Teammates...

The single most important factor in my great experience over here has been my squash teammates- both Bath Cup (Oxford & Cambridge Club) and Middlesex League (Pimlico). This weekend reminded me why.

I'd been invited to play for the Escorts against the Oxford University Varsity Team. It was a group of "old boys" (Oxford grads) and me.

Oli generously got up an hour early so as to show me around Oxford. What a chap! Chris Hobbs (my teammate in 3 organizations now!) also joined.

Hobbs, Me, and Oli (l-r)

We got off the bus here

Oli took me around his alma mater- the stunningly beautiful Christ Church College.

We had lunch in the famed dining hall- inspiration for Hogwarts (they filmed a fair bit here).

We next visited the (strangely shaped) cathedral.

Before heading off for a whistlestop tour of other Oxford attractions.

Radecliffe Dome

Bodleian Library

Other end of Bodleian Courtyard

Bridge of Sighs

Lovely stream behind Christ Church

Less said about the squash the better! I played #2 against a young Singaporean who dove and split his way around the court. I somehow won the first game but got chopped in the next 3. The Oxford team is strong and should do well in the University match against Cambridge in a few weeks.

Through a strange set of circumstances I played the entire consolation draw of the British Amateur Squash Open on Sunday. I played Hobbs (see picture above) in the first round so Saturday night in Oxford quickly turned into a drink buying competition. Hard to out generous an Oxford chap on his home turf.

To make a long story short I pulled out an epically poor match (the initially large crowd of spectators rapidly dwindled) before playing some very patient and precise squash to win my quarterfinal.

The gentlemen I encountered in the semis was a different class and my mental and physical state only exacerbated the situation. A buddy of mine offered to take pictures and they are notable for the following.
1. Very few of me serving.
2. My opponent always looks perfectly in position and relaxed.
3. I am corkscrewed into some seriously uncomfortable situations.

I was the last member of my Middlesex League team in the tourney and I was quite touched they all stayed to cheer me on the whole evening. An American being roared on by Englishmen at the Royal Automobile Club- the spiritual home of English Squash. Not something I expected nor will forget.