Category: Sports News

BEFORE heading back to school after the Christmas holidays, 15 juniors took part in a One -day Tournament at Racquets Fitness Centre in Thame. The competition was split across three round robin events ranging from beginner to improver level juniors, each group playing best of three matches.

The C group was made up of beginner players from Racquets who demonstrated fantastic enthusiasm and competitive spirit, even with only a few months of playing experience under their belt. Each junior outshone their beginner status showing off high serves and fast-paced rallies. We were treated to an exciting final with youngster Jack Turner narrowly losing out to 8-year-old Myles Glover, who’s older brother also played in the competition in the A group. This was Myles’ first tournament win, definitely well deserved!

On the next court we witnessed close competition between our B group players. This was an impossible one to judge, with most games reaching 10-10 tie breakers. In this category we welcomed Adam Sims who made his tournament debut. Although less experienced then some of the other players, Adam held his own and won the award for most smiley player of the day, wearing a huge grin throughout every match. The eventual final was between regular players Allegra Michopoulou and Anthony West, who took part in a three-set battle and one of the longest matches of the day. Some tricky boasts and low drives gave Anthony the edge allowing him to come out on top with a 2-1 win.

The A grade competition is always a heated event and today’s tournament saw no exception. New to the competition, Harrison Maldonado caused early upset and worry within the group with his powerful serve and efficient movement around the court. Well done to Harrison on his first tournament at Racquets! Impressing Racquets coach Chloe Marshall was 10-year-old Dylan Gonzales, Chloe commented: “Dylan has been working hard at training and practicing regularly; it’s definitely paying off! He has shown some real creativity on court today – one to watch!”

Our two highest scoring players were Alex Glover and Noah James, who engaged in a deciding match. Although Alex was quick around the court, Noah’s length was better on the day seeing him go home with the gold.

Well done to all the juniors who took part in the competition!

SOURCE: Contributed

RACQUETS Fitness Centre in Thame hosted their annual Christmas Graded Squash Tournament just before the Christmas break, seeing 37 squash players of all ages and standards competing across four categories.

The initial matches in the morning saw some very close contended games, just a snippet of what was to come throughout rest of the day.

Well over 50 matches were played across the tournament, all of which showcased a fantastic level of skill, agility, and athleticism. This was particularly prevalent in the A grade which featured some high level talent, displaying thrilling matches for the players and for spectators. Local player Nick Harbour was a hopeful candidate to reach the final of the A grade, playing confidently in his earlier rounds against some tricky appointments. But unfortunately due to injury in the semi-finals, Nick had to withdraw seeing Oxford Brookes player Jason Varrie through to the final.

This was a close match, Jason showing his experience of the game against national standard junior, James Wyatt who excelled in his strength and movement around the court. On the day it was Wyatt who took the gold medal, having the physical edge of youth over his opponent.

Further excitement in the D grade competition, which was populated by junior players from Racquets. Crowds gathered to watch the youngsters battle it out in the group stages seeking their place in the final. Court two saw an emotional rollercoaster of a match in the D grade final with 9 year-olds, Noah James and fellow Racquets junior Artie Shrimpton, fighting for first place.

Both players achieved attacking length and deceptive boasts taking the game to the wire, but it was eventually Artie who snuck a 3-2 win taking the final game 11-7.

RACQUETS Fitness Centre’s Junior squash players, have been mixing it with the adults to really test their metal and get tournament experience.

Racquets hosted an Adult Graded Squash Tournament on Saturday, December 16, with 37 players of all standards entered across four categories. Grade D was populated by a host of junior players who all decided to enter the adult orientated tournament for match play experience.

Coach, Sue Martin Downhill said: “It was fantastic to witness the next generation of squash players coming through and mixing in with more experienced players, watching and taking notes as well as trying their hand at marking the senior competitors.”

Ten year-old Alex Bozon was quick to volunteer as referee in between his own matches, showing confidence in tracking the score. He had a close match with peer Andrew Worby who has only been playing squash for three months but managed to serve well on the day to sneak a win.

In the other half of the competition original Academy player, Allegra Michopoulou, took on newby Matthew Bailey who started playing squash in October when his school attended squash sessions at Racquets. Both players showed grit and determination but it was Allegra who had the slight edge. Sue Martin-Downhill emphasised the importance of introducing schools to squash for the future of our sport: “People rarely stumble across squash,” she said. “It’s up to us and our squash community to offer opportunities to play.” Racquets currently works with local schools during the daytime and also run junior squash sessions six days a week outside of school hours. Offering all these opportunities to play has seen the junior set up in Thame flourish over the last six months.

Sue concluded: “The tournament was a great success with over 50 matches being played across the day. Players earned their mince pies, particularly nine-year olds Noah James and Artie Shrimpton, who ended the day with a tight five set match in the D grade final. Over 40 minutes of play, Artie came out triumphant, beating Noah 11-7.

“Well done to all the juniors who played and marked over the weekend; it was fantastic to watch the new generation of young talent on our squash courts here in Thame.”

THAME Swimming Club put in an amazing performance in the recent Watford County qualifier meet, taking advantage of the penultimate weekend before the county qualifying period closed!

In all, Thame won 34 Medals as well as a whole host of Personal Bests – 11 Gold, 11 Silver, and 12 Bronze medals were carried home.

Thame Swimming Club spokesman, Will Hard, said: “The team had great fun at the meet warming up to Macarena and YMCA, but giving their best and showing great camaraderie and friendship along the way. It was brilliant to see the team having so much fun, but giving their absolute best in the pool.

“The swimmers gained a plethora of county qualification times for the Oxford North Bucks County Championships, which will be held in January and February of 2018.

IT took cool heads in freezing conditions to see off the challenge of free flowing Bury St Edmunds on Saturday, but despite being outscored five tries to six, Chinnor RFC secured their 13th win of the campaign.

For the second week in a row Chinnor got on the score sheet early with an impeccable lineout catch and drive. Jack Gilding emerged from the pile to claim the points on eight minutes. Then Bury struck back with a speculative grubber causing confusion on the Chinnor line allowing the Suffolk side in at the corner flag which on the advice of the touch judge was upgraded to a penalty try with a yellow card issued to Jamel Hamilton for ‘playing the player without the ball’.

Chinnor’s 14 men regrouped and struck back with Jack Ramshaw powering over to give Chinnor a 5-12 lead. Bury had a simple game plan – to hit the wide man Corcoran and let him run! It was a tactic that Chinnor failed to deal with effectively all afternoon. On 27 mins it paid dividends again with the pacey winger running in for the first of his hat-trick.

Chinnor’s scrum dominance strangely went unrewarded by the officials for the full 80 mins. However, they stayed focused and George Oliver duly finished of an excellent series of phase play to give Chinnor a half time lead 12-19

The first score after the break was going to set the scene for the rest of the game. Chinnor, comfortable in possession, gifted an intercept to the home side to allow Corcoran to touch down on on 41 mins and the conversion levelled the scores. It was game on!. Jonny Bentley then edged the visitors ahead with a coolly slotted penalty. A Beales try then swung the pendulum back towards Bury.

There followed an exhibition of running rugby from both sides which was appreciated by the packed Haberden crowd. Henry Lamont cut through the Suffolk sides defence to score and was shortly followed by a superb length of the field run by Kieran Goss which set up Al Gliksten to dive over. These, in true form, were answered by two tries out wide again by the Bury pace men which made the scores level 34-34 with 10 minutes left to play.

Chinnor then showed their class in front of the raucous home crowd by working their way up the pitch and earn a penalty 25m out to the sides of the posts. Replacement Bertie Hopkin stepped up to slot the winning points. With five minutes left to play Bury threw everything at the Chinnor line but it was in vain as after several phases of text book defending Bury St Edmunds infringed and Bertie Hopkin put the ball in touch to seal the five points.

This was a great game for the neutral and the packed Haberden stand helped their side to a deserved two points. Chinnor made life difficult for themselves but it was job done! Five points in the bag and on to Canterbury at home next week.

SOURCE: Contributed

HEAVY drizzle greeted both sides as they took to the park for this top of the table clash on Saturday, December 2, which left Chinnor RFC on top of National League Two, South.

Chinnor started positively and scored after just two minutes when a well judged kick ahead by Jonny Bentley found Phil Chesters who gathered cleanly to go over in the corner 5-0. The conversion went wide of the posts. Taunton then dominated possession, as they did almost throughout the game. Chinnor looked dangerous when they had the ball but gave away possession cheaply in the final third and spurned a number of dangerous opportunities.

After a period of Taunton attacking play, a counter by Chinnor lead to an offfside penalty under the posts. Jonny Bentley slotted over making it 8-0. The rest of the half saw Taunton once again monopolise possession but they found it difficult to break through the well organised Chinnor defence which was as disciplined as it was aggressive. Half Time 8-0

The second half was almost a replica of the first 40 minutes. This time a lineout steal 60 m out and some slick handling gave Chinnor the early opening try of the half with Jamel Hamilton going over out wide after 48 mins. Jonny Bentley missed the conversion.

Taunton threw everything they had at the Chinnor defence but the controlled aggression in open play, defensive lineouts and powerful scrummaging, constantly rebuffed the visitors’ assaults. The score remained Chinnor 13-0 until 10 mins from the end, it came as a welcome relief for the Titans when they crossed the Chinnor line. Kenny James swooped in to score in the corner. An excellent touchline conversion by Toby East set up a nail biting final 10 minutes, but Chinnor held strong and sound game management ran the clock down.

Tony Yapp (Taunton) said afterwards: “Two good teams; no quarter given. Disappointed at the start; we gave the opposition an opportunity which they took. Pleased with the second half – a good day for Rugby!”

Matt Williams (Chinnor) said: “ A day of superb defence against a well drilled Taunton attack. Our defence was resilient and brutal. All credit to Taunton!”

Chinnor
Morley, Hutchinson, Gilding, Curry, Ramshaw, Bradlet, Bordill, Waddingham, McDonald, Bentley, Chesters, Dancer, Barnes(cpt), Hamilton,Goss
Reps: Mason, Oliver, Green, Manning, Lamont

Taunton
Baker, Spurdle, Dalton, England, Lugg, Harvey, Vakalutukali, Prior, Banks, Webb, Claydon, East, Mason(cpt) Fraser, Rice
Reps: Francis, Kenny, Oliphant-Thompson, Davis, Brown
Referee – Mr Veryan Boscawen
Assistants – Mr Glenn O’Hara, Mr Simon Bourne
Star Men: Jack Gilding – Outstanding scrummaging
Will Bordill- Simply Fearless!
Attendance 331

REPORT by Ken Vaughan

CALLING all squash players! Racquets Christmas Open Squash Graded Tournament 2017, is on December 16/17, 2017.

Entries can be registered via Sporty HQ at:

http://www.racquets-fitness-centre.com/open-graded-squash-tournament-1617-december-2017/. All grades are welcome.

Tournament organisers : Chloe Marshall, chloe.racquetsfitness@gmail.com and Simon Martin, info@racquets-fitness-centre.com
Entries close : December 12, 2017.

CHINNOR Ladies FC made it two on the bounce, with a 1-0 win over Headington Ladies at home on Sunday, November 12.

Chinnor were bouyant with the return of both Becky and Chloe and made a lively start, with attacking Headington who played into the wind. Ten minutes into the game saw a punch pass up to Nat Phillips from midfield, who set the ball to Kim B, who lobbed the keeper, to make it 1-0.

Katie Thorp was unlucky with another lob over the keepers head. However the muddy conditions meant that the ball stuck in the mud inches away from the goal line. Headington were unlucky to not pull back an equaliser, as they kit the crossbar, and moments later, Chinnor could have increased their lead with Nat P toe poking the ball beyond the keeper, which went slightly wide of the wrong side of the goal post.

The second half saw Headington grow stronger in the game. However Chinnor were resolute and managed the game to the end. Chances from Chinnor in the second half came from Livvy Free, Katie Thorp and Nat Phillips.

The Girls Football Festival brought success, with the Chinnor Junior Girls training along side Anneka Nuttall, Watford Ladies FC Captain & Chinnor Ladies Goalkeeper, Katie Wales. Anneka was in charge of picking a new name for the girls team, which ended up being ‘Striking Lightenings’.

For more information about Girls and Ladies football in the Chinnor area – you can reach the team via https://www.facebook.com/ChinnorLadiesFc/

SOURCE: Contributed