Westview Open to get season started

EASTERN Province’s squash season will begin in earnest when the Westview Open from February 6 to 10 provides the first opportunity for the region’s provincial hopefuls to make their mark.

The tournament at the Newton Park club will play an important part in setting up the season for the leading players, as it will be followed by the Super and Goffer leagues, starting on February 15.

The top 16 men and women will be invited to compete in the A section, giving the provincial selectors a glimpse of the key players for the Jarvis and Kaplan cups in July.

But the Westview Open is not limited to the province’s top players: the B and C sections provide a wonderful opportunity for players at all levels.

To qualify for the B section, the combined league total of the two players must not be more than 10, while the total for the C section must add up to a total of 11 to 20.

These sections play a doubles match and then two singles matches, the winners of the doubles match deciding the singles match-ups.

Matches will last 25 minutes and games will be played to 15.

Entries can be e-mailed to Stephen van den Berg by Monday at stephen@bisnet.co.za

The entry fee is R150 a player, including balls and lights, as well as a registration handout.

A meal will be served on the last evening.

There will be no play on the Thursday due to the internal club summer leagues.

THE Prince SA Junior Open has been given a major boost after being approved by the World Squash Federation to be recognised on its annual calendar.

This means international players from all over the world will play in the event for the first time as the WSF will advertise it and promote it to all junior players.

The tournament will take place at Johannesburg’s Parkview Squash Centre in from August 11 to 13.

It will be followed by another international junior event, the Keith Grainger Memorial, in Cape Town from August 18 to 20.

The age groups will be U11, U13, U15, U17 and U19.