Essex proudly entered two teams into the UKRacketball Karakal Inter-County Squash57 Championships, hosted by Berkhamsted Lawn Tennis and Squash Rackets Club, competing in both the Over 50 and Over 60 categories. The squads were drawn from a strong and diverse pool of players representing clubs across Essex, including Connaught, Club Kingswood, Lexden RFC, Park Drive Health Club (Maldon), and Woodford Wells.
In the lead-up to the championship weekend, the teams faced a number of challenges with injuries, and further adjustments were needed on the first day before play began. Thanks to the flexibility and support of the UKRB refereeing team, squads were successfully reselected, consolidated, and the competition schedule adapted smoothly. Despite another key injury during the event, Essex showed resilience and determination throughout.
By the end of the weekend, the Over 60 team delivered an especially impressive performance, pushing last year’s champions, Cornwall, all the way in the playoffs.
Special thanks go to Stacy Thickbroom (Club Kingswood) and Paul Fennell (Woodford Wells) for their leadership as team captains. Particular recognition is also due to Pascual Dibattista (Club Kingswood), who achieved an outstanding record by winning all of his matches over the weekend.
