DAC Squash Classic – February 9-12

The DAC Squash Classic is February 9 -12.

Singles categories are 2.5 through to 5.5, and the three doubles events are A, B, and C. Numerous times I have been asked about adding a mixed doubles category, but alas, we simply do not have the court space to do it. And anyway, the women players from Canada have proven on more than one occasion they can hold their own!

Because entry numbers are limited and court space could not be at more of a premium, it is extremely important to take note of the following restrictions and the expected availability of all the players:

Ø Maximum 16 teams in any one doubles category
Ø Maximum 40 doubles teams allowed spread over the 3 categories
Ø Any player entering the ‘A’ doubles category is NOT allowed to enter the ‘C’ doubles category, regardless of partner
Ø One match guaranteed in any doubles draw
Ø Maximum 32 players in any one singles category
Ø Two matches guaranteed in any one singles draw
Ø Maximum 145 registrations for the entire event
Ø Walkovers / forfeits count as a match
Ø Minimum age to enter the tournament is 13
Ø All singles matches will use PAR scoring to 11

For Complete Tournament Details

http://www.thesquashjoint.blogspot.com/2011/12/all-aboard-dac-classic-express.html

Fall Cross Border Challenge

The Cross Border Challenge is Saturday September 17/11 at the Detroit Athletic Club. We won the challenge last time and I would like to keep the streak going. The DAC Guys are always gracious to us and feed us with plenty of beer. We are looking for players of all skill levels. Females are welcome. This is a social event so you must be 19 years of age to participate. Anybody interested in participating in this year's Fall Challenge please contact me dguthrie@windsorsquash.ca.

This is the what we are playing for!!!!!

DAC Squash Classic

Windsor Squash and Fitness had a strong presence once again at the 2011 DAC Squash Classic with thirty-five members from our local club making the trip across the border. London Squash was also well represented with twenty five of their own players. Great thanks to Mick Joint and his staff for doing a fantastic job.

Three words can sum up the DAC Squash Classic, squash, food and of course beer. The tournament is almost like a triathlon, as each part equally contributes to the overall experience. How much can you eat and drink and still play at a high level squash. Some WSF members actually thought they could compete in all three events and win their division. Some did okay until they reached Sunday when their bodies could no longer react properly. Andrew Caille’s performance is a perfect example; he played some solid squash Thursday thru Saturday and seemed primed to capture the 5.0 title while at the same time being ever so present on late night scene. By Sunday morning his squash play severely dropped as result from excessive partying fatigue set in and he was playing more like Elmer Fudd than David Palmer. Despite this Caille had a very strong showing and looks to be ready to defend his 5.0 MSRA Championship in a few weeks.

While Caille and others were painting the town Brian Porter was recovering from a bout with the flu. Porter spent the better part of Saturday in bed and despite being sick he still managed to reach the 5.0 finals. Along the way Porter had some tough matches. In the semi finals he played nemesis Ricardo Ramos from Lifetime Fitness of Troy, it was a hard fought four game match that appeared to be on it way to a fifth, when late in the game Ramos made some uncharacteristic errors that allowed Porter to steal the game and match from Ramos. In the finals Porter met the upstart John Rakolta from the Detroit Athletic Club. Rakolta’s play was nearly flawless in the matches leading up to the finals, however they did not fair him well against WSF very own Brian Porter. Porter experience allowed him to grind out the 5.0 Championship in four games.


Some of the new WSF members to make the trip this year were doubles team Herb Funkenhauser and Dave Hornby. Funkenhauser and Hornby had heard through fellow WSF members how great the DAC Squash Classic was and decided it was time for them to check it out for themselves. After registering Funkenhauser and Hornby began a hard training regiment. They spent many weeks on the doubles court practicing and many hours in the weight room preparing for this tournament. By the time tournament came they were in the best shape of their lives. Or at least that was until they saw the amount of food in the buffet at the tournament. Needless to say from that point on Funkenhauser and Hornby had little interest in whether they had won their matches or not but rather on how soon they could return to the buffet line. Both of them enjoyed themselves so much that they are making plans to return next year.

DAC Squash Classic - February 3-6, 2011

Please read the article for all the important information regarding draw limitations and required time availability, and all the details of the event and the entry form. Because of the popularity of this event, entry numbers will be capped. Once the maximum has been reached, all subsequent entries will be placed on a reserve list. http://thesquashjoint.blogspot.com/2010/12/preparing-for-another-colossal-classic.html

Due to DAC policy, entry can only be accepted with payment. We accept cash, check, or credit card.

Matches will be organized for Thursday evening for local players in the Detroit area only.

It would be great to see you all here again for this prestigious event. Entry deadline is January 21 or until full.

Cross Border Challenge

I don’t know how it happened to us but we got are ASSES kicked badly during the Cross Border Challenge. I think we were over-confident. In the past all we did was show up for the event and the DAC team would crumble. Our favor trick of adding attractive women to our team to distract their players failed to work this time. They came ready to play. Some of their teammates even went to the wrong club and still beat us. How does this happen?

If you don’t know the history of the Cross Border Challenge, here it is in a nut shell: They won it the first time, but ever since than we have dominated the event. We won 7 times in a row!!!!!! This event has pretty much gone in our favor as long as we showed up. As a result of this dominance I think that this year, Mick Joint in a desperate attempt to regain some creditability in this event, resorted to some questionable tactics. First of all Mick called his buddies at US Customs to make sure that the tunnel was backed up so badly that our players were all late for their matches and were forced to rush on the court with no warm up. Secondly he fixed the beer keg to pour too much foam. This is deeply upsetting to any Canadian. Our guys could not concentrate on their matches knowing that foamy beer was waiting for them when they came off the court. Lastly Mick elected not to add players to his team who have repeatedly lost to our women - not mentioning any names but where were Chip McDaniel, Pat Petz and Jim Stroh? In the past they were regular participatants in the Cross Border Challenge!?!. Due to these reasons, I am protesting the results!!!!

Thank you to everyone who participated and remember that we have 6 months of hard training ahead of us. Congratulations to the DAC. I guest every blind squirrel finds a nut once and a while.

A Desperate Man

2nd Annual MSRA Junior Benefit

This fun event is also a serious fund raiser. All money raised will be going towards the $100,000 challenge grant secured by National Urban Squash and Education Association ( http://www.nationalurbansquash.org ) that is launching the Detroit program this year!

This program combines squash, academic, mentoring and focuses on changing the lives of Detroit's least advantaged kids and that the program is modelled after nine very successful programs in other U.S. Cities. Truly a dream come true for many of us. Please help us obtain this grant by either buying tickets or making donations. I encourage all MSRA members to support this event by attending, donating, or marketing this event to others. Sponsorships are available starting at $250.This event is also a family event. Beyond seeing the promising juniors playing, there will be Prince door prizes, and beer, pop and snacks will be provided.

Click on the promotion above for all the details of the event. For more information on the junior development program in Michigan and how you can help make a difference, you can contact MSRA president Hugh Stalker at hughstalker@comcast.net

Commandments of Squash Etiquette

This is a great article by our favorite pro Mick Joint(DAC) on the Etiquette of Squash. Reading the article may give you some pointers on how to win the Sportsmanship Award (Ray Weldon Award) in the Fall League.

http://www.squashzag.com/magazine/read/commandments-of-squash-etiquette_180.html