The Headmaster and Harry Moses, Gap teacher, took the senior Squash squad to compete in the annual Independent Schools Squash Doubles on Tuesday hosted by the RAC at Woodcote Park. History records that Epsom has won the trophy for the top pair in the past; however, as yet, they have not claimed the overall title.
Eton, St Paul’s and Charterhouse were the worthy opposition. Epsom’s first pair of Stanley Tanguy (G) and Natalie Chak (Wh) had the benefit of combining a left and right-hander at the top of the order. Stanley and Natalie played some skilful and robust squash to defeat the top pairs from St Paul’s and Charterhouse; however, the Eton pair played the ball ruthlessly to the right-hand court and clinched a narrow victory.
The second pair of captain Ben Harris (Rn) and James Bull (G) combined well and played with guile and finesse at the start of the tournament but, on occasion, allowed themselves to be drawn into a hard-hitting contest that meant they lost their shape on court.
The Epsom third pair united the talents of Fraser Spalding (Fa), playing on the forehand side, and the ever-improving Elliott Rumble (P). The key to success is for the third pair to keep in touch with their opponents whatever the end result because the winners of the tournament are the team to have accumulated the most combined points across all three matches.
In the third game against Eton, Alex Ukrasin (H), stepped in for Elliott Rumble and covered so much court with boundless energy that he won the applause from the balcony.
The concluding civilised dinner in the delightful Cedar Room of the RAC was a tense affair as all the participants awaited the final results. In the event, Eton won the trophy for the top pair and, frustratingly, they also pipped Epsom to the overall trophy by just two points. Epsom have still to win this trophy, but will return next year full of expectation and belief.
A final word of thanks to the two RAC squash professionals, Dan and Gregg, won organised the tournament with great understanding and efficiency. As the team left the grand RAC mansion to link up with the minibus, the snow was falling gently with Harry Moses in raptures as this was his first encounter with such weather.
