Ipswich squash tournament with £9k prize attracts international players

Tournament director Emily Ison spent six months planning the event

A squash club hopes to put itself on the map as players from across the globe compete in a five-day tournament with $12,000 (£9,402) up for grabs.

Ipswich Sports Club said it would be the largest grade squash competition in East Anglia, running from 13 February.

Players from Australia, Egypt, Malaysia and Spain have all brought their rackets in a bid to make history.

Tournament boss Emily Ison said: "We're trying to label ourselves as one of the best squash clubs in the country".

Ms Ison, who meticulously planned the event over the past six months, said it had taken "a lot of dedication and a lot of work" from the club's members and volunteers.

Well-known international players Jonah Bryant - the British Junior runner-up and Mohammed Zakaria - British Junior Open champion - have been amongst the big names to grace the court.

Jonah Bryant is one of the players competing in the tournament

Also on the billing has been Aaron Allpress, 24, and Stanley Sykes, 18, two of Ipswich Sports Club's homegrown talents.

Allpress said: "Because we travel so much to play, it's an honour to be at an event that we can fully prepare for at home and feel comfortable in our own club with a home crowd."

'It's really paid off'

The excitement that surrounding the event has left Ms Ison's phone "constantly going off", she said.

She added that everyone involved had pushed themselves to ensure people left with fond memories of Ipswich.

"We're quite renowned for the quality of our events but we've taken it one step further this year and it's really paid off," she said.

"We're trying to label ourselves as one of the best squash clubs in the country and we feel we need this level of tournament to have that title.

"Anything I can give the players to make their stay in Ipswich - in our region - more comfortable, I will provide for them as best as I can."

The event would run until Saturday, the club said.

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