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British Open to Move North Again

Event "owners" England Squash have concluded a five-year agreement with the promotion company controlled by Paul Walters, InternationalSPORTgroup which will tie the future of the British Open Squash Championships to the ability of Walters to stage it through 2012. iSport, which has close ties to the municipality of Manchester and sports business there, will move the event back north to Manchester for 2007.

The event first moved to Manchester in October 2005, when iSport gained sponsorship rights. The event was successful that year, though playing before less than full crowds. It move southeast to the University of Nottingham in September 2006.  

Under the title of "The Dunlop British Open – Manchester 2007" the event will return to the National Squash Centre, home of the sport's Commonwealth Games action in 2002, from 18-24 September 2007. 

The men's event will feature PSA Super Series status for the first time since 2001, with the women's championship at WISPA Gold level. 

The two main events - which will be run alongside the annual British Open Masters Championships, comprising 13 age-group events from O35 to O70 - will be guaranteed to maintain this prize-level status from 2007 until 2012.

"We are looking forward to building on the strengths of the relationship that we have developed with Paul Walters and his internationalSPORTgroup," said England Squash Chief Executive Nick Rider.

"The British Open is our strongest brand – and this five-year agreement marks a new era for these prestigious and historic championships, guaranteeing Super Series and WISPA Gold as minimum status levels for at least the next six years.  We share joint ambitions to continue to restore this great event to its proper position as the world's premier championship."

Paul Walters, of internationalSPORTgroup, added:  "This exciting new agreement demonstrates our continued commitment to working in partnership with England Squash in establishing a solid framework for the future of the British Open which will see the tournament flourish as the most prestigious squash championships in the world."

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