Concord Acton Squash Club recently hosted the Constant Contact Exhibition Extravaganza with Peter Barker and Daryl Selby, world #6 and #14 respectively. The members were treated to an evening of squash entertainment second to none.
Local Head Pro, Paul Ansdell, has known the players since they were eight years old and used to coach them in the UK until his move to the United States in 1996. “With the players in the USA playing the Tournament of Champions in New York, now seemed like a great time to try and get the players to the club,” he said.
The evening kicked off with four of the club members, two juniors and two adults, taking on each of the pros. Selby took on eight year old Devin Neveu and the “much older” Acton resident Will Bigelow while Barker took on Middlesex School Varsity player Katie Bull and the club’s #2 player, Derek Moran. Devin was in awe of his opponent but relaxed after the first couple of rallies and actually had Selby running around the court on a couple of occasions. Katie took the first two points off Barker as he eased his way into their game. Some great rallies followed with Katie doing most of the running!
Will and Derek both enjoyed their time on court with the pros, saying it was a fantastic experience and more fun than they had anticipated…even though they had to do more running in one game than they usually do in a whole five game match.
After a short break, when the spectators were able to top up their drinks and refill their plates from the buffet, it was on to the main event. Barker and Selby played a two out of three game match, which went all the way to 14-12 in the third game. The club members were superbly entertained with the highest level of squash ever seen at the club. The players mixed up their play with good line and length and also some unbelievable winning shots. Some of the rallies seemed to go on for ever and even left the spectators gasping for breath. Selby took the first game, but Barker clawed his way back, taking the second game and eventually the match.
The players then took questions from the audience for about half an hour, during which time the members really got to know the players, what it was like to be a touring squash pro, and even their thoughts on squash and the Olympics!
Paul Ansdell had the final word: “The evening was a huge success and only made possible by the contribution from Constant Contact. The club members will be talking about this night for many years to come.
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