We need lower costs and a video review system, even for the Grand Masters
By GORDON KERR – Squash Mad Correspondent in Vienna

Without question the highlight of the 17 European Masters event finals (Men 35+ to 75+, women 35+ -to 70+ but no 65+ event) was the match between host nation Austria’s Clemens Wallishauser and England’s Mike Gregory.

Few of us had even heard of Wallishauser, but those who watched will remember his athleticism for a very long time. On a personal level I had not seen Mike for about ten years, since I last organised a semi-pro team in the Middlesex League; every time he played he served up treats.

What a spectacle was Saturday’s final. Mike Gregory is a rare talent, he possesses not only perfect timing, incredible skill, but also a unique imagination. Few in the crowd had any idea where the ball was going any of the time.

He produced at least four shots that I had never even previously imagined. Wallishauser, although clearly more agile, did not underestimate and covered the court with an agility that defied his age , 45+.

Outrageous shot of the match was played by Gregory mid way through the 4th game. The ball was close to the left hand wall but of poor length. Everything Gregory did shouted cross court – he physically swung across the court, racket, body, head. Yet he left his wrist late on the ball and popped it straight. Wallishauser was fooled. To enhance the effect Gregory even deliberately stumble-walked straight up the left wall, barely (but carefully) just missing the ball with his body as it floated back down the left-hand wall.

What a pity that this match, which was surely in any event going Wallishauser’s way, was ended early by a refereeing shocker with the Austrian leading 2–1 and by 6 points to 7 (Gregory serving) in the fourth. Trapped in the front right corner Wallishauser stumbled, off balance after an amazing retrieval into Gregory’s arms. Mike, his racket almost touching the ball was unable to swing. No let.

Not one to hide behind my pen I approached the referee straight afterwards and explained my and the crowd’s disappointment. She is a charming, noble lady whom I have met many times before, mainly in Scotland. It was clear that she believed Gregory could not have played the ball – too far in front. Squash needs a cricket style DRS (Decision Review System) if Masters Squash is to survive and thrive. 

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To report on all 15 final events would be boring, so I highlight only the most noteworthy. The day opened with the mens +75 final. Ken Reid of Scotland defeated Bertil Walli of Finland with some great retrieving and well timed floating shots into the rear corners.

In the 70+ event Howard Cherlin was on top form. With near perfect touch and spin control he floated and dropped the ball to all four corners and Scotland’s Ian Ross had to settle for second place.

In the 65+ event Stuart Hardy pushed favourite Stephen Johnson hard, but predictably Johnson prevailed in five. In the 60+ , defending champion (2017) Mark Cowley started strongly against Wigan’s Allen Barwise.

Once again a refereeing intervention spoiled the match. Perfectly poised at one game apiece and 9-9 in the third, everybody knew that the next couple of points were important.

Having forced Barwise, in trouble, to boast from the back left hander Cowley played a trickle boast in the front right. Not his best but it wrong footed Barwise who clattered into Cowley with his racket prone in front of him.

The ball was far from dead, bouncing rather high across the front wall but going in the opposite direction. I suppose a purist would agree that the decision was either stroke or no let, but what a generous stroke it seemed.

The next point produced another soft decision and the game was over; the match effectively dead. No disrespect to Barwise, who played superbly and would probably have won anyway, but what a shame that refereeing decisions played a material part in the most crucial moments.

In the 55+ final Sweden’s Jonas Ulvsback was again beaten by countrymate Fredrik Johnson.

The stand out performance in the ladies’ matches came from Andrea Santamaria, who defeated Germany’s star Masters player Simone Korell comprehensively in the 50+.

Andrea is a bit of a female Clark Kent. I wonder how many ordinary burgers of Pontefract have bumped into her doing their weekly shop in Morrison’s supermarket and thought nothing of her? I can imagine that, not being particularly tall, when dressed in ordinary clothes and a warm jacket, they would never suspect that this lady is a supreme athlete.

But once the tracksuit comes off and she enters the court wearing her squash gear and her game face, Andrea is transformed into a lioness. Muscular definition in her shoulders was visible even from the back of the crowd as Andrea hammer-volleyed any loose balls either deep into the corners or cross court into the nicks. Korell had no chance.

Another impressively athletic contest was fought between Keeley Johnson, again defending her 2017 title, and Poland’s Dominika Witkowska. Johnson won. Three 2019 titles for Johnsons.

Hats off to Hungarian/ English lady Reka Gay who came second in the ladies 35+ event; but it has to be said that the standard of play was not earth-shattering. In truth, the standard is only genuinely elite in the Men’s events in the age ranges 40+ to 60.

There are indeed a number of very high standard ladies, such as Field, Hume and Akin, regularly competing in these events, but too few opponents of quality to really endorse the winner as the true champion of Europe. Why so few players outside of these few men’s events? I have personally enjoyed participating in six world and European masters in the last ten years and my worry is that, owing to a combination of trends, participation is reducing. Chief among them is cost. We want these events to attract the best players from across Europe.

However this year’s entry fee, 150 euros, is about one third of the average monthly wage for Bulgarians, and double the monthly average wage of Ukrainians. No wonder so many titles were won by UK based players; many Eastern Europeans were simply priced out. But will the wealthier Brits, Scandinavians, Dutch and Germans commit to future events if other less attractive features are to be repeated?

This year’s location, Club Danube, is a hospitable venue with 15 courts but ten of them are squeezed into the back of the venue with such a narrow access corridor that refereeing is difficult. The temperature was blisteringly hot and the courts grubby and dark.

In Cologne in 2010 the players’ dinner and awards was held in a magnificent venue, a grand hall that truly fitted the occasion. In Vienna we were asked for 50 euros for an ‘all you can’ eat buffet in a sweltering venue which, although covered, was basically a cheap restaurant in a theme park reminiscent of Southend.

I have huge admiration for Pavel Sladecek and the team, but they need support from those running the sport. The entry fee should be cut to 20 euros or less, subject to entrants demonstrating that they play to at least amateur “A” grade in their home country. Funding should be solicited from European pots. Plenty are available.

Squash is the most magnificent advertisement for human health and fitness, for delaying the onset of old age. I have for years been unimpressed with those administering the sport both in England and at the ESF. Yet again, this year they did nothing to help showcase the sport.

Pictures courtesy of Gordon Kerr 

‘I’ve been working hard and I’m looking forward to it’
By SEAN REUTHE – Squash Mad Correspondent

Three-time champion Gregoire Marche is looking forward to competing at this year’s Open de France – Nantes 2019 Presented by Tailor Capital when the biggest PSA event in France takes place from September 9-14 at the Chateau des ducs de Bretagne.

The Open de France – formally known as the Open International de Squash de Nantes – has this year upgraded to a PSA World Tour Silver event after featuring on the PSA Challenger Tour in 2018 and will use a best-of-three game format up to and including the quarter-finals, before reverting to the traditional best of five format for the semi-finals and beyond.

Marche won the title for three years in a row from 2015 – 2017, but last season crashed out at the quarter final stage to eventual champion Declan James. However, the Frenchman insisted he has been working hard in the off-season to be ready for his home tournament next month.

“I’m looking forward to it, it’s only three weeks away now,” said the 29-year-old.

“The end of last season was pretty good for me, I played some good squash, had some good wins and finished at No.16, which is my highest ranking. It’s a different feeling for me, and I decided especially this year to have a big push this summer, and have a tough training preparation.

“I started on July 1, so it’s a long time, more than two months to get ready, and I feel like I’m getting ready physically, I just need to play more matches and get more squash specific stuff.

“My training has been good, I’ve been doing some different things for more than a year now, and it’s started to pay off.

“It’s never easy to play the first event of the season because you don’t know what to expect from the other players. Last year I didn’t play that well against Declan [James] in the quarters, but in the years before I enjoyed it. It’s close to home, there’s a bit more pressure on you, but at the same time it gives you more motivation.”

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The French tournament is renowned for its innovative locations and spectacular shows which accompany the squash and this year will be no different, with the tournament being held in the picturesque Chateau des ducs de Bretagne.

“I enjoy playing the new venues every year, they do a great job to organise the event, it’s not only about squash, it’s also about putting on a real show for the people who don’t know squash at all, and in Nantes, squash is getting really popular,” Marche continued.

“Even though it’s the same city, it’s a different atmosphere every year and they try to do something besides squash. Last year it was the music with the opera, the year before they had all the light shows.

“People come to watch the squash, but it’s not only about that, and I think the crowd are really happy about this. It’s great to see different things, as a player you just think about squash, but when you watch the other games and relax, you can enjoy it a bit more compared to other tournaments.”

Marche has become the new men’s French No.1 since compatriot and former World No.1 Gregory Gaultier sustained a knee injury at the 2018 US Open, and Marche admitted it brings a different kind of pressure.

“They work so hard in Nantes with the settings, the music and lights– it’s a different atmosphere every year”

“It’s a different feeling for me to be the French No.1 and top 16 in the world. I have been working with my mental coach to become more relaxed and more confident in my squash. That’s what I’ve done for the past year, but it’s not easy every day.

“Some days it’s easy to do what you’ve learnt, but other days you feel stressed and under more pressure. I have the keys now to relax as much as I can. It’s more pressure but I like to be in that place and it’s more fun sometimes.

“It’s not easy to control, but that’s what I’m training for every day and we’ll see how it goes in Nantes.

“I played pretty well from January to the end of the season, I had some good points, but not until January last season, I didn’t play very well.

“I have nothing to lose, I’m going to stay relaxed and if I play well then the ranking is going to go higher of course. I’m not thinking too much about the ranking, my goal is to reach top 10 because I know I can do it, it’s really possible.”

The Open de France features equal prize money for the first time, with $147,000 up for grabs across both draws. La Maison du Squash will host round one matches, while round two matches will be split between there and the Chateau des ducs de Bretagne. The Chateau des ducs de Bretagne will host all matches from the quarter finals onwards.

All of the action from the Chateau des ducs de Bretagne will be shown live on SQUASHTV (rest of world), Eurosport Player (Europe only) and the official Facebook page of the PSA World Tour between September 10-14.

Tickets are available for purchase via the tournament’s official website. 

Report by SEAN REUTHE (PSA). Edited by ALAN THATCHER.

Pictures courtesy of PSA 

After the nervous laughter settled down, James Haskell realised the proposition to sign him up as a professional mixed martial arts fighter was a serious one.

Haskell only called time on his 17-year professional rugby union career in May but has dived straight back into elite sport after agreeing a deal with MMA promotion Bellator.

The 34-year-old has 77 England caps under his belt but admits when the time comes to step into the cage next year - with a date for his debut still to be decided - he will be scared.

"Mike Tyson said it: Everyone has got a plan until you get hit in the face. But for me it is a test, it's a journey," said Haskell.

"I'm not messing around with this. There has been overwhelming support but some people think it's a bit like a scene out of Rocky III.

"I'm dedicating my life to this. I want to make sure I am in the best possible shape and whatever happens at the end of it I am going to put as much dedication into this as I did into rugby.

"I'm deadly serious about it. I don't want it to be the case where I get into the cage and I look like I've never taken a punch before, it looks like I'm just here for fun. I'm not about that."

'My wife looked at me like I was mad'

Haskell is not new to MMA. The ex-Wasps and Northampton Saints flanker first started working with London-based MMA gym Shootfighters a decade ago to improve areas of his game such as tackling and has previously worked as a television pundit on shows.

But the training has intensified over the past month since he got a call from Bellator to say they wanted to sign him as a heavyweight fighter.

"I thought maybe they were going to offer me some more work, then they dropped the bombshell they wanted me to fight," explained Haskell.

"Once I had stopped nervously laughing it piqued my interest. I went back to my wife, Chloe, but she didn't find it as funny. She looked at me like I was mad.

"The first thing I did was pick up the phone to the guys at Shootfighters and ask: 'What do you think of me taking this on?'. They unanimously came back and gave me their support."

Gyms, DJing and being backed by Richard and Judy

Haskell says he enjoyed some time off - with holidays and DJing among the many things to keep him busy - but missed the discipline and dedication of professional sport. Now MMA is his full-time job.

"My training and conditioning is hard and intense, but it's clever," he added. "They dictate everything. I just come in and go 'yes, coach. No, coach' and I try not to cry.

"When I left rugby and bought my first commercial gym membership it was a shock to the system. I went in there and saw people training and thought 'I've got to get out of here and get in a proper gym'."

Haskell admits the coaches at Shootfighters have "already started flogging me" but stresses he won't be doing "spinning back kicks or axe kicks if I can't do it".

"There is a lot of hard work to be done and a lot of hours to be put in, but I am excited about it," added Haskell, who expects to make his debut against a fighter of similar experience.

His decision to come out of retirement was greeted with support from his family and friends, as well as his in-laws - TV presenters Richard and Judy.

"I don't think my mum fully understands what I have agreed to do. Which is kind of a good thing," Haskell told BBC Sport.

"My dad loves anything like this. Chloe is unbelievably supportive and her folks have been incredibly supportive. Richard is great - we will see if we can get him along to a fight."

'This is no PR stunt'

But the former rugby star is keen to distance himself from the idea this is a PR stunt or merely a brief crossover into combat sports as has been seen before, such as cricketer Freddie Flintoff's brief foray into boxing.

"People keep making comparisons to me and Freddie. He was one of my sporting heroes when I was growing up and had an amazing career," said Haskell.

"I think to do this sport you have to give up your life and be pretty dedicated. A lot of people when they prepare for these fights it's like they have never been punched before.

"By the time I get in that cage, if I am still alive to tell the tale, I will have had a number of fights and will be well prepared."

The individual nature of stepping into the cage alone is one of the attractions of MMA for Haskell, who has spent a lifetime playing team sports.

"It must be very daunting being an individual sportsman," added Haskell, who dismissed rumours his training will be interrupted by an appearance on 'I'm A Celebrity' this year.

"I was only thinking during Wimbledon while I was watching Federer and Djokovic play that I wonder what it's like to be an individual sportsman at the highest level, when you have to look after yourself and don't have team-mates to fall back on?

"While I'm nowhere near their league in any aspect, I am going to see what it's like and see if I can be mentally tough enough to deal with it. I have no idea whether I will be or not."

ALGER, Wash. – Shane Stewart will not return to CJB Motorsports following the conclusion of the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series season.

The news was confirmed in a press release sent out Wednesday by the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series previewing upcoming events in Washington.

“We weren’t meshing together,” said Chad Clemens, co-owner of CJB Motorsports. “It’s business. Shane knows the deal. We know the deal. He’s a great guy. Great family. But we’re not meshing as a team. When that happens you have to make changes and that’s pretty much what we chose to do.

“I felt like I gave him plenty of time, you know I didn’t hold it from him for another month or two or whatever and throw it on him. I gave him enough time, out of respect to him, to say, ‘Hey listen, we’re going in a different direction’ and that’s what we chose.”

Stewart joined CJB Motorsports this year after five years with Kyle Larson Racing. Expectations were high for the combination, but the results simply haven’t come for Stewart and CJB Motorsports.

The team currently sits seventh in the World of Outlaws point standings and Stewart has scored one win this year, which came in June at Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville in Tennessee.

Stewart recently lost crew chief Barry Jackson, who will be working with affiliated KI Crossbow-sponsored driver Kerry Madsen for the rest of the season. Jackson will still be available to help, especially when Madsen is racing with the World of Outlaws, Stewart said, but the it’s up to him and his crew to set up the car and figure out the shock package.

Jackson went off the road to get a head start on the 2020 season, Clemens said. The team felt working with Madsen and his team for the rest of the season would be a good test to try different things for next year. Jackson will be back with the CJB Motorsports No. 5 car next year.

CJB Motorsports has yet to decide on who will replace Stewart next year and Stewart has not landed a deal for 2020 as of yet either. A decision on who may replace Stewart at CJB Motorsports may come in the next 30 to 60 days, according to Clemens. The team is also exploring the possibility of a second car that may run about 60 races next year.

“That’s sort of just talk,” Clemens said about a second car. “Nothing etched in stone.”

For the remainder of the year, Clemens said he would like to see Stewart win races, be in the top-five and gain some confidence for himself.

“Hopefully we can finish the year strong and we can all kind of separate and go our own ways on good conditions, good faith and chalk it up as a good experience that we’ve all learned a lot from,” Stewart said.

“The thing is, sprint car fans, sprint car mechanics, owners, you’re only as good as your last race out here,” Stewart said. “My name hasn’t been mentioned too many times this year. And that’s one thing I’ve got to concentrate on and get good strong finishes. And get my name back up to where it used to be. And where it should be. And where it needs to be. That’s just one thing I’m going to try and focus on real hard and try to accomplish.”

LAFC forward Carlos Vela has said he had accepted a move to Barcelona in January, before the Catalan side opted for Kevin-Prince Boateng instead.

Boateng made the surprise move to Camp Nou during the winter transfer window as a back-up forward for the remainder of the campaign, but made little impact with only four appearances, of which just one was a victory.

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Since March, Vela has enjoyed a superb run of form, scoring 27 times in 26 appearances for LAFC, who are top of the Western Conference. The Mexico international is the league's top goal scorer with 19.

"I was really close [to joining Barca]," Vela told BS The podcast. "In the second month of my holiday, I had a pina colada in hand and my agent called me to say: 'Listen, Barcelona are calling you.

"They want you to play for four months and then you can go back to Los Angeles.' I said to him: 'Just say yes, I don't care about money or anything. I'm going to start training tomorrow. Give me two weeks to get my fitness up.'"

Barca went on to win La Liga but lost in the Copa del Rey final and Champions League semifinals.

Carabao Cup holders Manchester City will visit League One side Preston North End as the draw for the third round of the competition was held on Wednesday.

The draw was held after all second round matches were complete, which saw Everton survive against Lincoln City, Leicester City beat Newcastle United on penalties, and third-tier Sunderland shock Burnley.

Liverpool and Manchester United are also playing League One clubs in the next round, with the Reds travelling to Milton Keynes Dons and United hosting Rochdale.

Other fixtures include Arsenal welcoming Nottingham Forest, and Colchester United hosting Tottenham Hotspur.

Last year's runners-up Chelsea will play either Grimsby and Macclesfield who will play their second round tie on Sept. 10.

The third-round matchups will commence on Sept. 23.

Full list of fixtures include:

Preston North End vs. Manchester City

Milton Keynes Dons vs. Liverpool

Manchester United vs. Rochdale

Arsenal vs. Nottingham Forest

Colchester United vs. Tottenham Hotspur

Chelsea vs. Grimsby/Macclesfield

Sheffield Wednesday vs. Everton

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Reading

Oxford vs. West Ham United

Watford vs. Swansea City

Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Aston Villa

Sheffield United vs. Sunderland

Portsmouth vs. Southampton

Burton Albion vs. AFC Bournemouth

Luton Town vs. Leicester City

Crawley Town vs. Stoke City

There will be 32 teams in the hat for the UEFA Champions League group-stage draw.

When is the Champions League draw?

It takes place on Thursday, Aug. 29 in Monaco. The draw ceremony is expected to begin at noon ET / 6 p.m. CET. (4 p.m. GMT)

How long will the draw take?

It is likely to take around an hour, as a series of awards for last season's Champions League will be presented throughout:

- UEFA Men's Player of the Year
- UEFA Women's Player of the Year
- Goalkeeper, defender, midfielder and forward of the 2018-19 UCL season

What are the draw pots?

POT 1: Liverpool, Chelsea, Barcelona, Manchester City, Juventus, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Zenit St Petersburg

POT 2: Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Napoli, Shakhtar Donetsk, Tottenham Hotspur, Ajax, Benfica

POT 3: Lyon, Bayer Leverkusen, FC Salzburg, Olympiakos, Club Brugge, Valencia, Inter Milan, Dinamo Zagreb

POT 4: Lokomotiv Moscow, Genk, Galatasaray, RB Leipzig, Slavia Prague, Red Star Belgrade, Atalanta, Lille

One team from each pot will be drawn into a group, making eight groups of four clubs.

When will the games be played?

Matchday 1: Sep. 17-18

Matchday 2: Oct. 1-2

Matchday 3: Oct. 22-23

Matchday 4: Nov. 5-6

Matchday 5: Nov. 26-27

Matchday 6: Dec. 10-11

What time will the games kick off?

Two games will begin at 6:55 p.m. CET / 12:55 p.m. ET, with the remainder following at 9 p.m. CET / 3 p.m. ET.

When will the fixtures be known?

UEFA will publish all group fixtures later in the day on Aug. 29.

When is the draw for the Round of 16?

It takes place on Dec. 16.

MORE:

UEFA Champions League home page

The European champions are No. 1 and have started the season in fine style. Meanwhile, are Atletico set for a return to the top in Spain?

Agree? Disagree? Let us know, and watch Shaka defend his picks on ESPN FC TV, which airs daily on ESPN+.