A number of the world’s best professional squash players will be in Galway this Easter for the annual “Paddy Whack” West of Ireland Open Squash Championship.
Hosted by the Galway Lawn Tennis Club, and once again sponsored by Garavan’s Bar, the open returns for a seventh successive year with top professional players who compete on the world circuit.
No 1 seed Mohamed Ali Anwar Reda from Egypt, world rank 47, and No 2 seed Henrik Mustonen from Finland, world rank 52, are two of the players who will be in in action, competing for the €10,000 prize fund.
Players well inside the top 50 start their first round action today (Thursday ) in the hopes of progressing to the final, scheduled for Easter Sunday with the winner receiving the coveted Paddy “Whack” Walsh Memorial Trophy in honour of the late Paddy Walsh.
The West of Ireland Open runs alongside an amateur competition which sees large numbers of national and international squash players competing alongside the pros.
Event director and squash club captain, Andre Davies, says the event is “definitely well worth a visit”.
“As a club and a city we really don’t realise how lucky we are to have such amazing athletes at the top of their game coming to Galway to play.
“GLTC has been incredibly fortunate to have had a sole sponsor for this event over the last few years. Paul Garavan of Garavan’s bar, a keen squash player himself, has provided funding for this event and without it the event simply would not go ahead.”
Admission is open to everyone and is free of charge. Visitors can view the club facilities and avail of special membership offers as well.
Easter Bunny Tournament
In other action at the club, the annual Easter Bunny Tournament, held last weekend, boasted a mixed format this yea.
Gerry Smyth and Helen Lawless captured the eggs in the A grade, while John McKinnon and Phil O’Reilly were triumphant in the B grade.
April promises to be a busy month at Threadneedle Road with a friendly against Lansdowne Tennis Club on Saturday April 13, The Ray Rooney Memorial Doubles Tournament on April 21/22, and a charity event Tennis Against Suicide which is a mixed doubles event for juniors and seniors on Saturday April 27.
