Squash: Television angling shows are a monster attraction

We have struggled a little when the higher-order players haven’t been available – usually because of tour commitments – and my progress was stunted somewhat after the Swedish Open and National Championships.

I simply couldn’t afford to take part and, potentially, do more damage.

I enjoyed Sweden and had a couple of tight matches in consecutive days.

But, retrospectively, it was maybe a lot of intensity for the body to absorb at this early stage.

There has been plenty of other action around the globe.

Pontefract’s other absentee last Tuesday was Saurav Ghosal, who lost in the semi-finals in a 15k event in Portland in five games to Omar Abdel Meguid.

Meguid later lost to Ryan Cuskelly in the final.

Sarah Jane Perry has had two weeks to remember.

Against the odds she won the National Championships for the first time in Manchester, and then doubled up in Toronto the following week to win against a strong field of players, supporting the theory that there’s nothing like a dose of confidence for breeding success.

The professional tours now head together to Chicago for a cracking event, the Windy City Open.

This was top drawer last year and Chicago is always an exciting backdrop for a squash tournament.

It’s not usually too warm though.

I recall this time last year having all sorts of problems during the four block walk from hotel to club.

And I was told it was one of the East Coast of America’s brutal winters.

You can watch the action live at psasquashtv.com