Here we glow, here we glow, here we glow …
From Auckland Now:
The Whangarei Squash Club in New Zealand hopes to take a shot in the dark at a world-first tournament.
The club is turning off its bright lights and turning on ultraviolet fluorescent lights for its SquashTron Festival of Black Light Squash.
The festival starts with a bang – with the world’s first Black Light Doubles tournament from Friday, August 9 until Sunday, August 11.
Club president Alan Bee says the glow in the dark spectacular is done with rackets and balls painted with fluorescent paint and specially imported tape used to mark out the court lines.
Players are required to wear as much white clothing as they can so they are more visible, he says.
Mr Bee says the idea was raised by a few Whangarei players at the Kaitaia Summer Open in 2011 and has slowly evolved.
The world’s first Festival of Black Light Squash was held in February at the Warwick University Squash Club in Britain. Whangarei’s event will be the second such festival worldwide and includes the new BeeScene Doubles tournament.
Mr Bee says the festival fits perfectly with Squash New Zealand’s 2013 Year of Youth Squash theme but the sport is not just for the young, with players from eight decades playing competitively at the club.
He is expecting a good turnout for the doubles tournament due to the excitement about the world-first event and the novelty of the black light.
People can also try out black light squash next Monday and Tuesday, August 12 and 13, when the club will be open and courts available for hire.
An exhibition and corporate evening will run on August 14, including an A-grade men’s exhibition match and contest between top young players Abbie Palmer and Max Trimble.
The event will also be a fundraiser for the six Whangarei Squash Club teams which will represent Northland at the National Superchamps at various locations across the North Island.
Whangarei hosts the B-grade National Superchamps from August 21 to 24, including a homegrown team of young players.
The festival will finish on August 24 with a black light glow party including live band.
Go to whangareisquash.co.nz for more details.
