Rachel Howard - Ranked Number 2!

Ashaway's Rachel Howard is now England's No. 2 ranked ladies singles player! After 2 seasons battling against injuries and working hard to regain match fitness Rachel is now well and truly back on form and we at Ashaway are very proud to have her on our player team.

For more information on the national rankings: Click here to see the badminton England rankings

Tom Pashley Wins First PSA Title

Black Knight and Ashaway sponsored player Tom Pashley claimed his maiden title on the Professional Squash Association (PSA) World Tour in Peru by winning the $6,000 'Tour De Las Americas' Regatas Squash Open without dropping a game.

The fourth seed from Brighton in Sussex claimed his breakthrough success at Club Regatas in Lima by beating the event's top two seeds.

It was in the semi-finals that 22-year-old Pashley, ranked 118 in the world, despatched top-seeded Mexican Jorge Isaac Baltazar Ferreira 11-8, 11-8, 11-4 in 45 minutes.

In the final, the left-hander faced second seed Esteban Casarino - and battled for 50 minutes to overcome the experienced 34-year-old from Paraguay 11-6, 11-8, 11-9.

Tom Pashley uses the Black Knight ION Storm squash racket. To buy the Black Knight ION storm squash racket online, visit: www.isquashstore.com/BlackKnight

Tour De Las Americas Regatas Open, Lima, Peru
Final:
[4] Tom Pashley (ENG) bt [2] Esteban Casarino (PAR) 11-6, 11-8, 11-9 (50m)

Semi-Finals:
[2] Esteban Casarino (PAR) bt [3] Erik Tepos Valtierra (MEX) 10-12, 11-5, 8-11, 11-3, 16-14 (86m)
[4] Tom Pashley (ENG) bt [1] Jorge Isaac Baltazar Ferreira (MEX) 11-8, 11-8, 11-4 (45m)

Quarter-Finals:
[2] Esteban Casarino (PAR) bt [Q] Andres Duany (PER) 7-11, 11-9, 11-9, 7-11, 11-6 (69m)
[3] Erik Tepos Valtierra (MEX) bt [Q] Rodrigo Torres (COL) 11-9, 1-1 ret. (20m)
[4] Tom Pashley (ENG) bt [7] Juan Pablo Roude (ARG) 11-3, 11-8, 11-7 (30m)
[1] Jorge Isaac Baltazar Ferreira (MEX) bt [Q] Jose Manuel Elias (PER) 11-9, 11-13, 11-2, 11-7 (37m)

1st Round:
[2] Esteban Casarino (PAR) bt Armando Olguin (MEX) 11-2, 11-1, 11-5 (20m)
[Q] Andres Duany (PER) bt [5] Gonzalo Miranda (ARG) 12-10, 12-10, 4-11, 11-5 (53m)
[3] Erik Tepos Valtierra (MEX) bt [Q] Gonzalo Seminario (PER) 11-7, 11-2, 11-7 (45m)
[Q] Rodrigo Torres (COL) bt [6] Tiago Cabral (BRA) 11-4, 12-10, 11-5 (14m)
[7] Juan Pablo Roude (ARG) bt Mauricio Dasso (PER) 6-11, 11-4, 12-10, 11-8 (45m)
[4] Tom Pashley (ENG) bt Luke Forster (AUS) 11-7, 11-7, 11-7 (40m)
[Q] Jose Manuel Elias (PER) bt [8] Nahuel Hernan Ramos (ARG) 14-16, 12-10, 11-5, 11-4 (45m)
[1] Jorge Isaac Baltazar Ferreira (MEX) bt Alfredo Avila (MEX) 11-5, 11-8, 11-5 (34m)

Published courtesy of www.isquashstore.com

2011 Ashaway Badminton Brochure

Click on the catalogue below to view a our virtual brochure:

Ashaway Confirmed As ROWE British Grand Prix Squash Championships Official String

Event promoters internationalSPORTgroup have announced Ashaway as the Official String Partner of the ROWE British Grand Prix Squash Championships to be staged in Manchester, England from the 15th to 20th September.

Ashaway is the world’s largest and oldest racket string manufacturer and producers of performance string for many of the world’s leading players including former World No.1 and two time World Champion David Palmer.

Paul Smith, Partner at Goode Sport, UK distributors for Ashaway said: “We are proud to be associated with the most prestigious tournament in the UK this year. The event offers us the perfect opportunity to launch UltraNick 18® as used by England’s World No.9, Daryl Selby and with the championships being televised and well covered by the media it offers maximum exposure to Ashaway strings which will be on show in many of the worlds top players rackets.”

Paul Walters of internationalSPORTgroup added: "The ROWE British Grand Prix – Manchester 2010 promises to be one of the most exciting and eagerly contested events on the PSA World Tour and we are very grateful for the support of Goode Sport, who as well as stringing rackets for all players competing in the championships, will also offer spectators exclusive Ashaway string promotions to add to their overall event experience.”

The ROWE British Grand Prix – Manchester 2010, one of only ten Professional Squash Association (PSA) Super Series events in 2010, and the only PSA Super Series ranking event to be staged in the UK this year, will include a star-studded field led by newly crowned World No.1 Nick Matthew of England.

Tickets for the ROWE British Grand Prix – Manchester 2010 can now be booked online at www.isportgroup.com/ticketing or by telephone on 0844 870 0000. For further information visit www.isportgroup.com or email info@isportgroup.com

Ashaway Sign Daryl Selby

Ashaway Racket Strings has announced the signing of rising squash pro Daryl Selby to a three-year sponsorship agreement. While the terms of the agreement were not disclosed, Selby, who is currently ranked #9 by PSA, has long played with Ashaway's PowerNick® 18 and recently switched to Ashaway's new Zyex-based UltraNick® 18.

"We're delighted to have a rising young star like Daryl join the Ashaway team," said Steve Crandall, Ashaway Vice President of Marketing. "Daryl exemplifies the values we like to see in top players: dedicated, hard-working, family-oriented. Daryl is the kind of guy you just want to see win. It also helps that he's been playing with Ashaway string for years," Crandall added.

Selby joined the PSA Tour in 2004 and rose steadily through the ranks until last year when a string of victories propelled him from 33 into the top ten. Described as "a worker" and known for his grit and determination, Selby ascribes his breakthrough rise to, "a new-found confidence in my own game; a settled home life with my fiancée; [and] having my family around me."

"It is a pleasure for me to sign with Ashaway," Selby said. "I have been using the strings for a long time and they are in my opinion without doubt the best strings in squash." A longtime PowerNick user, Selby recently switched to Ashaway's newly introduced UltraNick 18, one of a new line of strings utilizing Zyex® multifilament core technology.

"The PowerNick is a great string that feels more solid and generates slightly more power, in my opinion," he said, but, "the UltraNick has just added a touch more feel to my front court game." And while he said he breaks more of the new strings, "the UltraNick feels slightly softer, and I can get a bit more slice and cut on the ball." But, he added, "I honestly don't mind
playing with either."

And Ashaway, said Crandall, hopes Daryl Selby continues to play with Ashaway for a long time. "We think Daryl has really hit his stride as a pro. We expect to see great things from him in the coming years and we're happy to help him along."

Ashaway Racket Strings are made by Ashaway Line & Twine Mfg. Co., the only U.S. manufacturer of string for squash, tennis, racquetball, and badminton. Operated by the Crandall family since 1824, Ashaway has been making racquet strings since 1949, and is responsible for several important technical innovations. Ashaway is the Official String of USA Racquetball and the Women's International Squash Players Association. Ashaway Line & Twine Mfg. Co. also makes braided products for medical and industrial applications.

Ashaway Edgbaston Priory Adult Graded Tournament 2010

On 26th and 27th June, Edgbaston Priory Club hosted its second Adult Graded Squash Tournament, supported by Black Knight Squash and Ashaway Racket Strings. Players travelled from all over Great Britain to take part in the event which proved to be a huge success. The players competed in mixed events from intermediate club standard right up to PSA World Professionals. This year’s top seed in an extremely strong A Event draw was Chris Ryder, world number 36.

All players, played in extreme heat due to the weather, but had some great matches which made for an enjoyable weekend.

All finals were competitive and we saw some great squash, especially in grade A event where world top 40 player Chris Ryder took on British U23 champion Joel Hinds.

Both Joel and Chris are based at EPC full time and know each other very well, they knew, especially in the heat, that it was going to be a tough final! Joel went 1-0 down, but battled back and came through with a 3-1 victory, playing at a high intensity.

Pictured – Joel Hinds, Grade A Winner and Chris Ryder, Grade A runner up

Joel and Chris both use Ashaway PowerNick 18.

Joel quotes: "Really pleased to win this weekend, especially being based here now and as the draw was very strong for a graded event!"

"Thanks to the Priory for staging the tournament which was enjoyed by all"

The event was run by EPC's Head Coach, Mike Edwards. Many thanks to Mike for running a fantastic event.

Congratualtions this year champion, Joel Hinds and the rest of the players who took part. We look forward to another very strong entry next year.

JOE MORGAN AND JAMES PHILLIPS SELECTED FOR THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES

Joe Morgan and James Phillips have been selected to represent Wales at the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Dehli 3rd - 14th October.

Joe (full name Jonathan) and James have been busy over the last few months ensuring that they won enough points to meet the entry criteria. Joe and James are currently ranked at 52 in the world and are the current Welsh National and Croation Open champions.

More : http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/badminton/8816516.stm

RICHARD WRIGLEY ENDS THE SEASON IN STYLE

Richard Wrigley won the Badminton England Satellite Circuit Final this weekend in Milton Keynes. He defeated Josh Green 22-20, 21-19 in the final. This win followed up from Wrigley's win at the Berkshire Open 2 weeks prior, where he beat Toby Penty, Jack Molyeneux and Josh Green on the way to clinch the title and rounded off Richards turbulent season on a high.

Richard is a player who has struggled with injuries, however, he has just wrapped up this 2009/10 season very nicely and he now feels he is playing as well as he has ever done and is currently injury free. Richard is now looking forward to the European University Championships on 14th June. We wish him good luck and hope that he can start the 2010/11 season in the same manner he has ended this one.

NICK MATTHEW WINS ISS CANARY WHARF CLASSIC

Nick Matthew continues his amazing season with a win at the pretegious Canary Wharf Classic.
Nick uses Powernick 18 Silver in his racket. Surely it can't be long before Nick becomes World Number 1.

Read more from our marketing partner isportgroup:
http://isportgroup.com/Home/iSPORTgroup-news/2010/Nick-Matthew-Wins-ISS-Canary-Wharf-Classic-(1).aspx

FREE MAGAZINE:
Want to recieve International Squash Magazine or International Badminton Magazine direct to your door Free of Charge?
Sign up here: http://www.isportgroup.com/Home/iSPORTmedia/iSPORTmedia/Magazine-Registration.aspx

JOE AND JAMES, WELSH NATIONAL CHAMPIONS .... THEY CAN'T STOP WINNING!

Congratulations to Welsh National Champions, Men's Doubles - Joe Morgan and James Phillips

Joe and James beat the defending champions in the final 22-20, 15-21, 21-16
Joe Morgan was also Runner Up with Ashaway Kerry Ann Sheppard in the Mixed. This is a fantastic result for the Ashaway Duo.
Hot on the heels of their national victory Joe and James have just returned from winning the Croatian Open (international EBU event) and have been representing Wales in the Thomas Cup where they won all their matches and were selected represent Wales at 1st men's doubles vs. Ukraine, France and Portugal.
Joe and James are currently ranked 49 in the world rankings and rising. They are very likely to be representing Wales in this years commonwealth games.
Joe and James both use ZyMax 67 at 30lbs.

We are very proud of them, Well done Joe and James.

JAMIE NEIL SCOTTISH NATIONAL CHAMPION!

Jamie Neil is the newly crowned Men's doubles Scottish National Champion.
A packed crowd at Bell's Sports Centre witnessed a thrilling 12-21, 21-8, 21-18 final in which Jamie and his partner defeated the defending champions who were looking to claim their 3rd title in 3 years.

An interesting sub plot is that Jamie does not have funding from Badminton Scotland and has not been able to train with the Scottish national team for this reason. Jamie is a very aproachable and well liked chap, coaching and playing badminton are his passion and he is an excellent ambassador for Ashaway. We are literally thrilled for him at his achievement .... as if this wearn't enough the following weekend Jamie went on to beat fellow Ashaway players David Forbes and Stewart Kerr in the Glasgow Open Final - superb stuff. Congratulations Jamie!

UltraNick - Available February

Attention squash players, UltraNick will be the UK next month!

UltraNick still offers a fine, powerful, lightweight and durable string, just like PowerNick, but it also offers a soft feel.

This is possible due to recent advances that have produced finer Zyex filaments in the string core. According to Ashaway's Steve Crandall, the company has begun using these to produce new multifilament core packages with increased linear density and more cross-sectional strength. The results, he said, are thinner, stronger, lighter-weight UltraNick strings which provide softer feel, more power, and improved ball control, yet still offer the well-known Zyex playing characteristics and tension holding properties.

Click here to learn more about UltraNick