FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE : POUR DIFFUSION IMMÉDIATE

REGINA, SASK. : May 23, 2007 : 23 mai 2007

Higher seeds win on day one of singles at Canadian Racquetball Championships

The higher seeds won on day one of the singles competitions on Wednesday at the Canadian National Racquetball Championships at the Regina Court and Fitness Club in Regina.

In women's play, second seed Jennifer Saunders of Winnipeg needed extra points before winning the first game of her match against former National Team player Catherine Nichols Dickinson of St. Catherines, Ont., but then won the second game more comfortably to take the match, 18-16, 15-3.

Top seed Christie Van Hees of Calgary had a bye Wednesday. Her first match will be late Thursday against Genevieve Brodeur of Sherbrooke, Que. Brodeur defeated Denise Haynes of Saulnierville, N.S., 15-13, 15-8.

The only upset of the day Wednesday was by injury default, as Josée Grand'Maître of Longueuil, Que. decided her left foot was too painful for singles. Shelley Hepworth of Regina benefited from the default, and will face now face Brandi Jacobson Prentice of Saskatoon in the quarter finals.

In men's action, defending champion and top seed Mike Green of Burlington, Ont. easily advanced to the quarter finals by defeating Josh Keil of Saskatoon, 15-3, 15-10, as did third seed Vincent Gagnon of Montreal, who beat Patrick Charron (Longueuil, Que.), 15-3, 15-5.

However, the men's second and fourth seeds both needed tie-breakers, but eventually came out on top.

Corey Osborne of Penetanguishene, Ont., second seed and the 2005 National Champion, needed to come back after losing the first game to Michael Burgess of Brandon, Man. Osborne won 11-15, 15-8, 11-8.

Ryan Smith of Burlington, Ont., two time 18 and under Junior National Champion, had a see-saw match with Nathaniel Husulak of Saskatoon, as Smith took game one 15-2, then Husulak won game two 15-3. It was close in the tie-breaker, until Smith pulled ahead to take the match, 15-2, 3-15, 11-6.

Overall, one hundred and fifty one players are competing in 25 singles and doubles divisions at the Regina Court and Fitness Club in Regina. The championships continues through Saturday.

Les championnats canadiens de racquetball a commencé

RESULTS SUMMARY : SOMMAIRE DE RÉSULTATS

MEN'S : HOMMES

Round of 16 : Round de 16

François Viens - Delson, Que. DEF. Francis Guillemette - Legardeur, Que. 15-7,15-10
Ryan Smith - Burlington, Ont. DEF. Nathaniel Husulak - Saskatoon, Sask. 15-2,3-15,11-6
Michael Green - Burlington, Ont. DEF. Joshua Keil - Saskatoon, Sask. 15-3,15-10
Corey Osborne - Penetanguishene, Ont. DEF. Michael Burgess - Brandon, Man. 11-15, 15-8, 11-8
Vincent Gagnon - Longueuil, Que. DEF. Patrick Charron - Longueuil, Que. 15-3, 15-5
Brian Istace - Calgary, Alta. DEF. Lee Connell - Saskatoon, Sask. 15-4, 15-13
Tim Landeryou - Saskatoon, Sask. DEF. Simon Rainville - Brossard, Que. 9-15, 15-10, 11-5
Kris Odegard - Saskatoon, Sask. DEF. Eric Desrochers - Ancaster, Ont. 15-6, 16-14

Round of 32 : Round de 32

Joshua Keil - Saskatoon, Sask. DEF. Barret Husulak - Saskatoon, Sask. 15-7,15-6
Michael Burgess - Brandon, Man. DEF. James Landeryou - Saskatoon, Sask. 15-6,15-13
Patrick Charron - Longueuil, Que. DEF. Jason Ully - Lethbridge, Alta. 6-15,15-7,11-4
Nathaniel Husulak - Saskatoon, Sask. DEF. Scott Campbell - Brandon, Man. 15-13,15-13
Lee Connell - Saskatoon, Sask. DEF. Michael Mclean - Winnipeg, Man. 15-7,15-6
Simon Rainville - Brossard, Que. DEF. Sebastien Boissonneault - Burnaby, B.C. 15-7,15-9
Eric Desrochers - Ancaster, Ont. DEF. Graham Richardson - Regina, Sask. 15-5,13-15,11-2

Quarter Finals : Quart de finale

Michael Green - Burlington, Ont. VS. François Viens - Delson, Que.
Ryan Smith - Burlington, Ont. VS. Brian Istace - Calgary, Alta.
Kris Odegard - Saskatoon, Sask. VS. Corey Osborne - Penetanguishene, Ont.
Vincent Gagnon - Longueuil, Que. VS. Tim Landeryou - Saskatoon, Sask.

WOMEN'S : FEMMES

Round of 16 : Round de 16

Geneviève Brodeur - Sherbrooke, Que. DEF. Denise Haynes - Saulnierville, N.S. 15-13, 15-8
Frédérique T Lambert - Montreal, Que. DEF. Alison Schlichemeyer - Saskatoon, Sask. 15-13, 15-5
Brandi Jacobson Prentice - Saskatoon, Sask. DEF. Christine Richardson - Regina, Sask. 15-6, 15-6
Linda Ellerington - Shields, Sask. DEF. Claudia Courcy - Sherbrooke, Que. 15-4, 15-12
Véronique Guillemette - Calgary, Alta. DEF. Shannon Mayer - Calgary, Alta. 15-2, 15-7
Shelley Hepworth - Regina, Sask. DEF. Josée Grand'Maître - Longueuil, Que. - injury default
Jennifer Saunders - Winnipeg, Man. DEF. Catherine Nichols Dickinson - St. Catherines, Ont. 18-16, 15-3

Quarter Finals : Quart de finale

Christie Van Hees - Calgary, Alta. VS. Geneviève Brodeur - Sherbrooke, Que.
Jennifer Saunders - Winnipeg, Man. VS. Frédérique T Lambert - Montreal, Que.
Brandi Jacobson Prentice - Saskatoon, Sask. VS. Shelley Hepworth - Regina, Sask.
Véronique Guillemette - Calgary, Alta. VS. Linda Ellerington - Shields, Sask.