When Squash Wales recently held its annual presentation at the Copthorne Hotel in Cardiff the delighted recipient of the 'Young Squash Coach of the Year' was Tomos Edmonds, who hails from Tiers Cross and plays the game at the Meads Leisure Centre, where he also helps Peter Crook coach the talented junior players following on from Tomos, who is 16 years old.
 
The trophy was presented by Peter Creed, the No 1 Welsh player, and Mike Workman, the Director of Squash Wales - prior to the event and after his nomination Tomos was filmed and interviewed during a junior squash development day in Cardiff so understandably he felt 10 feet tall when his name was called out!
 

Due reward – and a thrilled family!

 
It was due reward for his efforts and the whole family was in attendance because they had only returned from holidaying in Canada the day before,  and were bumper to bumper on the motorway for so long that they only had two hours sleep.
 
Dad Paul, who plays squash but readily admits that he is now unable to beat Tomos and his younger brother Lloyd (13), another very talented player, and mum Anwen, who enjoys keeping fit, were understandably thrilled, not least because they know how hard Tomos has worked on his own game and in coaching others.
 

Started almost by accident

 
Yet Tomos started out with a serious interest in squash almost by accident as he went with Paul for a knock-about at the Meads Leisure Centre when up popped Mr Crook on the viewing gallery above the court to say,
 
"Would you like to come to a taster session because we are starting a new junior section here?"
 
Tomos said ‘yes’ straight away, Lloyd said he wanted to go along as well - and now, three years on, they are Welsh-ranked players and competing for the Meads Junior team that is doing really well in local squash's junior division.
 
Tomos started off with a second-hand racquet at the Sunday morning sessions as he went along to play for an hour and was soon catching the eye with his willingness to work hard. Now he is in the top-ten Welsh players for his age he is sponsored by Harrow, the racquet and kit specialists, and so doesn't have to worry about having to use second-hand equipment again!
 

Other sports

 
It is fair to say that Tomos's choice of other sports shows his determination and willingness to commit himself fully, none more so than in underwater hockey, or 'Octopush' , to give it its proper title. He was a useful swimmer when he was approached by Andy Davies and now plays at Haverfordwest and Pembroke Clubs, when his squash commitments allow.
 
"It is a very tough sport," Tomos told us, "and I play as a forward as the team must only have six players in the water at any one time, but rolling substitutions are allowed.
 
"I’ve represented Haverfordwest three times in the Welsh Championships, two at home and one in Newport, and played for Wales against Scotland, Ireland, North and South England - and received my special octopush hat with the Welsh Dragon on it."
 
Tomos has also been invited to trial with the Great Britain squad in readiness for the junior team in the World Championships to be held in Australia in 2017 but the training is held in Leeds so it is very difficult for Tomos to attend on a regular basis.
 
Tomos also used to surf and enjoys cliff diving at brilliant venues like the Blue Lagoon in Abereiddy but he has little time to pursue it now, perhaps to his parent’s relief?
 

Working as a life guard

 
He is still involved in swimming, though, because he works part-time as a lifeguard at Haverfordwest Leisure Centre after taking the National Pool Lifeguard qualification under the watchful eye of Rhian McFarland.
 
He was then offered a part-time job as a casual lifeguard, usually on Sundays and sometimes in the evening after studying 'A' levels in Chemistry, Physics, Maths and a BTech in Engineering  at Ysgol y Preseli.
 

Gaining experience

 
Back on the squash front, Tomos won the Meads junior open a couple of times and then went on to compete at the Swansea Open where he beat team-mate Alfie Wheeler in the first round and he went on to do well.
 
Alfie then reversed the verdict in the Cardiff Open, a ranking tournament, with a 3-2 win as he was placed seventh and Tomos eighth and both widened their experience in the Welsh Junior Closed, where they played top seeds.
 

Causing a few surprises

 
It was a similar story at the Prestatyn Tournament and now Tomos (and Lloyd) are starting to focus on the junior team of five where they compete against adults in the Pembrokeshire Squash League from as far afield as Newcastle Emlyn, Cardigan, Carmarthen and Pembroke.
 
They were bottom in the first half of last season but when the fixtures were reversed the youngsters, captained by Tomos, surprised everyone by rocketing up the table in the second half - and are eager to go even higher than their eventual third place. This achievement was recognized and the team received a Dragon LNG award which is on display at Milford Leisure Centre.
 

Gaining coaching experience with Peter

 
Tomos will also be kept busy on the coaching front after starting out with Peter Crook on Sundays, going early to help him with the little ones before training himself. He took to it straight away and started helping out at the Cardiff Series Development, followed by working with Peter and schools at The Dome in Haverfordwest.
 
"We also used the 'rebound walls’, plus small racquets and bouncier balls," Tomos told us, "and when the Commonwealth Games Baton Change took place at St Davids. It was a great day out and brilliant to see so many children wanting to give squash a try.
 
"Lloyd and I also helped Peter going round junior schools and our most recent special day was with the adults who have disabilities on their special day. It was fantastic!"
 

Help from other sources

 
Peter organised for Tomos to attend a 'safeguarding' course which proved to be an eye-opener with regard to looking after the welfare of children, and he is a Level One coach now after taking the course at Milford Haven when he was 15, the youngest in the UK and unable to actually be recognised until he is 16.
 
"The course was 14 hours in total and Peter Crook was brilliant, with financial help from Squash Wales and the 'Community Chest' at Pembrokeshire Leisure helping with the funding. I have also had loads of encouragement from James Walters, who was also there on the presentation evening, picking up his Welsh Vets' cap."
 

And finally . . .

 
Tomos is doing well in Wales at the moment in his age group and there is no doubt that if hard work and commitment is anything to go by will continue to climb the ranking list. He is also eager to continue with his coaching.
 
Peter Crook told us,
"Tomos is a great example for other young players to follow and we count ourselves very lucky to have such a talented, dynamic, modest and committed young fellow involved who fully deserved his recognition.”
 
We can pay Tomos Edmonds no higher compliment and can only wish him further success in his future in the game of squash!