Lower Sixth pupil Lydia Robinson is the UK’s No 1 squash player in her age group, in the latest rankings by the sport’s national governing body, England Squash.
The 16-year-old has achieved the top ranking in every age group so far and says she’s “absolutely thrilled” to be named U17 No 1, based on points accumulated during tournaments.
Lydia started playing squash aged six and represents the Beverley Squash and Racketball Club, where she trains three times a week and competes in tournaments most weekends. From the age of 10 she has played for Yorkshire in the annual Junior Inter County Championships, helping her team to victory every year.
Her talent and determination also led her to win the English Junior Closed Championships at both U13 and U15, and represent England in the annual Five Nations tournament in 2015 and 2017.
Over Christmas Lydia took part in the US Open in Massachusetts, where she reached the third round, and in October she came third in the British Championships. She is also part of the England Development Squad of elite players who have the potential to represent England.
She said: “I like squash because it’s so competitive and it’s one-to-one, rather than a team sport. It’s very physically demanding but I love the feel-good factor after a game.
“The travel that comes with tournaments is great, too: I’ve been able to visit so many places I might not otherwise have seen, and we usually get down time when I can do some exploring. At Christmas we spent some time in New York. I went up the Empire State Building and visited Times Square, which was really impressive.”
Lydia is among the young English athletes (aged 16+) on the highly sought-after Sport England-funded Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS), after being nominated by England Squash. TASS supports athletes in areas like Strength and Conditioning, nutrition and psychology, so they can get the best from their sporting and academic careers without having to choose between the two.
TASS awards are made to around 400 athletes across the country each year and many of them have gone on to win Olympic and Paralympic medals.
Lydia, who is studying BTEC Sport and A Level Psychology in the Sixth Form, says her next goal is being declared U19 No 1 when she turns 17. She is aiming to attend a US college offering squash as a varsity sport, so she can take part in US tournaments alongside her studies.
She added: “I’d like to have the opportunity to play professionally but longer term I’d like to be a squash coach so I can help other children in the way that I’ve been helped.”
David Byas, Director of Sport, Pocklington School, said: “Lydia is an outstanding sportswoman who we are delighted to have within the community. She came to us with these attributes and qualities and we are thrilled that our Sports Department can support her through its Strength and Conditioning Programme and BTEC Sports course.”