Two of the world’s best squash players paid a visit to a Harrogate sports club this week.
Harrogate Sports and Fitness Club, which is based at Hookstone Wood Road, played host to James Wilstrop and Mostafa Asal.
Willstrop, who lives in Harrogate, is a former world number one and a Commonwealth gold medalist, while Asal is currently ranked number four in the world and considered to be one of the most exciting players in the sport.
The club said:
“They were at the club practising for some upcoming squash tournaments, but had some spare time to chat with some of the Harrogate junior squash players and pose for a photo with them.”
Willstrop, who grew up in Pontefract but lives locally, won Commonwealth gold in 2018 and at last year’s games in Birmingham.
Meanwhile, Egyptian squash player Asal is considered to be one of the most exciting players in the sport due to his playing style and controversial on court behaviour.
Asal, who has 1.2 million Instagram followers, was handed a 12-week ban and £50,000 fine back in August.
The Professional Squash Association gave the 21-year-old the suspension after finding thee separate breaches of the PSA code of conduct, including abuse of racket or equipment and unsportsmanlike conduct in a match against Joel Makin in May this year.
The visit comes as the club’s premier squash team has just started its new season.
The team will pit itself against sides from Sheffield and York in the hope of winning the league championship. Home games are held every other Wednesday and are free entry at the Hookstone Wood Road centre.
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Knaresborough stride to victory in Harrogate 10K
Knaresborough Striders won the prize for the best team performance at the Harrogate 10K yesterday.
A total of 742 runners took part in the race — well up on last year’s 486.
It started and finished at Harrogate Sports and Fitness Club and took competitors around Crimple Valley, finishing with the dreaded ‘Crimple killer’ uphill final kilometre.
Organised by Harrogate Harriers, Olympic triathlon champion Jonny Brownlee was on hand to present trophies to the winners.
Ben Douglas, of Leeds City Athletic Club, claimed first place in the men’s race in 34 minutes and two seconds. The 33-year-old had won the Leeds 10K in May.
Jack Kelly, running for Knaresborough firm and race sponsors Harmony Energy, was runner-up for the second consecutive year.
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Rebecca Flaherty, of Bingley Harriers, took the women’s race in 37 minutes and 14 seconds — her mum Sarah was second.
Knaresborough Striders’ trio Tom Calvert, Dan Caven and James Ireland secured the Berwins team prize.
It went some way to alleviating the disappointment they felt at last month’s Great Knaresborough Bed Race, when they were part of the team who saw their hopes dashed when a wheel on their seized up.
A fun run for children preceded the adult event.
Here are some photos of the event.
Pictures by Richard O’Brien and Andrew Hawkes Photography
The winning Knaresborough Striders team
Mother and daughter Rebecca and Sarah Flaherty took first and second in the women’s race.
The men’s top three receive their prizes from Jonny Brownlee.
Still smiling despite the tough route.
Jonny Brownlee (left) and Peter Kavanagh, chief executive of race sponsors Harmony Energy.