The Salopian Summer 2023

106
SALOPIAN CLUB NEWS
The Old Salopian Squash Club has
survived another season of strokes,
saunas and Claret. Moderate success
was had despite the team’s beefedup
fixture list, with 12 competitive
matches played in total; six were
won, six were lost.
The opener saw our side up against
the RAC in Pall Mall. Especially strong
performances by Will Street (SH
2011-16) and new recruit Harry
Bullock (S 2009-14) pushed us over
the line and the match was won 3-2.
This early victory was somewhat
unexpected, as some members of
the team appeared to have spent the
summer months more preoccupied
with gastronomy than the looming cost
of living crisis. Safe in the knowledge
that the next fixture was several weeks
away, the team continued to work
their way down the Long Bars canapé
menu long after the match.
Unfortunately the tapenade had
its revenge, as the team were
comprehensively beaten by a strong
Lansdowne side (away) on their
next outing (0-5). To compound the
team’s misery, our first string Jonny
Williams (R2004-09) suffered a
hamstring tear and skipper Rupert
Parry (Ch 2004-09) announced that
he’d soon be moving to Cheshire
after putting up a strong fight in his
final performance of the season. The
squad’s partial depletion didn’t seem
to faze the team in the least, however,
as they performed disconcertingly
well in the next couple of games; and
victories over Tonbridge (4-1) and
Roehampton (3-2) at home came in
Old Salopian Squash
quick succession.
The annual Londonderry Cup game
was up next. Run by the RAC, this cup
is the official public schools’ old boys’
competition and is one of the oldest
squash tournaments in the country.
Shrewsbury are yet to make the second
round of the main draw in this bitterly
fought battle for toff supremacy; although
it must be said that being routinely drawn
against Lancing and Millfield hasn’t been
helpful. This year we were pitted against
a strong Cranleighan side and lost 4-1,
but kudos must be given to Henry
Brown (M 1997-2000) who put on an
impressive display to secure the only
Salopian win of the night.
The Christmas break rolled by before
the team took on Lloyd’s of London in
their next home fixture. After a rough
start, Will Briggs (O 2005-10) and
Nick Davies (Rb 2004-09) bagged two
gutsy victories against their opposing
strings to restore some Salopian pride
and set the final score at 2-3.
Our next scheduled bout pitted us
against Eton. Determined not to see
us get outdone by our old rivals,
the team’s non-executive director,
Ben Stirk (M 1991-96), cleared his
schedule to lead from the front. A
series of lung-busting rallies and some
textbook ‘attritional’ squash saw him
overcome his opponent in five games.
The deft footwork of Sam Welti (I
2007-12), another key member of the
team, likewise proved to be too much
for his opposite number. But sadly it
was not to be our day, as the rest of
the team
floundered and we had to accept a
close fought loss (2-3).
Quickfire losses against Lansdowne (2-
3) and the RAC (1-4) followed despite
some strong performances from the
ever-improving James Kidson (O
2003-08) and Robert Cross (S 2008-
13), before the team regained its form
to bag wins against Tonbridge (4-1) and
Roehampton (3-2).
In March, a slightly reduced team took
on the School. None of the usual team
were available to play, but George
Carver (S 2008-13), Henry Bateson
(R 2016-21), Luke Russell (R 2016-
21) and Seb Cooley (Hon OS) took on
the mantle and achieved a clean sweep
of victories in a match contested in
great spirit.
All in all, the team represented their
alma mater with sweaty browed
aplomb. As ever, we are looking to
enlist new members who are interested
in dusting off their rackets for some
social squash. Home games are played
at Lord’s Cricket Ground (many thanks
to the MCC) and are a great way to
keep fit while enjoying good company,
food and drink if you are based in
or around London. In addition to the
usual fixtures, we will also be doing
a tour (after the success of our last
tour to Dublin) as well as putting on
social gatherings and attending some
professional cricket.
If this sounds of interest, please
get in touch with Jonny Williams at
jonnywilliams13@gmail.com.
Floreat Salopia!
Jonny Williams (R 2004-09)