#WizzAirBudapestHalfMarathon and 10K

The Shoulder family are recently back from a long weekend visit to Budapest in Hungary. The primary reason for going was to run in a half marathon and 10K sponsored by Wizz Air - a Hungarian airline. The run is a big one taking place along the Budapest banks of the River Danube. 

Before I write up about the run and the personal stuff I will just quickly add some facts about Hungary that I only researched because of our visit. It is guide book stuff only but I enjoyed reading it. Some bullet points in no particular order :-

• Hungary is a landlocked country in Central Europe.
• Its population in just under 10 million, 
• The UK size is 94000 sq miles  Hungary is 36000 sq miles. 
• The highest point in Hungary is 3327 ft so over a 1000 feet lower than Ben Nevis.
• Hungary has borders with 7 different countries (including Ukraine).
• We ran along the River Danube - the second longest river in Europe after the Volga. It rises in the Black Forest mountains of western Germany and flows for some 1,770 miles (2,850 km) to its mouth on the Black Sea. Along its course it passes through 10 countries: Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, and Ukraine. The River Thames is 215 miles long.
• Until 1989 Hungary was a Russian satellite country and therefore a communist country. After the break up of the USSR Hungary declared itself an independent democratic republic adopting the capitalist system.
• The transition (as in many similar states) from communism to capitalism has proved a rocky road with many financial problems and upheavals.
• Hungary joined the EU in 2004 but has not adopted the Euro.
• Currently relations between the EU and Hungary are strained. Their Prime-minister Victor Orban has been in charge since 2010. He is considered an illiberal and one big issue is he is very outspoken regarding the migrant issue. He has put up physical border barriers and Hungary will not accept migrants arguing cultures cannot mix successfully. This is at odds with EU policy.
• Hungary now seems to be on a positive path in terms of economy. Real wages are increasing. Their biggest problem still remains the size of its national debt. Hungary is building a name for itself as a  hotbed - a centre for modern technologies including AI. Only 3% of its people are now working in agriculture. 

I boringly transgress. Back to the Shoulder family visit to Budapest.

One thing to explain as far as I can - how it came about !? My son James is a keen member of the excellent Isle of Wight Road Runners Club. They decided over a year ago to organise a Club trip to Budapest centred on running the Wizz Budapest Half Marathon. James immediately put his name down.

Subsequently my son George and his partner Laura decided it looked like a good run to do and a place to visit. In the end as often happens the rest of the fam piled in - Victoria Richard and myself. ( after all it was a year away - so plenty of time to train !).

So we ended up with a slightly weird - confusing - set up ie James flew with us to Budapest but he was with his running club ( and excited about that ) and not with us - although we inevitably crossed paths - ha!

Only Rich had been to Budapest before. It has a strong reputation as somewhere ideal for a long weekend break and of course the run was our centerpiece. Our family on tour works so well. On this occasion Rich took the navigation lead (and did a great job sorting transport, finding restaurants, bars, the sights and the bus stops ! It made everything so easy for us. No stresses whatsoever and we really appreciated his efforts. George had sorted a central apartment for us via AirB&B. It was great for us and so much fun sharing together rather being in hotel rooms. Again thank you George. Ps Public transport is really excellent and tremendous value. 

We arrived Friday evening - went to dinner in a really nice restaurant specialising in traditional Hungarian food. Goulash themes. We all really enjoyed the range and as usual were adventurous and tried everything possible. One reoccurring feature - Budapest is a large international and capital city - but it offered tremendous value for money.

On Saturday morning we wandered down to the expo to collect our race numbers etc. Of course it was not on the scale of say a London Marathon - but it was a big event including incorporating the Hungarian national championships. The atmosphere was international and fun. We were on banks of the famous River Danube in the centre of Europe. Amazing.

Later we walked along the Danube (where we would run tomorrow) and then took a scenic tram to the Hungarian Parliament area. Rich as I have said had been to Budapest before and was very keen for us to see the Parliament building which he described as the prettiest building he had ever seen. It the daytime it is special - a bit like a smaller and well proportioned version of our Houses of Parliament. We were later to see it lit up at night. It truly was a magnificent sight.

A full and hugely enjoyable day was rounded off by interviews about our expectations for the race the next day - a river trip (with an excellent commentary regarding the landmark buildings we were passing) and dinner al fresco. Budapest in the sun was a great place to be.

Early Sunday morning. Run day. It is blistering hot. Forecast to be 31 degrees C at lunchtime. The half is off at 9 am.

It is hard to describe the atmosphere other than to say it is carnival - special - but also tainted with anticipation - with nerves. Several thousand runners and their families milling around. My over riding feeling is how amazing it is to be there with my family.

A very quick summary :-

James is with his running club but we all meet up. His attitude is he doesn't really care about times because he is a social runner with emphasis on the "social".. He knows he can do a half because he has done 8 marathons. He will be fine.

My daughter Victoria is a special woman. She has run several halfs before but nothing for a while. She has a very busy life - a mother of 2 energetic girls - my darling grandaughters (being looked after by husband Phil). They are fully tuned in tuned in and watch Vic's chip progressing around the course on Strava (or something) from home. Vic is also a senior pain nurse and works very hard. She has ulcerated colitis and over the last few months has had a flare up and has had to use steroids. Despite that she has been determined to train for the run and in her own way is probably as well prepared as any of us which is so admirable. She has had to do her training runs very early in the morning before the family are up. Amazing. She says she simply wants to run as well as she can and finish well. I know she will. 

Laura is George's partner. Laura is a runner. Her half marathon PB is around 1.20. However Laura has been plagued with injury which has stopped her running properly for over 2 years. Finally she seems to have shaken it off and has some recent good training behind her. This run is massive for her. It has been far from easy. Laura and George tease each other over who is going to be faster but George really wants Laura to do well. We all really do. 

Young Rich is a good runner but a fun runner really. He also has my build and also an exceptionally busy life. His preparation has been a bit disrupted recently - not least because he has been a Registrar since the beginning of August. He was close to 1.30 in March of this year and while he is hopeful of running well he is not as well prepared as planned. One of his objectives is to try and run the 2nd half faster that the first because he has been guilty of going to fast at the start.

George. George always makes me a little worried - ha! George is a squash player - he plays at a high level. Squash requires stamina and fitness of course - but what it also needs is speed off the mark - explosion. That is very different from what you need to be a distance runner. George is a very good runner. A number of years ago now he trained properly for the Paris Marathon. He ran it in 2.57 but his body shape changed in the process. George is single minded. Despite a lack of proper training for this event because of his squash he is likely to run it as if he has done the training !

And then there is me. An occasional jogger - ha! When we talked about doing this run - over a year ago now I had in mind preparing properly. However other stuff has got in the way and training properly including getting some weight off to make it easier just hasn't happened. I am annoyed with myself now. Frustrated by my weakness - ha ! My choice now is to do the 10K or pull out. Why pull out - because at my age it is possibly more sensible - safer - ha! But I have done a few 4 milers. I can get around. Pulling out was never a realistic option.

The music is great as the half marathon runners line up. A huge field. 

To cut a long story short. 

Laura    1.30.42

George  1.33.44

Rich      1.42.36

Vic        2.16.38

James    2.19.44

To be honest it brings tears to my eyes just writing that. It belies so much. The effort that went in on such a hot day. The emotion involved. How proud I am of everyone. (actually of every single runner who took it on  - the IOW Road Runners - but particularly our family of course). Everyone is safe.

Laura's time speaks for itself. She finished in style. 5th in her age category. She was uninjured. She is buzzing. It it so great to see. Outstanding. George has run an amazing time. He is drained. He said it was a mental battle from the start. So brave and dogged. What a couple they are. Rich found it very hard too but he has run well. He acknowledges his preparation was not up to what he was trying to achieve but Rich is tough. Well done champ. And then Vic comes in. I am overcome. She is in great shape. All she has been through. She is buzzing and happy. Wonderful. I just want to hug her. Actually Jimbo finishes before Vic but his chip time was slower. He doesn't worry too much about his time which is great. He finishes well with his cap typically facing backwards ! A great sight. Go Jimbo.

Eventually it turns to me to do my 10k. I know what my fam are thinking. You don't have to do it dad - but  they don't really want to say it. Lots of hugs. I line up. The music is great - very uplifting. What a place to be. I am going to plod around - going to keep going and get around - running by the River Danube in the centre of a famous city with a great history ! Amazing. A memory all ready. My family have done great - all I have to do is finish in one piece. I am looking forward to the challenge and what it can offer later.

It is tough from the start. Over 30 degrees. Not a breath of wind. No air. The course is flat running along the river embankment. You always think you want a flat straight course but in actual fact it is harder - no changes - you can see a mile ahead. The further you run up one side the further you have to run back the other ! But it is the heat. Any respite - just a few yards in the shadow is worth it. The two voices in your head. "come on - why are you putting yourself through this - what is the point - you have nothing to prove - it would be safer - it would be sensible to stop - it is too hard - you are damaging your precious knees". The other voice "come on - don't be a chicken - you know you will have a crap night if you give up - a great night if you don't. Thousands of others are doing it. Just fucking keep plodding - do not be a piss poor wimp just because it is hard !" I just kept going - arms pumping faster than my feet are moving. 

The run is along the great River Danube - the history - the amazing buildings - the beautiful bridges. It doesn't help. Who cares. All I am seeing is a metre in front - I could be anywhere - ha! Thank goodness for the water stations - I drink but what I do get is wet in the spray hoses the firemen have set up. I poor cups of water down my back. I scoop up water from the barrels in my cap and straight over my head. Such a relief. It keeps me going without a doubt.

Eventually I cross the final bridge. Not far now to the finish line - but I have it wrong - it seems like another half mile. I hear my family cheer and encourage. The tannoy calls my name. I have no energy. I get over the line. I stop breathing hard too quickly. I feel dizzy. I fill my lungs with air again. Tears well up. Thank goodness it is over. I am relieved. I am very happy.

As I make my way out of the finish tunnel I get my medal. It is surprisingly meaningful to wear it. My fam are there. All smiles. All hugs. Wonderful emotion. It is all worth it for everyone for sure. My time was seconds over 1hr 20. Very slow for a proper runner - ha! ( We had a real laugh in the Ruin bar later (see below). Laura was looking at the online results. She said Dave - amazing - you were 4th in your age category. I burst out laughing - some mock cheering. We were a little booze affected by then - ha! I said so I came 4th in my age category - but there were only 3 runners !)  

Eventually we make our way back. We are on a full tram with other runners. So emotional. Respect to everyone. They did it. A wonderful beer beckons. And a shower and some lovely food al fresco follows. Rich has arranged for us to go to the largest and oldest spa in Budapest. It is truly an amazing place. We spend over an hour in the hot natural spring fed waters. It could have not have been more perfect after the run. Inspired Rich. Great planning. What an afternoon in the hot sun.

Rich has done his home work again. We are booked into a renowned Hungarian restaurant - a perfect outdoor table - a warm evening - wonderful company - totally sated. The run makes it all so much more special. Our conversation was dominated by reflecting on our experiences. Joyous.

We are tired yes but the plan is to meet up with the running club in a "ruin bar". A ruin bar is a Budapest phenomenon. Budapest has many run down old buildings - legacy of the communist block after the war. The old buildings and courtyards have been used to create "pop up" bars - utilising the space without spending vast amounts of money on rebuilding (apart from making safe etc) Consequently they can be very atmospheric and are very popular across the board. We found our way to Szimpla Kert - a massive place. It was very enjoyable. Unique. 

So that was Budapest. A hugely successful and meaningful weekend for the family. I am so totally proud of them all - the people that they are as individuals and as a collective. There is so much love and respect and support. A brilliant memory.

Few things can match the deep satisfaction and emotion that can come from being outside your comfort zone for a while and coming through it. It is addictive. It is special. In many ways it is what life is about. Certainly it is were self esteem is earned and developed.

Here are some mob photos in random order :-

Before

After

Great to see Vic finish so well

Dad joins the finishers

Believe it or not this is the Spa building

I am shattered.

I can still walk. Vic looking after me.

The Spa

Inside a Ruin

The Royal Palace

The beautiful Parliament building

Outside the parliament during the day

On an evening Danube cruise

A poignant sculpture representing Jews 

forced to remove their valuable shoes before being pushed into the Danube to drown by Fascists in 1944.

Outside the Hungarian Parliament

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

 

#SourceoftheRiverThames - part of The Thames Path

It is late September. I am just back from a couple of days walking on the Thames Path (sort of) with my friend Jo.

The Thames Path is a designated route that follows the River Thames - the second longest river in the UK and of course our most iconic river. It starts at a point specified as "The Source of the River Thames" which is near the village of Kemble in the Cotswolds - the county of Gloucestershire. It then flows roughly east until it runs into the sea on the other side of London - a journey of over 200 miles.

Our plan is to start at the source - walk the 12 miles to Cricklade for an overnight stop and then a similar distance the next day to Lechlade. Our plan is simple. I drive up to Salisbury to meet Jo and we drive in convoy to Lechlade. We park up Jo's car in Lechlade (to be available at the finish) and I drive us on to the nearest practical parking point for the source start which turns out to be Kemble Railway Station. This is the plan maybe made a couple of weeks earlier ! Alas the rain that came.

There has been a lot of rain and a lot of flooding. Jo raised the issue with me a few days before we were due to go. A check revealed there was no flooding in the area and I had a sort of summit fever - I wanted to do what we said we were going to do - ha! Logically I thought the upper Thames was likely to have less chance of flooding than lower down the river (and we were not going there !)

The plan goes well and we get to "the source of the River Thames" quite easily apart from a skirmish with a field of sweetcorn - ha! The source made us laugh. It was rather an unassuming place - marked by a stone and a few rocks surrounding a dry spring. It was not at the highest point in the surrounding land so we were not totally convinced - but I think it is where water can first emerge from the ground. On this day there was no spring, no water and no actual evidence of a river. It was also sunny. Walking back across the fields and the road however it is not long before a small stream emerges. It was a good place to be - quiet, rural and scenic - although surprisingly flat. The River Thames is definitely not formed on a mountain and the valley is not pronounced.

Anyway we make quite good and easy progress - mainly on grass tracks. There are puddles and some surface water - but nothing our hiking boots cannot cope with. We peel off layers - it is warm. The River Thames is often less than a stream and we quite often lose it but the walking is pleasant.

However as the day progresses we come across more puddles on the footpath and eventually we come across a stretch of flooded path. We have a laugh as I piggy back Jo across in order that only one of us gets water in their boots ! We are not particularly daunted but the weather while mild deteriorates to steady rain. Increasingly we come across flooded paths and in the end Jo has to dip her feet in too (otherwise I would be carrying her to Cricklade !)

To cut a long story short we get very wet. There is some need for care when dealing with flooding - falling down a hole or perhaps stepping into the river - but it was never that bad. We did however get to thigh height at one point - thankfully as we were getting to Cricklade.

We stayed at The Vale Hotel on the High Street and really enjoyed the place. It offered everything we wanted - to dry out - a good hot shower - real ale and excellent food (Indian and Kenyan themed). We laugh over the day. We are pleased with ourselves. It was good to be out there but admittedly we saw no one else doing it - ha!

We had a fun full English at C & R Greengrocers in the High Street in the morning. The place is hard to describe - like going back in time to the 1960's. The locals were very friendly but very local. For instance - several had lived there all their lives but had never walked on the Thames Path ! There was some discussion about the good sense of walking to Lechlade given the rain but they didn't really know whether it would be flooded or not but why would you want to do it anyway ?!

We set out - not raining - the Thames is more evident - wider - we walk maybe 2 miles along it. Nice rural scenery. However the path becomes often just a track across a field - flat. It is now raining. The flooding is increasingly extensive. We walk on - picking our way across to avoid the worst - but we come to what looks like a lake - where is the river? Lets say we get through - whats next - we still have 8 miles or more to go. Eventually and reluctantly we conclude it would be foolhardy to continue on the Thames Path. We retrace our tracks and find our way to tarmac. We walk in the general direction to Lechlade but the road is surprisingly busy and the rain is heavy - not pleasant and actually not that safe. Eventually we get to a pub at Castle Eaton. The Thames there has definitely burst its banks and we are told the river is higher than they can ever remember. Our only realistic option is to road walk and that is longer and it is busy. I am not keen to proceed and Jo against her natural inclination agrees. We get an expensive taxi to Lechlade to pick up Jo's car. We can see from the ride that water is everywhere and we reconcile our decision as a good one.

And then some real nonsense. Unbelievable. I cannot find my car key !! We triple unpack and repack. I cannot understand it. We drive to our hotel in Cricklade and the few places we stopped. No sign. What an absolute bummer. The outcome - Jo drives me to Portsmouth before returning home to Salisbury. I buy a return Cat ticket - get my spare key - and next morning a long 3 change rail journey back to Kemble to pick up my car ! Another day gone and about £70 worse off - ha ha! You are never too old to learn a lesson !

We had a lot of fun. Not necessarily the best judged decision given the weather - but we got out there. We are really glad we did it and we have both been to the "Source of the River Thames ! Have you - ha ha!? 

The "source" of the River Thames near Kemble, Gloucestershire.

Pretty sure this is where I lost my car key - but there was running flood water underneath and no sign on a return look.

 

#SouthamptonBoatShow a personal take

My brother Mike and I had a day visit to the Southampton Boat Show yesterday. The SBS is an annual event - we have both been before over the years but neither of us have been for some time. We were not a dream visitor for the show because neither of us had any intention of buying a boat - ha! However our intention was to have a good look around to see what was on offer both in terms of boats and particularly in our case - in terms of equipment for sailing.

The layout was much as I remembered it and the atmosphere was obviously the boating vibe you would expect - it was a very enjoyable day out.

Essentially the show is divided into two parts - the boats tied up alongside the pontoons (marina) and the onshore stuff.

The SBS covers all aspects of boating. The marina is where you go to inspect the boats on offer and literally there are millions of pounds worth tied up against the pontoons for people to view - and of course order - if the sales teams are lucky.

From what I can gather all aspects of boat sales are in the doldrums a bit across the board. I am not suprised. Boats are so expensive. There was a whole flotilla of £500,000 + ex vat luxury Cats for sale. £250000 doesn't buy anywhere as much as you would expect in boat terms and £100,000 is relative peanuts. Just byway of an incredible example - a 16 ft Orkney Longliner - a small open fishing boat with a decent outboard and a trailer is over £25000 now.

My impression of the marina display was sail boats were under represented which was a shame. There were masses of motor cruisers - the Sunseeker types - the gin palaces - the so called glamour end of boating. No interest for us whatsoever - not my idea of boating. There are also lots of "rib" type boats in all sorts of configurations - black tubes are definitely the in colour. They look menacing which I guess is the point. On a positive note everything was presented well on the pontoons and is an excellent place to view the boats if you are in the market for one.

On the onshore side there is a big offer - but not so much as I remember. We chatted with one chandler and basically she said that on line sales is changing everything as it is in most aspects of retail. Mike was interested in buying some foulies. I am not particularly proud of it but the way to go for us and I think many people now is to view the goods in the shop - even try them on - and then buy them online later to get the price point. This is bound to have an impact on the good business sense of setting up a stall and this is something the SBS and all retailers will have to grapple with going forward.

From a personal point of view I came away with the following thoughts :

It was a good day out.

I have spent a fair bit on refitting my little sailing boat and I have reflected could I have done better for my money. However it is clear after looking around the show that what I have spent is relative peanuts and actually I have achieved good value - fingers crossed!

My final thought is there are so many different types of boats in size, configuration and cost. What to choose ? The answer is clear to me. You have to decide in advance what you want the boat for, how are you going to use it - what do you want out of it. Compromise is needed. That is not easy - needs evolve - needs change. In my case I am not interested in speed. I am not interested in luxury. What I want from sailing is getting away from it all - back to nature - pottering - simplicity. My idea of boating is akin to the joys of camping. There is the old adage - the bigger the boat the bigger the problems! Who wants big problems - ha!

Dreams alive  ! xxxx   

#UK heading for disaster - both economically and socially.

I have just been on my early morning bike ride. Thinking time. Exasperation. Laugh or cry.

I do not have much time so I am going to rattle off this statement of the obvious.

A prime objective for any government is to encourage and motivate its citizens to do the right thing.

In simple terms the right thing is :

Uphold the rule of law.

Almost the first thing the Starmer led new Labour Government did was let prisoners out early.

They also rushed through asylum applications and 95% of illegal immigrant applications were subsequently successful. Illegal migrants have won and the message it sends - come on over !

Work to support self and your family. 

Work must pay. However high taxes are a disincentive to work. What is the point of working hard only to get taxed to the hilt? Also the black market flourishes. People want to be paid in cash. Tax revenues fall.

If the Welfare safety net is too high people can rely on it instead of working. This is exactly what is happening. Not working has become a lifestyle choice. The hardworking increasingly feel they are mugs to be laboring to pay for others to sit around and do nothing. A disincentive to work.

Provide for your old age

Starmers government are now after your hard earned pension pot so they can use what you have earned and saved to give to someone else who hasn't. So what is the point of saving you might ask ? They are going to take it off me. I might as well blow it and have a jolly and live off the state like everyone else. Not a very healthy mindset for a nation.

Pay fair taxes to pay for descent public services and infrastructure.

Rachel Reeves is sat there thinking of every possible thing she can tax you on. At the same time there is a feeling the taxes rises are not being spent on the things that matter to ordinary hard working people. (removing the winter fuel allowance for pensioners is an incredible decision). Billions are being spent on migrants. Our infrastructure is broken because of uncontrolled population growth. The NHS is broken because of increased demand. We can never build enough houses. But it continues. Hard earned taxes are being flittered away. What message does it send to working people ? Why bother ?

In a similar way government need to encourage business, entrepreneurship, research and investment because they provide the jobs and the tax revenues to keep public services going.

The world is a global village. Why set up businesses in the UK if corporate taxes are high - red tape is out of control - employee and union power is increasing. Where is the incentive to do business in the UK ?

Why would a budding entrepreneur start a business - put everything on the line - only to be taxed to the hilt. 

Increasingly they won't. The socialist government are not focused on creating wealth - all they are focused on is spending it.

As far as I can see the Starmer government is doing the exact opposite of what needs to be done. They are demotivating people to be good citizens, to pay fair taxes, to work hard for the future of self and family - to not be a burden on the state. They are not going to increase business activity - their policies are in effect anti business. They is no chance of growth in GDP in real terms and particularly no chance of per capita growth. The UK is heading for the rocks. There will be increasing unemployment and business failures. The welfare state bill will continue to grow and we will have damaging inflation as the UK is perceived as a basket case and a risk to investors. It has happened before and that is sadly where it is heading again.

I won't recount the ant and grasshopper fable here - look it up - but the socialist outcome is the grasshopper do not learn from the industrious ants because the socialist government takes it off the ants to give to give to the lazy grasshoppers. In the end the ants decide there is no point - become like the grasshoppers - and the outcome is they all starve in the next winter.

 

 

#BritishSquashOpen2024

I had the good fortune to see a full days play involving the last 32 in the men's and woman's British Squash Open with sons Richard and George - courtesy of George. We saw 4 matches in the afternoon and 4 in the evening. Earlier rounds were played elsewhere but the final rounds were played out on the single glass court set up on the stage of  The Birmingham Repertory Theatre - an absolutely brilliant venue. We were in row E and so close to the action. 

We are a squash playing family - George plays for the Isle of Wight in the Hampshire Premier league and Rich plays in Oxford. As such we are very interested in the game. If you don't know - the British Open in squash is as Wimbledon is in the tennis world. The British Open is the oldest - most regarded - most prestigious squash tournament in the world (apart from perhaps the World Championship).

Squash is now a world wide game and at last has achieved Olympic status and will be included in the 2028 Los Angeles games. It is a travesty it has not been included before - even more galling when you see some sports that have been included.

To be objective it is necessary to admit that to the lay man squash is probably not the most enthralling watch. However when you know the game it can be a brilliant watch. Squash has been described as a gladiatorial game. It has been described as chess with rackets. It is widely acknowledged that top squash players are some of the most fit sports competitors. When you watch anyone perform in any sport at world class level it is always amazing the standard they are operating at. To see the world's best squash players perform and to be so close to the action was tremendous for us.

The format for our day at the British Open was to alternate between mens matches and womens matches. Lets be honest - in some sports the womens matches are less of a watch than the equivalent mens. That is not the same in squash - because squash is not a game that requires brute strength. Rackets are light - the ball is light - to hit it hard you need timing and technique. The women we watched are technically brilliant and admirable competitors. 

A quick word about the Egyptians. When I was younger some of the greatest squash names were Pakistani. Hashim who made the original break through - and his Khan family who then dominated - not least the great Jahangir Khan who was unbeaten for 5 years. Egypt produced some great players - famous for their open roofed courts - but in the last 20 years squash development in Egypt has been incredible. Squash is a national obsession - it is Egypts national sport. They have produced many champions and their women particularly are fantastic. Thousands of kids play - their strength in depth is unrivaled. I have to mention this. Years ago I went to Sharm on an all inclusive. Sat at the bar by the pool the subject of squash came up with the barman. That was it. He insisted I came to his club to play. 7 glassbacks in a row. I was a bit of a celeb - or at least a focus of interests for the kids etc. I ended playing the barman and also an Italian bloke roped in in a similar way. I was more experienced - and despite the fact I had been indulging in the all inclusive for a few days - I did not let my country down - ha!

One final mention - Mostafa Asal. He is a young Egyptian. Unusually for a top squash player he is built like a rugby 8. What a talent he is. You don't have to be big to hit a squash ball hard - but he can really crack it. What is amazing though is his deft touch and angles. He has got into disciplinary trouble in the past for some of his blocking tactics - but with the help of the great James Willstrop he is cleaning up his act. He was a privilege to watch. Something else. 

Big shout for the ladies too. The brilliant Nor El Sherbini - Nouran Gohar - El Hammamy - (all Egyptians ) and also the British No 1 - the feisty super fit Gina Kennedy. A tremendous watch.

It was a very enjoyable day. Thank you George.  

Rich, George and myself outside the venue

Nouran Gohar. What a player. Generates so much power but unlike most is deadly accurate too.

we were very close to the action. Who would be a ref !!

Mostafa Asal. Set to dominate. He won the tournament.

They are trying hard to jazz up the squash offer. Lights and music. Great stuff.