2019/20 heating up - Upcoming Events!
Women's Squash Week
Sep 14-22, 2019
Many clubs across the province have joined in on Women's Squash Week to host events that celebrate Women in Squash!

Find an event near you and sign up!
Lunch & Learns at Sandcastle (Sep 14-Oct 5)
Sandcastle Fitness in White Rock South Surrey is kicking off the squash season with a Squash Lunch & Learn. This is a free event for everyone in the Surrey area to come out & play squash Saturday afternoons at Sandcastle.

Whether you’re new to squash or a squash veteran, come join the squash crowd at Sandcastle for Lunch & Learn from noon to 2pm every Saturday from September 14 – October 5.

This is open to young & old, male or female. Racquets, balls & instructors will be provided along with refreshments.

It’s all free!

If you’re a veteran squash player, it’s a good opportunity to get on court with people you haven’t played with before.

We believe in the many benefits of playing squash, not least of all, that squash is the best way to get that 45-minute cardio work-out and have fun doing it.
If you have children who are looking for a sport that they can enjoy for the rest of their lives, bring them by for Lunch & Learn at Sandcastle.

For more information, contact Tom Bedore at squash@sandcastle.com.
Shawnigan Lake Junior Open Sep 27-29
Come and enjoy the first Junior Tournament of the season!

With track pants and T-Shirt souvenir -- Great event prizes -- Draw prizes -- Meals Friday night, Saturday lunch, ongoing snacks... the event is a great pleaser!
Participants will be scheduled for a minimum of 3 matches.

As this event limits entries and fills quickly, it is important to register early to secure your participation
World Squash Day
World Squash Day was launched by a group of squash friends following the 9/11 attacks in the USA.

Many New York squash players were killed in the World Trade Center, including Derek Sword, a former Scottish junior international from Dundee.

World Squash Day was launched in their honour, and also to do something tangible for the game. 

Peter Nicol, a former junior international team-mate of Derek’s, agreed to become President of World Squash Day.
Registration opens September 1st
Vancouver Island Open
Oct 18-20
The VIO is one of the Island premier events to kick of the squash season

In accordance with Squash BC policy, player divisions will be based on Squash BC rankings or National rankings if applicable. There will be an Open Men's event. To qualify for this draw, players must have a minimum of 1550 Squash BC points or equivalent National ranking

There will be a Women’s Open Event based on the ranking of the Women entered in the Event, To qualify for this draw, players must have a minimum of 1250 Squash BC points or equivalent National ranking

Masters Divisions will be offered in this event. We endeavour to ensure no more than 3 matches for the players in the Masters Division

LOCAL PLAY ONLY - Thursday, October 16th
OUT OF TOWN players must be available by 5:30 pm Friday, Oct 18
Revelstoke Bear's Den Classic (Oct 18-20)
Join us for our 13th edition of the Bear's Den Classic!

There will be a 3 match guarantee, Friday and Saturday Dinners, Tee Shirt, snacks and of course our famous Mt Begbie Brewing Company on tap all weekend.
Howe Cup in Seattle! Nov 15-17
This year, the Howe Cup Women’s Team Championships, the United States’ largest squash event for women, will be in Seattle.
 
The tournament will be held at the Seattle Athletic club, just one block away from Pike Place market, from November 15-17.
 
This is a great opportunity for our BC Women players to form a team and go on a fun road trip to compete, have fun and form lasting friendships and memories!
Summer Squash Event Recaps
SquashFEST 2019
The ninth edition of SquashFEST is in the books! The 2019 SquashBC sanctioned event was another sold out show and Squash Republic would like to thank everyone that made the trek to beautiful Summerland BC! The weather was fantastic, the lake was gorgeous and the squash was epic

The finals all took place on Sunday at a reasonable time and the club was cleaned up and locked up by 1pm. Thanks to the Lakeshore Racquets Club for hosting us and thanks to our friends at Murray’s Pizza for the great 'za on Friday. Thanks also to SportyHQ and Squash BC for their assistance with this event.

For more on how the draws turned out, and the complete list of winners, please check out SquashFEST’s official website . Congrats to the Dingles champs Hussein and Maddy! 

BONUS: We just published 100+ photos from this year’s event and we invite you check out the album .
Plans are already in the works for the TENTH annual next year so keep your eyes and ears open as we know we’ll sell out quickly. FYI - The dates for 2020 are July 17-19. Put it in your calendar!

PS - We found a pair of women’s glasses. Are they yours? Email us: info@squashrepublic.com
Sun and Surf 2019 Venetian Masquerade
Another successful Sun and Surf is in the books. We had 147 participants from all over the Pacific Northwest; several Alberta participants from Edmonton and Calgary clubs along with travelers from Seattle, Portland and Vancouver Island.
 
The Open draw was stacked with players typically away during the fall/winter squash season and it likely represents the best local draw of the entire year in my humble opinion. 18-year-old Mitchell Kahnert, who is off to my alma mater the University of Western in September, upset second seed Harry Freeman, a Cornell Graduate, in five game quarter-final battle. 
Top seed Matt Toth, currently at #4 ranked Rochester in NY, edged out Tuffs Alumni and current Jericho Elite Duncan Maxwell in a very tight semi-final match 11-8, 11-9, 12-11. 
 
In the end however it was Jericho’s Ryan Picken who was in top form as he overcame Toth in a fantastic four game final. It was such a close and entertaining match which saw Toth diving multiple times to retrieve balls during long rallies. The action was back and forth but, in the end, Picken showed his determination and came out on top.
 
A very special thanks to our tournament committee of Megan MacMillan, Ryan Darby and Te’oms Abrahams. Our sponsors Whitelaw and Twining (Ryan Darby) and Can-Pacific Resource Enterprises (Leslie Cao) along with Eye Racquets who provided new shoes for all of this year’s winners. Finally to the squash volunteers and members who always go above and beyond to make this tournament run so smoothly.
Men's Open finalists: Matt Toth & Ryan Picken
Men's Open with Sponsors & Tournament Organizers
Women's A finalists: Amanda Thorman & Hermione Cao
Congratulations to all our winners from this year’s championships.
 
Open: Ryan Picken (JTC)
Men’s A: Ryan May
Men’s B: Leo Kwok
Men’s C: Matt Younger (JTC)
Men’s D: Daryn Hobal
Men’s 55+: Kuong Bosco Ao Leong
Women’s A: Amanda Thorman
Women’s B: Jen Janeck
Women’s C: Chelsea Ludwig
Women’s D: Molina Chow
Women and Girls
Squash BC is proud to present Women's Squash Week 2019
Squash BC is very proud to present the Promosapien WSW Ambassador program. In this program, WSW Ambassadors of all registered clubs will receive a signature WSW 2019 hoodie produced exclusively by Promospapien for the 2019 Women's Squash Week.
 
" Picking up squash as a new sport in my adult years was one of the best things I have ever done " said Stacy Hall, Head Honcho of Promosapien.

" Because of this experience I wanted to spread the word to BC women about what a great sport squash is to bring into your life. "
 
The apparel program enables Squash BC to show its appreciation to the women who help promote and encourage girls and women in their community to step onto a court for the first time, or perhaps again after a long absence.
 
" We are thrilled to have this kind of support by Promosapien and to have this level of recognition for our 2019 WSW ambassadors " said Natasha Doucas Squash BC President and Women and Girls committee member for the sport of squash in BC.
 
Squash BC encourages clubs to get those WSW registrations and the name of your Ambassador into office@squashbc.com no later than (Wednesday, August 28 because quantities are limited to the first 25 BC clubs.

Women's Squash Week is September 14-22nd and is proudly supported by ProMOTION PLus, Sport BC, Buntain Insurance, Island Woman's Magazine and Promosapien.
Women’s Squash Week (WSW) is an opportunity for clubs to encourage women and girls of all ages and skill levels to participate in singles and/or doubles squash in a fun, social environment.

The goal is social, not competitive, play to inspire women to get back on court after the summer, reconnect with old friends, and introduce new women players to the sport.
Other Squash News
The Victoria Squash Club closed August 1, 2019 and hopes to re-open either in the same location or different location.
A group of individuals are working at finding a new home the club - but it may take time.

In the meantime, a fundraising effort has been created and interested people can contact us at:

Squash Canada Announces 5 National Championship Hosts
Squash Canada is thrilled to announce several host clubs and dates for 2020 Canadian Championships. 

The events are the pinnacle of the squash season for over 1200 competitive players who have trained and dreamed of being crowned a Canadian Squash Champion.

Squash Canada is proud to see clubs from coast-to-coast come forward to take on hosting roles and provide an experience to players, coaches, and spectators.
Many of the selected clubs for 2020 have a long-standing history of hosting that have provided the squash community with an opportunity to compete on a grand stage and will look to do so again.
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