16-Mar-04:
PALMER FACES RACE AGAINST
THE CLOCK TO PLAY IN
LONDON AND BIRMINGHAM
 Former
world squash champion David Palmer faces a race against the clock
to play in London and Birmingham on the same evening next week.
Palmer kicks off the Canary Wharf Squash Classic against top seed John
White on Tuesday in a re-run of their dramatic 2002 World Open final
in Antwerp after performing a spectacular U-turn this week.
The Australian was on the verge of withdrawing from the Classic after his
National League side, Edgbaston Priory, were unable to change the date of
their National League play-off semi-final
clash with Hertfordshire club Broxbourne, scheduled for the same evening.
However, rather than let anybody down, Palmer has decided to play in
BOTH competitions. Organisers of the Canary Wharf Classic heaved a
huge sigh of relief when Palmer said he would play after all, and hastily
rescheduled his match against White to open proceedings at 6pm sharp on
Tuesday.
Edgbaston club officials will have a car on standby to whisk him up to the
Midlands the moment his match is over.
"It's a huge relief, to say the least," said co-promoter Tim Garner. "All
the top guys are playing in the Bermuda Open
this weekend and Peter Nicol was primed to approach some other players to
fill the gap had David been forced to withdraw.
"It shows what a great sport David is to commit himself to both his club
side and our new tournament. We wish him well against Broxbourne and hope
he gets a good night's sleep before travelling back to Canary Wharf on
Wednesday for his match against Lee Beachill."
BEST OF SEVEN
IN THE FINAL:
Garner also announced that the final
of the Canary Wharf Squash Classic would be the best of SEVEN games
in a first for squash.
The event will feature experimental point-a-rally scoring to nine
instead of the 15-point target currently in use in PSA competitions.
Garner added: "We are looking forward to the response from both players
and spectators to the new scoring system, and we wanted to make the final
stand out from the other matches. For the first time in the history of
squash, a player can come back from three games down to win a match."
CORPORATE CHALLENGE
The Canary Wharf Classic will feature a Corporate Challenge match
on each of the four days of play.
Each match will feature 3-man teams, PAR to 9, with each winning team
receiving a Jeroboam of Champagne.
Tue 12-2pm: The Mirror Group v Waitrose Plc
Wed 12-2pm: Clifford Chance v KPMG
Thu 12-2pm: Citibank v Bank of Scotland
Fri 3.30-5.30pm: Barclays Capital v CSFB
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Canary Wharf Classic
CORPORATE
CHALLENGE
Tue 12-2pm:
The Mirror Group v Waitrose Plc
Wed 12-2pm:
Clifford Chance v KPMG
Thu 12-2pm:
Citibank v Bank of Scotland
Fri 3.30-5.30pm:
Barclays Capital v CSFB
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Ticket Hotline:
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Venue Box office
ONLINE TICKET SALES
HAVE NOW CEASED
SEATING PLAN
click for larger view
Pool Matches (Tue-Thu)
£15.00 to £22.50
FINALS (Fri)
£20/£25
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