A tour to forget—Viggers

Press, 10 July 1985, Page 64

A tour to forget —Viggers

Paul Viggers, of Canterbury, has returned from a two-week squash campaign in Australia somewhat disillusioned with his experiences. The No. 3 ranked New Zealand player described the tour as one “best forgotten about.” Viggers went to Australia chasing hard tournament play in his pursuit of a place in the New Zealand team for the world championships in Egypt later this year. But in 16 days, he played only three competition matches.

Although he was the fifth seed, Viggers was eliminated in the first round of the New South Wales open championships in Sydney. He did little better in Melbourne, getting to only the second round of the Victorian state titles. In Australian tournaments, seeded players are not allowed to take part in plate events, so once he lost a match, Viggers was out. “For a $2O entry fee to play in the New South Wales tournament I got 1 game.” He was also unhappy about having to pay $9 per

hour to practise in Sydney. Viggers and another top New Zealand player, John Mills, of Wellington, went to Australia as individuals. Viggers said he would go back only “within a team situation.” Viggers was impressed with the depth of Australian men’s squash, and the ability of the players to keep running. “There would be 20 guys over there who could win any Adidas circuit tournaments over here.” But he added: “I wouldn’t mind a crack at them with our ball. The ball we used

over there was very spongy and very light.” Several talented, young players on the Australian state circuit were being groomed by the former world champion, Geoff Hunt, and had a similar solid base to their games, Viggers said. Brett Newton, the player to whom Viggers lost in Sydney, was one of several attached to the Australian Institute of Sport. After his disappointing performances in Australia, Viggers said he was feeling keen again.