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FOCUS on Hong Kong ... |
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Meet the Sponsor
This is the 22nd Hong Kong Open, and Cathay Pacific have been
involved in every one. We met the man behind it, James Barrington,
Sales and Marketing Director for Cathay Pacific ...
You must be a squash player?
"Yes, squash has been a common theme, it's such an easy game, and so
friendly. I played for Sussex and England juniors and captained the
Cambridge side. Since coming to Asia I've played number one in the
Hong Kong national side, and played for the Phillipines.
"I play masters now of course, I've won the Hong Kong O35, O40 and
O45 events. I went to Edmonton last year for the World Masters. I
was seeded number one in the O45 – I think they must have got the
wrong Barrington – and although I lost in the quarters it was very
exciting to be ranked number one in the world at something!
Best squash memory ?
"One of my favourite squash memories is the almost legendary
Greshams v Lansing match many years ago. We'd made Malcolm Willstrop
drive all the way down to the school with his team, and he
definitely wasn't happy with the stone floors and sweaty walls.
"I played the England number one in the deciding rubber and beat him
3/0. Malcolm was even unhappier, 'back to the stone age' he called
it. He's never forgotten it, and neither have I …"
How long have you been in Hong Kong, what brought you here and
what is your role ?
"I came here in 1982 and I've worked for Cathay Pacific for 25
years. I came straight to Asia from University, took a year off
coaching in Indonesia sponsored by Cathay Pacific, and as luck would
have it the guy doing the interviewing for those placements –
Richard Graham – was also recruitment manager for Cathay, so I'm
very grateful to Cathay for getting me to Indonesia and to Richard
for looking me up while I was there.
"I'm Marketing and Sales Director, and look after promotions,
advertising and sponsorship worldwide.
Is Cathay involved in other sports sponsorship?
"Yes, the Rugby Sevens, which had been running for 32 years, is our
biggest sporting sponsorship, but the squash comes second after
that. The tournament has always attracted the best field, and in
recent years Hong Kong has produced some great local players like
Rebecca Chiu and now Max Lee, which has really helped local
recognition as well as the international coverage.
"We're very committed to it, it helps build Hong Kong as a sporting
centre like nowhere else. We're involved for all the right reasons,
and it started well before I arrived so it's a company philosophy.
Are you happy with the coverage the event is getting?
"Yes, the coverage is fantastic, the local press, the live TV is all
really good. When the Mall venue was proposed last year we were a
little sceptic, but once we saw it we were blown away with it,
really spectacular and so many people around and watching the
squash.
"It's a big event for the squash community, but it's great for the
whole local community too and can only encourage more people to take
up the sport, which is what we all want.
And the 'Extras'?
"It's a great idea to have exhibitions, coaching clinics for the
public, which HK squash is doing this year with the court being in
place all week. We've always tried to have something different, you
can't just sit and watch squash for 10 hours, you need a bit of
variety.
And Finally?
"Happy to be here, happy to be involved and I hope everyone is
having a great time!" |
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There's never a shortage of Taxis ! |
or take the MTR ... |
it doesn't look much ... |
On the Tube
Transport isn't really a problem in Hong Kong. Yes, it's a very
densely-built, incredibly busy city, but somehow the traffic just
seems to work. The roads are never quiet – I tried to cross Cotton
Tree Drive outside the squash centre once, but gave up – but the
traffic never seems to be snarled up as it can be in other places.
If you're a visitor you're spoilt for choice. There are lots of
buses and trams – haven't tried them yet – and taxis aplenty which
are as 'cheap as chips' and are probably most visitors' preferred
means of transport. The trip from the hotel to the club costs around
$30 HK, which equates to £1.80 … yes, that cheap.
 There's
also the ferries that will take you from Hong Kong Island to Kowloon
and back for peanuts, but the star of the show has to be the
underground railway, or the MTR (Mass Transit Railway) as
it's called.
There are numerous lines which will take you to virtually any part
of Hong Kong, although you wouldn't realise it from the innocuous
signs and entrances to the stations. One you're in though, it's a
different world – vast, clean, light stations with plenty of shops
down there too. Fast, efficient trains – from my experiences there's
one every couple of minutes, and they're all full.
 Best
of all is the price. A single from Causeway Bay (Hotel) to Admiralty
costs just $4 HK and deposits you in the Ocean Park shopping mall,
from where it's just a couple of escalators up and a leisurely
stroll through Hong Kong Park to the squash centre.
No doubt about it ... every city should have one … |
Going down ...
it opens out a little ...
it's very popular |
light & airy stations |
Six ways out |
Straight into the Mall |
Up to the park |
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"Rodney played here in Hong Kong a dozen or more times, beating
Jansher to win it in 1995 before going on to win the world title in
Malaysia.
"He was always a great supporter of the event and did a lot of work
with our juniors, he's done a lot for HK Squash over the years.
"He doesn't come back that often, but he's here for a bit of R&R so
it was great that it coincided with this year's event, it's
wonderful to see some of the old faces."
Heather Deayton |
Former HK and World Champion Rodney
Eyles
with Heather Deayton |
Two words, starting with H and K ... |
A shocker for the World Champ |
Cameron's secret is out ??? |
A question of money
We've had a few queries about exactly
how much prize money players pick up from certain events, so here's
a few of the recent paychecks ...
Saudi International: PSA $210k Amr Shabana got
$31,172
Madrid World Open: WSF $114k Rachael Grinham got
___
Hong Kong Open: PSA $120k
Winner gets $17,595
WISPA $89k Winner gets $12,819
As a rough guide, in a 32-draw event, after the 'bonus' money is
taken off the actual prize money is split as follows:
Winner: 17.5%, 2nd 11.5%, 3rd/4th 7%, 5th/8th 4.25%, 9th/16th 2.5%,
17th/32nd 1.25% |
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Just outside the Squash Centre is Hong Kong Park, which offers some
nice
tranquil walks, spectacular views and, for some, opportunities for
having fun ... |
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