www.nationalsquashchamps.co.uk

2004 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS PROMISE WORLD-CLASS FIELD

The 2004 British National Squash Championships, which are guaranteed to attract a world-class field, will be held at the National Squash Centre at Sportcity in Manchester from 08-15 February.

Defending champions Peter Nicol, the world No1 from London, and Cassie Jackman, the world No6 from Norwich who is in line to win the women's title for a record sixth time, will be amongst the top players from England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland aiming for a share of the £25,000 prize fund.

The event will be staged on the National Squash Centre's permanently-sited all-glass showcourt.  The spectacular court, which made its debut when the NSC hosted the squash action at the Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games, will be moved from its regular position in the Squash Centre into the adjacent athletics arena on its unique 'hovercraft-like' base.

The 2004 championships will be supported for the fourth year by the Manchester Partnership, featuring Hi-Tec, Manchester Leisure Sport, Dunlop Sport, www.squashdiscount.com, England Squash, Manchester City Council, e-squash, Manchester Evening News, Goudie International, UltraFit magazine and Honda.  In addition to the Men's and Women's events, the event will also include Masters Championships from Men's and Women's Over-35 to Men's Over-65. 

Councillor Mark Hackett, Manchester City Council's Executive Member for Culture & Leisure, said:  "We are delighted to welcome the 2004 National Squash Championships to Manchester.  The National Squash Centre - part of the fantastic legacy left by the Commonwealth Games - is a superb venue for the competition.  The Championships are certain to deliver a further boost for the sport in the city and the hundreds of people already playing squash in Manchester."

Nick Rider, Chief Executive of England Squash, added: "We are delighted with the continued success of the National Squash Championships, during which everyone has the chance to see some of the best players in the world competing for the highest domestic honours.   That the Nationals thrive like they do is due in no small part to the great efforts made by everyone in the Manchester Squash Partnership, whose support makes this the great event it has become."

Tickets, from £5.00 to £14.00, will be available from 1st November from Ticketmaster - either via the special National Championships hotline 0870-602 1188 or via the website www.ticketmaster.co.uk

All the 2003 Nationals action will be covered by official media partner www.squashmedia.org, featuring the event's dedicated website www.nationalsquashchamps.co.uk