Nigel Matthews (Bowdon) and David Cornes (Crake Valley) have both accepted invitations to join the 2023/24 GC International Development Squad. With a maximum of 8 players selected each year it is a credit to the Federation that the North West’s improving talent has, at last, been recognised. Both players are relatively new to the game and will join up with the squad for its first session at Wrest Park in April.
The selection criteria for the Development Squad is players must have the POTENTIAL to progress to Elite Status and play at International Level.
David has been playing competitively since 2018 and is well known on the GC circuit; winning tournaments in East Dorset, Budleigh Salterton as well as locally at Bury, Pendle and Crake. In September 2022 he was runner-up (losing 6-7, 7-6, 6-7) in the A level National Finals at Wrest Park. David’s GC handicap is -1, his AC handicap has improved to 8 after playing more of this format since 2022.
Nigel first picked up a mallet in 2019 playing AC and was in the Bowdon Short Lawn Team that won the national knockout later that year. His current AC handicap is 0. Nigel’s GC career started in September 2021 when he was asked to make the numbers up in Bowdon’s National interclub finals team. Since this “baptism of fire”, Nigel (GC handicap 0) has developed a strong playing record in the NW League and Internal Competitions.
Both players aim to advance both their GC and AC skills and welcome this amazing opportunity. They are looking forward to attending the squad weekends and playing in tournaments during the coming season.
