Winchester Tennis & Squash Club coach Ashley Read was celebrating this week after one of his emerging squash juniors, Susie King, was ranked sixth in the England under-13 category.

King is not the only talent coming through the ranks at the Bereweeke Road club. Alex Woodcock, Jono Morbin and Michael Boylin are fourth, fifth and sixth respectively in the Hampshire rankings in the under-13 category.

Squash has been a game under pressure however the new coaching structure is linked to the local schools.

Western, Weeks and Harestock junior schools have all had six-week introduction courses to squash this year. The courses, sponsored by local businesses, are led by Read, who is keen that the youngsters learn the way to play properly from the very start.

This has led to winning ways for the junior sides as they won three out of the four Hampshire leagues in which they compete. In addition, Winchester has been able to set up an elite squad who travel to tournaments around the country.

Once again local business stepped in to help fund the costs for the juniors to travel to different tournaments and thereby gain experience that has been vital in their climb up the Hampshire and national rankings.

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