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England’s double success at the European Team Championships has won the Moment of the Year award at the England Squash Awards. The award recognises the achievements of both men’s and women’s teams that both took home the top prize in Helsinki last April.
The women’s side defeated Belgium in their final while the men beat France in tense games for both teams. England’s sides were made up from a mixture of experience and youth with emerging talents Lucy Beecroft and Nick Wall selected for the squads, alongside the star names of Mohamed El Shorgbagy and Georgina Kennedy.
Kennedy, current world number nine and reigning Commonwealth champion, led the women’s team made up of Jasmine Hutton, Lucy Turmel and debutant Beecroft. The final went down to the wire, with England winning the first game then losing the second, leaving Turmel needing to win the final match to get the victory over Belgium. Turmel handled the pressure perfectly, winning 3-0 in just 20 minutes, thus securing a 2-1 win for the team.
Kennedy, reflecting on the success, said: “Winning the European senior double last spring was definitely one of the highlights of the season. The girls managed an epic win over Belgium and then watching the boy’s overcome France was one of the most exciting things I have ever seen.
“What makes it even more special is that David Campion was there every step of the way, he is the reason that the England team have been so successful over the years. I am so thrilled that he won the double in his last year as head national coach.”
In the men’s competition, current world number two El Shorgbagy was joined by Patrick Rooney, Adrian Waller, Charlie Lee and Nick Wall. Remarkably, it was the fourteenth final between England and France in the last fifteen iterations of this event.
England got off to a flyer, winning the first two matches before being pegged back in the third to make it 2-1. Waller only had to win two games in his match against Baptiste Masotti to secure England’s 43rd European Teams title. Despite being lower ranked than the Frenchman, Waller won the required two games with the match finishing 2-2, completing England’s double victory.
El Shorgbagy was delighted the moment has been recognised at the England Squash Awards and is ready to go again this year, adding:
“It was such an unbelievable moment when we won the European teams, it was neck-and-neck with the French team in the final, so close until the last point. We all gave it everything it was a great moment to share with the team and to win my first ever European team event.
“It was an unbelievable feeling, such a highlight of last season, and what made it more special was the double. The girls did the job and beat Belgium in the final, before our final. It’s a title that I look forward to coming back and trying to defend in a couple of months, in Zurich, with the rest of the team.”
Find out more about the 2023 Awards.
