Chris Ryder invites you to the Mediterranean Squash and Racketball Team Championship
By MICHAEL CATLING – Squash Mad Chief Reporter
If you fancy the winning combination of squash, racketball, sun and fun, then Malta is the place to be.
Squash professionals Chris Ryder and Bradley Hindle are inviting teams of six players (three squash and three racketball) to enter the Mediterranean Squash and Racketball Festival being held in Malta from March 28-30.
The inaugural event, hosted at the Marsa Sports Club and Union Club, will feature a maximum of ten teams with three matches guaranteed over three days.
With a choice of luxury five-star or three-star accommodation, players of all ages and abilities are welcome, with a special welcome to mixed teams.
Hotel packages (tournament fee included):
The Plevna Hotel (3 stars – £230 twin share) – Located in a quiet residential area in Sliema, this charming 100-room hotel is only a five minute walk away from the lively city centre and only a short bus ride from the capital city of Valletta.
Every bedroom features an ensuite bathroom, with air-conditioning, a satellite TV, tea and coffee making facilities, an unstocked mini fridge and several other amenities catering for your every need.
The in-house restaurant serves an array of local continental and oriental dishes, while the full buffet breakfast is certainly worth experiencing. If you prefer a more informal setting, LeRoy Cafe and Bar stocks a selection of sandwiches, drinks and coffees in the daytime and almost every spirit imaginable in the evening.
A games room is also located adjacent to the cafe and with regular live music and a big screen television showcasing live football on Sky, the hotel becomes a hive of activity in the evening.
Visit www.plevnahotel.com for more information.
The Palace Hotel (5 stars – £300 twin share) – Located in the heart of the urban city of Sliema, this 5 star luxury hotel offers some of the most breathtaking rooftop terrace views of the Mediterranean Harbour and Malta’s Capital city Valletta.
Renowned for its spa and designer suites, it is widely considered one of the best hotels on the island. A standard twin room, featuring air conditioning, a plasma screen satellite TV and a lavished en-suite bathroom, offers internal views overlooking the unique circular atrium, which echoes the hotel’s grand chandeliers in the lobby.
The two dining facilities on site are particularly entrancing and offer a multitude of cuisines and wacky concepts. The Tabloid Restaurant certainly breaks the norm of the traditional concept of restaurant décor, with its contrasting hues of greys and lime green details in the morning transforming into warm red tones in the evening.
The elaborate and unique selection of dishes retain the element of mystique and coincide with the offerings at the TemptAsian Restaurant and Lounge Bar. The Ginger creme brulee with apple and date samosas sounds particurly intriguing.
The top floor is dedicated to a plethora of leisure and spa facilities including a fresh water indoor pool, sauna, steam rooms, treatment rooms and a state-of-the-art fitness suite.
Sliema city centre can be reached within a short walking distance from the hotel and is well known for its vibrant shopping areas, idyllic seafront and trendy restaurants. After sampling the picturesque Sliema promenade, the path eventually leads to St. Julians – a town popular for its bustling nightlife, entertainment venues and casinos.
The squash and tennis facilities at the Union Club are located only a few minutes walk away from the hotel as well. So for those individuals looking to save energy before a big match, look no further than The Palace Hotel.
Visit www.thepalacemalta.com for more information.
Getting to know Malta…
The Maltese archipelago consists of three islands – Malta, Gozo and Comino – and lies virtually at the centre of the Mediterranean, 93 km south of Sicily and 288 km north of Africa.
Malta is the largest island and has often been touted as ‘one big open-air museum’. The countryside is dominated by some of the oldest human structures in the world, with medieval towers, wayside chapels and ornate churches forming a mythical backdrop akin to scenes from ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’.
Famed for its serene and tranquil atmosphere, the sight of the honey-coloured stone against the deepest of Mediterranean blues offers an exquisite portrait of the islands mosaic cliff-faces overhanging the crystal-clear waters.
There is also an abundant of attractions to complement Malta’s renowned warm climate, with The Marsa Sports Club – Malta’s largest sports centre – housing the The Royal Malta Golf Club, tennis and cricket facilities and a swimming pool. Located four kilometres south of Valletta, it is haven for all sports enthusiasts.
If that doesn’t quite take your fancy, why not experience the Maltese heritage and visit The National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta’s Manoel Theatre or two opera houses in Gozo.
It seems the perfect place, then, to enjoy a weekend away and return home a squash and racketball team champion!
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The closing date to enter is March 01, 2014. Room upgrades are available on request. For further information, please contact Tournament organiser Chris Ryder at [email protected] or call +44 (0) 7971 986926 now.