Dynamic Duo Dazzle in the Domain of the Dictionary
By JAMES ROBERTS – Squash Mad Reporter

Lichfield being my hometown and a place where I still play regularly due to work and visiting family, I managed to secure a place at a dream event for any squash fan – to play and watch a ‘Dynamic Duo’ of PSA World Tour squash stars.

This also represented a perfect opportunity for a sporadic squash hobby-journalist to find out a bit more about the players through asking them each a few questions. Be sure to check out their answers at the end of the article.

The first member of this Dynamic Duo was Daryl Selby, who whilst still a top PSA World Tour pro has set up a sports management agency called Dynamic7Sport, offering representation services to elite athletes in squash, cricket and golf. One of his clients is Ben Coleman, a rising star in the squash game, who agreed to accompany Daryl for the visit to Lichfield.

The event was the brainchild of Lichfield club member Nick Pound, who is the self-confessed no. 1 ‘superfan’ of Daryl. Through interacting with him on Twitter, he has established a friendship with the former National Champion and Commonwealth Games medallist. Daryl and Ben duly accepted an invitation from Nick to come to Lichfield to get on court with some of the members of the city’s squash club, as well as play an exhibition match.

The pretty city of Lichfield in Staffordshire is possibly best known as the birthplace of the Lexicographer and author of the first dictionary of the English language, Dr Samuel Johnson. Given my chosen headline, I am now left wondering whether Dr Johnson remembered to include the word ‘alliteration’ in his dictionary? This reminds me of a classic episode of Blackadder the Third, when Blackadder tries to frustrate Dr Johnson with a tirade of invented new words!

At the event itself, held at the courts in King Edward VI School where the club is based, the Dynamic Duo didn’t disappoint. Each of the professionals was allocated one of the courts, which were duly renamed in their honour. Groups of club members then pitted their skills against the professionals in a series of group and individual games, aiming to notch as many points as they could.

Following the group sessions, an exciting exhibition ensued, which featured some breath-taking rallies and winning shots. This came directly on the back of the 2 players facing each other in more serious competition just a few days before in the first round of the Allam British Open, the most prestigious squash competition in the world. Daryl won that one 3-1 (best of 5) and it was again Daryl who prevailed in the best of 3 exhibition match, 2-1.

Squash being such thirsty work, the players and professionals then retired to the local pub, The Duke of York, for a bit of liquid refreshment, followed by an excellent curry at the Club’s restaurant of choice, the Indian Village in Lombard Street.

The club is looking to organise further play the pro and exhibition events with other professional players in the near future. It is also looking forward to celebrating World Squash Day: The Big Hit on Saturday October 12th, when it will offer taster sessions in order to encourage beginner and returning players to take up squash, which has been regularly rated ‘the world’s healthiest sport’ through various scientific studies.

After the event, I took the opportunity to pitch a few questions to Daryl and Ben to reflect on their respective squash roots, talk about life on tour and cast a glance at what the future might hold for both players.

First up, the thoughts of Daryl Selby:

JR: When did you actually start playing squash and at what stage did you realise that you were going to be able to pursue it professionally?

DS: I started playing when I was 5 but never really dreamed of it being a profession until I was around 17/18. I decided to go to university, which was fantastic and as I came to the end of those 3 years I then fell into squash rather than getting a ‘proper’ job!

JR: It must have helped being part of a squash family, but were you encouraged to try other sports and were you ever tempted to take any of these more seriously, rather than pursue your squash?

Yes I played all sports when I was younger and had Dad not played then I’m sure I wouldn’t be a professional now. Football was my next best sport and I would like to think I could have earned a living playing that as well, but who knows …

JR: You have been on the PSA World Tour a long time now. What are the main things you enjoy about being on the World Tour? What are the biggest drawbacks?

DS: I enjoy playing in front of great crowds, travelling around the world and the battle of trying to win. Drawbacks are spending so much time away from family and not being able to do other pastimes that you would enjoy (long distance running, skiing, football etc)

JR: Which is your favourite PSA World Tour tournament and why?

DS: Canary Wharf because it feels like a home tournament, the atmosphere is incredible and it’s so well run.

JR: Out of all the matches you have played, which one in particular do you look back on with the most satisfaction and why?

DS: Winning the first match against Tarek Momen in the final of the World Team Champs 2013 to set us on the way to victory.

JR: Without wishing to flush out your eventual retirement timing, you are obviously in the twilight of your PSA World Tour career and indeed, seem to have already given a lot of thought about what might come next. In particular, you are already involved in the ‘family Business’, Off The Wall Squash Academy. You have also recently set up Dynamic7Sport, which already has many active clients, including current and former PSA World Tour pros, but also clients from other sports. Can you tell us a bit about where you hope to take these initiatives in the future?

DS: I love sport. I also have a passion for helping others and with my degree in sports management, Dynamic7 encapsulates that perfectly. I have big ambitions for it and want it to continue to grow into a family of aspiring and successful sportsmen and women who we can help to achieve their goals on and off the field of play.

JR: Do you have any other plans in the pipeline to continue your involvement in squash once you do decide to call time on your PSA World Tour career?

DS: I’m on the PSA board and would love to continue working to help promote the sport. I’m also now part owner of a glass court and have ambitions to be an event promoter at some point as well.

And now for Ben Coleman’s reflections:

JR: When did you actually start playing squash and at what stage did you realise that you were going to be able to pursue it professionally?

BC: I began to play squash at the age of 11 which is quite late compared to some other players around me. Before that I was interested in loads of different sports and did karate to a high level between the ages of 7-11. I would say around when I turned 17 and had just started my A levels I believed that I had a good shot at turning pro once my A levels were done.

JR: Tell me a bit about your junior career?

BC: I have fond memories of my junior career in particular. I played my first big tournament at the age of 14 in the nationals and reached the quarter finals as an unseeded player which was great but I was still far behind the top guys. Through hard work, I enjoyed a successful U17 campaign finishing as the British number 1 for my age and then as an under 19 player I became British junior champion, European team champion and number 1 in the country, something I’m very proud of.

JR: How many years have you been on the PSA World Tour now? What are the main things you enjoy about being on the World Tour? What are the biggest drawbacks?

BC: I’ve been on the tour now for 9 years (starting to feel old). I think it’s a blessing that we get to travel so much and see so many great places around the world whilst doing our job and being on tour. On the flip side, the tour can be a lonely place sometimes and maybe not always as much an ‘easy life’ as some might think. This is something I would love to go into more detail about at some point in the future.

JR: Which is your favourite PSA World Tour tournament and why?

BC: The Canary Wharf Classic. Such a fantastic venue and to be in London so close to home is special. Having your friends and family watching is rare as we are all over the world usually and that would cost a lot of money, but Canary Wharf for me I think is the best. However, playing squash we are fortunate to have tournaments held in some amazing locations worldwide.

JR: Out of all the matches you have played, which one in particular do you look back on with the most satisfaction and why?

BC: In recent times I would definitely say beating Max Lee who was world ranked 14 at the time in the World Champs February 2019. It was such a tough match and so close against someone who I admire for a few reasons, so that felt great and has really given me a big boost to know that I can perform at the highest level. I just need to work hard to make that more consistent.

JR: What is your objective in terms of ranking progression over the next 1-2 years and what aspects of your game do you think you need to work on to achieve this?

BC: I need to work on all aspects of my game but I am happy with the work i am about to get done in this summer period. I don’t like to put those kind of targets in place, but my goal over the next couple of years is to get up there around the top 20 and compete with the very best. Let’s see how we go! I’m feeling good and ready to get the work done.

JR: Daryl already seems to have already given a lot of thought to his future beyond his professional squash career. Although you are obviously a lot younger with hopefully many more active years ahead of you on the Tour, have you also started giving any consideration to what might come next once you finish your career on the PSA World Tour?

BC: The last few years in particular have been a massive opportunity for me to learn so many things both inside and outside of the court. The PSA foundation has helped us to start putting things in place and thinking about our future so I am definitely doing that, with networking where I can and just giving myself options. As you say, hopefully I have a few more years left in the game yet, but the earlier you can prepare the better.

Many thanks to Daryl and Ben for coming to Lichfield and for their time in answering my questions.

Pictures by: James Roberts  

France holds special memories for Marksman James
Interview by Jérôme Elhaïk – Squash Mad Correspondent

After having had a tough run (with two five-game matches), James Willstrop could only keep up with Grégoire Marche for one game in the 5R Montpellier Métropole Open final last Sunday. Nevertheless, the tall Englishman was able to display his phenomenal skills during the week, and was widely praised for his class on and off the court. Read our interview with a true champion.

About the final and his run in Montpellier:
“He was too good today. Greg is a physical player. He’s able to get balls back as well if not better than anyone I’d played before in the tournament and that’s why he was number 1 seed. He’s not a young player any more, he’s amassed a lot of experience and he knows what he’s doing. In this final, I didn’t do enough and I wasn’t able to push harder for longer. I struggled mentally and physically, it’s been a tough week with a couple of hard matches, and the conditions were very hot and bouncy. I don’t enjoy losing, of course, but I still take some positives out of this tournament. I made the final, and Malcolm and I had a great time here in Montpellier and met some lovely people.”

On his current mindset:
“As I’ve explained before, I no longer have specific goals, I am keeping things simple and focusing on the squash. I am almost 36 years old, I have to be careful with my body and I can’t train as hard as I used to. It’s hard to keep up with players like Greg, but I am still top 20 and still enjoy training as well as competing.”

About his ability to play top level squash on a given day, for example at the 2018 Commonwealth Games final (won in straight games against Paul Coll):
“That’s the thing, that was not a goal! I was not looking beyond the first round. I think I am a bit more relaxed and astute about the way I play matches now than maybe I did when I was playing finals in World Series events.

We then talked about his book ‘A shot and a Ghost’ and the strict routines it describes:
“I don’t always like it when I read some parts of it. I was a bit too intense about certain things and I tend to think I was not a very nice person back then (he laughs). Having said that, I still prepare my matches as diligently as I can. I do all my exercises and warm-up as well as possible, to put myself in the very best position to try and win every match I play.”

About the numerous retirements in squash lately, and his plans for the future:
“Do you want me to retire (he laughs)? To be honest, it’s not clear cut in my mind. I am lucky enough to do what I love and earn some money, how could I complain? Some players struggle when their level drops with age. It’s not my case even though, as I was saying before, I do not enjoy losing! There are indeed a few players, especially from my generation, who have retired lately. As far as I am concerned, I don’t think I’ll make a big fuss about it when I stop playing, it’s just not who I am. But maybe I’ll be convinced to do otherwise…”

On his interests besides squash:
“I’ve already mentioned I love theatre and acting. Would I like to get more involved into that after my squash playing career? Absolutely, but it’s hard to get into this business, especially at my age. Plus, I have a family and it wouldn’t be easy. Writing is much more convenient, and I was already able to do it during my career.” (Author’s note: he writes a column in The Guardian online).

About his dad and coach Malcolm, and the things he passed on to him:
(I tell him I am impressed with the fact Malcolm has been watching almost every single match during the week). “He simply loves the sport, so watching squash is like a holiday for him. To be honest, I wonder how he’s managed to remain so committed during so many years. As for me, I could see myself become a coach but not 10 hours a day. Behaving properly on and off the court has always been the most important thing for him. It’s not easy to keep everything in when you’re on there (he points towards the court), and I’ve lost it a couple of times in the past. Now, I take my frustration out on Malcolm between games, that’s what a coach is here for (he laughs). “Or on Vanessa …” says his dad, who is walking past us. He’s referring to Vanessa Atkinson, former world number 1 and now James Willstrop’s wife.

About French crowds, which James has often said he loves playing in front of:
“I’ll never forget our match against France at the 2013 World Team Championships in Mulhouse, and we English guys remember it so well. It was such a brilliant crowd and they were obviously shouting for their team. But after the match, we went up to the room at 2 in the morning, and everyone who was eating and having a drink stood up and gave us a round of applause. It was a very nice gesture and it summed up what playing in France is like. French people give a lot of passion to their sport, in an outward sense, more so than the English – we are as passionate but don’t show it as much. So it was about that, but also respect. There have been countless other memories, especially with the team in Mulhouse. I love coming here, and I am not blowing hot air when I say that.”

“We’ll never forget our match against France at the 2013 World Team Championships in Mulhouse.”

Pictures courtesy of Nicolas Barbeau and Jérôme Elhaïk

MALTA, N.Y. — Peter Britten became Albany-Saratoga Speedway’s first two-time DIRTcar modified winner of the season Friday with an impressive charge from the fourth row to the lead in four laps.

Equally impressive was invader Ryan Godown, who clawed his way from 15th on the grid to second, but couldn’t catch the fleet Australian.

Jessey Mueller was third, trailed by Bobby Hackel, Rocky Warner, Brett Hearn, Marc Johnson, Mike Mahaney, C.G. Morey and Jack Lehner.

“We haven’t been the best the last few weeks but we got onto something last week,” tipped Britten. “I think we’ve finally got it figured out.”

Matt Depew got a big jump over front row companion Don Ronca on the break but Britten was flying behind them and stood second when Keith Flach bicycled and went over the turn one banking on lap four to draw the 35-lapper’s first yellow.

Britten didn’t get around DePew in turn one on the restart but by the time they hit turn three, he was even and had the lead when they reached the flagstand.

From that point on, the crowd was entertained by a huge dogfight behind him as Hackel got to second, then had to fight off Warner, Mueller, Hearn and then later in the race, Godown.

Three more yellows kept the lead pack within reach and on a lap 29 restart, Godown vaulted from fifth to third.  With Mueller attempting to get around Britten on the outside, Godown finally worked under him with three to go but by then, Britten, who had been knee deep in lapped cars, took advantage of being in the open again and was long gone.

In supporting class action, Jackson Ryan and Josh Cain claimed single and double cam division wins, respectively, in the Ray Galusha Memorial for mini-stocks.  Each win was worth $1,000.

John Filarecki won the street stock feature while Robert Bublak bested Chris Johnson and Andrew Buff in the Sportsman division’s VP Racing Shootout.

FORT WORTH, Texas – Greg Biffle hasn’t lost a step.

Making his first NASCAR start since 2016 and his first NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series start since 2004, Biffle drove to victory in Friday’s SpeedyCash.com 400 at Texas Motor Speedway.

“I’m just excited to be here. I don’t even know what to say,” said the 49-year-old Biffle in victory lane Friday evening.

In a race that featured more than a dozen cautions, mostly for crashes, Biffle had to work hard to make his return to NASCAR competition a triumphant one. Driving the No. 51 Toyota Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports, Biffle took the lead for the first time on lap 104.

A few laps later the caution flag waved for Stewart Friesen, who was trying to take the lead from Biffle in turns one and two. Friesen lost control of his truck and backed it into the outside wall, resulting in a caution period.

Biffle hit pit road for tires and fuel during the caution period, a move that would prove pivotal later in the race.

The race resumed with 55 laps left and Daytona Truck Series winner Austin Hill took the lead, though he would be forced to pit with 21 laps left for fuel. That gave the lead to Tyler Ankrum, but a caution with 15 laps left for the stalled truck of Austin Wayne Self set up the final round of pit stops.

Ankrum led several trucks down pit road, but Biffle’s team opted to keep him on the track so he could inherit the race lead. When the race resumed with 10 laps left Biffle shot out into the lead while Matt Crafton quickly raced his way into second.

For the next five laps Crafton tried desperately to find a way by 2001 Truck Series champion, but Biffle held serve during every challenge. With fuel mileage a big question, Biffle managed to save enough gas to get to the finish line first to earn his first Truck Series triumph since 2001.

“It means a lot to me…Kyle (Busch) giving me that opportunity to come back and drive this truck,” said Biffle, who earned a $50,000 bonus courtesy of Gander Outdoors for winning the first race of the Triple Truck Challenge. “This Gander Outdoors Series, I love this. A lot of competitive trucks here. These guys (KBM) make the difference. A lot of great guys that Kyle has assembled.

Biffle is now the only driver eligible to win the $500,000 bonus that is available to any driver who is able to sweep the Triple Truck Challenge, which began Friday at Texas Motor Speedway and continues the next two weeks at Iowa Speedway and World Wide Technology Raceway.

At this point Biffle is not scheduled to compete in the next two races. Asked if he’ll be back in a truck next week at Iowa, Biffle smiled and said, “You’re going to have to ask Kyle, not me.”

Crafton ended up chasing Biffle across the line in second and was admittedly frustrated post-race.

“It’s a shame,” Crafton said. “Right there at the end we got there, we had a chance. Just got really tight. Just sucks to finish second.”

Ankrum came home a career-best third for DGR-Crosley. Grant Enfinger and Harrison Burton completed the top-five.

LINCOLN, Ill. – The DIRTcar Hornets took center stage on Friday at Lincoln Speedway for the annual running of the Ed Cain Trucking Hornet Challenge, which was one by Eric Vanapeldoorn.

After winning his heat race, Vanapeldoorn claimed the six car dash before intermission. That put him on the pole of the 25-lap feature and the orange No. 77 continued to be too tough to tame for the competition.

The veteran driver raced out front early and never looked back to claim the win.  Jake Momper finished second, followed by Jeremy Reed, Kenny Butterfield and David Lauritson.

In other action, Ray Bollinger took the win in the DIRTcar Modifieds, Jake Little was triumphant in the DIRTcar Pro Late Models, Andy Baugh collected the trophy in the Nutech Seed DII Midget class and Tim Hancock Sr. took top honors in the DIRTcar Pro Mods.

JACKSON, Minn. – Jack Dover, Brant O’Banion and Jake Kouba were victorious on Friday during Military Night at Jackson Motorplex.

Dover took the lead midway through the DeKalb/Asgrow presents the Midwest Power Series and Midwest Sprint Touring Series main event and he pulled away in traffic en route to the triumph.

Trey Starks powered from the eighth starting position and he earned a career-best result at the track with a runner-up finish. Carson McCarl placed third with Matt Juhl, who led early, finishing fourth. Dusty Zomer rounded out the top five.

O’Banion charged from eighth to win the Heartland Steel RaceSaver sprint cars presented by Wyffels Hybrids A Main. Brandon Bosma advanced from sixth to second with Colin Smith third, Bill Johnson fourth and Jody Rosenboom fifth.

Kouba drove into Victory Lane thanks to a strong performance during the NSL non-wing sprint cars presented by HitchDoc main event. Alex Schriever placed second. Brandon Halverson was third, Johnny Parsons III ended fourth and Clinton Bruns scored a fifth-place finish.

MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — Freddie Rahmer scored his second win of the season Friday night at Williams Grove Speedway, earning $4,080 for the sprint car win that was the eighth of his career at the speedway.

In the Tri-Track Late Model Challenge Series for super late models, Rick Eckert scored his second oval win of the season as well, making a clean sweep of his events by setting fast time, winning his heat and then the main event.

Chad Trout started second in the 25-lap 410 sprint car main and took the lead over polesitter Rodney Westhafer when action began as Rahmer came to second from fourth on the opening lap.

Rahmer raced in Trout’s shadow for the first six laps before finally getting the lead.

Prior to taking control, he raced to Trout’s outside repeatedly in the third and first turns only to be forced to fall back in line just behind the leader.

He was finally able to get far enough around Trout to complete the pass in the first and second turns on the seventh tour.

“I just moved up a half lane and had a little better exit,” Rahmer said of how he got the lead. “That’s what I thought I had to do to win.

“Once you get by yourself you can really focus on hitting your marks and managing your wheel spin,” he said of getting out front and setting the pace.

Rahmer hit the rear of the field with nine away but then saw his pace slowed, and his 1.7 second lead erased on the 12th lap when the only caution flag of the race unfurled for a stopped Troy Fraker.

Rahmer jetted away on the restart as Danny Dietrich raced with Trout for second.

With five laps to go Rahmer had a 3.8 second lead that dropped off a bit, to 3.578 seconds at the finish.

Dietrich finally got by Trout on the 24th circuit.

Trout finished third followed by Kyle Reinhardt and Westhafer.

Eckert started on the pole and led every lap of the 30-lap special for super late models to earn $3,000 for the win that was the eighth of his career at Williams Grove.

His pace was slowed by four caution periods but each time with Dan Stone and Coleby Frye lining up just behind, Eckert was up to the challenge and pulled away from the field.

Stone and Frye exchanged second spot more than once before Stone finally kept the spot to the finish.

Eckert’s margin of victory was 5.396 seconds. Frye was third followed by Jerry Bard and Jim Bernheisel.

ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis Blues forward Ivan Barbashev has been suspended for one game for an illegal check to the head on Boston's Marcus Johansson in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final, the league announced Friday.

Barbashev was not penalized on the play.

Barbashev has three goals, three assists and is plus-1 during the playoffs. Barbashev and the rest of the fourth line have played a key role in keeping Boston's top line, centered by Patrice Bergeron, in check this series.

The incident occurred in the first period of Thursday's Game 5, an eventual 2-1 Blues victory that put St. Louis on the precipice of the first Stanley Cup in franchise history -- with a 3-2 series lead and a chance to clinch at home Sunday.

According to a video explanation released by the NHL's Department of Player Safety, Barbashev delivered a "high, forceful hit that makes Johansson's head the main point of contact, on a hit where such head contact was avoidable."

In the video, the DOPS said that Barbashev was suspended because the brunt of the impact of the hit came from Barbashev's shoulder to the head of Johansson.

"Well, I mean, they're going to look at things that happen in games, and that's just part of it," Blues coach Craig Berube said before the suspension was handed out. "It's physical hockey, it's heavy hockey out there both ways, and they're going to look at some stuff once in a while. So that's the way it goes."

On Friday, Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said Johansson had "no lingering effects" from the hit that he was aware of.

"I thought it was a high hit," Cassidy said. "I thought the officials were close enough to call it. They didn't. I'm not going to go down that road again. If he gets a suspension, that's up to the NHL. They'll make that call and we'll just worry about Game 6."

For a replacement forward, the Blues likely will turn to Robby Fabbri. The 23-year-old has played in 10 playoff games this spring but has scored just one goal and zero assists, while averaging less than nine minutes a night.

This is the Blues' second suspension of the Stanley Cup Final. Oskar Sundqvist missed Game 3 after boarding Matt Grzelcyk.

The two suspensions against the Blues this year are the first in the Stanley Cup Final since 2011.