RACKETBALL INTERCOUNTY OPEN / B GRADE / LADIES Championships 2024 - WOLVERHAMPTON 15th/16th June
The results are in!
What a brilliant weekend of matches we had at Wolverhampton. Some really high quality battles across all three of the categories, with some very deserving Champions at the end of it. The results are attached below in PDF format but in brief:
A Grade - Devon beat Surrey 3 / 2
B Grade - Wiltshire beat Surrey B 11 / 5
Ladies - Yorkshire won group over Lincolnshire
Full report to follow below after the results attachments...
What a brilliant weekend of matches we had at Wolverhampton. Some really high quality battles across all three of the categories, with some very deserving Champions at the end of it. The results are attached below in PDF format but in brief:
A Grade - Devon beat Surrey 3 / 2
B Grade - Wiltshire beat Surrey B 11 / 5
Ladies - Yorkshire won group over Lincolnshire
Full report to follow below after the results attachments...
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*DEVON RETAIN THE OPEN TITLE, WILTSHIRE & YORKSHIRE GRAB THEIR FIRST*
A busy weekend of Intercounty team Racketball matches took place at Wolverhampton Tennis & Squash Club on the 15th & 16th June, with the Open, B Grade and Ladies Intercounty titles up for grabs. It was our busiest year to date of Intercounty action, with 18 teams battling it out across the event, and there were some brilliant games for all to watch across the 6 courts at the venue.
In the A Grade, the standout battles were:
- brutal first round battles between Morris and Haggarty in Shrops vs Warks (Haggarty managing to overturn a 0/2 deficeit to take down the O50s top dog,) and between Moverly and Cutting in Yorks vs Kent, where Fiona did likewise come back from 2/0 down to take a 12/10 in the 5th win vs a very valiant effort from Josh. Dives included!
Bonus note to the Jones vs Norton battle at #2 string which was another 5 set throwdown, which ultimately decided the overall tie result in Yorkshire's favour as Knocker won 3/2.
- a really high quality battle at #1 string between Miles Jenkins (Surrey) & Guy Pearson (Warks) in the afternoon, with Jenkins' physicality and relentless pace of play proved too much for the ball skill and creativity of Pearson, beating him 3/1.
- A very tight Final between Surrey and Devon, where Surrey took 3rd & 4th string to put a huge amount of pressure on the reigning Champions, but Devon through solid performances from Snell, Gregory and Harris, managed to see it through with a 3/2 overall team win!
The Ladies had four different teams in for the first time and with such a positive weekend of games we are hopeful of building on this success and introducing more next year! Some of their highlights were:
- Cornwall taking down Devon 8 games to 6 in the all Southern jam first vs cream first derby battle!
- A brilliantly entertaining Lincs vs Yorks fixture with a great 5 set Doubles match win to Yorkshire to round off the match.
- Devon doing well to push Yorkshire close in the final match on the Sunday, only just losing out to the overall Champions 7 games to 10 with several tight 3/2 battles involved.
And finally the B Grade, where it was great to see lots of returning faces from last year's inaugral event, plus some new sides and line ups. Events of note were...
- Wiltshire's ability to grind out the result they needed! This year's Champions were pushed all the way in each of their fixtures, taking down Derbyshire 10/8, Yorkshire 10/9 and then ''chopping'' (not really) Surrey 11/5 in the Final! Kudos to Nev Buckle's side with some big perfomances from all throughout, notably Adam Giles & Calli Smith at 1 & 2 who went undefeated all weekend, with Calli using the experience to spend approximately 453667278463 hours on court each match... (Schedule destroyer...)
- The Surrey B & Shropshire B Semi final was another tight battle, finishing 8/6 to the eventual finalists, coming down to overall games countback after it finished 2/2 in match wins!
All in all, a really great weekend of Racketball and catching up with loads of our Series regulars and not so regulars. A huge thank you to Wolverhampton Club and Mike Harris (Mr Squash Mike Harris that is) for hosting us so excellently. It's a lovely venue and they are really pushing hard on all things Squash & Racketball there so an incredibly positive set up.
Also thank you to all of our county Captains and Managers for their hard work in getting sides together and chasing up players. It is a thankless task sometimes and your efforts are greatly appreciated!
We will be back on the same weekend next year (14th & 15th June 2025) so get the date in your diaries, we hope to build it bigger and better!
Full results can be found on our Intercounty page here: https://www.uk-racketball.com/inter-counties.html
Pictures and video clips from the matches can be found on our Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1390864495194434&type=3
RACKETBALL INTERCOUNty MASTERS team championships 2024
Masters Intercounty Team Championships 2024 Results Now In!
We have all the final match results from the Masters Intercounty weekend on the 11th & 12th May 2024, and we can bring you them via the PDF document below. A big congratulations to our winning teams, Cambridgeshire (O40s), Surrey (O50s) and Essex (O60), each taking their first ICC Racketball Masters titles!
| Masters Intercounty Racketball Results |
Thank you to all of the teams who took part in a great weekend of matches. It was brilliant to see such a great entry and a lot of new faces getting involved too. We already have the date set for 2025 - 17th & 18th May, and we will also be returning back to Berkhamstead as it was such a great venue this time round! So get the dates in the diaries and start planning your campaigns for victory!
(We will make sure the Berko beer taps are fully topped up for next year's event!)
(We will make sure the Berko beer taps are fully topped up for next year's event!)
Open/B Grade/Ladies Intercounty Team Championships 2024
Date: 15th/16th June 2024
Venue: Wolverhampton Squash & Tennis Club, Neville Lodge, 53 Newbridge Cres, Wolverhampton WV6 0LH
Categories & Set Up:
OPEN:
Format: Teams MUST consist of 5 players, all play singles matches.
B GRADE:
Format - Teams MUST consist of 5 players to fulfil this fixture requirement. Three players compete in the singles and then the other pair play the doubles fixture. Who plays what can be rotated in between fixtures.
LADIES:
Format: Teams MUST consist of 3 players to fulfil this fixture requirement. All players compete in singles matches then two of them also play an additional doubles fixture.
If counties have enough players they are more than welcome to either field a second ''B Team'' in the event, or they are welcome to compete in the Mixed B Grade categories as a team of 5 players as well.
General Notes:
- For the Open / B Grade if there is a significant imbalance in the standard of one side compared to the others in its category (a B Grade side being of Open Grade level or vice versa,) then Mike may discuss the changing of Grades for that side with its captain.
- All teams are guaranteed 3 matches across the weekend, possibly 4 depending on the entry uptake. Matches will start on the Saturday morning so please factor this in if travelling.
- Reigning Open Champions - Devon, B Grade - Shropshire, Ladies - Devon.
- Entry fee: £50 per team. Closing date for entries and payment is Tuesday 28th May.
- Please contact Mike Harris at [email protected] to enter your side and sort your entry payment.
Date: 15th/16th June 2024
Venue: Wolverhampton Squash & Tennis Club, Neville Lodge, 53 Newbridge Cres, Wolverhampton WV6 0LH
Categories & Set Up:
OPEN:
Format: Teams MUST consist of 5 players, all play singles matches.
B GRADE:
Format - Teams MUST consist of 5 players to fulfil this fixture requirement. Three players compete in the singles and then the other pair play the doubles fixture. Who plays what can be rotated in between fixtures.
LADIES:
Format: Teams MUST consist of 3 players to fulfil this fixture requirement. All players compete in singles matches then two of them also play an additional doubles fixture.
If counties have enough players they are more than welcome to either field a second ''B Team'' in the event, or they are welcome to compete in the Mixed B Grade categories as a team of 5 players as well.
General Notes:
- For the Open / B Grade if there is a significant imbalance in the standard of one side compared to the others in its category (a B Grade side being of Open Grade level or vice versa,) then Mike may discuss the changing of Grades for that side with its captain.
- All teams are guaranteed 3 matches across the weekend, possibly 4 depending on the entry uptake. Matches will start on the Saturday morning so please factor this in if travelling.
- Reigning Open Champions - Devon, B Grade - Shropshire, Ladies - Devon.
- Entry fee: £50 per team. Closing date for entries and payment is Tuesday 28th May.
- Please contact Mike Harris at [email protected] to enter your side and sort your entry payment.
intercounty racketball 2023 round up
*Devon teams take two titles and a runner's up spot out of four possible events at the Intercounty Racketball weekend in Nottingham!*
We had a fantastic weekend of matches at NSRC in Nottingham with over 100 players and 22 teams taking part in the 2023 Intercounty Racketball team Championships. There were four different categories up for grabs - A Grade, B Grade, Over 50's and Ladies, and we had a wide spread of counties across all the draws.
This year was the first time we have been able to run a Ladies Racketball ICC, and while it was a small draw there were some great matches. The format was 3 players per team, everyone plays singles, then one doubles match too. Match of the event was between Natalie Lawrence (Devon A) vs Katie Wells (Lincolnshire), where both players used all four corners of the court with great skill and variety of hitting throughout. Katie coming through a 3/0 winner but the game score not reflecting the tightness of the match. In the end though Devon A's strength through their order and their Doubles experience shone through and they took the inaugral Ladies Intercounty Racketball title 3/1 over Lincolnshire.
In the Over 50's event, pre tournament top seeds Shropshire managed to come through pretty unscathed throughout the weekend, dropping only one tie (the doubles) out of all their matches. They took down Devon in the final 4/0, with some entertaining games but with the Numbers 1 & 2 ranked Over 50 players in the country at the top of their order it was always going to be a hard task for the Devon guys. There were some brutal fixtures in the Devon/Essex/Warwickshire group with all matches going down to either a games or points countback! (Essex coming out the wrong end of two points countbacks then finally winning one in their 5/6th playoff vs Northants!) The format for this category was 3 players play singles fixtures, then one extra pair compete in doubles.
This year was also the first time we have run a B Grade event, and it was really well subscribed, with some really great depth across all the teams, showcasing some top Racketball, even on a slightly ropey Sunday morning... (Mentioning no names...) The format here was the same as the Over 50's, with 3 singles and then one doubles partnership per side. The final was of exceptionally high quality that all went down to the final match. In the end a very strong Surrey side managed to see off Shropshire on games countback, with the Number 1s battle between Craig Chappell (Shrops) and Rob Gale (Surrey) going the distance with Chappell winning 11/9 in the 5th after a good 75+ minutes!
Finally, the A Grade event featured some of the regular ICC top teams, with the like of Yorkshire, Devon, Dorset and current holders Warwickshire joining Lincolnshire and Cheshire in the draws. The format here was a simple 5 players all play singles matches. With pretty much all the sides missing one or two players from their line ups it was very difficult to predict who would come out on top. In the group stages Devon vs Dorset and Yorkshire vs Cheshire both proved to be incredibly tight, with it all going down to the final ties in the fixtures. In the end though it came down to a repeat of last year's final with Devon vs Warwickshire the tie. Devon managed to reverse their fortunes from last year, winning 5/0 despite their being some very close matches at 3rd & 5th string (both going to 5 games, match of the final being Ash Knight beating Ben Maudrell 11/8 in the 5th with both looking absolutely broken afterwards!)
It was a really brilliant weekend of matches with a top atmosphere and a fun Saturday night social too. You can find all the pictures and videos from the event HERE
Full results attached below. Can't wait for next year, plans being made already! Congratulations to all our winners and runners up, see you all soon.
Racketball/ Squash57 Inter county Championships Information
NTERCOUNTY RACKETBALL TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS 2023 PREVIEW
We are back for another year of County team Racketball action as sides competing in the A Grade, B Grade, Over 50s and Ladies events come together at Nottingham Squash Club to do battle to see who is the Premier Racketball county team in the UK!
In the A Grade we have the current holders Warwickshire (led by British Racketball O35s Champion Chris Hall) as the top seeds, but they have to come through a tough group with a Paul Norton led Yorkshire & Graeme Heward's Cheshire, who have the very handy Pete Billson at the top of the order.
In the other group past winners and second seeds Devon are led by British National Champion Mike Harris but again have their work cut out to get past a very strong in depth Dorset side with all of their regulars turning out for the team, and solid Lincolnshire line up. Some really good battles promised here! The format is all single matches with 5 players per team.
The B Grade (a new category this year) has had a great uptake with 8 teams across the board, featuring many of our UK Racketball Series regulars. While there is very little to pick between any of the teams, Surrey, Kent, Devon and Shropshire all are seeded to get through to the Semi Finals, and from there is would be very difficult to call!
It is great to see some squads with 6/7 players in them, showing how much the sport is growing in certain areas. The format for this Grade is 3 players play singles, then another two play a doubles match. The singles/doubles players can be rotated between fixtures.
The Men's Over 50's has some very strong teams in it, with last year's Champions Shropshire looking the standout top picks with the likes of Wase, Morris, Russell, Billington and Davies in their line up! They will be pushed hard by the likes of Surrey (Hall, Warne, Wardle, Burton) and Essex (Friend, Osbourn, Thornley) but they most certainly are the team to beat. The format for this is the same as the B Grade, 3 players play singles, then another two play a doubles match. The singles/doubles players can be rotated between fixtures.
Finally, it is great to have a Ladies Championship back this year. Hopefully with the aim to grow it bigger and better in years to come. This time round it will be contested between Devon A, Devon B and Lincolnshire, but with Essex, Yorkshire and Dorset all keen to get involved next time round, it could lead to a really busy event! This year though it will be a tight contest, with Devon A led by Natalie Lawrence and Caroline Wright coming up against a strong Lincolnshire side with British Open Semi Finalist Katie Wells at the top of the order. The format for the Ladies is 3 player teams, everyone plays singles then two players also play a doubles fixture too. The two Devon teams are then also combining to do battle in the B Grade event, and I believe the Lincolnshire ladies are backing up their Men's B Grade team too. Plenty of good matches to be had!
So with over 100 players descending on NSRC this weekend it will certainly be a busy and very social weekend (I'm looking at you Saturday night in Nottingham...) A huge thank you to all the team Captains for working so hard to get sides together (like herding cats one player mentioned.) Great to see that Devon and Lincolnshire were able to field sides in all four categories!
Next year there will be a change to the format (due to feedback and also schedule balancing...)
A Grade, B Grade and Ladies will take place in mid June like this time round. Match format & team composition will be the same as this time round for the A Grade and Ladies. The B Grade however will drop to 4 players per team with all playing singles then one pair competing in a doubles fixture.
THEN
We will change the Masters format to include more age groups, but also make it more accessible to sides. So the event will take place separately in May (exact date/venue TBC) and there will be Mixed Over 40s, Over 50s and Over 60s categories.
All age groups will be composed of 3 player teams, with all playing singles and then one pair also playing a doubles fixture. We are hoping that this will get more counties involved as it will be easier to put out teams based on this format and may even lead to multiple sides per category.
So keep an eye out for updates this weekend on our UK Racketball Facebook page and Instagram account, plus then news and dates for the future competitions!
We are back for another year of County team Racketball action as sides competing in the A Grade, B Grade, Over 50s and Ladies events come together at Nottingham Squash Club to do battle to see who is the Premier Racketball county team in the UK!
In the A Grade we have the current holders Warwickshire (led by British Racketball O35s Champion Chris Hall) as the top seeds, but they have to come through a tough group with a Paul Norton led Yorkshire & Graeme Heward's Cheshire, who have the very handy Pete Billson at the top of the order.
In the other group past winners and second seeds Devon are led by British National Champion Mike Harris but again have their work cut out to get past a very strong in depth Dorset side with all of their regulars turning out for the team, and solid Lincolnshire line up. Some really good battles promised here! The format is all single matches with 5 players per team.
The B Grade (a new category this year) has had a great uptake with 8 teams across the board, featuring many of our UK Racketball Series regulars. While there is very little to pick between any of the teams, Surrey, Kent, Devon and Shropshire all are seeded to get through to the Semi Finals, and from there is would be very difficult to call!
It is great to see some squads with 6/7 players in them, showing how much the sport is growing in certain areas. The format for this Grade is 3 players play singles, then another two play a doubles match. The singles/doubles players can be rotated between fixtures.
The Men's Over 50's has some very strong teams in it, with last year's Champions Shropshire looking the standout top picks with the likes of Wase, Morris, Russell, Billington and Davies in their line up! They will be pushed hard by the likes of Surrey (Hall, Warne, Wardle, Burton) and Essex (Friend, Osbourn, Thornley) but they most certainly are the team to beat. The format for this is the same as the B Grade, 3 players play singles, then another two play a doubles match. The singles/doubles players can be rotated between fixtures.
Finally, it is great to have a Ladies Championship back this year. Hopefully with the aim to grow it bigger and better in years to come. This time round it will be contested between Devon A, Devon B and Lincolnshire, but with Essex, Yorkshire and Dorset all keen to get involved next time round, it could lead to a really busy event! This year though it will be a tight contest, with Devon A led by Natalie Lawrence and Caroline Wright coming up against a strong Lincolnshire side with British Open Semi Finalist Katie Wells at the top of the order. The format for the Ladies is 3 player teams, everyone plays singles then two players also play a doubles fixture too. The two Devon teams are then also combining to do battle in the B Grade event, and I believe the Lincolnshire ladies are backing up their Men's B Grade team too. Plenty of good matches to be had!
So with over 100 players descending on NSRC this weekend it will certainly be a busy and very social weekend (I'm looking at you Saturday night in Nottingham...) A huge thank you to all the team Captains for working so hard to get sides together (like herding cats one player mentioned.) Great to see that Devon and Lincolnshire were able to field sides in all four categories!
Next year there will be a change to the format (due to feedback and also schedule balancing...)
A Grade, B Grade and Ladies will take place in mid June like this time round. Match format & team composition will be the same as this time round for the A Grade and Ladies. The B Grade however will drop to 4 players per team with all playing singles then one pair competing in a doubles fixture.
THEN
We will change the Masters format to include more age groups, but also make it more accessible to sides. So the event will take place separately in May (exact date/venue TBC) and there will be Mixed Over 40s, Over 50s and Over 60s categories.
All age groups will be composed of 3 player teams, with all playing singles and then one pair also playing a doubles fixture. We are hoping that this will get more counties involved as it will be easier to put out teams based on this format and may even lead to multiple sides per category.
So keep an eye out for updates this weekend on our UK Racketball Facebook page and Instagram account, plus then news and dates for the future competitions!
UK-Racketball works alongside England Squash to deliver the National Inter County Championship (ICC) for Squash57/ Racketball.
The new ICC will run at Nottingham Squash Club on the 17/18th June
All teams will compete to decide who is crowned champion across several different categories. We currently run four events: an Open/A Grade, a B Grade, Over 50's and Women's competition.
This will make for a fantastic atmosphere and some great matches!
The number of matches and event format will be determined once we know our entry level. Matches will take place on Saturday and Sunday only, there will be no matches on the Friday evening.
The new ICC will run at Nottingham Squash Club on the 17/18th June
All teams will compete to decide who is crowned champion across several different categories. We currently run four events: an Open/A Grade, a B Grade, Over 50's and Women's competition.
This will make for a fantastic atmosphere and some great matches!
The number of matches and event format will be determined once we know our entry level. Matches will take place on Saturday and Sunday only, there will be no matches on the Friday evening.
