Last Friday, Dorchester Tennis and Squash Club hosteda squash exhibition match for the first time in more than 20 years. Two high ranked players from Birmingham University competed against each other in front of club members and visitors to celebrate squash being accepted into the Olympics for the first time (in Los Angeles in 2028).
Toby Ponting from England (World Ranking 380) and Campbell Wells from Switzerland (Professional Squash Association ranking 270) started by offering some coaching/challenge matches for club members. Dorchester team members Callum Watts, Ros Godfreeand Marcus White all played superbly well, and with some success, but found it tough going to take more than a few points off the pros.
Then for the big event. The exhibition match was played at the club’s glass-backed court where special rankedseating had been set up for the event. A crowd of 50 people were entertained to a breathtaking display of competitive squash played over 4 sets. The stroke play was superb, the drop shots dead in the corner, the side boasts extraordinary. Both players were masters of all the shots and fizzed around the court like blurred superheros. Their positioning around the court was astonishing, while the fitness and recovery shown by both players was incredible. Campbell was the master of the drop shot and teased Toby with sequences of drops and drives. Toby on the other hand was immensely nimble and well-controlled – able to retrieve almost any ball. At one point, Toby launched himself across the court in a full body dive, somehow retrieving the ball nestling in a far corner and going on to win the point with a pin-sharp forehand drive. The crowd was loving it !
In the end, after a tumultuous battle lasting almost anhour, Toby’s consistency edged out Campbell’s front court skill and the battle was over with England victorious.
The evening was finished off with a healthy buffet and an opportunity for the audience to mingle with the players.
Giles Watts, Chair of Squash and Racketball section of DTSC, said: “It is not often in Dorchester that we are witness to live sport played at professional level. This evening, we were truly entertained by two exciting young talents who are continuing to improve and climb the rankings. Now that squash has been accepted into the Olympics in 2028, we may even get to see themcompeting in Los Angeles in four years time.”
The Dorchester Tennis and Squash Club hopes people have been inspired by the exhibition match to come and play more racket sports. We have excellent facilities in Dorchester for tennis, squash and racketball; and are looking to introduce padel (the world’s fastest growing racket sport) in the near future. New members are very welcome.
Giles Watts, DTSC Chair of Squash and Racketball
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