Devoy helping club celebrate 50th jubilee
THE Otago Squash Club will celebrate its 50th anniversary at its base in Kaikorai Valley Rd this weekend.
To help mark the occasion, the club has called in New Zealand squash royalty Dame Susan Devoy as a quest speaker.
Devoy dominated the sport in the 1980s and early 1990s, winning the World Open in 1985, 1987, 1990 and 1992. She also won the British Open eight times.
Otago Squash Club executive office Aynsley Munro described Devoy as a friend of the club and said she was delighted Devoy had agreed to support the event.
‘‘We are very lucky to have Dame Susan Devoy as our guest speaker,’’ Munro said.
‘‘She has obviously played in a few tournaments down here and has been a guest of the club quite a few times. We’d call her a friend of the club.’’
The festivities get under way tomorrow with a meet and greet at the club. Another code will take centre stage, as the Highlanders v Hurricanes match will provide the main entertainment that evening.
‘‘But a lot of people will be travelling on Friday night so we are doing much the same again on Saturday. There will be the opportunity for old squash players to have a hit [earlier in the day].’’
Predinner drinks start at 4pm. The former dinner will be held at the Otago Golf Club from 6pm.
Devoy will keep the guests entertained that evening. On Sunday there is an exhibition match and barbecue planned and an informal farewell.
‘‘It will probably all wind up about 3pm on Sunday.’’
More than 100 guests have registered. The event has attracted seven life members, including Michael McCarthy from Auckland.
He was on the inaugural committee of the club and is a past president.
He also wrote a squash column for many years under the nom de plume ‘‘Tin’’.
Lindsay McLennan is making the trip from Nelson. He played an active role in the management of the club for 20 years and was president in the mid1980s.
Chris Bosworth has one of the more inspirational stories in the club’s history. He lost his right arm in an accident in 1981 but continued to play as a competent lefthander. He has served on the committee for more than 30 years.