Guernsey took the overall trophy in 2003 and won the ‘blue riband’ events, the Mens A (3-2) and the Ladies A (4-1).
This year Jersey’s men’s A, captained by Rob Hickling, is at full strength and will start strong favourites to recover the trophy they won in 2001 and 2002.The team will be Hickling, Ian Furness, Jon Hibbs, Mike Hopkins and Mark Le Roux.
The destiny of the Mens team title could turn on the key match between Hopkins (Jersey’s champion) and Chris Simpson (the Channel Islands champion, UK No 1 player at under 17 level and UK No 2 at under 19 level).
Said Hickling: ‘This is the highlight of the squash calendar.
Competition is always fierce, but we are confident we can win the key battles.
Jersey’s players use skill and finesse in contrast to Guernsey’s more bludgeoning approach, but the combination tends to produce explosive games with a lot of variety and sparks flying.’The ladies A team, led by Ronnie Jubb, is Caroline Cornish, Lorna Stewart, Kate Cadigan and Rowena Hockey.
Jersey’s top two players (Cadigan and Jubb) look too strong for their Guernsey counterparts and whether Jersey are able to regain the Womens A title is likely to turn on the performance of their lower order players.The return of Caroline Cornish from university and the rich vein of form that Lorna Stewart is in bodes well.Jersey’s mens veterans look likely to retain their trophy, while the ladies’ B event will prove interesting with Tam Weston playing for the first time in Jersey colours.
Jersey men’s B team, victorious last year, has Richard Boddy making his debut.Matches start at 11 am and finish at around 5 pm with trophies from the Insurance Corporation presented shortly afterwards.Men’s B: Jon Wood (capt), Richard Boddy, Ross Cornish, Paul Frankland, Trevor Griggs.Women’s B: Kelly Bird (capt), Tam Weston, Amanda Pilnick, Carmella HawkinsMen’s vets: Hugh Jones (capt), Paul Biddulph, John Farley, Steve Law, Neal Pickersgill.
