Page 154 - RAPTC Number 102 2018/19

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WELSH MASTERS (OVER 70S) SQUASH CHAMPION 2018
The following article was originally published in 2018 by the Perthshire Advertiser:
Perthshire squash ace Mike Mooney is proving age is just a number after smashing his way to the Welsh Masters title. The Blairgowrie-based player recorded
Mike has been putting in plenty of hours on the court in recent months and his schedule is shaping up to be a busy one across 2019. “As a freelance adventurer it has been tough, however, I was determined to give this a good go and trained hard for it,” he explained to the PA.
“I still had to balance work, family and social life and to keep up matches over the festive season. I train most days with racket skills, strength training and coaching sessions. I play competitively twice a week. “The next major event will be the Home Internationals. I am down to play in the over 65s and the 70s. “There are also a number of international matches and then the European Championships in the middle of the year. Then hopefully it will be the worlds next year.”
Getting more people involved in the sport is also an aim for Mike and he has been campaigning for squash courts to be built in Blairgowrie. He said: “I started to play the game in my early 30s, coming back from injury and I found it improved my football and rugby game and kept it going. “My greatest
achievement has been to represent my country. It’s a great sport and, as you know, Scotland has a great tradition in it. It’s a perfect sport for all and especially during the winter months. “The squash community is thriving around the world, especially in the Masters.”
a 13-15, 15-12, 17-16, 15-8 victory against home favourite Haydn Jones in the men’s over-70 final.
Mike (70) had swept through to the showdown match in Cardiff after defeating Jim Inglis in the quarter-final before seeing off Christopher Leach in the semis. Freelance adventurer Mike was thrilled to play his way to the top prize and said: “All tournaments are tough, everyone is there for the same reason - to win.
“I have always had high expectations of myself. I practiced very hard for this one and as you can guess I was very, very happy. “I just had to keep the pressure on my opponents throughout the weekend. “Going into the final, up against champions and higher seeded players, I knew I had it in me to be successful. “I tried too hard in the first set, trying to force the game. But I settled down and played my and started to enjoy the experience.
natural game
“The crowd was on his side - he was a local - and I felt they were thinking who is this guy from Scotland coming down here to take this title. It spurred me on. “It was my determination in the end and also thinking of the people who have helped me.”
Capt (Retd) M Mooney
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