LADIES SQUASH TEAM CROWNED CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE FOR THIRD SUCCESSIVE YEAR
Edgbaston Priory Club’s ladies’ squash team were crowned European Squash Club Champions for the fifth time and for the third successive year on Saturday 23rd September.
The men’s team were runners up, beaten by the favourites, Paderborn, in a closely fought final.
The European Club Championships held this year in Eindhoven brought together the very best club teams from Europe and featured many of the world’s best squash players.
Edgbaston Priory Club’s teams included two Commonwealth Games competitors and former top 30 ranked players together with the Under-17 British champion.
Speaking about the achievement of their teams, Mike Edwards, Head of Squash and Racketball at Edgbaston Priory Club said:
“To have both our men’s and ladies’ teams in the European Club Championships is an amazing achievement and demonstrates both the strength and depth of players at our club.
“As two-time champions the ladies’ team were the ones to beat. They handled the pressure incredibly well to seal the victory at 2-0. The men’s team came into the finals as underdogs and put up a brilliant fight against the favourites’ Paderborn who certainly did not have it their own way.”
“The ladies’ win not only confirms our status as one of the top clubs in Europe, it also gives us automatic qualification for next year’s European Club Championships.”
In the women’s final, Alicia Mead won a 12-10 in a fifth game thriller to put Edgbaston Priory Club ahead, and Millie Tomlinson sealed the title with a 3-0 victory.
In the men’s final, Chris Ryder won a nail biting opener, 14-12, in the fifth game for Edgbaston Priory Club. Simon Rosner levelled for Paderborn and then Edgbaston Priory Club unexpectedly regained the lead as Jaymie Haycocks beat Raphael Kandra in a career best performance. Paderborn needed a 3-0 win in the last match and Viktor Byrtus duly delivered to take the title.
Mike Edwards added:
“I’m immensely proud of the team players who put in the training, hard work and dedication required to perform at this level and I would also like to thank the many club members who gave their support through fundraisers to help finance the teams’ travel expenses – it was a real club effort.”