World Doubles Training and Selections

Dear all,

What a fantastic season we have had which has culminated in the ETC Div 1 bronze medal for the men and ETC Div 3 gold medal for the women. This has been underpinned by strong performances in the junior and masters sections and we have delivered our performance goals for the year. I had a chat with Alan last week and he explained what these medals mean to you and we have used this in a number of articles sharing the success of the team:

“this is a fantastic result for us all. The teamwork has been great – we feel that we train well together and we compete well together. This has been our goal for a number of years and we have finally got onto the podium  and been rewarded with a medal. A great achievement for squash in Scotland”.

Many congratulations to you all from Jim and I, the SSRL team and the Board at SSRL. We are very proud of you all.

Kevin also recently highlighted to me the emotional impact that the medal has had on you as players. I hope that we as a team can use this emotion and channel it into even more great performances for Scotland’s Squash teams in the coming months and years.

With this in mind I am taking the opportunity to remind us of our overarching performance goal. It is exactly two years until the Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast, Australia. SSRL have set a target of achieving at least one medal in the Games and there is belief that our best opportunity is in Doubles. Bob, Martin and Paul have agreed that the first opportunity for us to prepare for the Commonwealth Games 2018 is the World Doubles in Darwin from 15th -18th August 2016.

We are guaranteed one pairing in each event and with opportunities for medals in mind; we have entered teams in the men’s doubles and the mixed doubles. SSRL will consider selecting a second men’s doubles team and a second mixed team to travel to Darwin. We will select from those who demonstrate the potential to contribute to a medal winning performance in Darwin and in two year’s time in the Gold Coast.

To be eligible for selection for the World Doubles Championships you and your preferred partner will be required to enter a Scottish Closed Doubles competition on 9th and 10th July 2016.  Entry forms for the competition will be available online.
There will also be training opportunities which will take place during the two weeks running up to the competition. The training dates coincide with the next visit from Martin Heath and are as follows:

28, 29 and 30th June and 5, 6 and 7th July 2016.

Selection for the mixed doubles will also be made during this time and expressions of interest for mixed doubles should be made to Paul Bell.

Final selections will be made following the trials and the selection panel will consist of Bob Easson, Martin Heath and Paul Bell.

This is your first opportunity to demonstrate your interest and commitment towards the doubles programme for Commonwealth Games Scotland 2018. It is an opportunity for SSRL to open a selection process, and start to identify and prepare the best possible Scottish Squash Squad for 2018 and focus on bringing home a Commonwealth medal to add to our European medals.

Scottish Closed Doubles competition – Click here

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