The 8th World Masters Championships scheduled for Cape Town, South Africa from 16-21 October will see the biggest individual squash championships ever in Africa, with 672 players from 31 countries participating in the 16 age-group sections.
The age-group sections for women are 35-39; 40-44; 45-49; 50-54; 55-59; 60-64; and 65+.
For the first time since 1995 there will be a 65+ women’s section, and South African Dawn Kaiser will appear as the top seed.
The biggest contingent of players is from South Africa, followed by the UK, Australia and Finland, who was the host in 2003 for the bi-annual championships.
The event was not held in 2005 as the World Masters Games, which included squash, took place in Canada.
2006 sees some players who won titles in Espoo in 2003 again in action.
Angie Clifton-Parks (RSA, 35-39 age group), Susan Williams (Eng, 40-44), Pauline Douglas (Sco, 45-49), Averil Murphy (Eng, 55-59) and Jean Grainger (RSA, 60-64) are among players confirmed to participate.
Bett Dryhurst, the top seed in the women’s 60-64 age group leads the pack with victories in 1992 (45-49), 1997 (50-54), and she defended that title in 1999 again.
Averil Murphy, the number 1 seed in the women’s 55-59 group was victorious in 1989 in the 40-44 section and then 14 years later lifted the 55-59 crown.
South African Jean Grainger (the 55–59 title in 1999, and then the 60+ title in 2003) plays in the 60-64 group.
Much interest will focus on the effervescent Sarah Fitz-Gerald of Australia, who will be playing in the event for the first time.
Fitz-Gerald, five times world champion, winner of 65 WISPA titles, was a gold medallist in both the singles and the team event in Canada and recently successfully defended her British Open 35-39 title.
The championship promises many exciting clashes at the various venues – Western Province Cricket Club, VOB, Villagers, Bishops and Kelvin Grove.
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