Squash: Glass court becomes heavy issue

By JULIE ASH

Auckland's chances of hosting a $135,000 tournament on the new women's world grand prix circuit could all come down to the logistics of shipping in a glass court.

The circuit involves the world's top 32 players, who will compete in eight elite tournaments, plus a final.

The series started with the British Open. The next event is the Hong Kong Open, starting today, but the remaining six tournaments in the series have yet to be confirmed.

The series requires all matches to be played on a $US140,000 ($338,000) all-glass court which will be shipped to each tournament.

New Zealand has been pencilled in to host a tournament from October 22 to 28, just days after the Melbourne Open. Grand Prix organisers set the date thinking it was logical for players to move on to New Zealand from Australia.

However, they did not take into account that it would take over a week to ship the seven-tonne glass court from Melbourne to Auckland.

Former Squash New Zealand chairman Neven Barbour has met the Grand Prix promoters, Eye Group, in England and is set to link up with them again this week to discuss whether it is possible to change the date of the tournament or organise another court to be shipped in.

"It is part of the conditions that a glass court is used," he said.

"It is not practical for us to get one from Melbourne to New Zealand for those dates, but there is the potential to bring a court down from the United States."

The glass court permits spectators to sit on all four sides of the court and allows easier television coverage.

Squash New Zealand hope to set the court up at the Viaduct Basin in Auckland.

Eye Group owns the rights to women's squash and has financially backed the Grand Prix series, although the host countries are required to put in some money.

Barbour said the promoters were keen to see a tournament staged in New Zealand, especially because it was the home of world No 1 Leilani Joyce.

"It will be great for squash and great for New Zealand," he said. "If it is not here this year, then it could still happen in the future."