North squash player Fergus Richards is delighted the Springfield Scottish Squash Open is heading to the Highlands next year.
Fergus spent his junior years training at Inverness Tennis and Squash Club, the venue for next year’s tournament, being held from August 25 to 29.
The club has previously held the Scottish Masters Squash Championships in 2018 and 2019.
Richards is thrilled the Inverness club is now set to stage Scotland’s flagship squash tournament.
“I have a great love for the club,” the 24-year-old said.
“I spent a lot of my time as a junior travelling from the family home in Elgin to train there with the likes of Greg Lobban, who I really admire. To bring the event to Inverness will feel like a home tournament for me and hopefully I manage to make the draw and get a good run.
“My mum would be delighted because she wants to see me playing more squash and hopefully I can give her that.”
He continued: “Inverness deserves a lot of recognition for the success Scottish squash has had over the last 15 years.
“Since Alan Clyne got the number one ranking in Scotland, it’s been an Inverness player that’s been up at the top with Greg (Lobban) now number one and playing so well on the PSA Tour.
“Alasdair Prott is another real talent who’s just starting his professional career so there’s lots of squash links with Inverness.
“Having the Springfield Scottish Squash Open up in the Highlands will be great for the area and hopefully can attract some kids to join the club because it’s a great set-up there.
“I’m sure they’ll host a fantastic event and it’s testament to all the hard work that goes on at the club.”
In 2019 Springfield Properties partnered with Scottish Squash and the Professional Squash Association to bring back the Scottish Open after an 18-year break.
Richards is hoping to put a frustrating 2019-20 season behind him after returning to training at Oriam, Scotland’s national performance centre, last month.
He missed the first five months of the season after contracting glandular fever last summer before the season was cut short in March due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I only really played a third of the season so it definitely felt frustrating,” he admitted.
“I was beginning to find some good form towards the back-end of the season and it was disappointing that I couldn’t take advantage of that when the season finished early.
“I spent lockdown in Elgin and used the time away from court to reflect on what I can do to make myself better.
“A massive thanks to my former school Gordonstoun as well because I borrowed some equipment off them and managed to build myself a small gym in the garage, which was a big help.”
He added: “It’s been good to get into Oriam for training and I feel reinvigorated.
“And I’m very clear with what I need to do once we’re able to get back playing competitively.”
l For further information on the 2021 Springfield Scottish Squash Open, please visit scottishsquashopen.com