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Tue
1st May, Arrival ...
Steve Cubbins in Riccione |
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Gallery
and Slideshow |
Welcome to Riccione
The European Team Championships is
one of the biggest events on the squash calendar - big in the sense of
the number of countries represented, the number of competitors, coaches,
managers, referees, and above all the sheer number of matches to be
played.
It all takes a great deal of organisation too, and so far FIGS appear to
have done a great job. Hotels and transport is arranged, the players are
getting used to the courts at the two venues, the Glass Court is ready,
we have internet in the press room so we're almost ready to roll.
A couple of bags went missing at Bologna airport of course - namely mine
and Paul Frank's. Paul, Scotland's National Coach, at least had the
consolation of having his own coach ready to whisk him off to the hotel,
but he kindly let me and the rest of the Scottish team come along for
the ride. |
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A
sporting Mecca
The main venue is the National Squash Centre, just two years old
and situated in a real sporting centre with a football stadium, indoor
and outdoor tennis facilities, olympic swimming pool, baseball pitch,
and of course seven pristine courts and the ASB Glass Court which has
been erected in the Tennis Hall.
Some of the matches will take place at the Schilling Club in
Rimini, so we'll be taking a visit there too over the next few days.
While one star of Italian squash is missing - Davide Bianchetti is
competing in the Mega Italia Open in Brescia - another is unmissable at
the centre. Manuela Manetta looms large over court number one,
and the real Manuela will no doubt provide inspiration to the home team
and supporters over the next few days - it certainly looks like the
Italian women's team will be travelling in style ... |
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Unexpected faces
 "Hi
Ben," I said, before doing a quick double-take.
Yes, Kent's Ben Ford has been playing well recently, but I didn't
remember him being promoted to the England squad.
But here he was, with the boys from Gibraltar. No, not a change of
allegiance, he's been over to the Rock a few times to coach the squad,
but this is the first time he's been to a championship with them.
Then up popped Mark Woodliffe, British National and British Open
Over 40 Champion. Turns out he's coaching the Swiss Team. Who next??? |
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A
fine centrepiece
 The
Glass Court certainly looks good, with seating on three sides and an
entrance that takes you past a parade of greenery before emerging into
the court area itself.
You can bet there will be some exciting matches and some noisy support
in here before the week's out, culminating in the finals on Saturday
where, barring some almighty upsets, England will be going for another
double celebration.
So, all that's left is the managers' and referees' meetings tonight,
some final practice for the teams, and then it's four days of non-stop
squash.
As ever in the early stages we'll cover what we can, hopefully with some
help from some of the team managers and coaches, as we build up to
Saturday when all the final positions will be decided.
As the man says ... Benvenuti a Riccione ... |
this way to the glass court ...
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