MORE than 60 of the Channel Islands’ best squash players will be battling for titles at this weekend’s Bedell Group Channel Islands Championships.

The women’s event is likely to provide a real spectacle this year, with Jersey’s top two players, Olivia French, a former Irish international, and Kate Cadigan, the current CI champion, pitched against Guernsey challengers Issey Norman-Ross and Natalie Dod. Also in action will be Jersey’s Sarah Taylor and Kerry Coombs-Goodfellow, who will be aiming to convert her badminton skills to squash.

Former world top 100 player Mike Hopkins is top seed in the men’s event, but he is likely to face tough opposition from Rob Hickling – the title holder in three of the last four seasons – Island Games gold medallist Mark Le Roux and Guernsey’s Omar Kandili. Guernsey dominated the junior events last year, but Jersey’s youngsters are reaping rewards from Nick Taylor’s development programme and are expected to put up a good fight.

The tournament starts with the women’s quarter-finals at 7 o’clock this evening, with the quarter-finals and semi-finals of all events to be held tomorrow from 11 am. All finals take place at the Jersey Squash Club on Sunday from 11.30 am, with the men’s final to be held at 3.45 pm.

• Picture: Kate Cadigan will be attempting to retain her Bedell Group Channel Islands title this weekend