When the sport of squash arrived in newly-built sports (now leisure) centres around our county many of us involved elsewhere gave it a try in a social sense with friends before some very specialist, competitive players emerged, with the general consensus being that the physical demands and rapid movement made it, ‘A young man’s game’.
 
But someone must have forgotten to tell Chris Barker that fact because at 75 years young he has just received a letter of confirmation that he has been selected as a player in the four-man team that will represent Wales Over 75s in The Masters Home Internationals, held in Nottingham on 17^th and 18th April.
 
It will be his third representative honour in different age categories because he has already played for the over 60s and over 65s so it is a great chance to play at No 3 behind skipper Steve Evans, with Jon Phillips and Jeff Angove as the other team members as they take on Scotland. England and Ireland after playing well to qualify at a recent tournament held at Rhiwbina Squash Club in Cardiff.
 

Late starter in squash – at 40!

 
Ironically, Chris didn’t take up the game until he was 40, after playing until then for Milford Haven RFC alongside top players of the era like Steve Holmes, Barry Kingston, Keith Fletcher, Dai Griffiths and Peter Mitchell which was good enough to reach the quarter-finals of the Welsh Cup before losing narrowly at Ebbw Vale, who were then easily one of the top eight teams in Wales.
 
After sustaining an injury with The Mariners, he was chatting to Martin Price and bemoaning the fact that there was a lack of such physically demanding sport once that age was reached - and Martin suggested this new-fangled game, a racquet was acquired, a court was booked and they were in action, if you could call it that with two raw novices!

 

Well and truly hooked . . .

 

But Chris readily admits that he was well and truly hooked - and he was lucky soon afterwards to receive some vital coaching from Haydn Davies, the former Glamorgan cricketer who had become the Scottish National Coach and was a great mentor as he showed the importance of tactics and shot selection, plus the vital aspect of top fitness.
 
Another boost came for Chris when top local coach Peter Crook took him under his wing and was great at identifying weaknesses in his game and correcting them by regular practice against some very good players like Kim Davies (Neyland).



 

Other interests . . .

 
Chris was a founder member of the Pembrokeshire Velos, and has remained a very keen cyclist with one of his mini challenges over the years, the charity cycle ride from Haverfordwest to Neyland and back, with wife Karen and granddaughter Hope, and it was a proud moment when all three crossed the line together to raise much-needed funds.
 
Another such event came on a longer French trip which involved cycling with work colleagues from Milford Haven to Donge, in the west of France, which was a charity ride from Elf Refinery to the Elf Refinery in France – and again a significant sum of money was raised.
 
He has also been a keen musician for many years and he told us,
“When I'm not playing squash, I play the Oboe in two wind bands; the University of the Third Age Band, and Castle Brass, alongside one orchestra called the Cleddau Chamber Orchestra.”
He was also involved with ‘Symphonica Tywi’ in Pontyberem in 2023 so that was a substantial commitment alongside his squash!
 
He also ran the London Marathon in 1993 and raised a substantial sum to support a young girl from Neyland, finishing in a time of 4 hours 5 seconds, when he was playing rugby for The Mariners – and he forgot all about having proper footwear and actually ran in squash shoes!




 

Great support from wife Karen throughout their long time together

 
His long-suffering wife Karen, whom he would nominate as his greatest supporter in every way, gave him every encouragement to build on a great start to squash and after a while Chris was enjoying, if that is the correctly word, an annual week at Club Lasanta, in Lanzarote, which he used for warm-weather training for well over a decade.
 
“At the time, the number one lady squash player in the world was Laura Massaro, who gave him some great coaching, which has proved invaluable ever since in giving some coaching.
 
We even went there for our honeymoon,” admitted Chris with a chuckle, “as a measure of just how fantastic Karen has always been!”
 
In 2016-2017, Chris was lucky enough to be chosen Squash Coach of the Year by Wales Squash at a dinner in Cardiff. He also holds a Wales Squash Level 2 Coaching Certificate. The same year, he was honored by winning the Pembrokeshire Coach of the year.




 

Started his Welsh Squash connection

 
His total commitment to squash was rewarded at over 60s level when he did well at the qualifier on the courts at Swansea Lawn Tennis and Leisure Centre, and was off to Aberdeen, where he beat his opponent from Irland, and lost to a good Scottish player in his two matches over five sets, with another squad member losing to England.
 
“It was an amazing experience, just to be involved. The camaraderie in our squad, and with the other teams, was outstanding,” Chris told us, “and I will never forget being involved.”
 
When he represented Wales at over 70s level in the Masters. it was held in Edinburgh, and Chris played all three opponents as he again beat his Irish counterpart but lost in the full five sets to opponents from Scotland and England.
“It was just as memorable as my other international and it made me even more determined than ever to play on and aim for a hat-trick of age group internationals.”.
 

And finally . . .

 
“I had a Welsh trial in Rhiwbina Cardiff on the weekend of Friday 23rd January, for the Welsh Squash Masters, and in my case, the over 75s – and thankfully, I managed to get into the Masters team.”
 
“I’ll be playing in the Home Internationals in Nottingham on the weekend of 17th April – and also I’m entering the World Masters Squash tournament held in Perth, Australia, the week of the 30th August, a tournament which lasts for a week.”
 
But first comes that his chance to complete a hat-trick of representing Wales at difference age levels, remarkably now playing a very demanding sport at 75+.
 
Having known Chris Barker for over 60 years, when we were both sports-mad youngsters at Pembroke Grammar School under the legendary Mr Dennis Lloyd, I have come to know and respect Chris’s skill and commitment, which have been the perfect mix – and long may he continue the Pembrokeshire and Welsh Flags with distinction in veteran’s squash!

 

Paper cuttings

 

Letter to Chris

Dear Mens O75 Player,
 
MASTERS HOME INTERNATIONALS 2026 – M075 – 17^th and 18^th APRIL, NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND.
 
Congratulations you have been selected to represent Wales in the Home Internationals for 2026.  Please find details of the event enclosed.
 
The team selected is:
 
Stephen Evans (Captain), Chris Barker, Jon Phillips and Jeff Angove.
 
This team has been ratified by the Masters Committee to play a minimum of one match each.
 
I would be grateful if you could email Russell Edwards at the Squash Wales office at Russell.edwards@squashwales.com as soon as possible to confirm whether or not you will be available to play.
 
As you know, in order to represent Wales, you must be a current adult team player (£16) of Squash Wales. For details, please see enclosed Membership link www.squashwales.justgo.com
 
Also find details enclosed of the Welsh Masters representational clothing for 2026 and can only be ordered through your Team Captain, Stephen Evans.
 
Representational caps are available to purchase so please contact Russell Edwards by 20^th March if you require one, payment can be added to the above bank details.
 
Please let me know if you have any queries or require any further information and I look forward to hearing from you.
 
Yours sincerely
 
David Evans
Director of Performance / Participation