Robbie discusses prize money on the tour and whether it’s possible to get stranded abroad, what it’s like travelling around the circuit and reveals one of his toughest moments of the tour so far in the shower in British Virgin Islands.
Sea, sand and Sun Stroke in British Virgin Islands: One of the toughest moments so far
Playing on the PSA World Tour can be bizarre at times. Extreme too. I played Jamaican Chris Binnie in the Semi-Finals of the British Virgin Islands Open once. It was Caribbean climate at it’s meanest at 37 degrees outside and the courts were certainly not air conditioned. There was a small fan high on the court which just shifted some of the air around. Add to that the fact it was 11am which was the hottest part of the day. Then there was the humidity. They say you should put on an extra 5 degrees for that sort of humidity, meaning it was effectively 42 degrees of Caribbean heat I was dealing with. I had so many changes of kit prepared and my bottle of electrolyte replacement powder ready to come to my aid. I remember during and between each set of the match how I chugged down litres of water and electrolytes, changed shirts, bandanas, wristbands, shorts, the lot. I even changed my socks between games. By the mid-way of each set I could barely stand let alone chase down the ball to gain the next point.
I went 2-1 down in games but managed to build an 8-4 lead in the fourth game. Having done that though, I could not even return the ball properly anymore. Once that was gone, I inevitably lost the match 3-1 within about 5 minutes. Chris adapted to the climate far better than I did which hugely affected the outcome. Following the match I had to be helped to the changing rooms, I couldn’t walk unaided. I stumbled into the shower and just sat there for 20 minutes unable to move, my own body fighting back. I ended up on my back; I had severe shakes and chest cramps, it was my first and thankfully only experience of heat stroke to date. That was certainly a moment I will never forget and I learned a huge amount about how my body functions that day.
Hospitality on the circuit
With three years of experience on the tour under my belt, things have certainly gotten a lot easier with travelling. I’m lucky to say I could pretty much have a place to stay in every country in the world now either through a direct connection or a friend of a friend at least. I seem to often have a great way of meeting the right people at the right time. Once at events it can be hit and miss as to whether or not the organisers pick me up from the airport. I seem to have had huge luck in the past year with the tournaments I entered where I have had really friendly tournament organisers who have made the whole arriving and departing process smooth.
Prize Money: Could you get stranded abroad?
Prize money from events tend to cover between half and all of my travel expenses for the event depending on size of event and how well I do. My dad and I fully fund my squash career through my dad’s business, which along with my appearance fees from league matches, tournament prize money and small amounts of coaching help to cover any costs the prize money doesn’t stretch too. It is a constant battle making ends meet but it is the only way we can continue. There’s no sponsorship available, although I get rackets, strings and kit from various sources which helps. England Squash & Racketball give support to a select few but that’s near impossible to access unless you are head and shoulders above the rest or are coached by one of the national coaches. There is some politics in every sport and squash is certainly no different. So I will be making my own way in squash and in many ways I’m lucky for that because all of the rewards from any success will feel all the sweeter. It also means I’m completely independent and only have people to answer to people who I want to be involved in my journey as a squash professional.
To read more about Robbie’s career to date and his other blog, click here.
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