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Vienna EN
BREF Issue #2
Everything you never knew you needed t know about the ETC ... |
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Andy on
the Radio
 Andy
Holland came over to Austria from the UK in 1993 to take up a coaching
position, and since Feb 2004 has been working for the Austrian SRA (OSR
Verband). For this event he was working behind the scenes on team lists,
hotel reservations etc and a myriad of other things.
"Michael Khan has done all the real work," says Andy, "he's got great
experience at running these event and it shows. Now the event's started I'm
just happy to sit around and watch while everyone else does all the work!"
As well as coaching in two clubs and organising tournaments for the Clubs
and Associations Andy is heavily involved in promotion on the junior side.
 "We
had the Austrian
Nationals four weeks ago, which was great because thanks to Pamela
Pancis' dad Harry, we had the use of an all-glass court from ASB with an
experimental glass floor. Set up in a Vienna shopping centre it really
helped promote the image of squash here.
"We also have a mini-court, and after this event we'll be taking it out to
the schools to help maintain the momentum these events have generated.
"Eventually we'd like to hold a big PSA event here, $50-$100k, we've not had
one since '98 and Harry among others is keen to get one going - he organised
lots of ISPA events in the '80s, so has all the experience and contacts."
But today, Andy has another little job to do.
"I'm going on FM4, a national radio station, to talk about the event, and
I'll be trying to mention the junior development program too.
"The morning DJ is Stuart Freeman, a Brit, who does the show in English, and
is a squash player himself, which is how it all came about."
So good luck Andy, and carry on the good work !!!
Michael Khan at work |
Multi-Talented Matthew
 Nick
Matthew is a good man to have on your team. A decent squash player, he
showed some of his other skills yesterday. I was watching Wales v Scotland
on the glass when the ball came flying out on my side. After a bit of
scrabbling around I found it, and lobbed it back somewhere in the vicinity
of the players.
On the very next point out went the ball again, but this time on the other
side.
Step in Nick, who plucked the ball nonchalantly out of the air, and in a
single movement aimed it back into court directly onto Alex Gough's racket.
So, if your cricket team needs some help in the fielding area, you know who
to ask ... |
Racket
Abuse or not?
 Talking
of Alex Gough's racket, at the end of his marathon (102-minute) win
over John White, the self-same implement also went flying out of court near
the end of the match.
"Conduct warning Gough, racket abuse" called the referee. Well, you would,
wouldn't you.
But Alex wasn't happy. "But he's done that four times," he exclaimed,
pointing at John, "but you haven't warned him!".
"No," John corrected instantly. "Only twice, and mine didn't quite go out of
court while yours did, so that's fair enough." |
Derek
does it for the Italians
 Ireland's
men have enjoyed a successful week so far, topping their group and looking
for a high finish in the 5/12 group. They rounded it off with a 4-0 win over
Belgium yesterday, and with Derek Ryan last on the Italian team had already
worked out that they needed Ireland to keep a clean sheet for the Italians
to progress at Belgium's expense.
Whether it was the offers of Italian beer, or Derek's national pride we'll
never know, but Derek did the business and the Irish and Italians were
through.
"I'm just four weeks away from qualifying as a physio," said the many-time
Irish champion. "After four years of training I'm really looking forward to
it." |
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Vienna EN
BREF Issue #1
Everything you never knew you needed t know about the ETC ... |
One in the eye for Manuela
 As
if losing two marathon five-setters in one day isn't bad enough, poor
Manuela Manetta's day was made even worse when she got hit in the eye by a
squash ball ... and she wasn't even playing!
Casually walking past court ten where a men's match was happening the
Italian number one turned her head towards the court just in time to be
caught by a ball coming gently over the back wall .... ouch!
 "I
can't believe it," said Manuela, tending to the eye, which looked red and
slightly bruised, with an ice pack from the Dutch medical kit, "I'm due on
court next, I hope I can see in time!"
Thankfully the damage was short-term only, and Manuela was fit for her
83-minute match with Pamela Pancis.
By morning she was fully back to 'normal', and raring to go for another day
...
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Birthday
Boy
Out of the frying pan into the fire - it's Jen Schoor's 19th birthday today
(Thursday).
Having helped the German team to the European U19 Team Title last week in
Langnau, he celebrates his coming of age with a debut outing for the senior
team today ... coach Barry Dodson has pitched him in at number four against
second seeds France ... good luck Jens, and happy birthday!
(For the record, Jens lost in five games to Julien Balbo ... not a bad
start to his senior career).
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Funny
Stairs
Wellness Park is a large centre, on two levels. As well as regular stairs
and a lift there's a lovely-looking round staircase joining the two levels,
but the steps themselves are very low, and the distance between them is
slightly wrong for most people's normal steps.
You see people going up and down with funny gaits, trying to get into
synchronisation with the steps and obviously failing.
Maybe it's a knack that comes with practice, and I have to admit I haven't
ventured down them yet - two upward trips is enough ... |
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So many
courts
With ten courts to choose from,
Wellness Park is an ideal venue for team championships, one of the reasons
it has hosted these and the world championships in the past.
 The courts split into three areas, four circled around the tournament office
area (courts 1,3,4,5), all glassbacks with standing only viewing. Then, on
the other side of their front walls, is a set of three courts with staged seating
behind them (courts 9,10,11), and two more glassback-only (courts 16,17).
Then, a couple of hundred metres away - down a long corridor that gets
really, really hot - in the badminton hall is the glass
court.
If you're wondering about the court numbers, the centre has undergone
several extensions, and at one time did boast 19 courts, but some have since
been converted to fitness areas, etc. But trust me ... they have enough
left!
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Courts 1,2,3,5
Courts 9,10,11
To the right, courts 16,17 |
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