That is how long it has been since Dunedin last hosted the New Zealand inter-districts teams championships.
The long drought will be broken this weekend when the Otago Squash Club hosts the annual tournament that attracts the best amateur men’s and women’s players from across the country.
It has special significance, too.
The inter-districts tournament started in 1972, when it was played at the Otago club for the first time in conjunction with the national championships.
Nineteen teams — 10 men’s teams and nine women’s teams — will represent 10 of the 11 districts in New Zealand squash.
Most of the nearly 100 players gathering in Dunedin are at A grade level, so the standard of squash will be extremely high.
Canterbury are the defending men’s champions and will be the No 1 seed in the MC Day Cup competition.
Wellington, last year’s runners-up, are expected to mount another strong challenge.
Experienced Taieri player Andy Watts was originally in the Otago men’s team at No 3 but is sporting a moon boot from an injury sustained at the Pirates tournament at the end of July.
He takes over the manager’s position from Daniel Hewson (Otago), who is now the sixth player.
Other members of the Otago men’s team are Nick Askin, who was a long-time Otago Squash Club representative but moved to Auckland this year to further his coaching aspirations, Bradley Suddaby (Otago), Shaun Funnell (Pirates), Harry McDonald (Otago University) and Jordan Smith (Alexandra).
Bay of Plenty won the women’s title in Hamilton last year and will be seeking to retain the KA Mackwell Cup.
Northland were runners-up last year.
Hannah Chisholm (Taieri) captains the Otago women alongside rising star Aria Bannister (Otago), Samantha Cross (Pirates), Martha Toghill (Otago University), Angela Button (Otago) and Grace Brenssell (Cromwell).
Otago squash identity Mark Gribben has helped prepare both Otago teams.
The high standard of play means expectations of the host teams are relatively low — the women are seeded ninth and the men 10th.
Play starts at lunchtime on Friday and continues until Sunday afternoon.
