|
BRITISH OPEN SQUASH NEWS Transatlantic Partnership Injects New Life Into British Open Two of the world's leading sports promoters, one an Old Etonian from England and the other a Princeton graduate from Boston, Massachusetts, are combining their considerable expertise to inject new life into the British Open, the 'Wimbledon of Squash'. John Beddington is a highly-regarded international sports management expert with almost thirty years' experience. He is particularly well known in racket sports and has been involved in the staging and management of almost 150 major international tennis or squash tournaments, for which he has received several organisational awards and tributes. Since returning to the UK from Canada, where he built the men's and women's Canadian Opens into two of the top ten tennis events in the world, he has launched the flagship event on the sport's worldwide Champions Tour - the Honda Challenge, which is staged at the Royal Albert Hall in London. John Nimick, a winner of four North American Grand Slam squash titles, has rapidly become the world's leading promoter of international squash events. The former Executive Director of the Professional Squash Association (PSA), Nimick stages the Tournament of Champions and US Open at two of the world's most distinctive venues - Grand Central Station in New York and the Symphony Hall in Boston, respectively. Squash's British Open has struggled to maintain the glory of its halcyon days of the 80s and early 90s, when the championships were staged at Wembley and boasted six-figure budgets. "When we discovered that this year's British Open was not going to happen, I felt we must do something about it," said Beddington. "It's the most important event in squash, the one title which historically every player wants to win. If you've won it, you're something for ever." Beddington and Nimick have been friends for many years and are planning to work together on projects in North America. "So we decided to take on the British Open together - we agreed that we can't let it go to the wind," Beddington explained. "John has serious marketing expertise in event promotion and my skill is in ensuring that companies supporting events achieve the commercial objectives they set. "Believe me, we're not going to build swimming pools as a result of this - but if we can keep the British Open going, we hope to re-establish its status as the premier event on the world stage," added Beddington. "We will undoubtedly make a loss on this year's event, but it's a vital building process." In the short time since acquiring the British Open rights from England Squash, they have introduced a number of Associate Sponsors, including the Bulldog Trust, Head, Hi-Tec Sports, Sportdiscount.com, Toshiba, A&P Computers and Nottingham Park Plaza Hotel. In addition, Beddington is keen to highlight their vital support team, headed by Tournament Director Andrew Shelley, a veteran of 18 British Opens since 1980. "John and I would never have taken on this project if we hadn't been sure that Andrew would work with us - his experience has been absolutely vital in getting this off the ground," said Beddington. "Phil Songhurst and his excellent team at Nottingham Squash Club have also been invaluable to us. Indeed, everybody has worked together outstandingly well - as we had hoped, or we would never have pressed the 'go' button! "It may take a year or two to get the British Open back on its feet, as squash has lost a little of its veneer of late - but then so has tennis. But we have been able to make the Honda Challenge into the most successful new tennis event for many years - and I am quite confident that our new team can do the same for the British Open Squash Championships," Beddington concluded. The 2003 British Open Squash Championships, which will feature the world's top players, will take place at the Albert Hall in Nottingham from 01-05 October, following qualifying rounds at Nottingham Squash Club. Tickets are available from the special telephone hotline 0115-941 9419. Further details regarding ticket availability can be received by emailing |
Squashweb.nl
De internet pagina voor Squash in Nederland