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Ely Squash and Leisure, Downham Road, Ely (2026)

13/06/2026

Two weeks of squash. Six finalists. Three winners.

The 2026 Ely Squash and Leisure club championships concluded tonight with three memorable finals, watched by a packed gallery.

In the main club championship, current champion Jack White faced many times former champion Ben Mitchell. The first two games were brutal: long rallies, hard hitting, and some contentious refereeing decisions. Ben won both games (16-14, 15-12). But Jack wasn't going to let his crown go easily. He fought back in the next two games, cutting out his earlier mistakes and using all four corners of the court to tire Ben out. He won both games very convincingly (15-4, 15-6). In the deciding fifth game, Jack maintained the pressure and Ben was starting to show signs of fatigue. Although Ben managed to take an early lead, Jack came back to win nine points in a row and to take the game 15-5 (and the match 3-2).

In the handicap tournament, thirteen-year-old Samuel Goodger was starting on minus six against Simon McGuinness's zero. On paper a big ask for Samuel, and Simon certainly played well; but Samuel produced some almost flawless squash to win the match 2-0.

And in the plate competition, it was a battle between two second team players, Kristof Kucharczyk and Josh Bristow. The games were hard-fought, but Josh demonstrated why he is reckoned to be one of the club's most improved players to win 3-0.

Afterwards, the players joined club members and their families to enjoy the traditional championship raffle and barbecue in the club lounge and bar.

Thanks as always to all those at the club who worked hard to make this year's championship such a popular success.

12/06/2026

Four matches tonight, and four more finalists decided for tomorrow.

First on were Ben and Chris in the second semi-final of the main club championship. Chris was noticeably nursing a sore hamstring, and the longer each game went on, the harder he was finding it to stretch for difficult retrieves. The watching crowd thought it was all over after he lost the first two games. But Chris fought back like a wounded lion, and somehow found the shots to win the next two games. In the fifth and final game, Chris took the lead several times, but Ben fought for every point, showing his usual hard hitting and hard running, and closed out the match 3-2 (15-12, 15-13, 13-15, 12-15, 15-10).

In the second semi-final of the handicap competition, Samuel faced Josh, with Samuel starting each game on minus 6 and Josh on zero. Josh must be one of the club's most improved players, and he played some impressive squash, taking the first game with points to spare and then having four match balls in the second. But Samuel showed nerves of steel to save all four match points before going on to take the game. The deciding third game was tight and hard, but Samuel's pressure eventually told and he won 2-1 overall.

In the first plate semi-final, Brett sadly had to retire unwell against Kristof.

And in the second plate semi-final, a rested Josh (in his second match of the night) beat Jason 3-0.

So here are tomorrow's finals, beginning at 4pm:

Handicap competition: Samuel vs Simon

Plate competition: Josh vs Kristof

Main championship: Jack vs Ben

A great afternoon's squash to look forward to 😃. The action will be streamed live to the lounge for those not able to find a space on the gallery. Come down and watch the matches while enjoying a drink from the club's well-stocked bar!

11/06/2026

Tonight was (nearly) a night of shocks in the main club championship.

Top seed Jack White dropped the opening game against fourth seed Jamie in the first semi-final. And for a while, Jamie looked just a point or two away from getting a grip on the second game as well. Jack was making some mistakes, and Jamie was mixing his normal hard hitting with some nice touch play. But it was costing Jamie a lot of effort, and Jack is an old hand at maintaining long-term pressure. Jack sneaked the second game, won the third game very comfortably, and then wrapped up the match by also winning the fourth game.

Second seed Chris also looked in trouble in the delayed quarter final against second team player Sam (who was playing his second match of the night). Clearly carrying an injury, Chris only narrowly won the first game and then lost the second. It took a mixture of guts and reliance on some nice touch play for Chris to win the next two games as well. He may not be looking forward, though, to tomorrow's second semi-final against third seed Ben.

In the quarter final of the handicap competition, Samuel was a very comfortable 2-0 winner (11-5, 11-3) against his dad Martyn, both players starting on zero. For some reason, Martyn seemed less than happy about his defeat.

In the night's other handicap quarter final, Sam started on minus thirteen against Josh's zero. Although, as always, Sam battled for every point, the starting difference was just too great, with Josh getting to almost everything thrown at him and playing some great shots of his own.
Josh will play Samuel tomorrow in the second handicap semi-final.

In the first handicap semi-final, Simon beat second team veteran Ben.

One more night's play tomorrow, and then we will know the six finalists for Saturday's three club finals: the main championship, the plate competition, and the handicap competition.

10/06/2026

Tonight's highlights were two quarter finals in the main club championship.

First on was top seed Jack (White) against 13 year old Samuel. It was a match of long rallies up and down the backhand wall, with Jack happy to wait for a shorter or looser shot to try to punish. Samuel played well, but the 3-0 scoreline in Jack's favour (15-8, 15-7, 15-7) reflected the difference in class.

Ben against Jack (Woor) was a real slugfest. Both players were wearing identical team shirts, and both were doing their best to hit the life out of the ball, so at times it was hard for the spectators to tell one player from the other. There were some amazingly long rallies, but Ben kept winning the lion's share of them and was the worthy 3-0 winner.

In the third quarter final, Jamie was a comfortable 3-0 winner against Tim.

And in their delayed championship match from the round of 16, Sam raced to an easy 2-0 lead against Martyn. It looked all over, but Martyn fought back in the third game and had three game balls before losing it 19-17. Sam will now play Chris in the fourth quarter final tomorrow.

In the plate competition, there were quarter final wins for Jason, Josh, Kristof (in another real slugfest against Louis) and Brett.

More action tomorrow; a mix of championship matches and the handicap competition.

10/06/2026

JUNIOR SQUASH is on again at the club next Sunday (14th June)!

Lots of games and activities for children, whether they are new to squash or have some experience already.

Please contact Martyn Goodger from our club to book a place or for more information.

09/06/2026

There was a feast of squash tonight in the round of 16 of the handicap tournament.

Eight matches, with players starting each game on scores ranging from minus 25 to zero.

Samuel had to give fellow second team player Louis a 7 point start. There was some great squash from both players, but Samuel was hitting powerfully and accurately into the back corners and won 2-0.

In the quarter finals, Samuel will meet his father, Martyn, who won 2-0 against old rival Trev in front of a crowded gallery. Martyn and Samuel will start on level points, with Martyn hoping to beat his son for the first time since before he turned 13.

Ben overcame a 6 point starting deficit to beat fellow second team player Damian 2-0.

Sam, giving Jon an 18 point start, looked in a bit of trouble after losing the second game and seeing his opponent get a racket to almost everything. But Sam increased the pressure in the third game to win 2-1.

Rich, always a tricky player, came through against Tim in a match that on paper could have gone either way (Tim having a 3 point start).

In other matches, there were wins for Tom, Simon, and second team player Josh.

The quarter finals will be played on Thursday. But first, tomorrow, there are the quarter finals of both the main championship and the plate competition. Lots of exciting squash to look forward to!

08/06/2026

Week 2 of the club championships, and tonight it was the turn of the big beasts of the first team to join the fray.

Jack (White), Chris, Ben, and Jamie had all had byes in the first round, and they were all comfortable 3-0 winners tonight in round 2.

Elsewhere, Samuel beat fellow second team player Damian 3-0, and his reward will be a championship quarter final against top seed Jack (White).

In other matches, Jack (Woor) beat his brother Harry 3-0, and Tim beat Simon by the same scoreline. Martyn and Sam play their second round match on Wednesday.

Tomorrow sees round 2 of the handicap competition, and there promises to be some cracking matches. Why not come down and watch the squash while enjoying a drink from the bar!

05/06/2026

A slightly less congested night last night in the club tournament with the second set of opening handicap fixtures to play through.

It was really great to see some of our juniors competing in the full competition for the first time and acquitting themselves fantastically! Congrats to them!

But battle of the night was a first team vs second team affair, with Jack taking on Ben who had a twenty point head start! It looked comfortable for Ben but Jack came roaring back in the second game to make a match of it with some classy game control. In the end, though, the gap was too much and it was bragging rights for second team player Ben who moves into the second week of the competition.

A great atmosphere as ever in the bar with thanks to the directors for marking the games and pouring the beers.

04/06/2026

Tough night for Ely 2 in the summer league. A trip up to Stamford for Ben, Kristof and Louis, and only one point on the board to show for it (well done Louis on your team debut). But some excellent squash on show and a few drinks with the opposition to ease the disappointment. On to the next week!

03/06/2026

The ever-popular handicap tournament started tonight, where the chance of a good run depends as much on a player's handicap as on their performance on court.

Matches are the best of three games, each played to 11 points, with stronger players usually starting each game on a big minus score.

The big shock was Tom's win over Darren. Tom had a massive 34 point start, and his hard-hitting and hard-running game meant the gap was too big to close, although he was helped by a winning nick on match ball in the tight second game.

Samuel beat Brett in round 1 of the main championship, and as fate would have it the two faced each other again tonight in the handicap, this time with Brett having a 5 point start. It was a tough, tense battle, with Samuel determined not to give any easy points away, and he eventually won 2-1 (11-7 in the deciding third game).

Elsewhere, Martyn had to be very focussed to claw back a 17 point deficit against Will to win 2-0.

Greg's match against Mark was very tight and could have gone either way, but Greg just edged it 12-10 in the third.

Director Paul had a big start against Great Britain Racketlon player Tim, but Paul didn't take his two game balls in the first game and ended up losing the match 2-0.

And Mark played a match of great line and length to win 2-1 against Rob.

More handicap matches to follow tomorrow, including first team player Jack's attempt to claw back a 20 point deficit against second team stalwart Ben.

Ely Squash and Leisure

13/06/2026

12/06/2026

11/06/2026

10/06/2026

10/06/2026

09/06/2026

08/06/2026

05/06/2026

04/06/2026

03/06/2026

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