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TOP REFEREES APPOINTED

Mon, 18 August 2008

TOP REFEREES APPOINTED FOR THE HI-TEC WORLD SQUASH CHAMPIONSHIPS – MANCHESTER 2008

England’s Wendy Danzey has been appointed Tournament Referee for The Hi-Tec World Squash Championships – Manchester 2008 and will lead a team of World, International and a group of English National Grade referees, for the nine day tournament which gets under way on Saturday 11th October.

Danzey will be supported by John Masarella (England), the Assistant Tournament Referee, while Ian Allanach (Scotland), Roy Gingell (Wales), Mike Riley (USA) and Graham Waters (Canada) will serve as World Referees. David Atkins (England) and Dean Clayton (England) complete the line up as the International Referees, while a group of English National Grade referees will be on hand to give their support during the opening rounds.

Danzey has vast experience of serving as a Tournament Referee at the highest level having held the post at one of squash’s largest tournaments, The European Team Championships at Nottingham in 2003. She also has the distinction of having served as Tournament Referee at the Dunlop British Open for the past six years, the past two Super Series Finals and was the match referee at last year’s Women’s World Open in Madrid.

A county league player herself for Trent Bridge SC, Danzey will be responsible for the playing conditions of the courts, selection and allocation of matches, supervision of match officials and act as The World Squash Federation’s representative on rules and refereeing matters.

Event Director, Paul Walters said, “We’re delighted to have such an experienced team of referees for The Hi-Tec World Squash Championships – Manchester 2008. Wendy has the respect of all the world’s leading players and will bring a huge amount of experience and strong leadership to the Championships. Our aim is to make these Championships the best ever staged and that runs right through from the playing conditions to the spectator experience, and we’re confident we have the right team of referees in place to ensure a superb tournament.”

Speaking about her appointment Wendy Danzey said, ”With the men’s and women’s Opens being combined at The Hi-Tec World Squash Championships – Manchester 2008 it promises to be one of the biggest tournaments ever staged and it’s a huge honour to have been appointed Tournament Referee.”

- ENDS -

For further information about the Hi-Tec World Squash Championships – Manchester 2008 or high resolution photography please contact the Event Press Office at Capitalize:

Leigh Ireland

Telephone: 020 7940 1705 / 020 7940 1700

Mobile: 07771 903354

E-mail: lireland@capitalize.co.uk

And

Howard Harding

Telephone: 01737-243333

Mobile: 07773-325130

E-mail: pressoffice@worldsquash2008.com

Notes to Editors:

About the Hi-Tec World Squash Championships - Manchester 2008

The Hi-Tec World Squash Championships - Manchester 2008 will be held at the world renowned National Squash Centre (NSC) at Sportcity in Manchester, from 11th-19th October 2008.  Information about the event can be found at http://www.worldsquash2008.com/ .

 

About the World Squash Federation (WSF) & the Professional Squash Association (PSA)

The World Squash Federation (WSF) is the international federation governing the sport of Squash.  It was founded in 1967 and is recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the General Assembly of International Sports Federations (GAISF) and the Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations (ARISF).

 

The WSF has an affiliation of 140 Member National Federations spread over five continents with some 50,000 courts.  Its mission is to develop Squash’s visibility and profile via World Championships and Major Games and provide aid to its members in grass roots development.

 

The World Squash Federation owns and sanctions all World Squash Championships.  It works closely with the Professional Squash Association (PSA) and the Women's International Squash Players Association (WISPA) in organising the Men's and Women's World Squash Open Championships.  The WSF also organises World Championships for Teams (Nations), Juniors and Masters.

 

The Professional Squash Association is the governing body for the men’s world professional circuit. From its head office in Cardiff, the Association coordinates and promotes the international tournament calendar and issues the monthly Dunlop World Rankings, as well as providing licences for specific high profile tournaments. Such an event is the Men’s World Open, the largest and most prestigious tournament on the world circuit which, in 2008, has been awarded to Manchester City Council as the Hi-Tec World Squash Championships - Manchester 2008. The Hi-Tec Men’s World Open 2008 will receive PSA's full international television and internet broadcast coverage to squash audiences around the world.

 

About Hi-Tec Sports

HI-TEC SPORTS was founded in the UK in 1974 and has since become a global brand with presence in over 90 countries worldwide.  Cementing the importance of the sport of Squash to the brand, the original success of the company can be attributed to Hi-Tec’s (and the sport’s) first ever shoe, THE HI-TEC SQUASH.  Specifically designed for the then fast growing game of squash it is an industry benchmark then and now, in fact few shoes in athletic footwear history have recorded unit sales of over 18 million pairs worldwide to date.  The Hi-Tec Squash remains Britain’s all time best selling sports shoe model to this day. 

 

About Manchester City Council

As host of the Hi-Tec World Squash Championships 2008, Manchester continues to strengthen its impressive reputation for successfully hosting major international sports championships. 2008 will see Manchester host five other World Class events including World Championships in Swimming and Track Cycling.  These events raise the City's global profile as a sporting 'Mecca' whilst bringing long-term social and economic benefits to Manchester and its residents.  The City's excellent range of accessible sports venues and facilities, combined with its school and community sports development programmes, provide the springboard for Manchester's sporting stars of the future.

 

About England Squash

England Squash is the governing body for squash in England and is responsible for the organisation and promotion of the sport.  It comprises 38 County Associations, approximately 1,000 Clubs and 50,000 Individual members aged from 8 to 80.   England Squash develops programmes and resources across the whole spectrum of the sport, from grassroots development, through coaching and competitions for all ages and abilities, to producing World, European and Commonwealth champions on a regular basis.

 

About UK Sport

The Hi-Tec World Squash Championships – Manchester 2008 has been part funded by UK Sport’s National Lottery-funded World Class Events Programme, which aims to secure events of strategic importance that deliver a range of lasting benefits. These include economic, social and cultural benefits as well as improving sporting performance by home athletes, encouraging participation and leaving a legacy of facilities and development initiatives. Over 120 sporting events have been staged in the UK through the programme since 1997. More at http://www.uksport.gov.uk/.

 

About the NWDA

Major events make an important contribution to the economic development of the region, as well as helping to project the Northwest on the world stage. Over the last two years, events supported by the NWDA have resulted in 1.2 million visitors, 180,000 bed nights and a £40 million contribution to regional economy - as well as 32 hours of national television coverage. Through its Major Events Strategy the NWDA will continue to attract and support events such as the Hi-Tec World Squash Championships – Manchester 2008 and will work hard to capitalise on the economic, tourism, and image benefits that can be achieved through hosting of events of this nature.

 

About Dunlop Sport

Dunlop, the number one brand in squash equipment, is committed to sport at all levels from grass roots to elite play. Within squash Dunlop dominates the racket and ball market as the No.1 choice for discerning players worldwide.   On the Professional World Tour Dunlop is the most used racket and also the choice of World No.1 Amr Shabana.  Dunlop squash balls are used at all major squash events as the Official Ball of the World Squash Federation, Professional Squash Association and the Women's International Squash Players Association.   As market leaders Dunlop is also at the forefront of new product development and has recently launched Aerogel as the next generation in high performance racket technology. For more information visit http://www.dunlopsport.com/.

 

About Manchester Evening News

The Manchester Evening News is the UK’s highest circulating and most widely read regional daily newspaper.  It is part of the M.E.N. media portfolio of companies in Greater Manchester.  M.E.N. Media is a wholly owned subsidiary of Guardian Media Group plc.  Along with the Manchester Evening News, the M.E.N. Media portfolio includes more than 20 daily and weekly paid and free newspapers, Channel M Television, the UK’s most successful city TV station, available via a free to air terrestrial analogue signal on channel 39, Virgin Media, channel 878 and on the SKY platform, EPG Guide No. 203 and a large number of local and regional websites which serve the whole of the Greater Manchester region and beyond.  As the best source of sporting information for the region, the Manchester Evening News is delighted to be a Media Sponsor for the Hi-Tec World Squash Championships – Manchester 2008. 

 

About sportdiscount.com

sportdiscount.com™ is the World's leading online squash equipment, clothing and footwear supplier, offering the best brands, best prices, best delivery and secure online shopping. Whether you are an amateur or professional player you can browse the online range of squash equipment, from squash rackets, balls, clothing, footwear and more. sportdiscount.com is the Official Retailer at many leading squash championships, including: British National Championships, Dunlop British Open, British Grand Prix, English Grand Prix, Canary Wharf Classic & English Open.

 

 

Partners and Sponsors:
Hi-Tec
Northwest Regional Development Agency
UK Sport
Manchester Evening News
sportdiscount.com
Dunlop Sport
England Squash
Manchester City Council