Squash BC

SOUTH AFRICAN STAR RODNEY DURBACH CONFIRMS ENTRY IN $10,000 USD COASTAL CONTACTS OPEN
Presented by Patch International, biggest squash event in Western Canada to feature Durbach in main draw of 16 top international players Nov. 1-6, 2005

VANCOUVER - Rodney Durbach of South Africa has confirmed his entry in the $10,000 USD Coastal Contacts Open presented by Patch International, a professional squash tournament to be staged November 1-6 at the Jericho Tennis Club.

Durbach, a 33-year-old veteran pro who is ranked No. 1 in South Africa, is the first entry confirmed for the Coastal Contacts Open.

"We're very excited to have a player of Rodney Durbach's caliber confirmed for the Coastal Contacts Open," said Shauna Flath of Vancouver, Co-Chair of the Coastal Contacts Open. "He'll bring a game honed by years of top international experience and that'll be a treat for our fans."

Sanctioned by the Professional Squash Association (PSA), Squash Canada and Squash BC, the Coastal Contacts Open presented by Patch will feature Durbach in the main draw of 16 to run November 3rd through 6th. Four qualifying spots will be available for local players. More than 150 B.C. players are expected to participate and vie for spots in the Coastal Contacts Open main draw.

"We've talked about how dynamic a platform this is for professional squash in Vancouver and with Durbach on board, it demonstrates how it will showcase some of the best squash we've seen in British Columbia in years," said Winston Cabell of Vancouver, Co-Chair of the Coastal Contacts Open alongside Flath, the Jericho Tennis Club's head squash professional.

Durbach rose to prominence in 1995 when he finished second in the All-Africa Games, a performance he equaled in 2003. He finished on top of the national rankings in South Africa in 1999 and 2003. Last year, Durbach captured top honours at the Virginia Professional Squash Championships. Sponsored by Prince, Durbach is coached by John Milton and Mike Varney.

Cabell and Flath welcomed the entry of Durbach while acknowledging the personal leadership and support of Roger Hardy, Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Coastal Contacts, one of the world's largest suppliers of contact lenses, and David Stadnyk, Chief Executive Officer of Patch International, a fledgling Canadian junior oil and gas producer based in Vancouver and Calgary.

"This is going to be a real treat for squash players and fans alike," said Flath, noting the Coastal Contacts Open is part of the Canadian Squash Circuit."

Information on tickets and hospitality packages for the $10,000 USD Coastal Contacts Open presented by Patch International is available by contacting the Jericho Tennis Club at (604) 221-2830.