WISPA 2000 Jamaica

Michelle joins up in Peru	El Salvador Squash Dream	Jamaican Jaunt

07-Jul TARANTINO BECOMES WISPA PATRON US squash enthusiast Tom Tarantino has been appointed a Patron of the Women's International Squash Players' Association, the WISPA board announced today. "After many years of both organising and financially supporting the Philadelphia Open, Tom Tarantino decided that he wanted to change course and offer more direct assistance to WISPA," explained board member Natalie Grainger. "This has taken the form of funding the travel which has made the WISPA promotional tours possible. "He has also personally involved himself in these visits and other WISPA activities, in a low profile, unassuming, but hugely supportive way," added the world No5 from England. Appropriately, the award was presented to Tarantino by Natalie Grainger and fellow WISPA member Sabine Schoene in Peru during the final leg of the latest WISPA tour, last month's nine-day visit to the Caribbean, Central and South America. Picture: Tom Tarantino receives his WISPA award, and appropriate greetings, from Natalie Grainger (left) and Sabine Schoene. 03-Jul MICHELLE MARTIN JOINS WISPA TOUR CLIMAX IN PERU The nine-day promotional tour of the Caribbean, Central and South America - organised by the Women's International Squash Players' Association (WISPA) and led by England's world No5 Natalie Grainger and Germany's No1 Sabine Schoene, the world No8 - came to an excellent climax in Peru where the party was joined by Australia's former world No1 Michelle Martin. Martin, who has not played a single game of squash since retiring in November last year as the world No1, has been back-packing in South America with her husband Steve since March - and arrived in Lima to support her former WISPA colleagues after following the Inca trail. Grainger and Schoene were in action within minutes of stepping off the delayed flight from San Salvador, via San Jose in Costa Rica - playing enthusiastic members of the Milenium Sports Club in Lima. The glass window in the back wall of the court gives gym users an enticing view of the squash action - with the result that the go-ahead club is now planning a further court to meet increasing demand. The WISPA visit was hosted by the Peru Squash Federation, whose President-elect Rafael Ribeyro personally organised a press conference and visits to five of the capital city's leading squash clubs. First stop on the second day was the Waikiki Club on the Lima seafront - an exclusive tennis and squash venue which began life as a surfing club. The WISPA pair demonstrated their talents on two impressive courts carved into the cliff face. Later at the established Las Terrazas club, Natalie and Sabine dismissed Jose Manuel Elias and Federico Mecklemburg, Peru's No1 and No2 men respectively, on courts below ground level - access to which requires players to climb down a narrow shaft leading to the rear door of the court! By now, Peru's answer to 'Delhi belly' was beginning to take effect - and the planned exhibition match at the prestigious Lima Golf Club, in parkland in the heart of the city, took the form of a question-and-answer session for members. Natalie and Sabine put on brave but pale faces, when not absenting themselves regularly! A few hours sleep later and the plucky pair were back on court - Natalie facing Peruvian No3 Pepe Montes and Sabine the No5 Ignacio Aguirre at the famous Regatas Club. Peru's oldest members club, which recently celebrated its 125th anniversary, boasts an incredible 15,000 members - who can participate in 43 sports on a vast stretch of land reclaimed from the sea at one end of the Lima bay. Following convincing victories against their male opponents, Grainger and Schoene summoned their last ounces of energy in their final Peruvian performance - an exhibition match in front of a capacity Regatas crowd. "Events like this are very draining. There's always so much demand on you - in many ways it's just as arduous as playing in a serious tournament," said a relaxed Michelle Martin from the comfort of the spectator gallery. When asked if she missed life on the WISPA World Tour, Michelle was frank: "I do miss the tournaments, but I certainly don't miss the travelling, often having to arrive days before an event starts to acclimatise, then the endless hanging around waiting for matches to start. "But you've got to move on, and I decided last November that the time was right - and I haven't been onto a squash court since!" After moving on to the USA, then to London and Vienna, the pair expect to back home in Sydney by next September. "By then, I'm sure I will get back into squash - the competitive side of me is still there - but I'll stick to club squash and hopefully lose a few of the pounds I've put on since I gave up a lifetime of training," said the newest member of WISPA's illustrious Hall of Fame. Federation President Rafael Ribeyro was clear about the principal benefit of the WISPA visit to Peru: "It has helped to make squash better known in my country. We have between three and four thousand players in Peru - some 99% of whom are here in Lima - and the publicity you have helped us to generate will hopefully help that figure grow over the coming years," Ribeyro added. Director Andrew Shelley was full of praise of the WISPA stars' performance in the final leg of their transatlantic tour: "Peruvian enthusiasts have been treated to a wonderful display of top quality squash - and, in particular, spectators on the final day didn't just see professionals, but professionalism at its very best. Natalie and Sabine were very sick but somehow crawled out of bed to avoid letting anybody down - everybody associated with women's squash should be extremely proud of them." On squash in Peru, Shelley continued: "There's an infrastructure here waiting to be developed - both in terms of domestic competition and providing opportunities for local players to see regular international squash," he said, alluding to difficulties the Federation currently faces in securing backing by the country's national sports body. "The enthusiasm received by the two WISPA players was overwhelming - and the appetite here for more is all too clear." Natalie Grainger added: "From the moment we arrived, I realised that the personalities of the South American people were consistent with what we had met in Central America, ie. friendly, helpful and concerned with our well-being. It was great to play the best men in Peru, and be able to show off our skills in front of thrilled crowds." Sabine Schoene agreed with her partner: "They were all very friendly - but best of all was all the kissing business. I've never been kissed by so many people in such a short time in my life before - I can't wait to come back!" 26-Jun WISPA TOUR FULFILS EL SALVADOR SQUASH DREAM For a country that boasts less than 20 courts - many of which are cement-floored - El Salvador is one of the world's smallest squash-playing nations. Yet, the infectious enthusiasm, determination, drive and vision of the Salvadoran Squash Federation, led by President Luis Arturo 'Tuto' Walsh and his Manager Carolina Vega, has resulted in the construction of seven courts at the Maya Country Club in the country's capital San Salvador - a facility which must be the envy of many of the sport's leading nations. Completed less than a month ago, the complex features five new singles courts, an international doubles court, and a three-sided glass ASB championship court - in pride of place in the centre of the club's now-transformed former indoor tennis hall. Furthermore, the Squash Federation is now also based at the club, managing the courts and taking bookings from 6.00am until late in the evening. San Salvador was the base for the second leg of the nine-day promotional tour of the Caribbean, Central and South America - organised by the Women's International Squash Players' Association (WISPA) and led by England's world No5 Natalie Grainger and Germany's No1 Sabine Schoene, the world No8. The trip was hosted by the Salvadoran Squash Federation who organised a full programme including meetings with the media, coaching sessions with youngsters and national squads, and challenges against local players at the Maya Country Club - Sabine taking on the country's No2 man Alex Cristiani, and Natalie the No1 Nelson Coronado. A press conference attracted four TV networks, including Channels 2, 4, 6, and 12 - who also filmed entertaining matches between the two WISPA stars and Carolina Vega and Frayda Aisenberg, the women's numbers one and two, respectively, in the country. The Federation's 'Search For Talent' junior development programme has already attracted more than 30 eager boys and girls - despite the fact that the city's former leading squash club was pulled down before the Maya Club's development was complete, leaving the nation for some months without any reasonable court facilities. Natalie and Sabine worked with many of these juniors, including sixteen-year-olds Martha Escobar and Kharis Rauda, who showed considerable natural talent. After a coaching session with the El Salvador women's squad - (back L to R): Claudia O'Farrell, Frayda Aisenberg, Federation President Arturo Walsh, and Cristina Echeverria. Front: Natalie Grainger, Sabine Schoene, Carolina Vega LEADING AMBASSADOR WAS FORMER PRESIDENT One of squash's greatest ambassadors in El Salvador, who is credited with having introduced the sport to the country in the sixties, is Felix Cristiani - the President of El Salvador between 1989 and 1994. So inspired was the twice former national champion after seeing the challenge between Sabine Schoene and his No2-ranked son Alex, that he organised a match for himself the following day on the new courts - marking a return to the game after more than eleven years! "I finally retired from politics just over a week ago - and now look forward to being normal again," said the former President, whose wife also held the national women's title for a number of years. "Seeing the way the girls played made me want to get back on court again." Squash has a number of supporters in high places in Central America. The President of Guatemala until 1999 is also a keen player, and was planning to join his El Salvador equivalent, a close friend, at the WISPA extravaganza, but a heavy schedule ultimately ruled this out. "The WISPA visit was a dream come true for us," said Carolina Vega at the end of the visit. "To be able to see this level of squash in our country has been a real inspiration - and we know that if we want to be competitive internationally, we have to be able to experience what squash at this level is all about, so that future generations of players can have better chances of international success. "One of my personal ambitions is to stage a WISPA event in El Salvador, maybe not this year, but soon," added the tireless Federation organiser and player. "We need to build more courts, including hopefully converting the cement floor courts to wooden floors. A month ago we had nothing, and now we have an exciting new seven-court club - and this has been a fantastic boost for squash in our country." Within days of the completion of the Maya courts, El Salvador hosted the 2nd Central American Championships - and the Federation is thrilled to be hosting next year's Pan American Championships in San Salvador in May. WISPA OPTIMISM WISPA Director Andrew Shelley was full of optimism about the El Salvador excursion: "We went to El Salvador having little idea of what to expect - and came away bowled over by the enthusiasm and potential of a small country virtually unknown to us in squash terms. "To have a centre at the Maya Country Club capable of hosting major international championships, and the wherewithal to do so, will potentially pull other countries in the region into an international competition structure which will benefit the sport both domestically and internationally," Shelley added. "More kids, more participants and more interest equals a growing sport. It was great to be there and witness the start of a quiet revolution," enthused Shelley. Sabine Schoene was also struck by the Salvadoran experience: "They gave us a great welcome and had so much enthusiasm," said the record thirteen-times German national champion. "I also really liked working with the players, who had a real fighting spirit. I'm sure that when they play more against different people, they will improve really quickly. "It's also wonderful to see a country, where the sport is very young, having great ASB courts - especially a three-sided glass court and a doubles court," said Sabine. "It made me feel quite at home!" Natalie Grainger, who broke off a summer training programme in St Louis in the USA to join the trip, said: "I love the idea of being in a country where the hotel we were staying in is beneath a volcano - and where a hurricane is expected at the weekend. It's a thrilling place, filled with warm and friendly people, and it would be great to see a WISPA event here. "Everybody has so much enthusiasm, and I think our trip has given them a lot to aim for in terms of putting squash on the map in their country - and, for us, the chance to extend our tour by one more country in the world," noted Natalie. 24-Jun-2000 WISPA Jamaican Jaunt Both the temperature and the welcome were wonderfully warm in Jamaica during the first leg of the nine-day promotional tour of the Caribbean and South America organised by the Women's International Squash Players' Association (WISPA). "It was a pleasure to spend so much time on court with such enthusiastic players of all ages," said England's world No5 Natalie Grainger, who led the trip with Germany's No1 Sabine Schoene. "Many of the youngsters we worked with showed a lot of promise, and could really strike the ball well," added the world No8 from Munich. The trip was hosted by the Jamaica Squash Association (JSA), who organised a full programme for the two leading WISPA stars, including meetings with local players, the media, coaches and event organisers at Kingston's prestigious Liguanea Club, the country's leading members' club. Grainger and Schoene also ran clinics and training sessions, and entranced packed galleries who watched their exhibition matches on the club's championship court. "The visit achieved two notable benefits," explained JSA President Douglas Beckford. "It showed us the incredible standards of world-class women's squash, and generally heightened the awareness of the sport in Jamaica." The two-day stopover attracted widespread media coverage on national TV, radio and in the press. The climax of the Jamaican jamboree was the ultimate battle of the sexes, in which more than 200 Kingston squash enthusiasts witnessed Sabine taking on Jamaica's men's No2 Steve Smith and Natalie facing the new No1 Wayne Prescod. In searing temperatures of more than 90 degrees, with humidity to match, the men's local honour on their favourite open-air court was upheld - with Smith coming back from two down to win in five, and Prescod clinching his clash in four. "They were great matches, but we were still feeling the effects of our long coaching sessions with the national junior squad in the afternoon," said the exhausted and dehydrated WISPA pair afterwards. WISPA TOUR EVENT IN JAMAICA Plans to stage the first professional women's squash tournament in Jamaica were also discussed in Kingston. Whilst one of the JSA's priorities is to develop the junior squash programme which is already in place, Douglas Beckford acknowledged that the Association would strive to find sponsorship which would enable Jamaica to stage a WISPA Tour event which would attract an international field to the island". "There are already plans to create a new Central and South American women's circuit, and we would love to come to Jamaica to play a World Tour event," WISPA's Andrew Shelley told journalists at a press conference. Shelley outlined the growth the players' body had undergone in the last five years. "It is important, however, for us to be pro-active in promoting our sport and not just sit back, waiting for new countries and event organisers to approach us," explained Shelley. With six courts, including a championship court with potential seating for more than 300 spectators, the Liguanea Club would be a natural host for such a WISPA World Tour event. "We are the home of squash in Jamaica, where all the top players play," said manager Ken Barnes, a retired Colonel in the Jamaican army and father of former England and Liverpool soccer star John Barnes. Founded in 1910 in colonial Jamaica as an exclusive sporting club, the Liguanea Club is set in lush tropical landscape in the heart of New Kingston, with 1,500 members and facilities which include eight floodlight tennis courts. Squash in Jamaica, which supports national men's, women's, junior and veteran teams, as well as a national league, thrives on less than 30 member club courts on the island. In April, Jamaica retained the Rosebowl title, the annual regional championship between the four Caribbean countries (featuring Bermuda, Cayman Islands and Bahamas) now in its fifth decade. "Our greatest achievement was our women's team finishing in fifth place in the 1999 Pan American Games, in our first year in the competition," said the JSA President. "We were also the only country out of the top six (Canada, USA, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and Colombia) to qualify both its men's and women's teams," added Douglas Beckford with pride. As the WISPA party prepared to move on to its second port of call, El Salvador's capital city San Salvador, Natalie Grainger expressed her gratitude to the Kingston organisers. "We had a great time in Jamaica and were royally looked after by the JSA and the Liguanea Club," said the WISPA board member. "And they do the best omelettes!"