Ashburton Squash Courts Open Today

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31007, 12 March 1966, Page 11

Ashburton Squash Courts Open Today

SEVERAL of the top South Island squash rackets players will take part in a major invitation tournament

in Ashburton today and tomorrow to mark the opening of the Ashburton Squash Rackets Club’s new courts. Among the 32 players who will compete are G. Davidson and M. Isaacs (Ashburton), D. Preston and L. G. Milne (Christchurch), W. Green (Timaru), and J. Henderson (Dunedin). Davidson is a former New Zealand junior champion and former New Zealand senior representative. He was also the top Canterbury player before transferripg to Ashburton. He is the current Mid - Canterbury men’s tennis champion. Isaacs was a leading A grade player in Timaru last year, before shifting to Ashburton, and Green is one of the top Timaru players

at present. Preston is the leading player in Christchurch, and Milne is a former New Zealand representative. The club’s building, which has been erected at a cost of £7600, will provide the

first playing facilities for the sport in Ashburton. It has two courts of international standard. The squash club was formed in 1962 to get the sport established, and its members have raised more than £7OOO so far by the issue of debentures and various other sources. A club official said the full amount of the project was expected to be raised by the opening. Membership has risen from 50 early last year to 125 at present.

A high standard of competition should be maintained in Ashburton as clubs in Christchurch and Timaru, as well as other centres, will provide regular inter-club matches. Leading South Island players are expected to compete fairly regularly on the new courts. The new headquarters has an area of 2610 sq. ft. The two courts, of international standard, are each 32ft by 21ft, and occupy more than half the area of the building. Other facilities are also of a particularly high standard, and include a large lounge, kitchen, men’s and women’s showers, and dressing rooms. The height of the roof above the court area is more than 20ft. The inside surface above the courts is sprayed with asbestos to provide moisture and sound proofing. Fluorescent lighting is installed over the courts, and an upstairs gallery at one end of the courts has accommodation for about 160 spectators. The building will be opened by the Mayor of Ashburton (Mr J. Davidson) on Saturday before the start of the tournament. Officials of the New Zealand Squash Rackets Association and representatives of various South Island clubs have been invited to attend the opening.