By
Andrew Stackpool
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Sergeant
Madonna Doyle and Warrant Officer David Street work up a
sweat in on-court 30-degree heat during the ISS Squash Championships
contested at RAAF Base Williamtown.
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Photo
by LACW Veronica McKenna Intense contest
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DEFENCE
squash players endured hot and humid conditions at the Interservice
Sport (ISS) Squash Championships conducted at RAAF Base Williamtown.
A disappointing lack of players because of operational and other
requirements telescoped the ISS event from two days to a single
day’s round robin series in which each of the 10 players (eight
Air Force, one Navy and one civilian) played some nine matches.
Nine rounds were played before lunch, three afterwards.
Each round comprised a five-minute warm up followed by 15 minutes
of play. Point a rally scoring was used with members handicapped
according to their standard of play. The overall winner was Leading
Aircraftman Craig Baldwin, of No. 381 Expeditionary Combat Support
Squadron, who battled the on-court 30- degree heat to blitz the
opposition by winning eight of his nine matches.
Flight Lieutenant Brad Armstrong, of No. 81 Wing, and Corporal
David Sims, of No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit, were joint runners-up
with a notable six wins each from their nine matches.
Also notable was the tie for third between Warrant Officer Dave
Street, of HQ Air Combat Group, the B grade winner at last year’s
ADF Nationals, and Phil Whiteman, of the Tactical Fighter System
Program Office. Each won five games.
The other Air Force players were Sergeant Rolf Just, Corporal
Geoff Rose, Flight Lieutenant Wayne Hopkins and organiser Sergeant
Madonna Doyle.
SGT Doyle said despite the conditions, the competition was a success.
It afforded an opportunity to meet up with fellow squash players
and provided an ideal lead-up to the ADF Squash Nationals, which
will be held at Williamtown in July.
