Squash queen for training in England
By Michael DaSilva
Stabroek News
May 2, 2002
National ladies squash 'Queen' and junior Caribbean champion, Nicolette Fernan-des will benefit from a one-month training stint with world class coach Neil Harvey, in preparation for the Commonwealth Games.
Fernandes returned from England recently after a short training stint with Harvey, who coached world number one men's player, Peter Nicol.
According to Fernandes' brother Robert, Fernandes will return to England next month for a one month specialise training stint before the Games, billed for Manchester, England in July.
Nicolette, Luke Fraser and Regan Pollard have been selected to represent the countrys. The manager/coach is Garfield Wiltshire.
According to Robert, Nicolette did a couple of sessions with Harvey after witnessing the British Open that was contested by the world's top players. Nicol who is originally from Scotland but currently represents England, won the men's title.
"Nicolette witnessed the British Open to get a feel of what top class squash is all about" Robert said.
Asked how contact was made with Harvey, Robert explained that Alwyn Callender, a Guyanese based in England, attended and won an auction for a 1-hour training session with Harvey, but instead of taking it, Callender asked Harvey to do the session with Fernandes instead, and Harvey agreed.
Callender who also witnessed the British Open, represents Guyana in the Over-40 age group in regional competitions.
According to Robert Fernandes, Harvey subsequently did a few training sessions at a cost, with Nicolette and made an evaluation.
Asked if Harvey was impressed with what he saw of Nicolette, Robert replied "the thing is, he (Harvey) deals with the best players in the world, so it's not like Nicolette can go and impress him" .
Robert however, said Harvey noted Nicolette's quick footwork and a few other basic things that he can work with to improve her game during the paid one month stint.
While Nicolette will be preparing for the Games in England, Pollard, the reiging national men's champion, will prepare in Guyana while Fraser will train in Canada.
This will be Pollard's second Commonwealth Games. He first represented Guyana at this level in 1998 when Malaysia were the hosts.