Grand Central champs on track for Egypt finals   
By MATT COLES – Squash Mad Correspondent

After taking the spoils at the J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions in New York City, both Camille Serme and Mohamed ElShorbagy have booked their places at the season ending PSA World Tour Finals 2019-20 in June.

The pair lifted the first titles of the new decade in Grand Central Terminal, with both players defeating the current World Champions in their respective finals, as Serme overcame Nour El Sherbini, while ElShorbagy got the better of Tarek Momen.

Players can qualify for the World Tour Finals automatically by winning any of the PSA World Tour Platinum events across the 2019-20 season, with five other players already having secured their place.

In the women’s field, the Egyptian duo of Nouran Gohar and Nour El Sherbini are automatically in, having won the FS Investments U.S. Open Squash Championships and the CIB PSA Women’s World Championship, respectively.

Tarek Momen won the PSA Men’s World Championship, Ali Farag lifted the FS Investments U.S. Open Squash Championships and Karim Abdel Gawad took home the CIB Egyptian Squash Open title, with those three men having also qualified for the season-finale alongside ElShorbagy.

Along with those that automatically qualify, the players that accumulate the most points from their results across the season, will take the other places, with eight men and eight women playing for the final title of the season at the World Tour Finals.

As it stands, along with the four Egyptian men that have already qualified, New Zealand’s Paul Coll is in the same bracket of points, while Welshman Joel Makin, Egypt’s Marwan ElShorbagy and German No.1 Simon Rösner round out the top eight.

India’s Saurav Ghosal, Peruvian Diego Elias and the Egyptian trio of Mazen Hesham, Zahed Salem and Mostafa Asal are all in contention for those final places.

World No.1 Raneem El Welily leads the way in the women’s standings, despite having not won a Platinum event in 2019-20. Compatriots Nour El Tayeb and Hania El Hammamy, along with New Zealand’s Joelle King and English No.1 Sarah-Jane Perry fill the rest of the top eight spots.

US No.1 Amanda Sobhy, Egypt’s Salma Hany, Indian Joshna Chinappa and England’s Alison Waters are in close order behind Perry for the top eight placings.

The next chance for players to automatically qualify for the season-ending PSA World Tour Finals 2019-20 will be at the Windy City Open 2020 presented by the Walter Family, held in Chicago between February 27-March 4.

Following that, there is the Concord Mall Black Ball Women’s Squash Open, El Gouna International Squash Open and the Allam British Open, three more chances for places to be sealed. 

Road To Egypt: PSA World Tour Finals, June 2020.

Report by MATT COLES (PSA).Edited by ALAN THATCHER.

Picture and graphic courtesy of PSA 

Defending champion El Tayeb aims to bounce back after ToC disappointment
By MATT COLES – Squash Mad Correspondent

Egypt’s World No.4 Nour El Tayeb and New Zealand’s World No.6 Joelle King are seeded to meet in the final of the Cleveland Classic after the main draw for the PSA World Tour Bronze event was released today.

Defending champion El Tayeb, who defeated Wales’ Tesni Evans in the final last year, is the top seed at the event taking place at the Cleveland Racquet Club and will be aiming for another series of winning performances after losing to fellow Egyptian Salma Hany in the third round of the Tournament of Champions.

Along with the other top eight seeds,El Tayeb  receives a bye into the second round where she will face either Latvia’s Ineta Mackevica or USA’s Sabrina Sobhy.

Seeded on the same side of the draw as El Tayeb is Wales’ World No.9 Evans, India’s World No.12 Joshna Chinappa and Egypt’s World No.14 Salma Hany. Evans will hope to be back at full fitness after rolling her ankle in the Tournament of Champions in New York.

At the opposite end of the draw is King, who won the Cleveland Classic title in 2018, and she will face either Canada’s Hollie Naughton or Wales’ Ali Loke in the second round.

Seeded on the same side of the draw as her is England’s No.1 Sarah-Jane Perry – who she could face in the semi-finals should the seeding go to plan – England’s former World No.3 Alison Waters and Hong Kong’s World No.11 Annie Au.

Home interest comes in the form of USA No.1 Olivia Blatchford Clyne and World No.39 Sabrina Sobhy, with both players enjoying good runs at the J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions which took place this month in New York. They will begin their tournaments against Czech Republic’s Anna Serme and Latvia’s Ineta Mackevica, respectively.

The wildcard spot is taken up by Spain’s Marina De Juan Gallach, who was born in Valencia, Spain but now resides in Cleveland.

Tournament website: https://www.clevelandsquash.com/ 

PSA Women’s Cleveland Classic, Cleveland Racquet Club, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.

Main Draw:
[1] Nour El Tayeb (EGY) [Bye]
Ineta Mackevica (LAT) v Sabrina Sobhy (USA)
Farida Mohamed (EGY) v Jessica Turnbull (AUS)
[8] Salma Hany (EGY) [Bye]
[6] Joshna Chinappa (IND) [Bye]
Menna Hamed (EGY) v Menna Nasser (EGY)
Nadine Shahin (EGY) v [WC] Marina De Juan Gallach (ESP)
[4] Tesni Evans (WAL) [Bye]
[3] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) [Bye]
Salma Youssef (EGY) v Victoria Lust (ENG)
Mayar Hany (EGY) v Sarah Cardwell (AUS)
[7] Alison Waters (ENG) [Bye]
[5] Annie Au (HKG) [Bye]
Anna Serme (CZE) v Olivia Blatchford Clyne (USA)
Hollie Naughton (CAN) v Ali Loke (WAL)
[2] Joelle King (NZL) [Bye] 

Pictures courtesy of PSA

England's Tom Curry had a pretty good 2019. At just 21, he was not only the youngest player in the squad, but also the youngest England forward to play at a World Cup, where they reached the final. He was one of six shortlisted for World Rugby Player of the Year and also helped Sale reach the European Challenge Cup semi-finals. Here he gives us an insight into his World Cup experience, what it's like playing with his twin brother, fame and... cats.

World Cup heartache and being trolled by Faf

Coming back to England having lost the World Cup final was awful. The day I returned to Sale for training, I felt something on my shoulder - I turned round to see a World Cup winner's medal and my smiling team-mate Faf de Klerk.

At the time I was a bit miffed - it is a bit harsh - but that's how the South Africans are, and especially Faf. It's all meant in good jest.

The World Cup is such a funny thing. Everything happens so quickly - bang, bang, bang, bang.

In one game I ran past the Webb Ellis Cup on its stand and I was like: 'Wow, that's what I've dreamed of winning.' That's when you realise you're playing in a World Cup.

Obviously losing a World Cup final is disappointing. It's horrible. I'll get over it - but, to be honest, I don't think I ever do want to get over it.

I will probably never be able to watch it. But it does trigger something, and hopefully it will push me on to greater things.

One loss doesn't make you want to win things, though. I've been wanting to win things since I came out of the womb.

'Undercurry' and Eddie

We've had 'Brangelina', 'Moliwood' and now 'Undercurry'. The lads loved giving Sam [Underhill] and me stick for our new nickname.

It all started in pre-season. What England did really well was to push everybody but bring people together too, and we definitely got closer than we have done before.

I never played with Sam at youth level, but when I played for England Under-18s, I was asked to publicly critique his performance in a game. I just remember one tackle which he didn't get right at all and I picked it apart. We laugh about it now.

The pre-World Cup camp was different to anything I've experienced.

We got 20 weeks together, which is rare. Eddie [Jones] as a coach is brilliant. He makes the small things big and the big things small - things most people don't even think about.

Eddie lets us solve things on the training pitch. He only steps in if he needs to. Meetings are 10-15 minutes max because of players' concentration. But they are fun meetings. You always come out with what you need.

Eddie knows how to treat everyone - as individuals. Some people need a more relaxed approach, they don't need to be looked at under a magnifying glass. They just need to be left to it. Others need a kick up the backside.

For me, it's all about the magnifying glass. Staying on everything. That's probably the same for most of the back row as it's such a crucial role. We've got our fingers in every piece of the pie.

Failing Man City trials with brother Ben

Having Ben as a twin brother is great. But, like all siblings, he does drive me mad some of the time.

We are tight, but I'd be lying if I said we weren't competitive. I think that's driven by the fact we play a similar position and have similar attributes.

I don't feel guilty about going to the World Cup without him. You've just got to let it go. He'll get his chance - he's a very very talented player.

The thing he's most upset about is not me playing in a World Cup final, but the fact I came back more muscular than him!

I do owe Ben one, though, because I'm the main reason we didn't become professional footballers.

One day, scouts from Manchester City came to watch our school team play. I was running on the stairs, tripped over and split my shin open, so ended up getting rushed to hospital and couldn't play. Luckily the scouts were impressed with Ben at centre-back and when they found out he had an identical twin they were like: 'Great, bring them both along.'

A few months down the line, we were playing for City against this Dutch team. I tried to head the ball back to the goalkeeper but instead placed a beautiful header straight past him into the goal.

And that was that. That was our football career over. So, long story short, Ben got us in and I got us out!

Supermarket Sweep... with cats

Pretty foolishly I mentioned to the media that I thought cat cafes were pretty interesting.

So, basically, from then on, in every news conference at the World Cup, it was: "Tom, have you been to a cat cafe yet?"

It was brilliant for me, because I didn't have to talk about anything rugby related.

When we were in Miyazaki there was a cat shrine that I really wanted to go to and I put it out to the lads. The WhatsApp group has never been so quiet. No-one would come with me.

I thought because a cafe is chilling and drinks, a cat cafe would be chilling, drinks and cats. No.

You know in Supermarket Sweep where you run around trying to get everything in the trolley? It's like that but with cats - running around trying to stroke them all, because you pay for time, every 10 minutes.

I went with my dad and he doesn't want to pay extra, so we were in at 10am and out at 10.09am. The drinks are from a vending machine in the corner.

I'd been talking about it forever, and it was so underwhelming.

Tom Curry was speaking to BBC Sport's Henry Ditchfield.

England head coach Eddie Jones has named eight uncapped players in his 34-man squad for the Six Nations.

Northampton lock Alex Moon, centre Fraser Dingwall and full-back George Furbank, along with Bath prop Will Stuart and Wasps fly-half Jacob Umaga, receive their first senior call-ups.

Hooker Tom Dunn, flanker Ben Earl and wing Ollie Thorley are also named.

Exeter wing Jack Nowell and number eight Billy Vunipola both miss out through injury.

England open their campaign against France on Sunday, 2 February.

"We wanted to bring some young players in because we need to keep building our depth so for those new players it is an exciting opportunity for them," Jones said.

Jones has selected 22 of the squad that reached the Rugby World Cup final.

Ten men who were involved in Japan have not been included: number eight Vunipola, centres Henry Slade and Piers Francis and wing Joe Cokanasiga are all unavailable because of injury, while Dan Cole, Jack Singleton, Ben Spencer and Ruaridh McConnochie have not been picked.

Mark Wilson has only just returned from a long-term injury, while it is understood Nowell needs surgery on his recurring ankle problem.

While Jones has named five back-row forwards in the group - including young Worcester flanker Ted Hill - there is no specialist number eight following Vunipola's injury.

Nathan Hughes is again surplus to requirements, while Harlequins' Alex Dombrandt has been overlooked.

England will assemble at their Bagshot base on Wednesday and travel to Portugal for a warm-weather camp on Thursday before their first match in Paris.

Meanwhile, England assistant coach Steve Borthwick has confirmed he will leave his role at the end of the season, with Melbourne Storm assistant Jason Ryles joining in November.

England Six Nations squad

Forwards:

Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 21 caps), Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 19 caps), Tom Dunn (Bath, uncapped), Ben Earl (Saracens, uncapped), Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 12 caps), Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 14 caps), Jamie George (Saracens, 45 caps), Ted Hill (Worcester Warriors, 1 cap), Maro Itoje (Saracens, 34 caps), George Kruis (Saracens, 41 caps), Joe Launchbury (Wasps, 62 caps), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 81 caps), Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 6 caps), Joe Marler (Harlequins, 68 caps), Alex Moon (Northampton Saints, uncapped), Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins, 31 caps), Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, uncapped), Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 15 caps), Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 58 caps), Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs, 18 caps)

Backs:

Elliot Daly (Saracens, 39 caps), Ollie Devoto (Exeter Chiefs, 1 cap), Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints, uncapped), Owen Farrell (Saracens, 79 caps), George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 65 caps), George Furbank (Northampton Saints, uncapped), Willi Heinz (Gloucester Rugby, 9 caps), Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby, 47 caps), Jonny May (Leicester Tigers, 52 caps), Ollie Thorley (Gloucester Rugby, uncapped), Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers, 40 caps), Jacob Umaga (Wasps, uncapped), Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, 42 caps), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 95 caps)

Apprentice players:

Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, uncapped), Josh Hodge (Newcastle Falcons, uncapped)

Eddie Jones says his Saracens players will be able to thrive in adversity during the upcoming Six Nations, with the England boss citing the example of Australian cricket great Shane Warne.

Jones has named seven Sarries players in his squad for the Championship, two days after the club's relegation from the Premiership was confirmed.

"The really good players are good at compartmentalising issues," Jones said.

"International rugby is going to be really good for those guys."

Among the Saracens contingent named by England are captain Owen Farrell and senior players Jamie George, Maro Itoje, Mako Vunipola, George Kruis and Elliot Daly.

Speaking to BBC Sport he added: "I remember the great leg-spinner Shane Warne, he was always in trouble, and the place he found sanctuary was playing cricket.

"And for these players it will be the same. They want to get out, they want to train hard, they want to play for England. And all those issues aren't there for that period of time."

'We will sort issues'

England will gather at their Bagshot base on Wednesday, before flying to Portugal for a warm-weather training camp on Thursday.

And Jones is prepared to hold clear-the-air talks with the squad if there is any simmering discontent between the players in light of the salary cap bombshell.

"Given we haven't had the players since the World Cup, the first day we get together in Portugal on Thursday we will spend de-briefing the World Cup," Jones added.

"There will be certain issues coming out of that, and there may be issues to come out of the Saracens [situation], and if there are we will sort them out.

"We will get them out on the table and work out how we operate going forward."

However, Jones says the issue about whether he would pick a Saracens player operating in the second-tier Championship next season is "for another day".

"I don't need to worry about that now," he said. "For the next 10 days, the only thing the players have to worry about is getting right to play against France."

The beaten World Cup finalists open their Six Nations campaign in Paris on Sunday, 2 February.

England are to hold talks to resolve any anger among the squad resulting from Saracens' salary cap scandal.

Seven members of Eddie Jones' 34-man squad play for Sarries, who will be relegated at the end of the season.

None of Jones' current squad have been critical of the club's conduct in public but Jones will preside over discussions at England's training camp.

"We have got to debrief Saracens," Jones said. "We need to get everything out on the table and sort it out."

Jones' squad begins a seven-day training camp in Portugal on Thursday, to prepare for their Six Nations opener against France on 2 February.

The party includes the influential Sarries trio Owen Farrell, Maro Itoje and Mako Vunipola, and Jones will encourage a frank exchange of views in the Algarve.

"We are not robots," Jones said. "You don't know how long it is going to take. It could take longer, but we will sort it out.

"It's common sense - say what you feel. If players are angry about it then say it, get it out on the table.

"We have got players from potentially 12 different clubs - 12 different ideas of what is right and what is wrong - and we will help them sort it out.

"I'm mindful of it (any tensions), but it's also a great opportunity for us and the squad to get even tighter because problems are always there.

"Now obviously there's quite a large problem at the moment, but if we can solve it and relationships get stronger because of it, the binding factor for all the players is they all want to play for England, they want England to win so that's a unifying force."

'Sarries have made mistakes, now it's time to fix it'

Premiership Rugby conducted an investigation into potential salary cap breaches by Saracens last year and their initial punishment was announced days after England's World Cup final defeat last November.

Sarries have since accepted relegation to the Championship and this is the first time the England squad will get together since losing to South Africa in Japan.

"It's been a difficult time," said Jones. "They've obviously made mistakes Saracens, and now is the time to fix it, but our job is to make sure people remember the good things about English rugby, so we've got a great opportunity against France to put rugby back on the back pages for the right reasons."

Saracens players can still play for England even if they are playing in the second tier but the club's director of rugby Mark McCall has said the squad will be broken up.

"It's a difficult situation," Jones added. "You sign for a club with a perception of what's going to happen, and then it gets taken away.

"But they're good players, they know how to prepare well for games, they know where to put issues that aren't pertinent at that particular time, because for the next 10 days the only thing they've got to worry about is getting right to play against France.

"They know they've got to be in the best condition because otherwise they won't get picked, and they want to get picked - they've all got a lot of pride and passion to play for England."

The fan experience during the Rolex 24 at Daytona Int’l Speedway Jan. 25-26 will be as unique as the race itself.

The IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship is one of the few series whose biggest race of the year is its season opener.

The race is brutal. Pushing people and high-performance parts to the limit for 24 hours is difficult, and even the fans have to come up with a plan to follow the action.

Seeing which teams survived the long night and are still running well at daybreak is part of the equation.

The weather often involves rain, which further complicates the challenge.

The addition of superstars from divisions such as the NTT IndyCar Series and NASCAR adds to the allure and increases the fan base.

“This year, Kyle Busch is going to drive in the Rolex 24 and that’s exciting for us,” noted DIS President Chip Wile. “Fans can get autographs of Kyle and other big stars of the sport at the full-field autograph session before the start of the race on Saturday.”

Most of the fans at Daytona are well versed in sports car racing, know the highlights of the race’s history and respect what it takes to win there.

Fans following on live TV, switch between different channels as the schedule demands, while others prefer the IMSA Radio broadcasts. Most will follow live timing and scoring.

Social media will be abuzz with fans following IMSA, the track, teams, manufacturers and drivers.

Manufacturers play a key role in the series and some fans concentrate on a particular marque.

Others follow a favorite driver. After deducing when he or she will be behind the wheel, they’ll arrange their schedules to follow the race closely during those drivers’ stints.

Fans must decide whether to stay up all 24 hours, catch occasional naps, stay up late or get up early. As well, many fans stay on site in motorhomes or tents, while some commute back and forth to local hotels.

Many attending the race will wander to the different viewing areas or grandstands, while others hang out in the paddock.

“Fans don’t have to know someone to get into the garage area,” noted Emily Nash, senior manager, track marketing and promotions for IMSA. “Walk-in infield access and access to the UNOH Fanzone is included with an infield admission ticket and you can get that upgraded to include access to the garage area by buying a wristband through the speedway website. Children 12 and under are free. Fans can park in the parking lots outside of the track and get shuttled in.

“Merchandise is available in the fanzone and that’s where the Budweiser Bistro is, so there is food and drink available,” Nash added. “The fanzone also has a huge Jumbotron.”

The fanzone is also the site of an autograph session on Saturday before the race starts. It is open to everyone with drivers situated at tables located in front of the garage windows.  In that same area, historic race cars will be displayed.

After the autograph session and before the start of the race, there is a grid walk that is wall-to-wall people.

“We’ll introduce all the cars and drivers then,” Nash explained. “The prototypes will do a procession with a marching band. Fans can get up close and personal like they often can’t at other events.”

There is a midway in the infield that includes a Ferris wheel. “It’s really a family affair,” Wile said.

There are booths for various manufacturers too, and many fans spend time shopping.

“The midway displays have really become a staple of the Rolex 24,” Wile said. “Manufacturers go all out and fans can see prototypes and other vehicles they’ll see later on the race track.”

Saturday night during the race there is also a fireworks show. “It’s usually between 9 and 10 p.m., depending on the broadcast scheduling,” Nash said.

“Daytona also does a 5k on the track on Saturday morning,” she noted.

“That 5K is a neat way to start the day,” Wile elaborated. “I’ve done it the last few years. It usually starts around 7 a.m. You watch the sun rise and you get to run around the road course that will be used for the Rolex 24 later that day.”

After the race, the overall winning car is on display at the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America on the speedway grounds.

“That’s open daily, and a tour of the track is included in the admission,” Wile added. “We’ll take the overall winning car from tech and have it on display until we give it back to the team right before the start of the 2020 Daytona 500.”

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Jesse Love is adding to his already busy schedule by teaming up with Cox Racing to contest select winged sprint car events in California.

The addition of the winged sprint car ride adds to Love’s already busy plate, which includes the full ARCA Menards Series West schedule with Bill McAnally Racing and midget events with Keith Kunz Motorsports.

“I am super grateful to have this opportunity in 2020,” Jesse Love said. “Last year I learned a lot in the sprint car and I am looking forward to this new endeavor with Cox Racing.”

With Justyn Cox getting an opportunity to run with C&M Motorsports in 2020, a seat opened up in Cox’s family car and Love will take the controls when he can, and work alongside Crew Chief Rod Tiner Jr.

“Rod, my grandfather, and myself are really excited to expand Cox Racing in 2020 and head in this new direction with Jesse Love,” Cox said. “I’ve been extremely fortunate to have my grandpa and our partners give me an opportunity to build our team into what it is now over the years and that has allowed me to get some great opportunities with other car owners. The three of us see how talented Jesse is, and see this as a really good fit. Rod has helped me a ton over the years, and I feel he and Jesse will do great together.”

With Love running an array of different cars this year, the plan for him and Cox Racing is to run as many races at as many different tracks as possible. This will be his second season in a winged sprint car.

“I am really excited to work and race with Rod Tiner Jr.,” Love added. “I feel that he does a really good job, and can help me grow and develop in the winged car.”

Love will have HomeSmiles.com, Toyota and TRD with him as marketing partners on the Cox Racing No. 44.

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – Just months after formally announcing his retirement from racing, asphalt modified ace Chuck Hossfeld has become the latest TQ Midget entrant in the NAPA Know How Indoor Auto Racing Series events inside Boardwalk Hall.

“When I made the announcement to retire I could not believe the attention I got,” said Hossfeld. “It has been very flattering and it is something that I will never forget.”

When the Indoor Auto Racing VP Series storms into Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall, Hossfeld will buckle up behind the wheel of Joe Brainard’s No. 98 Tim Nye-built TQ Midget.

It will be the first Indoor Auto Racing Series start for Hossfeld, whose racing legacy includes four Race Of Champions Modified titles achieved 21 years apart (1997, 2011, 2014, and 2018). His last RoC Series win came this past summer, in July, at Lancaster (N.Y.) Speedway.

Hossfeld finished second once and third twice in the points on the on NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour on the strength of seven wins.

He also has made 10 career NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck SEries starts between 2000 and ’01 driving for Jack Roush, with one top-10 finish.

Andy Jankowiak, Ryan Flores and Erick Rudolph, the last three winners of the headline Gambler’s Classic TQ Midget races in the building come to Atlantic City, are pre-race favorites.

Jankowiak still savors his 2019 Gambler’s Classic win as the highlight of his driving career and he wants nothing more to do it again.

After two rounds of Indoor Auto Racing Series action fueled by VP Racing Fuels, Matt Janisch is the current leader in the championship standings. Janisch had Allentown finishes of third and seventh.

Janisch leads upstate New York dirt Modified driver Ryan Bartlett in the TQ points heading into Atlantic City by ten points. Bartlett made his first start behind the wheel of a new-to-him Lafler built TQ Midget.

Allentown opener winner Erick Rudolph is third, 17 markers out of first and Briggs Danner is fourth, 20 points out of the lead. Jankiowiak completes the top five, 24 points out of first.

The wild and crazy Slingshots and darty Champ Karts will make up the tripleheader program as they have in the past.