European Team Championships.
The northerner's in the England team met at Manchester airport to fly to Malmo. We all arrived ok and met the southerner's in Malmo.Our first match against Belgium went well. I was resting so Tania was on first at 3 and won 3-0, next up was Jenny and she sealed our win with another 3-0 result. Alison went on last and although she dropped a game she got a 3-1 win and that gave the team a 3-0 win over the Belgians.
Our second pool match was against the Germans. I was playing today and was first up at number 2 as Alison was rested. I got us off to a good start and won 3-0. Jenny was up next and sealed our win with another 3-0 win, lastly Tania finished the tie off with a 3-0 victory and we went back to the hotel to prepare for what would be our toughest pool match against Ireland.
The last pool match against Ireland was going to be the toughest. Jenny was rested and first on was Tania at 3 against Tanya Owens. She won 3-0 getting us off to a good start. The 2nd match was Alison v Madeline, a repeat of last weeks Irish Open final. The result was the same with Alison winning but this time dropping a game. I was up last against Aisling Blake. I won 3-0 and that result meant we topped group A and now play the runner ups in group B who is France.
Semi final day..... we played full strength and 1st on was Alison at number 2 against the improving Camille Sterme. Alison played well and got us off to a good 3-0 win putting us 1-0 up. Next up at number 1 was Isabelle Stoehr against Jenny and all the pressure was on Isabelle to try and keep Frnce in the tie. Jenny played well and although the match was well contested she won 3-0 sealing us a place in the final! I went on last as a formalilty. As it was a dead rubber I played best of 3 and won 2-0 against Celia Allamargot.
In the final we were playing Holland. This year they were particuarly strong at Natalie Grinham is now playing for Holland. Again we were full strength and Alison was on first again at number 2 against Vanessa Atkinson. The game was tight with 2 games going to a tie break but Alison winning the match 3-0. Next up was Jenny v Natalie, again she got off to a great 2-0 start and I was warming up thinking I was going to play a dead rubber. All of a sudden Natalie got the next 2 games and leveled the match at 2-2 and my focus had to change. I prepared while the 5th was being played for the decider to be on me. However, Jenny managed to play well in the 5th and get the match 3-2 and secured us the win as European champions. Again, I went on a played the dead rubber and beat Annelize Naude 2-0.
The men went on after us and beat France in the final 3-1 and we had a great night celebrating as double European Team champions. Next up is the European Individual in Belgium. For pics on the team event check out www.squashsite.co.uk