SOME of the best squash players in NSW will once again be in action this weekend when the Bathurst Panthers Masters titles roll into town.
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The tournament, for players aged 35 and over, will see 130 competitors compete over the two days.
They will be spread across twelve divisions, each determined by grading, not gender.
While defending champion Gary Piggott won’t be returning to chase another title, tournament organiser Dave Fuller believes that the quality of competitors is stronger than in previous years.
“I think this competition is going to be the strongest masters division one played in NSW in a very long time,” Fuller said.
“Both the number one and two seeds play premier league in Sydney so beating them will be a challenge.”
The top ranked Con Elistheriou will head into the division one competition as favourite, but sitting right behind him will be former Bathurst junior Kevin Geyer.
Now based in Sydney, Geyer has made his way back to Bathurst to contest the event.
Fuller may not be one of the favourites for this years competition, but his previous form in the tournament can’t be discounted.
He pushed Piggott all the way in last year’s final, eventually going down 3-1, after numerous chances to push the match to five sets.
The Bathurst round of the series is the longest surviving tournament on the NSW Masters squash calendar and Fuller believes that it will only continue to grow.
“We have 130 people registered for this year’s tournament which is a fantastic number.”
“It’s about 30 up on last year, so it’s positive to see the event is so strong.”
One difference is a drop in local competitors for 2011, but according to Fuller this has been evened out by higher participation from those around NSW.
Fuller, himself a former division one champion, will be one of the few locals in action.
He will be joined by around six other Bathurst competitors, who will be competing across a number of divisions.
Each of these divisions will contain between eight and 14 players, with a triple plate format being adopted over the weekend.
Also on the program, if time allows, will be the AXA Masters Skins event on Saturday afternoon.
First introduced in 2009, it involves names being pulled from a hat to determine a draw, with participants playing a shorter four round single plate competition.
Play will get underway on Saturday and Sunday at 8:30am, at the Bathurst City Squash Centre and Bathurst Panthers Squash Club.
Finals will be held from 4pm on Sunday afternoon, with the skins event to be held on Saturday afternoon if time allows.
