You Are Invited to Cyprus
 by Captain Steve Bason

But beware. Steve Bason's (just left Radlett Squash Club for Cyprus) squash courts at the Episcopi Military Camp are a little slippery. I played Steve last Wednesday with some success, thrashing him easily 3-2 and 10-9 in the 5th. He had (almost) no chance.

Report by: Derek Thorpe

Slipping and Sliding

My Pet Hates

When Will They Learn?

When was the last time you slipped on a squash court? Is it all too rare or can you remember when it last happened. In my experience it is all too predictable.

Dirty & Sealed Court Floors

If you one of the unfortunates, you play at a club or leisure centre which does not clean the courts regularly. Dirty outdoor shoes, sweet wrappers and sealed wooden floors are the criminals that make the floors slippery and dangerous. Regular sweeping can cope with most of this but wooden floors sealed with varnish are disastrous. If you have the best squash shoes that money can buy AND the floors are kept perfectly clean AND of course no fit player ever sweats on court, then you will have trouble-free games. Prizes are on offer to all those who can report this unique location.

Annual Court Maintenance

Sorry, I didn't mean "annual" maintenance, it could be once every 2, 3 or 10 years. How often are your floors sanded?

When an important event is held, forward thinking clubs will have the regular spring-clean and this often means sanding floors. This is eminently commendable. With spectators and prospective new members, we would all wish our club to be seen in the best light. The sawdust that is generated by sanding is always obedient and is swept up straight away.

All that nasty sawdust falling between the planks is vacuumed up immediately and no-one waits for unsuspecting players to stir it up by running around. Jonah Barrington and Hashim Khan still play Peter Pan at this club, somewhere in Fairy Land.

Time to Sand

If you intend sanding courts for that big event or before the Winter Leagues start again, why not do it 3-6 months early and give it a chance to settle down.

"Boast" about Painted Court Walls

In my next episode/pet hate I will disclose those with beautifully manicured court walls done in "Brilliant White". You will never catch these club members playing side-wall boasts on a damp, cold winter day...

"Rant & Rave" report

Opinions expressed are my own. I loved playing at Letchworth Hall Hotel where I my perfected the "Controlled Slide" into the front corners some 25 years ago.

To get recommended court maintenance companies and advice contact EnglandSQUASH at website www.englandsquash.com 

BACK

Does anyone else remember playing at Letchworth Hall Hotel? email squashherts@hotmail.com