Regina’s Christine Richardson is going to have to wait a few more weeks to see what her travel plans are this March after the past weekend’s Racquetball Canada National Team Selection Event in Grande Prairie, AB.
The tournament, along with an earlier event in November, is the proving ground where the nation’s top four male and female players are selected to go to the Pan Am Championships next March. The selections will come down in the coming weeks.
“There’s a few of us fighting for that fourth and final spot,” Richardson said.
Richardson, 25, came into the tournament ranked second but finished fourth in the women’s open –a result she was disappointed with.
“It wasn’t ideal,” Richardson said, “I had a few upsets on me.”
Of the other provincial representatives at the tournament, Danielle Drury of Saskatoon and Cassie Prentice of Macrorie finished sixth and seventh respectively in the women’s open while Martensville’s Debbie Frattinger placed fourth in the women’s novice event.
On the men’s side, Nathaniel Husulak and Lee Connell of Saskatoon finished sixth and seventh in the men’s open event while James Landeryou and Barret Husulak of Saskatoon and Tanner Prentice of Marcrorie lost out in the round of 16. Martensville’s Graham Frattinger lost in the tournament’s open event round of 32 but won the elite event outright. In the elite final, Graham faced his younger brother Ian Frattinger and won 15-6 and 15-8. Sean Prentice of Macrorie, lost out in the round of 32 in the elite event.
Loren Prentice, who coaches for River Racquet in Saskatoon, was content with the performances by Saskatchewan’s representatives.
“I think it went quite well,” Prentice said “Maybe not as great as some may have hoped going in but by in large I think they all did pretty well.”
