More Lapham Grant 2013

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A number of Squash Players from the Bay Area have been chosen to represent the United States in the 92nd Lapham-Grant Matches of whom I am one. The city of Vancouver, BC is hosting the event over the April 26-28 weekend.   It's a great honor and privilege to represent our country.  I'll keep you posted on the results.

John

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Fellow Jesters:

We accepted membership to do the following:

1. Will participate and involve themselves with the Jesters and be compatible with them.

2. Have made recognized administrative contributions to their game (s)

3. Have contributed as leading players.

4. Will work for the future benefit of their game (s).

5. Will increase the percentage of younger members within the Club.

As described in The Account of the Jesters Club - “The Jesters Club is more than just an ordinary organization. Members reserve for it a unique, private affection. The Club’s membership may truly be described in the immortal words written by William Shakespeare to be spoken by England’s King Henry V to inspire his troops moments before the Battle of Agincourt, fought on Saint Crispin’s day”

“We few

We happy few

We band of brothers” (and sisters!)

(With apologies to Shakespeare)

Two comments on the Club come to mind. A member of the Parent Club, when he had completed his U.S. tour, stated, “I have yet to meet a U.S. Jester I would not be honored to have as a guest in my home.” Another comment by a fellow Jester - “This is the one group I belong to that, when I attend its annual dinner, I don’t care with whom I am seated. 

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The US captains for the 92nd iteration of the Lapham-Grant Matches between Canada and the United States have been announced as Alex Dean, Sarah West, and Jerry Peters.

The annual Lapham-Grant Matches between the United States and Canada consists of four different competitions – or matches – including men’s singles competing for the Lapham Cup, men’s doubles competing for the Grant Trophy, Women’s singles and doubles competing for the Crawford Trophy, and legends doubles – male players over 65 years of age —  competing for the Lawrence-Wilkins Trophy.

Dean of the Olympic Club in San Francisco will captain the men’s singles and doubles matches playing for the Lapham Cup and Grant Trophy respectively.  West also of the Olympic Club in San Francisco will captain the women’s matches playing for the Crawford Trophy.  Peters of Santa Fe, New Mexico will captain the legends doubles matches playing for the Lawrence-Wilkins Trophy.

Dean compares being selected to the team to playing on a Ryder Cup or Walker Cup team in golf.

“One isn’t playing for himself; he or she is playing for their team and their country,” Dean said.

“There aren’t many team matches outside of collegiate squash and it’s a different feeling, a different energy.  Despite the intensity of the matches there is a special relationship between the sides. It’s a fun and clean competition that boasts good sportsmanship as a core value. No one wants to win without earning their fair share of the match, and nothing tastes better than when the winning side gets to sip champagne from the trophy.”

The Lapham Cup matches have been played every year since 1922, with the Grant Trophy matches inaugurated in 1945, the Crawford Trophy matches in 1999, and the Lawrence-Wilkins Trophy matches in 2001.

“The Lapham Grant United States vs. Canada invitational team challenge matches are one of the great traditions in all of squash,” said Peter Lasusa, Chairman of the Board of U.S. Squash and Lapham Cup and Grant Trophy participant.

“Being selected to participate is an honor that all US and Canadian squash players can aspire to.  Team selection is intended to honor both our highest national level open and age group singles and doubles players who play alongside those members of the U.S. squash community who provide the national and grass roots organizing leadership that make our game what it is.  The intense high quality competition with Canada’s finest combined with spirited play from the great enthusiasts of our game are what make the Lapham-Grant most memorable to me.”

For Canada, Michael Leckie is the captain of the men’s singles and doubles team (Lapham Cup and Grant Trophy), Michael Jackson is the captain for legends doubles (Lawrence-Wilkins Trophy), and Natasha Doucas is the captain of women’s singles and doubles team (Crawford Cup).

The matches alternate host countries every year, with this year’s tournament being held April 26-28 at the Vancouver Lawn Tennis and Badminton Club in Vancouver, BC.

Last year’s tournament in Atlanta, GA saw the United States emerge victors in the Lapham Cup, the Grant Trophy, and the Lawrence-Wilkins Trophy, while Canada won the Crawford Cup matches.

Complete results since the tournament’s inaugural year – 1922 — are available under the historical data banner of the tournament’s website http://www.laphamgrant.com/.