TOP women's squash player Carol Owens has moved up a ranking while she's been training at Ilkley Lawn Tennis and Squash Club.

Unfortunately for her coach, Ilkley's Robbie Burnett, he can't claim the success for Carol moved up a rank when the number one seed Cassie Campion was forced to withdraw from the women's championships with a back injury.

Carol, a 29-year-old Australian, now based in New Zealand, has been at the Ilkley club for three of a five long visit to learn under the expert eye of New Zealander Robbie, and physiotherapist Yves Dereix, of Hawksworth Physiotherapy and Sports Clinic, based in Ilkley.

She has been receiving treatment for an old repetitive strain injury twice a week with Yves and has been out on the courts at Ilkley with Robbie twice a day.

She finds the experience very beneficial. "I was having needles stuck into my feet earlier, it helps with the injury and helps to make me more supple and efficient around the court.

"The practice sessions with Robbie have been awesome, high intensity decision making and movement around the court."

This is the second time Carol has visited Ilkley, and the Tennis and Squash Club in particular. Both times courts at the club have been flooded.

"Well, I'm due back in June next year, so hopefully I might get to see it when it hasn't been raining."

While in Ilkley, Carol has been staying with club members Judy and Guy Cunnington and has been offered the use of a car by Glovers of Ilkley.

Carol in action (photo courtesy of Squashpics).