Dunlop To Sponsor British Open Squash Championships
Leading British sports brand Dunlop will become the title sponsor of the 2005 British Open Squash Championships, event promoters iSPORTmarketing have announced.
The 2005 Dunlop British Open Squash Championships will be staged at the National Squash Centre in Manchester, in England, from 9–17 October. The event will feature the world’s leading male and female players, as well as a full programme of Masters events which will be split between the National Squash Centre and The Northern in Didsbury, Greater Manchester.
"I cannot think of a more appropriate title sponsor for the British Open Squash Championships, the sport's most famous event, than the sport's leading global brand Dunlop," said iSPORTmarketing founder Paul Walters on signing the agreement.
Toby Marcham, Squash Marketing Manager of Dunlop was equally upbeat about the agreement: “As the leading British sports brand, as well as the undisputed number one in squash, Dunlop are delighted to be the title sponsor of the 2005 Dunlop British Open Squash Championships – Manchester. The unrivalled heritage of the British Open makes the event the most important Championships in the world and through our long-term agreement with iSPORTmarketing, we plan to showcase this blue riband event throughout the UK to stimulate the widest possible interest in the sport.”
England Squash Chair Jackie Robinson added her enthusiasm for the new sponsors: "In addition to being the official ball of England Squash, we have had numerous associations with Dunlop over many years, but this is perhaps the most outstanding – and we look forward to working with the brand and iSPORTmarketing in this exciting new era for the British Open."
Dunlop is the official racket of the Professional Squash Association (PSA); is the most used racket on the PSA Tour; and is the official ball of the PSA, World Squash Federation (WSF), and Women’s International Squash Players' Association (WISPA), as well as England Squash.
The brand’s support will ensure that the prestigious Championships will attract the world's best men and women players. The women's event will be a Silver 25 WISPA World Tour championship, while the men’s championship will be a 5-star PSA Tour event, which will guarantee a star-studded field that will be led by world No1 and world champion Thierry Lincou from France; with defending champion David Palmer from Australia; England's world No2 and three-times British Champion Lee Beachill; and the charismatic former champion Jonathon Power from Canada.