To play squash, first you have to warm up the ball.

When this is explained by Ronny Vlassaks, the highly-decorated, Belgian, Rod Stewart look-alike coach who serves as the head instructor at Squash on Fire in West End, it’s hard to tell if it’s intended to be a metaphor, some kind of wax-on, wax-off, first existential lesson in the sport. No, he means we literally need to warm up the rubber sphere we’ll be whacking around this glass and concrete box until my lungs scream for us to stop.

The rubber ball is much softer — squashier — than expected, and when it’s completely cold, it has no bounce, dropping to the wood floor lifelessly. Inject some power into it, through a transfer of human energy, and suddenly the game comes alive.

That’s the idea behind Squash On Fire, too, which opened in 2017. The game has largely been the provenance of East Coast country club enclaves, Ivy League college programs, and private city clubs in America. But Squash On Fire is open to the public, to anyone who wants to learn. For as little as $20, they can grab a court to themselves for 45 minutes and go nuts.

My net experience with the sport had come from a confused stroll through the University of California campus one afternoon as a teenager and a few thousand clever words in the New Yorker a couple years ago. Fittingly, the author of that piece was a former prep-schooler named Tad.

“In the states here, it’s still, regrettably — back then, and less so now — somewhat of a, for lack of a better word, rarefied sport,” said Richard Chin, teaching pro at the Harvard Club in New York. “There’s not much public access to it. Facilities like this really make a big difference, and we really hope we can get more facilities like this.”

Chin grew up in Guyana, where his family belonged to a club and squash was a part of life the way tennis or golf might be in America. But he knows that’s not a model for growth and inclusion.

“The first, critical step is more courts. More courts in locales where there is a low barrier to entry. More public access, that’s the first step. But you can’t just build the courts. You need an army of enthusiastic teaching pros to build the programs, to have the hands on experience, to nurture the players, especially the kids,” he said.

Chin is in town for the US Nationals, the first of two major squash events coming to Squash On Fire this year. The second such event is the Men’s World Squash Team Championship, which will be played Dec. 14-21, the first time in its 50-year history that it will be played in the United States. The intervening eight months will serve as an interesting litmus test to see what kind of interest and excitement the game generates between now and then.

***

If you’re wondering about the name of the place, it’s actually simple and straightforward. The facility sits, well, squashed, between the D.C. Fire Engine Company 1 station below and an architecturally curious box of affordable housing above. Hence, Squash On Fire. Because this is Washington, to the immediate east rests the Senegalese Embassy. It is squeezed seamlessly into the city, though its bold, red banner and floor-to-ceiling glass presence can’t help but catch the eye from the street.

Still, what you see from the street is only a small window into what’s inside. There are eight full courts — 21 feet wide, 32 feet deep — along with a workout area open to players for use pre- or post-match play, and a bar.

It might not seem like all that would fit in such space, but don’t be deceived by the lines. Based on dimensions alone, a tennis court will hold only three squash courts. But within the space required around the tennis surface — the minimum suggested length of 120 feet, width of 60 feet — you can fit more than 10 squash courts.

And yet, despite the small working area, the game is physically exhausting. Points are not won by attacking as much by attrition, physically and mentally wearing your opponent down shot after shot. Games are to 11, win by two, best of five games for the match. Rallies can last for dozens of shots, with just seconds of recovery before the next ball is served. Depending on how big you are, in just an hour of swatting, diving to corners, and scrambling back to the T, you can burn in excess of 1,000 calories.

“In squash, you’re always moving, you’re always doing something, there’s very little breaks,” said Chin. “You’re operating with your heart rate high for extended periods of time. It has a lot of creativity, it’s very strategic, it has a huge technical component. Those are all components that you can attribute to many other sports, squash just seems to have many of them at a higher level of demand.”

***

Olivia Blatchford Clyne was born into the game. Her parents were both recreational players, and her dad would drag her around to his matches.

“I kind of got to the point where I was like, ‘Dad, I’m sick and tired of you bringing me to these events every weekend. I want to play. When is it my turn?’”

She was five. Now, she’s U.S. champ.

The charismatic, diminutive Brooklynite, now 26, cruised to her second straight national title in just under a half-hour, 11-8, 11-2, 11-6. Ranked 20^th in the world, she’s perhaps as close as the game has to a national face, which can only help through her infectious enthusiasm for the sport.

“You have to feel what it’s like to be battling it out in that box,” she said. “When you’re in it, there’s nothing like being on that court. It’s unlike any other sport in that sense that it’s so all-consuming. To me, the best spot is about self-discovery. You find (out) so much about yourself and about the human limits, really.”

“We need people to get in there and seduce them that way.”

On the men’s side, 28-year-old Todd Harrity took down the title in four games, 11-7, 8-11, 11-8, 11-4, defeating two-time defending champion Chris Hanson. Ranked 45^th in the world, Harrity is the top American man, highlighting just how much more popular the game is abroad. He thinks having a breakthrough player ascend to the top of the sport may be a spark for broader interest in the states.

“That’s basically what happened in Egypt,” he said, referencing Ahmed Barada, who ascended to No. 2 in the world. “It was just a catalyst. Everyone was excited, a lot of enthusiasm around that, a way to kind of see the world and to achieve something new. And now, they’re dominating the sport.”

Indeed, the top three players in the world right now, and seven of the top 12, are Egyptian. But lots of other countries in Europe, Asia, even New Zealand, are represented before you get to the Americans.

“I think that would be incredibly exciting to have an American reach the top of the game,” Harrity said.

That could come from a single player, but more likely from generational changes, born from increased access and exposure. Maybe that will all come in time. But first, they have to warm up the ball.

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Bath meet local rivals Bristol Bears at Twickenham with 60,000 fans set to be at Saturday's game, dubbed 'The Clash'.

Bears-bound lock Dave Attwood starts for Bath, against the club he will rejoin at the end of this season.

Pat Lam's Bristol change seven from the side that lost at La Rochelle in Europe, but make just four changes from their most recent Premiership match.

Forwards Harry Thacker, John Afoa and Dan Thomas all come in after missing 23 March's loss to Worcester Warriors.

Twickenham is hosting Bath's third edition of The Clash after playing Leicester Tigers the previous two times the fixture was staged.

Bath are seventh in the Premiership, three points and two places above Bristol.

Bath director of rugby Todd Blackadder told BBC Radio Bristol:

"These West Country derbies are fantastic, wherever they're played, and especially with where both sides are in the season.

"For us, it's really about trying to get a complete performance to match the occasion. There's everything to play for and it's such a massive game for both clubs.

"Bristol will put on an open, flowing game that they've shown all season and they've got massive self-belief."

Bristol head coach Pat Lam told BBC Radio Bristol:

"There's real excitement to be playing at Twickenham. I hear there's going to be 60,000 in the crowd so fair play to Bath for inviting us to come and play in the fixture.

"We're all looking forward to it, but for us it's about making sure the best we can do on the field comes from upstairs through clarity of thought.

"There's five rounds to go and 25 points on offer and we are trying to pick up as many of those points to push towards the top six. It's still there in our grasp so our whole focus in on looking up."

Bath: Homer; Cokanasiga, Joseph, Roberts, McConnochie; Priestland, Fotuali'I; Catt, Dunn, Lahiff, Attwood, Ewels (capt), Ellis, Underhill, Mercer.

Replacements: Batty, Obano, Perenise, Stooke, Reid, Cook, Burns, Clark.

Bristol: Daniels; Morahan, O'Conor, S Piutau (co-capt), Leiua; Sheedy, Randall; Woolmore, Thacker, Afoa, Holmes, Vui, Luatua, Thomas, Crane (co-capt).

Replacements: Fenton-Wells, Lay, Thiede, Lam, Smith, Uren, Madigan, Pisi.

Referee: JP Doyle.

For the latest rugby union news follow @bbcrugbyunion on Twitter.

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Wales fly-half Rhys Priestland has signed a new two-year deal with Bath.

The 32-year-old joined Bath from Scarlets in 2015 and will now stay at the Recreation Ground until at least the end of the 2020-21 campaign.

Priestland had previously indicated in January that he would leave the club at the end of the season.

"This has always been an incredibly important contract for me at this stage of my career and I am delighted to be staying," Priestland said.

Priestland, who has not played for Wales since November 2017, has featured in all of Bath's five Premiership games since January, scoring six tries in the process.

In all, he has scored more than 350 points in 74 Premiership appearances for the Somerset club.

Bath head coach Todd Blackadder added: "It is no secret that we have been looking at a couple of specific options. However, this has never diminished the faith we have in Rhys.

"Rhys is an incredibly respected member of our group. We believe we are all building something special here at the club and Rhys has already been, and continues to be, a huge part of that."

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Wales flanker Josh Navidi says he will be fit for the World Cup as he recovers from one of the most painful injuries of his career.

Navidi enjoyed a stellar Six Nations, starting and impressing in all five matches as Wales won the Grand Slam.

The 28-year-old then dislocated his elbow during Cardiff Blues' win over Scarlets last month, but expects to be back for Wales' summer training camps.

"I've had the op now and I'll be ready for the World Cup camps," said Navidi.

"I'll be fully fit to play in 12 weeks so I'll be ready for then. I just need to look after my body and get it right.

"I had the operation last Thursday so the pain's gone now.

"It's nice to get it done and dusted quite quickly and hopefully next week I can get my range of motion back."

The back row is arguably the most competitive area of the Wales team, with Taulupe Faletau, Justin Tipuric, Ross Moriarty, Thomas Young, Ellis Jenkins, Aaron Shingler and James Davies vying with Navidi for a place in the national side.

With Faletau, Jenkins, Shingler and Davies missing the Six Nations through injury, Navidi seized his opportunity with a string of excellent displays, carrying the ball powerfully and defending with ferocious intensity.

But less than a week after Wales secured the Grand Slam with victory over Ireland, there were worries for Navidi's World Cup prospects when he was forced off the field less than two minutes into Cardiff Blues' thrashing of Scarlets.

In what Blues head coach John Mulvihill described as "friendly fire", it was actually the accidental intervention of one of Navidi's own team-mates which caused his gruesome injury.

"I put my arm out to tackle one of the Scarlets boys but Tomos [Williams, Blues and Wales scrum-half] did come from behind and gave me a bit of a nudge," Navidi told BBC Sport Wales.

"It was just the position my arm was in. Nine times out of 10 it probably wouldn't have happened, but it's just the way I was, it got knocked out and it came out.

"It didn't make the best sound but, it got back in straight away and the medical team looked after me.

"Obviously it's not the best and it would have been nice to finish off the season with the Blues. We've still got a lot to play for there.

"I'd say it was probably the second most painful injury of my career.

"The worst was when I had a stinger on my neck a while ago. It was ongoing pain."

What's on the Wales players' playlist?

Navidi is a warrior who is used to putting his body on the line for the sake of his team, and Wales will hope to have that wholehearted commitment helping their cause at the World Cup in Japan later this year.

Welsh confidence has scarcely been higher as the players prepare for the showpiece tournament with a Grand Slam and a national record of 14 consecutive wins under their belts.

In Navidi, they also have a budding DJ in their midst.

During the evening following Wales' Grand Slam-clinching win over Ireland, he was pictured on the decks at a Cardiff bar.

But Navidi, who has DJed at clubs in the past, said his was only a cameo set at the end of the night.

"I was just speaking to the DJ, my mate Ian, and then I did a little bit when everyone had left and it was just friends and staff," he said.

"I like hip hop, but it depends where you are and what the crowd is."

How about the Wales team and their choice of songs before matches?

"We do two songs each on the playlist," said Navidi, whose choices are 'Paris' by the Chainsmokers and 'Californication' by the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

"You have some boys playing something and you think: 'Bloody hell, what is this?' But most of the stuff is good and it's good to hear something different.

• Wales can win World Cup - Roberts
• Preview: Munster v Cardiff Blues

"Nicky [Smith] had the 'Pong Dance' song [by Vigiland] so we were on the bus and we had a full-on rave dance song on."

Whether Ospreys prop Smith or Navidi have control of the changing room sound system in Japan, both will be hoping they can provide the soundtrack for a successful World Cup campaign.

"Fingers crossed I can make the squad and get to play in a World Cup, where I've played at an Under-20 World Cup and won my first [senior] cap," said Navidi.

"It would be nice to go back out there."

For the latest Welsh rugby news follow @BBCScrumV on Twitter.

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – One hundred wins.

It’s a big milestone, and one that Corvette Racing has been chasing in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship since the 2018 BUBBA burger Sports Car Grand Prix at Long Beach. That was the storied team’s most recent victory, coming courtesy of the No. 4 Corvette C7.R team and co-drivers Tommy Milner and Oliver Gavin.

There may be no better place for the team to get that elusive 100th win than Long Beach, where Gavin and Milner have won each of the past two years in the GT Le Mans class. In fact, the Corvette Racing team has won three of the past five BUBBA burger Sports Car Grands Prix – No. 3 C7.R teammates Antonio Garcia and Jan Magnussen also won there in 2014.

The team was in position for another potential victory in 2016 before a late-race dustup in the famed Long Beach hairpin gave the win to No. 911 Porsche 911 RSR co-drivers Patrick Pilet and Nick Tandy. Overall, Corvette Racing has seven IMSA victories at Long Beach, far and away the most of any WeatherTech Championship team.

“Our success at Long Beach comes down to many things,” explains Gavin, who has a series-leading five victories on the 1.968-mile street circuit. “Fundamentally, Tommy and I have been in the position to win each of the last four years. Yes, things have had to go our way in some cases.”

Indeed, there have been some wacky circumstances. The aforementioned 2016 incident was one. The next year, the No. 3 team was on its way to the win only to get tangled up due to a last-lap incident in the hairpin, which opened the door for Milner and the No. 4 Corvette to take the checkered flag first.

“Three years ago, we were leading with two laps to go and got taken out at the last corner,” Gavin says. “But the last two years, we’ve taken our chances and taken them well. That’s what it’s all about driving around a street circuit – when to risk it, when not to, taking advantage of the mistakes of others and execution.”

On the point of 100 victories, astute fans of Corvette Racing will say, “Hang on a minute, Corvette Racing got its 100th win at Lime Rock in 2016.” And it was the 100th win for the program overall when you count the team’s eight 24 Hours of Le Mans victories.

But a Long Beach win will give the team 100 in IMSA competition, encapsulating the WeatherTech Championship, American Le Mans Series and the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series.

“It would be great to get another win there, for sure – No. 100 in IMSA for Corvette Racing,” Milner said. “To win three in a row at any track against this level of competition would be a great achievement. It also would be a great way to get ourselves back into championship contention.”

Corvette Racing knows all about contending for a championship, having won each of the past three GTLM titles. The No. 3 team won each of the past two years, while Gavin and Milner brought home the 2016 title for the No. 4 squad.

The No. 4 duo is currently eighth in the GTLM standings, 15 points behind the class-leading No. 911 pair of Pilet and Tandy with two of 11 races in the books. So for them, Long Beach could be exactly what the doctor ordered.

“For me, my success at Long Beach has been a bit of a surprise in some ways,” Milner said. “I’ve never really thought street races were my strong suit. The racing is always fun there, but I always felt more comfortable at other tracks. But I’ve had some of the best outcomes at Long Beach – my first Corvette IMSA win in 2012 with Oliver, and then we’ve been super strong the last four years with the Corvette C7.R.”

“Last year we had a good Corvette,” added Gavin. “We were strong, and Tommy had a great stint at the end. Sure, we got fortunate when two other cars had contact, but that’s one of the reasons we’ve won so many times at Long Beach. We’ve managed to execute passes cleanly and we’ve been smart.

“All it takes is a little bit of contact or a brush with the wall and your day is done. There are no second chances at Long Beach.”

The post Corvette Racing Eyes No. 100 In Long Beach appeared first on SPEED SPORT.

BULLS GAP, Tenn. – Dale McDowell bested a game Jimmy Owens to win the Ultimate Southeast Super Late Model Series Spring Thaw Thursday evening at Volunteer Speedway.

Owens started from the pole and took the lead for the first time on lap 14 of the 50-lap race from second-place starter Michael Chilton. Once out front Owens soon found himself under pressure from McDowell. McDowell’s persistence paid off when he got by Owens in lap traffic on lap 32.

McDowell would leader the remainder of the distance to earn a $10,000 payday while Owens chased him home in second, more than two seconds behind.

Brandon Overton ended up third, followed by Shanon Buckingham and Ross Bailes.

The finish:

Dale McDowell, Jimmy Owens, Brandon Overton, Shanon Buckingham, Ross Bailes, Donald McIntosh, Zack Mitchell, Vic Hill, Robby Moses, Michael Chilton, Ryan King, Billy Moyer Jr., Trent Forrest, Cla Knight, Dakotah Knuckles, Chicky Barton, Josh Sneed, Cory Hedgecock, Daulton Wilson, Anthony Sanders, Steve Smith, Ahnna Parkhurst, John Tweed.

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BRISTOL, Tenn. – Rick Ware Racing announced Friday that East Carolina University will be the primary sponsor for Kyle Weatherman’s No. 17 Chevrolet Camaro in Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

The partnership was made possible by Rick Ware Racing General Manager Bryan Clodfelter, a 1991 graduate of East Carolina University and the Athletics Department at ECU.

Located in Greenville, N.C., East Carolina University is the fourth largest university in North Carolina. Founded on March 8, 1907, as a teaching training school, ECU has grown from 43 acres to almost 1,600 acres.

The university’s academic facilities are located on six properties. There are more than 400 registered clubs on campus including fraternities and sororities.

ECU is a returning partner at Rick Ware Racing after also supporting the team’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series No. 51 entry last year at Dover (Del.) Int’l Speedway.

“Everyone at Rick Ware Racing is extremely excited to once again partner with East Carolina University,” said Clodfelter. “It is a great program that will again put ECU on a national stage without the University incurring any cost.

“The support for us to do this comes from fans and supporters of ECU Athletics and the sales of memorabilia such as hats, shirts and even die-cast cars. Having worked with the Athletic Department during my tenure at ECU, I know first-hand the pride that goes along with athletics at ECU and the commitment of the fan base.”

Twenty-one-year-old Weatherman will make his Xfinity Series debut this weekend at Bristol. Despite his inexperience in Xfinity Series competition, the Wentzville, Mo., native has nine Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series starts and 50 starts in ARCA, including a win at New Jersey Motorsports Park in 2015.

“I am extremely excited to be able to represent the students and alumni of East Carolina University this weekend at Bristol,” said Weatherman. “I’m looking forward to the challenges a tough short track like Bristol Motor Speedway presents – but I have the confidence in my Rick Ware Racing team that we can have a solid performance on Saturday and give ECU a strong showing as well.

“The car looks great too.”

In addition to Bristol, ECU is expected to be the team’s primary supporter next weekend at Richmond (Va.) Raceway.

The post East Carolina Backs Weatherman & Ware At Bristol appeared first on SPEED SPORT.

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BRISTOL, Tenn. – Canadian Raphael Lessard has joined Bill McAnally Racing to contest this weekend’s NASCAR K&N Pro Series East event at Bristol Motor Speedway.

The 17-year-old native of St.-Joseph de Beauce, Quebec will pilot the No. 50 FRL Express Toyota Camry, a fourth entry for the traditional K&N West juggernaut, in Saturday’s Zombie Auto 150.

Lessard will be teammates with K&N East championship leader Derek Kraus, K&N West point leader Hailie Deegan and series rookie Brittney Zamora as he makes his series debut.

“The car looks really good sitting here, doesn’t it?” Lessard joked to SPEED SPORT on Friday morning at Bristol Motor Speedway. “The guys at BMR did a really good job at getting it ready for us. This came together pretty quick; I was not supposed to race a whole lot this year, but I think the first few races I’ve run with Toyota this season have proven that I deserve a place running with some of the veterans.

“I just can’t thank Bill McAnally Racing, NAPA Belts & Hoses and FRL Express enough, along with all the people who support me, for helping to make this opportunity possible,” Lessard added. “It’s awesome and I’m really glad to be back here at Bristol again.”

Lessard returns to Bristol this weekend full of confidence, and for good reason. He won the CARS Super Late Model Tour portion of the Short Track U.S. Nationals last May at the half-mile concrete coliseum and believes he has a chance at similar success in a K&N car this weekend.

“For sure, I believe we can have success this weekend,” Lessard noted. “I know what it takes to win here after last year, coming in with Kyle Busch Motorsports and leaving with a sword! I actually believe the super lates are faster than the Cup cars are here, so coming back now in a K&N car will be a little bit different experience to adapt to.

“I’m ready, though. I’m excited and we’re here for the win.”

Contrary to many who come to The Last Great Coliseum, Lessard enjoys the high-intensity style of racing that Bristol’s half-mile of high banks delivers in every series that races there.

“I just love the high banks and the speed; it’s so much fun,” said Lessard. “You always have to be on your game, focused and looking at everything, because if someone wrecks in front of you, it happens really quickly. You have to react fast to stay out of trouble and Bristol, for sure.

“There’s a lot of pressure on your body, especially through the corners, but I love those types of tracks.”

After a recent near-miss in the ARCA race at Five Flags Speedway and a rough-and-tumble NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series debut at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, Lessard is hoping for smoother sailing this time around as he chases his first victory of the season.

“We’ll see what happens, but I’m looking forward to this whole weekend,” he said. “I was not very used to the big cars before the season started, but running the ARCA car in Pensacola and the Truck at Martinsville has gotten me more used to how they race, even if we have had some bad luck. I believe it’s going to be a fun weekend, though, and that we can shake all that off and focus ahead.

“I know the first couple of laps will be about getting a good feel, and after that it will be all about figuring out how to make this thing go fast around here.”

Lessard is hoping to soak in as much as he can this weekend, in advance of his return to Bristol in August for his final of three scheduled Truck Series starts with Kyle Busch Motorsports this season.

“It’s all about learning,” he said. “I want to come back and be really strong in the trucks. That’s my goal.”

The post Lessard & McAnally Unite To Tackle Bristol appeared first on SPEED SPORT.

BRASELTON, Ga. – U.S. work visa delays have forced British-born motorcycle racing presenter Dylan Gray to sit out the inaugural broadcast of the new MotoAmerica Live+ streaming of this weekend’s season opener at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.

All options are being explored to resolve the issue in a speedy manner and allow Gray to rejoin the MotoAmerica team as soon as possible.

Noted broadcaster Jonathan Green will fill in for Gray while the situation is being resolved.

“I’m extremely upset that I’m not able to be part of the first MotoAmerica Live+ broadcast,” Gray said. “Ever since Wayne (Rainey) first mentioned this project to me, I have been looking forward to it immensely. Having met a lot of people in the paddock and having already communicated with most others in some way or another, I cannot tell you how nice the people here are. I sincerely hope that I can repay the kindness shown towards me by everyone involved in MotoAmerica in the very near future.”

“We are working diligently with Dylan to get this situation resolved,” added MotoAmerica President Wayne Rainey. “It’s an unfortunate situation for our season opener, but we’re confident the issues can be resolved and Dylan will be able to continue in his role with us.”

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