ranked player in England.

4 behindtheglass / March, 2019 behindtheglass/ March, 2019 9 “I think studying alongside being a pro and playing in the PSL has given me the right balance and has definitely helped me improve as a player.”

Meet the Players

he University of Nottingham HANA RAMADAN CHRIS HANSON squad features some of the Joining the PSA World Tour in 2011, Chris has swiftly climbed the world Tworld’s top squash players Hana claimed her first World title in rankings since making his first including former world number 1, 2015 at the Brqthru Pharco Alex- PSA World Tour appearance back Nick Matthew and University of andria Open, breaking into the top in 2010. Born in New York, Chris Nottingham student’s Coline 50 in the following year. Originally became the US National Champion Aumard and Hana Ramadan, from Egypt, Hana now studies at the end of the 2016-17 season as both amongst the world’s top 75. physiotherapy at the University of well as winning two bronze medals What are your hopes he team will be buoyed by the “This will be Nottingham and won the British from the Pan American Champion- return of Auckland to bolster for the rest of 2019? my first The 2017/18 season came to Universities women’s singles title ships so heads into the Premier Ttheir squad as they head into My goals are to stay healthy and postive end with the Team England in 2016 and 2017. Squash League season in top form. the business end of the season. injury free and to get back playing competitive selection of both Nick Matthew and Adam will play third on the all- tournaments and hopefully finish match being Declan James for the Gold Coast COLINE AUMARD RICHIE FALLOWS glass court tonight against Daniel the end of the season on a win. 2018 Commonwealth Games . Coline is one of the best French Richie is another of England Mekbib looking to secure a crucial completely injury However, we have the semi finals Declan James returned home with players on the world PSA Tour, Squash’s top young players and is point for University of Nottingham. of the BUCS against Birmingham free so I couldn’t bronze medal at his maiden games with a huge year in 2014 where a former National and European next Wednesday so the full focus after finishing 3rd in the Men’s she lifted three tour titles. Coline Champion. He competed in the think of a better will be on that after tonight so Tonight’s one to watch Doubles with . went on to break into the World top PSA World Tour for the first time having PSL is a great preparation to way to get back 30 in 2016 and continues to rise aged only 17 in 2012 and has been Adam Auckland help sharpen me up for next week. into it playing at Here’s a quick overview of some up the rankings. Coline is also a cur- a consistent presence ever since. v Daniel Mekbib of the players who make up the rent student at the University of This year saw him break the World All-Glass Court, DRSV home at the University of Nottingham Premier Nottingham, studying for an MA in top 60 after victory at the PSA Tour university.” Squash League team. Education. event in Toulouse.

8 behindtheglass / March, 2019 behindtheglass/ March, 2019 5 THE VISITORS Warkens 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.

The University of Warwick and Ke- Sarah- Jane Perry won a silver medal at nilworth Squash PSL is currently leading the Commonwealth Games on the Gold at the top of the Northern Division. War- Coast in 2018 and has been unbeaten in wick named a strong squad for the 18/19 the Premier Squash 18/19 league so far. season including recently named world number one Ali Farag, The penultimate fixture for the evening and Sarah-Jane Perry. hosts rising talent from Nottingham’s Richie Fallows will be playing, current Warwick started the season strong win- 64 rank Mahesh Mangaonkar. Mahesh ning the first 5 fixtures which comfort- started 2019 causing a big upset on the ably secured them a top of the league PSA tour as he defeated number two place but in the 6th round they did suffer seed Marwan ElShorbagy in straight- a defeat against Birmingham Lions. games in the second round of the CCI They bounced back from this in round International PSA Silver tournament. 7 against UWE/Bristol Elite but will Nottingham’s Richie Fallows will also Nottingham stop them in their tracks will be hoping for a win to start the week tonight? as he heads to the Canary Wharf Squash Classic this weekend to go head to head Last time Nottingham and WarKens met in the Wildcard Challenge against Josh in this season the score for the evening Masters. was 4-1 after WarKens secured wins from home hero Sarah- Jane Perry and Closing the evening will be former world debutants Nick Wall, Daniel Mekbib and no. 1 Nick Matthews playing, Barcelona Iker Pajares. Until the final match where born, Iker Parjares Bernabeu. Iker will former world number 1, Nick Matthew be hoping to stop the Wolf who remains salvaged the final point as he beat Ra- unbeaten in the PSL league this season, phael Kandra. it will also be Ikers second time playing in the no.1 spot for WarKens. The ladies will be opening the evening at David Ross Sports Village with a WarKens currently lie in 1st place of competitive match between University Division A in the Premier Squash League of Nottingham postgraduate student and will be hoping for a victory tonight Coline Aumard, current world no. 34 and against University of Nottingham to WarKens, Sarah Jane Perry, and current secure a place in the play-offs for the world no. 8. first time.

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