The Christchurch Closed squash racquets tournament which begins this evening has attracted 130 entries and will serve as a “dry run” for the New Zealand championships in July. The committee organising the tournament is also looking after the national championships and so will be able to iron out any organisational problems likely to arise in July.

Vivian Hargreaves (High School Old Boys) is back on top form after having to pull out of the Villa Maria tournament at Easter because of a leg injury, and has deservedly been given the top seeding.

Seeded second is the Old Boys player, Barry McNeil, and the winner of the Easter tournament, Lawrence Skurr, (Old Boys) has been ranked third.

Canterbury’s top junior, Rod Hayes (Christchurch), seeded fourth, has been improving quickly and might well reach the final.

Among other strong contenders are Lin Sparks (Burnside), a finalist three years ago, Mike Grant (Christchurch), the reliable Graham Foulds and another junior, Paul McFadzien.

On her winning form at the Easter tournament Miss Roslyn Stanton (Old Boys) appears a certainty for the women’s title unless Mrs Kathy Graham (Burnside) can regain the touch which saw her eighth in the national rankings last season.