Squash player Stephen Hearst has admitted he is currently focussing on training, rather than results, following a first round exit at the Ireland Senior Nationals.

The 17-year-old won the Ulster Under-19 Open in January, setting him up for a run at the senior event.

He exited the Dublin tournament in the first round, losing 11-7 11-4 11-2 to number two seed Sean Conroy, but the teenager saw it as a valuable learning experience, while his focus is elsewhere.

“This season has been a bit difficult with balancing squash and my studies as it’s my A-levels and transitioning into the next stage for uni,” said Hearst.

“I got to play the number two seed, who is a top professional, so it was a really good experience to play that sort of level.

“A lot of the stuff I am doing in practice at the moment is about movement and about T positioning, getting to and from the ball and making sure I can do it consistently – I’ve really started to notice that in my match play.

“Squash wise I just want to carry it on through uni and life. I want to get my degree first in my subject and then after my three or four years, I want to pursue a career in squash, if I can.”

Hearst is a member of the SSE Next Generation programme, and as part of the support he receives from the scheme the teenager switched the squash court for a curling rink enjoyed a curling taster session in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, with former England junior international Ollie Kendall.

There, he was taught the basics of the sport before getting to grips with matters on the ice, and for someone for whom squash runs in the blood – his father is a former professional – it proved to be quite the experience.

“I’d never done curling before so it was all been brand new for me,” he admitted.

“There are a lot of tactics to curling which I can relate to squash and then the flexibility as well with getting into the lunge position, to deliver the stone, is very transferrable.

“And it was just a good experience to try different sports other than squash.

“SSE have been great with me. It’s not just the grant I get but these opportunities as well, which allow me to travel to different countries and get training which I’ve normally get in pursuing my career goal.”

SSE’s Next Generation programme partners with SportsAid to provide financial support and training to the sports stars of the future. Keep up to date with the latest @SSENextGen