LAST year's Dorset Ladies League champions Haymoor have made a winning start to their campaign to retain the title.

Under the captaincy of Mary Luther, the Canford Heath side made two trips out into the county in their opening matches of the re-organised leagues.

Dorset Squash have combined Divisions One and Two to provide more ladies competition but the notional Division Two teams will play with four players as against five in Division One.

Haymoor's first trip was to Dorchester's second division outfit and as expected they won without dropping a game.

They then faced a sterner test when they travelled to Wareham to take on Purbeck who have recently recruited Wendy Richmond to play at one.

The team with Ali McKenzie as top seed and including Jackie Mears, Nicky Kellaway, Jane Purser and skipper Luther were too strong for the Purbeckers who did not win a match, giving the champions a 20-2 victory.

Dorset Squash are launching a Government and Sports Coach UK backed initiative to increase the skills and knowledge of coaches in the county.

England Squash are one of the 22 sports that have signed up to the initiative that eventually will see five levels of qualified coaches (presently there are four).

It will mean that all squash coaches will need to be licensed to officially practice and there will be a reluctance by employers and sports organisations to employ coaches who do not comply with these regulations.

The conditions apply to both volunteer and part-time coaches as well as full-time professionals.

In preparation for the changes ahead, Dorset Squash will be piloting a development programme for coaches giving them the opportunity to gain accredited points towards their licence by running half and full-day workshops delivered by an appointed England Squash tutor.

This is a tremendous way to get some new ideas, re-motivate enthusiasm and enhance coaching skills. The workshops will be suitable for all present Level One, Two and Three coaches.

The workshops will be run by Gary Bachelor, an England Elite level four professional coach.

The Weymouth-based coach is well known locally and is the Dorset Squash coaching guru.

He told the Daily Echo: "The workshops will lift the skills and knowledge of our local coaches, they will encompass a wide range of information from warm up and stretching techniques to the new mini squash for youngsters and fault diagnosis and video analysis for more advanced players."

Bachelor can be contacted via the internet at Gary.Bachelor@amc.ac.uk.

Dorset Junior County Closed will be held at Bournemouth Sports Club on October 23 and 24.

Events for girls and boys under-13 and 17 will be played.

There will also be a mixed fun event for the under-11s.

The closing date for entries is Friday, October 15.

Further details can be obtained from Keith Chambers, c/o David Lloyd, Bournemouth, Dorset (01202) 394333.

Doyen of Bournemouth Squash Basil Hebden will be holding another of his get-togethers for current and former players at the Moon on the Square, Bournemouth starting at 6pm on Sunday.

Haymoor: Ali McKenzie, Jackie Mears, Nicky Kellaway, Jane Purser, Mary Luther, Louise Brunner.