National Championships To Adopt PAR Scoring For Women's Event

Women's matches in next month's British National Championships will feature 'Point-A-Rally' scoring for the first time following an appeal to the organisers by the Women's International Squash Players' Association (WISPA) to trial the system used by the professional men's circuit for the past three years.

The 2008 British National Championships - which will attract world-class fields including England's men's and women's world team championships-winning squads - will take place at the National Squash Centre in Sportcity, Manchester, from 10-17 February.

There is widespread interest within the squash community worldwide to unify the professional game's scoring system. Furthermore, it is widely conceded that the introduction of PAR scoring to 11 points a game has considerably enhanced the spectator appeal of the men's game.

"We are as keen as anybody to see a unified scoring system in the professional game," said Tournament Manager Chris Nutley, the Competitions and Events Manager at England Squash. "Having switched successfully to PAR scoring to 11 for our men's event three years ago, we are very happy to help WISPA's trial of the system for the women's Nationals this year."

Andrew Shelley, Chief Executive of WISPA, added: "WISPA has been experimenting with PAR to 11 which PSA used for a little while, and the next phase of this is to see it in operation in competition featuring a range of WISPA members, including top flight players.

"Scoring is an emotive issue. Should WISPA continue with standard scoring as used by recreational players around the world and universally understood? Should we move to the men's pro game Point-A-Rally scoring? It would be good to have uniformity, but would it damage our presentation? Would matches be too short? Would a real comeback be a thing of the past? On the other hand would it increase excitement when games are close? Many questions but no answers as yet!

"Which is why we are indebted to the British Nationals, and indeed the Egyptian and Dutch Championships too, for adopting PAR for their women's championship to help our evaluation," Shelley explained. "So, while the WISPA Tour continues as normal, the data and impressions gained in Manchester and elsewhere will significantly help the decision-making process."

England's world No7 Jenny Duncalf will be defending the women's title she won for the first time last year. But the 25-year-old from Harrogate in Yorkshire will face stiff competition from a number of quarters - including Manchester's own Vicky Botwright, the world No6; Lancashire's fast-improving world No11 Laura Lengthorn-Massaro; and the 2006 champion Tania Bailey, the England No1 and world No5 from Stamford in Lincolnshire.