Grant set to challenge Selby in National Racketball
8th May 2009by Ben Taylor
The listing was posted by England Squash
The 2009 National Racketball Championships take place this weekend at Edgbaston Priory, and with more than 250 entries it will be the most competitive event yet.
42 players will challenge Daryl Selby, unbeaten in four years, in the Men’s Open event, with the chief threat likely to come from Adrian Grant, currently ranked 11 in the World Squash rankings.
The Leeds-based left hander, 29, is ranked 4 in England. Victory in the Indian Challenger tournament last month also means that he currently holds more titles on the PSA tour than any other Englishman.
Laura Hill, who like Selby has won the Open title for the last four year, leads the charge in the Women’s event. Her strongest challenger is seeded to be Daryl’s sister Lauren Selby, currently 57 in the World Squash Rankings.
Players will be competing for a total of 16 titles, across the age groups. Even the Men’s Over-70 category has attracted 10 entries, while 4 women will vie for the Over-60’s title, the first year this category has been held.
There will also be 7 Plate events, so competitors will be guaranteed 2 matches minimum.
Entertainment has been arranged for Saturday night in the form of a Squash Clinic with Malcolm Willstrop, and an exhibition between World No. 2 James Willstrop and ex-World Champion Lee Beachill.
Lee and James will then provide the evenings music in a band that also includes other well known squash players and professional musicians.
You’ll notice from the Competition Rules that games are now being played to 11, not 15, as England Squash and Racketball are trying to standardise scoring. Price Balls will again be used – Black for the Open, and Blue for the Age Groups.