Up Again - Winter promotion guaranteed
Knole Park 1st Squash team have gained promotion to North West Kent Division 2 (Winter) after an unbeaten run of seven matches. The last, clinching ties were against local promotion rivals Poultwood, who they beat 4-1, and a clean sweep 5-0 in the final match against Nuffield Health of Bromley.
This makes up in some part for the disappointment of last Summer, when Knole Park were beset by injuries and absences and dropped back to Division 3. Knole will be keen to make this promotion stick. Their success will depend upon a steady influx of new players to bolster their squad.
Knole Park’s team have been led throughout recent seasons by number 1 David Falconer, pictured here arriving for a recent match. David plays for the Kent Over 50s team and is proof that age is not a barrier to success in this fast-paced sport.
The Big One
Next Tuesday 15th March 2016 sees a key match for KP1 in their push for promotion from Division 3 when local rivals Poultwood come to town - there is room for around 20 supporters to cheer the team on.
With only two matches remaining after this one, a decisive victory over 3rd placed Poultwood would give the home side a very good chance of finishing in the top two, and returning to Division 2 for the second time in as many years.
Some of the team enjoyed a gentle training session yesterday, with strict instructions not to injure themselves or anyone else. A few will be going for armchair training - watching the Canary Wharf Classic to pick up some last-minute tips.
Some action from KP1 v Tunbridge Wells SRC 3 - 19 Jan 2016
James's new knees
Good bends James.
One for the Vet
Was it up? Yes, Lilly.
Alex at a stretch
A nice lunge
Above and behind 12th Jan 2016
In the midst of a heart breaking loss to Bexley last night, there were a few gems - such as Dan bending over backwards for the team.
1st team soars into contention - 2015-16 Winter
Knole 1st team after a slow start beset by injuries and holidays, has surged up the table of North West Kent Division 3, following 5 wins on the bounce.
They now sit handily placed in the second promotion position, on the shoulders of league leaders Bexley. They face Bexley away in the first match of the post holiday half season - a match which could consolidate Knole's nascent hopes of a return to Division 2.
With David Falconer, James Hall and Niall Anderson progressing well in their injury recoveries, we have great hopes of a positive post-festive push.
New Year Hope
After a disastrous 'starter for minus 10', when Knole Park 2nd team lost 10 points for failing to field any players in the first week, the Christmas break sees us in good heart.
Two wins to end halfway, leaves the team within touching distance of the two higher places.
With the hope of support from surplus first team players, KP2s have high hopes of climbing the ladder. And with the injury list growing shorter, their own squad should be at top strength in the months after the New Year.
Veterans Handicapped
Mike Wright became Veterans Summer Handicap Champion on Thursday, after a well-handicapped tussle with the handicapper John Creek. There remains only one Summer competition to complete, before the start of the Winter tournaments in December.
The Winter Tournaments will be handicapped more accurately, using the Squash Levels on-line system currently recording Team and Box League results and rankings.
Up is the new Down
After the euphoria of successive promotion seasons, the Summer of 2015 came as a rude awakening for Knole Park's elite.
First the good news, though - the second team stayed off the bottom of Div 5
and also avoided relegation next Summer, mainly due to being in the bottom division. Having to play the role of feeder squad for the struggling 1st team didn't help, but at least most of the faithful regulars were given a good run around for their money. Thanks to those who turned out week after week, even when injured.
The 1st team suffered badly from the flight to fresh pastures of two of their younger members - Pete Sykes and his wing-man Myles Williams. In spite of the sterling efforts of David Falconer and James Hall it proved tough to fill the gaps in the top order. Last place in Division 2 was inevitable from quite early on as the absences and injuries mounted.
As usual following a meteoric rise, the fall can be painful. Let's hope Knole can get over all of the knee and hip operations and return rested and refreshed from the Autumn layoff.
Honours for some
The Club's Honours boards have recently been updated with the many new champions. There's still plenty of room for more of you though.
Full boards open for inspection on the balcony
Trophy past
So long ago, I'd forgotten our triumph in 2014. Until the Trophy arrived this week.
Knole Park's 2014 Summer success
The only problem, screwing it to the trophy wall alongside the earlier ones will be hard to achieve. Perhaps a shelf? Or a cabinet?
Veterans Open 2015 completes - not a moment too soon
After several false starts and delays due to diary clashes and injuries, Veterans (Over 45) Champion David Falconer successfully defended his title yesterday against all comers, beating Mike Wright 3-0 (9/5, 9/2, 9/1) in a clinical demonstration of his power and experience.
Mike showed touches of his own improving form and confidence, but David was in no mood to give any quarter to his younger opponent. A sparse crowd saw only the briefest of finals as David followed a close first game by accelerating away with few unforced errors.
David and Mike are pictured below with their trophies.
David Falconer (Left) & Mike Wright (Right)
How the papers see it today
A tough one for James Hall - highly entertaining though
Kent Open
Our own James Hall has been over in Maidstone this weekend, playing in the Kent Open. A great win against the higher ranked Gary Nisbet has rewarded James with a tough second round against Phil Nightingale tonight. Good luck James.
2015 Select Gaming Kent Open
Update 30/6/2015 - Prelims
Wonderful opening day of the 2015 Select Gaming Kent Open with an entertaining programme of matches in the first round of the pre-qualifying competition.
It was great to see so many Mote members and friends from other Kent clubs involved and pitting their skills against some extremely talented county players and professionals.
RESULTS
Select Gaming Kent Open
Pre-Qualifying Competition
First Round:
Phil Nightingale (Surrey) beat Scott Bailey (Mote) 11-4, 11-5, 11-6
James Hall (Knole Park) Gary Nisbet (Bexley) 11-9, 4-11, 11-7, 3-11, 11-7
Hany Taleb (Bexley) beat Adam Ward (Canterbury) 11-3, 13-11, 6-11, 11-3
Sam Ellis (Bristol) beat Ryan Avison (Mote) 11-1, 11-3, 11-2
Robert Dadds (Colchester) beat Paul Adam (Mote) 11-5, 11-3, 11-2
Matt Cook (Surrey) beat Ben Goodayle (Mote) 11-9, 9-11, 11-7, 8-11, 11-8
Joe Magor (Canterbury) beat Paul Jenner (Mote) 11-2, 11-3, 11-3
Emyr Evans (Wales) beat Simon Humphrey (Mote) 11-3, 11-7, 11-4
MONDAY SCHEDULE:
Pre-Qualifying Second Round:
6pm: Nightingale v Hall
6.40pm: Taleb v Ellis
7.20pm: Dadds v Cook
8pm: Evans v Magor
Open Championship 2015 - Finally the Final
A reasonable crowd for a Tuesday - largely due to the 2nd team match following - saw the long-awaited grudge rematch from two years ago of Pete 'Wings' Sykes, whose career is about to take off to Paris, and David Falconer, who has a great future on the Over 50s scene.
Just as well it wasn't Par 11 American scoring, as there were 22 Hi/Hos before the score reached 3-all in the first game. David then stretched a small lead to 8-6 thanks to his usual early sharpness, and a few rusty tins from Pete who appeared to be just below his best fighting condition. However, Pete nicked four points in a row with maybe a small amount of good fortune to take the game 10-8.
The importance of that squeak home was emphasised as David raced through the 2nd game 9-1 with barely any resistance from Pete. It would take a change of shirt and maybe a change of tactics to stop the flow away from Pete, as David at 3-0 up in the third looked the fitter and a better bet for the longer distance. Again Pete dredged his memory for touch and tricks - a triple boast screw lob smash didn't trouble David too much, but may have signalled Pete's new determination. Six points on the spin for Pete to 6-3, before David pulled him back to 5-6. David not quite so accurate with his early takes and drops; Pete fewer tins and harder ball striking. So 9-6 in the 4th to Pete; 2-1 up in games. And the trend continued in the 4th game - Pete doing just enough to keep his nose in front, one or two errors from David and maybe a half yard less pace. As they say, only a sheet of Bronco between them, but 9-5 to Pete marked the changing of the guard on the Honours board at KPSC.
Mark Johnson of Sevenoaks Sleepers present the winner's bowl and cup to Pete Sykes (England Hockey) and the Runner Up's Bowl to David Falconer (Kent Over 50s)