The first annual 'Feel the Love' Squash Tournament is set to hit Prince Rupert from the weekend of Feb. 12 - 14.
Coinciding with Valentine's weekend, organizers Lee Beal and Andy Cook are in the midst of putting on the three-day event, full of divisional play (open to beginners and pros alike in different draws), to a banquet, to a silent auction to a host of prizes.
Starting on Friday, Feb. 12 at 5 p.m. and lasting until early Sunday afternoon, the tournament has attracted many Rupertities, but approximately '20 per cent' of participants will be from out of town as well.
On Saturday, Feb. 13, 'Feel the Love' will host a silent auction full of sponsor-provided items and services, while a 'Comical Skill Challenge' will also be performed.
In the challenge, novice players go head-to-head against the more practiced squash athletes, while the seasoned players will have to complete handicap-based challenges within the match, that only they know, while the beginner tries to simply win the rally - an idea that came to Beal and Cook as they took in a similar event as spectators in Ontario.
The banquet will consist of prime rib and will be put on Saturday night, while the tournament itself is a singles-based competition, with no doubles divisions.
Additionally, prizes for the top three winners in each draw will be awarded after the matches.
Information on registration for the event can be found by emailing Beal at feel_the_love_squash@icloud.com or visiting the Facebook group: Friends of PR Squash.
Deadline for registration is Wednesday, Feb. 10 to enable the drafting of the draws.