England call for Hemsworth squash ace
YOUNG Hemsworth squash sensation Katie Smith has started the year with a bang after achieving international honours for the first time and helping England to victory in a three-way tournament in Scotland.
The 16-year-old represented England under-18's at an international tournament involving England, Scotland and Wales at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh last weekend.
And she completed her first tournament in England colours in fine style with three wins out of four matches to help the England team to top spot.
The Pontefract Squash Club ace will be hoping her performance in Scotland will stand her in good stead for a chance to represent England at the European Championships in Prague, Czech Republic, at the end of May.
Her success comes hot-on-the-heels of more impressive showings at the Pontefract Junior Open and British Junior Open events over the Christmas and New Year period.
Smith progressed to the final of the U19 competition at her home club, just a year after winning the U17 event, before falling to defeat against Chapel Allerton professional Carrie Ramsey in the final.
Her performance in Sheffield at the British Junior Open, what is unofficially the biggest junior squash competition in the world, was just as good.
Coming up against the best young players from around the world, she won three of her five matches to bag a fine top-12 finish.
The highlight was a come-from-behind success against American US Junior Open champion Hayley Mendez.
The former Hemsworth Arts and Community student has been training with top English coach David Campion this week as she prepares for her U19 inter-counties competition with Yorkshire this weekend.
The U17 inter-counties follows before Smith will travel to Lille in France for the French Open.
See this week's Hemsworth and South Elmsall for all the latest sports news from around the area.
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Weather for Wakefield
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Light snow
Temperature: -3 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 25 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 3 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: West
