2018 Jesters Jericho Juniors Recap

April 29, 2018Jesters JuniorsJericho Tennis Club, Richard Yendell, Salmingjesty

The Jericho Junior Open was another huge success here at the club (Jan. 19^th-21^st). We had 120 juniors from around BC competing in eleven events including three ‘Silver’ divisions to encourage competition with developing players in the Boys U17, U15 and Girls U13 divisions.

With your generous donation all of our winners received brand new Salming racquets! We provided excellent prizes and trophies for 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd and consolation winners as well as some fantastic draw prizes. I mention the draw prizes because the juniors will stay to watch the final matches and attend the awards presentation because in order to win they have to be in attendance.

Sam Scivier from Jericho and Alex Brown from SMUS where the overall winners in the boys and girls divisions respectively. BC has some exceptional 13-15 year old players at the moment as the Boys U17 and Girls U19 were all packed with younger juniors playing up in higher age categories.

Again the Silver categories provided an opportunity for developing players to experience success in full weekend tournaments without having to compete against more established elite level juniors. These are some of the most enjoyable matches of the weekend as the players are very keen and excited to be at the event.

Thank you once again to the Jesters for your support of our event and other Junior and Adult squash tournaments across BC. Your contribution really makes a difference to the success of our weekend and impacts the enjoyment and experience of the juniors who compete.

https://www.sportyhq.com/tournament/view/2018-Jesters-Jericho-Junior-Open

Richard Yendell
Head Squash Professional
Junior Girls National Coach

BC Jesters Double Tournament Photos

April 29, 2018Jesters Doubles Tournamentsjesty

Thanks to Gary Wong for sending us these great photos from finals day at the 2018 BC Jesters Doubles Tournament.

2018 Jesters PNW Summary

April 29, 2018Jesters JuniorsBen Uliana, Cedar Hill Squash Club, PNWjesty

Without you:

I am proud to carry on the tradition of the 49th Jesters PNW in Victoria BC that Phil Green built. An event that lasts in the minds of the athletes who travel to Victoria each February. Phil’s years of devotion to Junior Squash laid the ground work for our success going forward. This event is run the with 200+ athletes at 3 venues on Saturday (13 courts), comprising a total of 499 squash matches in 2.5 days of play. Our registration deadline was 2 weeks prior to the event but we filled up 1 week before the deadline. It is bad for the squash player who did not get in but good to know that squash is more popular than ever.

If you were able to watch the live stream of this event you would have watched till 12:00am on Friday. We set the record for the latest match at the Friday of the PNW! Brooke Herring and Brianna Jefferson stepped off court just after mid-night from their extra point 5 set Quart-final match. A 5-set match seemed to be the story of the day. The first and 2nd rounds of the main draws needed to be played prior to Saturday. As I entered the results into the draws the number of games going to extra points, or lasting 5 games was a testament to the level of play this year. I kept hoping that we would get back on time…but never quite did.

Once the Friday grind was over we settled into a rhythm for Saturday and Sunday. Longer court bookings and three venues helped the timing for the remainder of the event. That’s not to say the level of competition waned. The boys U19 final had a 5 game match for the winner while the Girls U19 was a fitting domination for her last PNW event. Ryan Picken and Andrea Toth, from BC, both won their events and took home the Gold! To crown Andrea’s win she was voted the George-Morfitt Sportsmanship award.

Now that the fun and games are done we should reflect on the people behind the scene. The team of volunteer’s countless hours to keep things going: Daryl Suen, John Roche, Patty Ballam, and Yennie Yuen volunteered and headed up our venue control, refereeing, food service and tournament detailing. Additionally, 48 volunteers stepped forward to help with court control, registration and food services. I would not have been able to run this event without any of them. If you see a volunteer thank them for their service.

Our sponsors of this event help in countless ways to keep the affordability of the event for the parents who support their kids to play squash.

St. Michael’s University School: Providing court time for over 1/3 of the squash matches
Victoria Squash Club and Stuart Dixon: hosting their facility all day Saturday and part of Sunday this year
Fairways Market: Providing food to be served to athletes and coaches for the weekend
Hotel Grand Pacific: They provided a rate, and service that is beyond belief for everyone who stayed at their facility
Out of the blue Designs: They helped design and get amazing rates for the tournament souvenir each year
Jesters of BC: Their generous support of Junior squash keeps an event of this size in the realm of affordability

I look forward to running this event next year. Registration will open in November of 2018. Visit this site to keep informed of the 2019 50th Jesters PNW!

Thank you
Benjamin Uliana
Tournament Director

For more information on this event please click on the image below or visit http://www.jesterspnw.ca/

BC Jesters Finals Highlights

March 10, 2018Jesters Doubles Tournamentsjesty

Tom Locke & Donna Pakulak v Ed Berwick & Monica Szpak at the Vancouver Racquets Club.
Video courtesy of Gary Wong

2018 Jesters Doubles Tournament

January 15, 2018Jesters Doubles Tournaments2020 Fund, Evergreen Squash Club, Van Lawn, VRCjesty

2017 Jesters Pacific Northwest Junior Championships

February 26, 2017Blog, Jesters JuniorsPacific Northwest Junior Championships, PNWjesty

2017 Jesters Pacific Northwest Junior Championships

Dear Jesters

This year’s event drew a record 233 entries and included many of Canada’s leading players. I’m pleased to report that our BC contingent fared very well. Grace Thomas (Victoria) and Andrea Toth (Richmond) met in the Girl’s Under 19 final with the win going to Thomas in a tight four game match. In the Boys Under 19 semi-final, Ryan Picken (Shawnigan) eliminated top seed Akasham Rajagopaul (Niagra Falls) but was unable to overcome 2^nd seed Brett Schille (Calgary) in the final. Additional B.C highlights are listed below.

Over the years, Jester’s sponsorship has helped us to maintain a reasonable entry fee for this event. Additional Jester’s funding in 2017 allowed us to enhance player meals, upgrade the tournament souvenir and to add a third place award in all fifteen divisions.

A volunteer crew of over fifty provided vital services including court control, meal services and registration. In addition, we had 17 local players referee all the Under 19 and Under 17 quarter finals and beyond, plus all the first matches each day. In total there were 476 matches played at three venues on 13 courts. We gratefully acknowledge and thank St. Michael’s University School and Stuart Dixon at the Victoria Squash Club for the use of their facilities. We also thank Lynne Grass of Shawnigan Lake School who provided an inter venue shuttle on Friday. And finally, a special thanks to John Roche who I believe has assisted at every PNW hosted at Cedar Hill since 1993 – amazing!

The Pacific Northwest Junior tournament was inaugurated in 1969 and has now run continuously for 48 years. In that first year, I was among the participants. I believe it was here where I was introduced to and then thrashed by John Hungerford. Tragic as that was, my occasional glimpses of the front wall cemented a lasting affection for the game and this event in particular. It was my pleasure to run the tournament numerous times from 1970 through to 1982. After a four year stint at Edmonton’s Royal Glenora Club, I returned to Victoria in 1986 and this was the beginning of an unbroken thirty year association with the PNW. How time flies!

In 2018, the PNW will be hosted under new leadership. I am confident that Ben Uliana and his team will continue to enhance the event’s reputation as one of Canada’s most popular Junior tournaments.

To all B.C. Jesters: thank you for your enduring support of Junior Squash in the province
With thanks,
Philip Green

Other notable BC results in Open divisions include:

Boys Under 17
John Dempsey 2^nd
Emilio Carrillo 3^rd
Sayeed Mavani 4^th

Girls Under 17
Sarah Cao 1^st

Boys Under 15
Christian Yuen 3^rd

Girls Under 15
Julia Horsey 1^st

Boys Under 13
Joseph Toth 1^st

Girls Under 13
Grace Huang 1^st
Maria Min 2^nd
Ava Bicknell 4^th

Boys Under 11
Ryan Vest 2^ndGalen Armstrong 3^rd

Six ‘B’ divisions were also offered

Boys Under 17/19 B
1. Lucas Galloway
2. Mark Felea-Motet
3. Amir Djearam

Girls Under 17B
1. Annika Lakhani
2. Angel Hu
3. Carolina Mees

Boys Under 15B
1. Ian Heck
2. Cole Parmar
3. Oliver Kerr

Girls Under 13/15B
1. Bernice Xiao
2. Juliana Angel
3. Ava Galloway

Boys Under 13B
1. Razaan Lalji
2. Tyler Driscoll
3. Ryan Khakzad

Boys Under 11B
1. Nathan Campo
2. Anderson Brown
3. Jonathan Gower

> > Click here to view the draws.

2017 BC Jesters Doubles Tournament Wrap Up

February 22, 2017Blog, Jesters Doubles Tournaments2020 Fundjesty

The BC Jesters Club hosted its 36th annual doubles tournament with 60 participants playing 4 matches with different partners and opponents over 4 days (Feb 15-18) with the top four qualifiers on each wall going into Sunday semi finals and finals.

First Semi final: Gerry Whitworth/Warren Woodman def Rip Peterman/Mike Gillanders 3-1
Second Semi final: Dennis Forsman/Keith Schaefer def Tony Quan/John Hungerford 3-2

Final: Gerry Whitworth/Warren Woodman def Dennis Forsman/Keith Schaefer 3-0

The BC Jesters Club pays all tournament expenses, so all entry funds and additional donations from Jesters will be donated to the 2020 FUND. We are proud to announce that we have raised $2,955.00!

The 2020 Fund was established in 2000 by Squash BC to help protect the future of squash in British Columbia. As funding from government and other sources becomes less predictable, it is important to find alternative ways to ensure a sound financial future for the sport of squash.

The income accumulated through the 2020 Fund will be used to promote the growth of the game through the development of junior squash. By establishing a vibrant and well-financed junior program, Squash BC will take a major step toward a successful future for the sport in this province.

Thanks to sponsors – Squash BC (balls) Howe Sound Brewing (beer for Evergreen) Steamworks Brewing Company (beer at VRC). Thanks to VRC and cohost clubs for the use of their facilities.

Also thanks to the tournament organizers: Tony Goodson, Greg Desaulniers, Tim Martin and Brian Covernton. Kudos to all the Jesters who played and/or officiated during the week. All in all it was a week of great fun and comraderie.

2017 BC Jesters Doubles Tournament

January 13, 2017Blog, Jesters Doubles Tournaments2020 Fund, Doubles, Evergreen Squash Club, Hollyburn Country Club, Van Lawn, VRCjesty

This year’s 36th edition of the BC Jesters Doubles Squash Tournament starts February 15 and runs through to the 19th. Matches will be taking place at the Vancouver Racquets Club, The Vancouver Lawn Tennis and Badminton Club, the Evergreen Squash Club and the Hollyburn Country Club.

The last two years have sold out (64 players max) so sign up early.

100% of your entry fee goes to the 2020 Fund for the Future of Junior Squash. For more information on the fund, or to donate directly, please visit their Vancouver Foundation Donation Page.

Special thanks to Howe Sound Brewing, Steam Works Brewery and Squash Republic for their support.