NANAIMO — The biggest event on the 2023 calendar for the Nanaimo Squash Club happens in the first month of the year.
The Nanaimo Open will run from Jan. 27-29 with five divisions and men’s and women’s draws.
Club manager Sylvia Anderson said they expect players from Nanaimo and all over the region.
“There is a contingent of players registered from Chilliwack and we expect sign ups from Victoria, Whitehorse, Squamish, Vancouver, Courtenay, Port Alberni and possibly Washington state.”
There will be several locals in contention to win the Nanaimo Open this year, which has taken a two year hiatus because of COVID-19.
“Douglas Hardie, Shawn Dooley, and Caitlyn Campbell are favourites the from NSC,” Anderson said. “They have all been training relentlessly since 2020. We expect to see at least one of those names on the Dave Johnston Memorial Trophy.”
Hardie is a player ranked in the top 100 in the province according to the Squash BC website.
The event itself has been around for many years but Anderson couldn’t pinpoint which year it began.
“The Nanaimo Open has been an annual event since before living memory. However, there are only financial records from the current bookkeeper when she started with the club in 2012.”
The current Nanaimo Squash Club opened in 1981 and is sitting at approximately 130 members.
“We’re rebuilding after COVID and aiming for 200 members. At 50 members per court, that would be low by BC and world standards, and leave the court schedule uncrowded, with plenty of opportunity for members to play as much as they want.”
Anyone looking to try the sport or get back into squash can come out on Wednesday nights for a weekly drop in session from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The NSC also has a junior program which is gaining momentum.
There are also other squash programs and private lessons put on by the club pro Richard Birks.
Local news. Delivered. Free. Subscribe to our daily news wrap and get our top local stories delivered to your email inbox every evening
info@nanaimonewsnow.com
On Twitter: @NanaimoNewsNOW
