All Golds v Newcastle Thunder KPL1 2016 - FINAL_2
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acked up some serious air<br />
miles, playing in tournaments in<br />
the USA, Canada, India, Macau,<br />
Switzerland and Sweden.<br />
Tom turned pro at 18 after<br />
finishing his education at<br />
Cheltenham’s Bournside school.<br />
From Monday to Friday he is<br />
based in Bristol where he trains<br />
under the guidance of coach<br />
Hadrian Stiff. “With squash<br />
being an individual sport I can<br />
mix up my training regime. I<br />
train Monday to Friday in Bristol<br />
then spend my weekends in<br />
Cheltenham. I don’t have to stick<br />
to a set plan - I like the flexibility<br />
of being my own boss. A lot of<br />
my time is spent either in the<br />
gym building up my strength<br />
and stamina or on court with my<br />
coach working on my game.”<br />
Squash is a sport that tests<br />
both a player’s physical and<br />
mental capabilities. The game<br />
mimics the hardest cardio and<br />
aerobic workout you can get.<br />
Constant running and following<br />
the ball, coupled with making<br />
hard, consistent contact with the<br />
ball and your racquet are tiring.<br />
Not only do you need supreme<br />
physical fitness but you need<br />
to mentally prepare for where<br />
your next hit is going to come.<br />
A successful player needs to get<br />
inside his opponent’s head and<br />
anticipate what kind of shot he’s<br />
going to play so he can be one<br />
step ahead.<br />
Tom says the support of his<br />
parents was crucial in the early<br />
years. “I’ve wanted to be a<br />
professional squash player since<br />
I was about ten years old. My<br />
parents used to drive me all over<br />
the country to junior events, their<br />
support enabled me to progress<br />
up the junior system which gave<br />
me the opportunity to turn<br />
professional.”<br />
While training full-time and<br />
competing internationally Ford<br />
also finds the time to organise<br />
the annual East Glos Doubles<br />
Tournament. “This year it’s taking<br />
place on June 4-5 at the East<br />
Glos Squash Club. Essentially it’s<br />
a pro-am so it gives recreational<br />
players the chance to compete<br />
with full time professionals.<br />
Anyone can enter, it’s a really<br />
good way of bringing everyone<br />
together regardless of their<br />
standard to have a good time<br />
and get out on the court.”<br />
When asked to name a career<br />
highlight, the answer didn’t take<br />
much thought. “Late last year<br />
I won back-to-back titles in<br />
Canada - the Goodlife Open in<br />
Ottawa then, two weeks later,<br />
the Saskatoon Boast Open.<br />
They were $10,000 events and<br />
winning them gave me a huge<br />
amount of confidence and saw<br />
my world ranking improve.<br />
“I’m really enjoying things at<br />
the moment. I hope to get the<br />
opportunity to win again and<br />
carry on improving my world<br />
ranking.”<br />
If you want to contact Tom or are<br />
interested in entering the East<br />
Glos Doubles Tournament email<br />
him at tomfordsquash@gmail.<br />
com<br />
11<br />
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