|
|
Bermuda EN BREF Issue #4
Everything you never knew you needed to know about the Bermuda
Masters |
In The Papers
"Squash doesn't get the newspaper coverage it deserves" is a cry you
often hear, in the UK at least.
Well it doesn't apply here in Bermuda, where the Royal Gazette has
two journalists on hand, Dan Rutstein and Sam Stevens, who are
providing fantastic coverage - dominating the sports section and
making the main front page too (and Sam's not a bad player either,
as he showed in a challenge match on quarter-finals evening).
Is Tournament Chairman Kim Carter pleased with the coverage ... you
bet!
 |
A Perfect Place to
Pop the Question
 When
Robert Edwards was in Canada for the West Edmonton Mall Open, he was
so impressed with one of the event team that he seconded her as his
personal assistant.
Since then Karen MacKeen has worked with Robert on events such as
the Kuwait Open (where the Sheikha was keen for Robert to have a
female assistant) and the inaugural Saudi Open - a tough one that,
given the complexities in Saudi, the travelling and so on.
She came across to Bermuda on holiday with her boyfriend Rod, timing
it so that he could see the professional squash world with which she
had been involved.
But rather than surprising Rod with what goes on at these events it
was Karen who got the surprise, when Rod chose this trip to propose
marriage!
Well, in a place like this, and with a ring like that, what would
you say !!! |
Bermuda EN BREF Issue #3
Everything you never knew you needed to know about the Bermuda
Masters |
|
There's a rat on court
Well, lots of rats actually. We had a bird too, flying around inside
the Gym for a day or so, but fortunately only alighting on the court
during practice sessions. I wonder what the referee's call would
have been for that one?
But back to the rats. The hot conditions here make the players sweat
profusely, so the court floor needs cleaning pretty frequently, and
not just after dives and spills.
And who better to perform the job than the "Court Rats", a dedicated
band of youngsters who pop up and down the stairs, on and off the
court, constantly during play, sometimes aided and abetted by the
players ...
THE COURT RATS
Karin, David, Queen Rat
Geraldine,
Christian, Geoff, Kion, Dylan |
M-y N-a-m-e I-s ...
 The
VS team are nothing if not thorough. They're fairly new to squash,
and don't know all the players, so when Robert Edwards interviews
the players after the match for the VS highlights package, their
first job is to say and s-p-e-l-l their name into camera. Well, we
wouldn't want to get the tapes mixed up, would we ...
So far it's worked first time every time, but I wouldn't put it past
one of them to play a little trick, especially if they've just lost
...
  
  
 |
Traffic
 Congestion
is a bit of a problem in Bermuda. Nothing like London or other big
city proportions, but it's a small, affluent island, and the roads
are 99% single lane, and the speed limit is just 35kph (that's K,
not M).
There's a lot of mini-MPV type of vehicles around, but what you
immediately notice is the number of scooters and mopeds. Visitors
can't hire cars, but most of the players would probably prefer the
scooters anyway, they're having great fun, and no accidents to
report so far ...
|
 |
Bermuda EN BREF Issue #2
Everything you never knew you needed to know about the Bermuda
Masters |
Town Cryer
Drops A Clanger
Town Cryer Ed Christopher is a mightily impressive man. About
twelve feet tall and built like the proverbial, he cuts an imposing
figure, and when he lets his voice soar with that "Oh Yayyyyy, O
Yayyyyyy," everyone listens, let me tell you.
 He
made a majestic entrance at the opening ceremony and proceeded to
whip the crowd up into a frenzy of support for local favourite Nick
Kyme, managing to get lots of references to Virtual, Spectator,
Endurance and Logic into his speech in honour of the sponsors.
The beady-eyed at the front may have noticed a little faux-pas as he
approached the stage, however, as the hammer of his bell slipped out
and onto the floor. The ringing ceased, but with barely a backward glance the show carried
on, with Ed's years of experience in the job showing through ...
|
One two three ... BLOW
It was a special birthday for a particularly brave little warrior
yesterday, as Jessica Lewis, aged 13, who has had over 30
hours surgery for assorted problems with her back, had a simply
amazing day.
"She comes through all of those operations smiling," said Mum Lorri,
"she's just an amazingly determined little thing."
After an early morning rendition of 'happy birthday', it was Anthony
Ricketts who, after his match, brought on the birthday cake for
Jessica to blow out the candles in front of the Bermudian crowd.
Needless to say she managed it in a single blow, so all we got on
digital film was the rising smoke .... well done Jessica!
|
The Boys From Brazil
Squash fans are a keen bunch, none more so than the party of
Brazilians over here for the Masters.
For Marcelo (blus shirt) it's his second trip, and he loved it so
much last year the cam back and brought Sergio, Fabio, Luciano,
Brad, Jurgen and Fidelis with him. They're all SquashSite fans of
course, and trust us ... they're having a great time !
 |
Kion 5, Thierry 4
 It
was a great day too for nine-year-old Kion Knights, who as
winner of the Butterfield Bank squash challenge - the culmination of
a series of events from clubs around the island - got to play one of
the stars before receiving his award.
Robert Edwards quipped that he'd found someone "just a little
better" than Kion to give him a test ... none other than Thierry
Lincou.
Thierry was a great sport, and despite a couple of sneaky drops from
the Frenchman Kion managed to squeeze home 5-4 to the delight of the
crowd.
 |
Bermuda EN BREF Issue #1
Everything you never knew you needed to know about the Bermuda
Masters |
We don't go there ...
 The
'little army' of court moppers were called into action many times
during the John White/ Mohammed Abbas clash as both players flung
themselves around the court, with the players sometimes helping out,
much to the amusement of the crowd.
After one cleanup operation towards the end of the match referee
Dean Clayton pointed out that there were still some wet patches in
the back right corner. "Where?" asked John. "In that corner, there,"
said Dean, pointing helpfully.
At this stage in the match players would normally be grateful for a
little extra rest ... but not John. "Oh, we don't go there," he said
... play continued ... |
What's the Score ???
 Immediately
before the first match the referees received training in using the
Virtual Spectator devices that they'll use this week to transmit the
score in real time to the scoreboards dotted around the venue (and
shortly to the live internet scoreboard - stay tuned ...).
 After
an early hiccup the refs mastered their new toys and everyone in the
arena always knew the score. The hiccup? After a call of "two-one"
in the first game of the first match, Amr Shabana looked up at the
scoreboard above the front wall, which read 3-1, then back to the
refs and with no more than a quizzical shrug got on with the match.
It's a good job he didn't look up after the next few rallies, but
very soon the skill was mastered and the refs had another toy to
play with ...
|
A good turnout
 Considering
the number of active squash players in Bermuda (Ross Triffitt
reckons there are around 800 regular players on the island's 11
courts), turnout for the Masters is pretty impressive.
The house - all 558 seats - will be full for tomorrow's official
opening and for most of the latter stages, and although attendance
looked a little sparse at the start of play today - it was Sunday
afternoon, after all - most people must have arrived late. When I
looked around in the middle of the first game the seats were filling
up nicely.
There are parties from abroad of course (we'll be meeting some of
them during the week), but for such a small playing base the
attendance is mightily impressive. Bermudians just love their
squash! |
 |
|
2005 En Bref |
|
|
