Jill helps Wales win Home International Masters for 3rd Consecutive year
International squash masters champion, Jill Campion, who lives in Bix and plays squash at Henley Squash Club based at Gillotts Leisure Centre, last weekend completed a four weekend “marathon”, having represented Wales, her country of birth, in four different age groups in this year’s Home International Squash Masters competition.
The Home International Squash Masters is an annual event, held over four weekends, in which teams from each age group (men from 35+ to 75, women from 35+ to 65+) from England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland play each other. Each country hosts one weekend, with two or three different age groups playing at each weekend.
“The last few weeks have been somewhat of a whirlwind for me. This year, like last, in addition to playing in my own age group (65+), I also played for the O50s, O55s and O60s. I played number 2 (in a team of five) in the lower two age groups, which I found somewhat challenging, although hugely enjoyable. However, it was a team effort and we did well to come second in the over 55s, and our fourth place in the over 50s could, but for a few points, have been second place.”
“My main focus, however, was on the over 65s, my age group, which was played in Cardiff on the final weekend. Having won this title for the past two years we were favourites to win. However England had a strong team as did Scotland and, with only three people in a team, there was no margin for error. First we faced Scotland, who we beat 2-1. Next up Ireland, who we beat 3-0. Last but by no means least we faced England, who had also beaten Ireland and Scotland, in the deciding match. It was a nail-biting few hours as each of the three matches went to five games – fortunately for us with Wales winning all three. The womens’ over 65s competition started three years ago and Wales have been title holders since its inception. Team events have a different dynamic to individual tournaments and I am fortunate that my team-mates at each of these events were hugely supportive during the matches, lots of fun off court and, of course, hugely experienced and skilled squash players.”
