Top junior squash players from the US and Canada will be taking on Bermuda's youngsters on their home soil later this year, it was revealed yesterday.

The US Squash Racquets Association has given sanctioning to the Bank of Bermuda Foundation Junior Open Squash Championships and it will now become part of the US junior circuit.

The event, which will be held between April 4 and 6, will allow local players aged nine to 18 the opportunity to compete against top overseas opposition without having the expense of travelling.

The sanctioning by the USSRA ensures a quality field and provides the chance for Bermuda's players to earn a US junior ranking on home turf. The tournament has also extended the US circuit and is the last opportunity for players to compete for rankings and therefore will help to enhance the strength of the event.

The event will also continue the development of local players who progress through a structured coaching programme to compete in local tournaments and then move on to international competition.

"The new event on the squash calendar will be the pinnacle of junior squash in Bermuda," said the Island's director of squash Ross Triffitt. "It will provide a valuable opportunity for our local players to compete against the top international competition in their region."

Triffitt said a number of local players could fare extremely well when the tournament gets underway.

"We would expect James Stout and Robert Maycock to do well," said Triffitt. "Alex Furtado in the Under-13s is another name to look out for and in the Under-15 girls we have two players who could do very well, Laura Robinson and Caty Luckhurst.

"Our juniors that have been competing in the US Junior Olympics and the Vassar Junior Classic are improving but have been short of international competition and I think the fact this tournament is going to be at home gives them the opportunity to really play their best. Hopefully, some of our lesser known or lesser ranked players will have a chance to do well."

The extremely competitive US circuit is recognised as a stepping stone to the Ivy League Schools or other top US colleges. With the abundance of applications to these schools, squash is often the catalyst for a student's successful application.

"The fact that squash provides an excellent opportunity for acceptance into Ivy League schools has made the US tournament circuit one of the most competitive in the world," said Triffitt.

The tournament has been made possible through the support of the Bank of Bermuda Foundation which is sponsoring the event in its first year.

"Bermuda's young squash players will now have a wonderful opportunity to grow as players, test their talent and earn a US junior ranking," said the Foundation's David Lang. "We are very proud to support the Bermuda Squash Racquets Association and greatly look forward to seeing our young players compete in such a quality tournament."

Profits from the event will go towards Bermuda Squash Racquets Association Junior Programme.

James Stout has been given a taste of just how tough life on the international squash circuit is after making his bow on the other side of the Atlantic.

Stout, who turned professional this month, has been competing at the Scottish and British Junior Opens.

The Bermudian is eligible to play in junior competitions until August when he will graduate to the senior ranks. The plan between now and then is to build up enough points for a favourable world ranking.

In round one of the Scottish Open in Edinburgh at the end of last month Stout went down 3-1 to Innes Young (9-6, 7-9, 0-9, 3-9).

He then beat Paul Mathieson in the consolation round 3-0 (9-7, 9-3, 6-3) before losing to Alistair Gorrie 3-1 (5-9, 9-7, 2-9, 4-9).

At the British Open in Sheffield Stout lost to Ryan Thompson 3-0 (2-9, 5-9, 2-9) before enjoying wins over Jan Lempart 3-0 (9-4, 9-0, 9-5) and Brendon Bascom 3-2 (10-9, 3-9, 2-9, 9-5, 9-0).