Strathgryffe Danish Junior Open Tour

October 2013 sees six boys and four girls from Strathgryffe tennis and Squash Club travel to the Danish Junior Open in Copenhagen. Running from Friday 4th – Sunday 6th October, this event is one of the more popular European Junior tournaments. Players from all over Europe will be entering, in their quest for European ranking points.

Circuit

Part of the European Junior Squash Circuit run by the European Squash Federation, the tournament is one of many held across Europe throughout the season.  There are three levels of events in the circuit. The entry level events are simply junior open events. The next level of event is the Grand Prix event, which offers higher ranking points for participating players. Both the Danish Junior Open and the Scottish Junior Open are Grand Prix events. The top level of event is the Super Series, with the highest ranking points awarded. The super series events are by far the most challenging to play and include the Dutch, French, Nordic, Pioneer and German Junior Opens. By playing the Danish and the Scottish Junior Open (also a European Squash Grand Prix event), players give themselves a far higher chance of success and improving their ranking.

Strathgryffe Squad

The eleven player squad includes Jack Smillie and Jason Lang, respectively Scottish Nos 4 and 8 in the respective age groups in the Scottish Squash rankings, who will be looking to boost their European rankings. Many of the players attending are members of the West Regional Performance Squads. Also accompanying the squad is Craig Valente-Wallace, Scottish No.3 under 18 boys, the only player in the group not coming from Strathgryffe. Several West RPN players are also attending and will be gaining valuable experience of new opponents and travelling to foreign countries to play. Coaches attending with the players are Martin Woods and Claire Gray, the East of Scotland Regional Performance Network Head Coach.