Other Sport

Courtroom drama

National Squash Centre

The National Squash Centre is part of the Sportcity complex that was constructed for the 2002 Commonwealth Games.

Costing approximately £3.5m, the facilities include six courts and one glass-walled show court (this alone cost £110,000). The show court is moveable: it floats on air like a hovercraft and can be positioned in the athletics hall for all major tournaments.

All of the courts are 'state of the art', with the ability to convert into either singles or doubles courts at the touch of a button.

What happens there?

The National Squash Centre hosts a number of national and international squash tournaments. This year, it has already staged the National Squash Championships 2005.

And it's already been selected as the venue for the Gerrard Grand Prix 2005 (23 - 26 September) and the 2005 Dunlop British Open Squash Championships (9 - 17 October).

Can anyone play?

Yes. It's open every day of the week (Mon-Fri: 0700-2200 (last court 2115); Sat/Sun: 0900-1700 (last court 1615) and you can book courts by ringing 0161 220 3801. Cost: £4.20 per 45 mins

Getting there

By train: Piccadilly Station then bus or walk

By Bus: 216, 271, 230 to 237, X36 & X37

By car: From south, follow M56 for Manchester Airport. Continue on M56 to M60 (ring road) North East. Follow M60 North East and leave at junction 23 (Ashton under Lyne.) From junction 23, follow A635 (Manchester Road) west to Manchester and continue to A662 to Ashton New Road. You will see a Mercedes garage on Ashton New Road. Turn down the side of the garage onto Rowsley Street. Follow the road until you see Gate 13. Go through this gate and follow the road around the outdoor track to the bottom where you can park free. The entrance to the building is to the right of the parking area.

From the north east, follow the M60 (ring road) South East. Leave at Junction 23 (Ashton under Lyne.) From junction 23, follow A635 (Manchester Road) west to Manchester and continue to A662 to Ashton New Road. You will see a Mercedes garage on Ashton New Road. Turn down the side of the garage onto Rowsley Street. Follow the road until you see Gate 13. Go through this gate and follow the road around the outdoor track to the bottom where you can park free. The entrance to the building is to the right of the parking area.

National Squash Centre, Manchester

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