Squash players all set to invade EL

By Clive Elworthy

EAST LONDON -- There will be a lot of mature squash players from all over the country and some from other countries arriving in East London over the next day or two.

They will be attending the annual masters squash tournament which begins with a welcoming function at a city hotel tomorrow evening.

The tournament finishes next Wednesday with a dinner-dance-prize giving at the city hall.

Play starts on Saturday at all club venues with Cambridge hosting the main sections for men and women.

This tournament is the biggest in the world with some 720 players participating in the more senior age groups in East London and a further 450 playing at Ceres in the Boland.

The East London segment has three women's age groups -- 40-44, 45-50 and 50-55 -- while the men have six age groups starting at 45 and ending with the over 65s.

The Ceres tournament caters for women between the ages of 30 and 39 while the men participate in age groups 35-39 and 40-45.

Border are well represented in most sections but it's a pity that the men's 35-39 team has withdrawn from the A section in Ceres where they would have been a force to be reckoned with.

The province has two teams in the next age group however and they will compete in the A and B section of a three section age group. Players to look out for are Johan Botha and Beves Ditchfield.

The two women's teams in the 30-39 age group find themselves in the B and D sections respectively and both teams will be looking forward to good results.

The A team in particular seems strong with Geraldine Morcom, Vera Marques and Terri Kleyn spearheading their challenge.

East London's section of the masters tournament sees a glut of men's teams in the over 45 and 50 segments with both age groups having A to E sections, each with six or eight teams.

The squash is expected to be strong in the 45-49 group where a British side containing past British open winners will be competing.

This side will be warming up tonight at Old Selbornians against top Border players such as Mike Farrer and John Biggs.

This gives an indication of how competitive this segment will be.

Border men representatives in various age groups are in the C and E sections of the 45-49 group, the B, D and E sections of the 50-54 group, the C segment of the over 55s, the B section of the over 60s and in the only section of the over 65s.

Border women over 40 take part in the B section as do the over 45s.

There is no women's Border side in the over 50 age group.

Players to watch out for in the various age groups for men are Ivan Edwards, John Schenk (over 45), Gordon Daniel, Des Schultz, Gordon Soule (over 50), Chris Clarke and Dave Bawden (over 55), Erroll Mokowem (60) and Rae Hassall and Eddie Loppnow (over 65s)

The women will be well served by Inge van Dordrecht and Lyn Broedelet in the over 40s group and by Marsha Turner and Kathy Johannen in the over 45s.

Functions have been arranged for each night of the tournament.

The tournament committee is Ian Patterson, Janice Schultz, Inge van Dordrecht, Jeremy Cocks, Danny Odendaal, Lorraine Long, Pru Rigby, Geraldine Morcom, Carol Salzone and Brenda Flanagan.