SQUASH - British Open Backed By Mike Corby

[Michael Hansen, DSqF]

SRA SQUASH NEWS

OLYMPIAN MIKE CORBY BACKS BRITISH OPEN SQUASH CHAMPIONSHIPS
A new era for the world's most prestigious squash event will be unveiled
next
month when the Mike Corby Group presents the 1998 British Open Squash
Championships, in association with Hi-Tec Sports. Following early rounds at
the Corby Group's Lambs Club in the city of London from 25-30 March, the
event
moves to Birmingham where action from the last sixteen onwards will be
staged
at the National Indoor Arena (NIA) from 1-5 April.
Mike Corby is a distinguished figure in sport who was not only captain of
England and Great Britain in squash from 1967 to 1971, but also captained
Great Britain and England in hockey, competing in both the 1964 and 1972
Olympic Games. A Vice-President of the Squash Rackets Association (SRA), he
is also chairman of Mike Corby Holdings Ltd, which owns ten squash and
leisure
centres in the city of London. Corby recently became a Vice-President of
the
World Squash Federation (WSF), and was immediately appointed to the newly-
created role of Director of Olympic Affairs.
Stuart Courtney, Chief Executive of the SRA, the sport's English governing
body, said: "This is a magnificent commitment by Mike Corby to underwrite
this historic event in our sport, enabling it to be staged in one of the
country's most impressive sporting arenas and attract the world's greatest
players. Under his patronage, the 1998 British Open will no doubt exceed
its
worldwide reputation as the jewel in the sport's crown."
Mike Corby added: "Ever since seeing my first final in 1957, when Roshan
Khan
beat the great Hashim Khan, I've had the greatest love-affair with the
British
Open. It is therefore a thrill to be able to assist in the staging of this
classic event. I'm particularly pleased that the early rounds will be at
Lambs, before the Open moves for the first time to Birmingham's NIA, where I
will be privileged to be a spectator watching squash of the highest
calibre."
Pakistan's Jansher Khan will be seeking his seventh consecutive title this
year, while Scotland's Peter Nicol, Khan's successor to the world No1 crown
this month, will no doubt be aiming to reverse last year's 126-minute final
result and gain his fourth successive PSA Tour victory over the mighty
Pakistani. Australia's world No1 Sarah Fitz-Gerald will be attempting to
secure her debut women's title, anxious to avenge her only loss last year to
compatriot and five-times British Open champion Michelle Martin in the 1997
final.
The British Open was last staged in Birmingham in 1971 when Jonah Barrington
won the fourth of his six titles at Edgbaston Priory. Birmingham's National
Indoor Arena has attracted national and international events in more than 30
sports. Situated in the heart of the country's road and rail network, and
served by Birmingham International Airport on the outskirts of the city, the
NIA is easily accessible from all parts of the country and abroad.
Tickets for the NIA are available now on the special ticket hot-line
0121-200
2222, with group bookings (ten or more) available on 0800-378985.
- ENDS -
For further information: HOWARD HARDING ASSOCIATES
The Old Bakery, South Road, Reigate, Surrey RH2 7LB
Tel: 01737-243333 Fax: 01737-222787 Home: 01737-222425
SRA 281 Email: How...@aol.com 18 February 1998