Jonah Barrington Hailed In Lifetime Achievement Award At World Squash Awards

Jonah Barrington, the English-born Irishman credited with inspiring the squash boom in the UK in the late sixties and early seventies, was honoured with a special Lifetime Achievement award at the World Squash Awards at the RAC Club in Pall Mall, London, yesterday.

"Jonah changed squash as we know it," said Peter Nicol, the former world number one whose company Eventis Sports Marketing hosted the star-studded Awards dinner for the second year.

"He created the professional game, and changed the way people thought about squash. Jonah became a household name - he was an exceptional player," added Nicol as he presented the award to the six-times British Open champion.

"Jonah single-handedly raised the profile of Squash in the country and was responsible for an England national junior system which produced six world top ten players," said Englishman Peter Marshall, a former world number two, in a separate citation.

Barrington, who attended the Awards dinner with his son Joey Barrington, now ranked 25 in the world, was delighted to receive the award from fellow players. "Squash is a beautiful sport, and it has been a privilege to have been involved," said the 65-year-old squash legend.

Amr Shabana, the world number one from Egypt who secured his fifth PSA Tour title of the year at the Saudi International earlier this week, won the PSA Male Player of the Year award, while Nicol David, the world number one from Malaysia who clinched her second successive Women's World Open crown in Belfast last month, won the WISPA Female Player of the Year award.

Cairo-based Shabana, described by PSA President Mark Chaloner as "the most relaxed and athletic player on the Tour", was unable to be at the event as a result of fog-bound Heathrow airport in London. "I'm devastated not to be able to be able to be there in person to collect my award," said Shabana in a message read out by fellow Egyptian international Wael El Hindi.

Nicol David also regretted not being to able to attend the gala dinner. "It is awesome to be recognised in this way by my fellow players," said the 23-year-old from Penang in a message conveyed by WISPA Chief Executive Andrew Shelley.

There was further Egyptian success when Ramy Ashour received the PSA Young Male Player of the Year award. The 19-year-old from Cairo, a record two-times winner of the World Junior title, has made massive strides up the PSA world rankings, reaching seven this month after starting the year at No38!

South Africa's Tenille Swartz won the WISPA Young Female Player of the Year award. The 19-year-old from Parys only played her first WISPA World Tour event in October, then won the second when she clinched the Meersquash Open title in the Netherlands in November. At the beginning of this month, Tenille leapt from 134 to 57 in the WISPA world rankings.

The WISPA Most Improved Female Player of the Year award was won by Nicolette Fernandes, the first and only professional squash player ever to come out of Guyana. Since basing herself in the UK, the 23-year-old's squash career has blossomed. Runner-up in her first Panamerican Championship in September, Nicolette went on to reach the second round of the World Open last month as a qualifier.

"When I first took up squash back in my home country Guyana, I never dreamed that one day I would be standing in front of such a distinguished audience receiving an award like this," said the new Caribbean star.

Event co-host Peter Nicol was also honoured with a special England Squash award. Presented jointly by England Squash President Jackie Robinson and National Coach David Pearson, the award acknowledged the distinguished career of the 33-year-old Scottish-born Londoner who has won four Commonwealth Games gold medals, led England to World Team Championships success, was world No1 for 60 months, and maintained an unbroken presence in the world's top ten rankings from May 1994 until he retired in October this year!

"I don't normally get emotional, but I'm close to tears," admitted Nicol as he received his surprise award. "I love squash - and I still do, even though I've retired."