Despite clashing with the European Championships in Bremen, Germany, the South West Open Grand Prix Circuit Championships at Polkyth Leisure Centre, St.Austell, Cornwall on Easter weekend, 22nd/23rd April, has attracted an international entry. Seeded top in the men’s open singles is the vastly improved England no.9 Michael Isherwood, 20, from Chesterfield, Derbyshire, who attacks close to the table with increasing power. The second seed is the Italian Fabio Mantegazza, the current British Universities Champion (he is studying at Manchester UMIST University), who for 3 years played professionally in Japan. The high England ranked Steven Shaw (Derbyshire) is the third seed, England no.2 veteran Brian Johns (Cheshire) is fourth, Stephen Jenkins (Wales) is fifth and Michael Auchterlonie (Scotland) is sixth. Hertfordshire based Hungarian Barbara Kiss heads the women’s list with former top England junior international, Lindsey Thornton (Lancashire), the 19 year old left-handed attacker who is making a comeback to the sport, no.2. Malin Johansson of Sweden is the third seed, another Hungarian Dorottya Nagy is fourth seed and Tong Ming Di (Taiwan) is the no.5. The England no.2 veteran woman, Jan Dunning (Staffordshire), is the sixth seed. Banded men’s and women’s singles events are to be played on the Saturday 22nd April, with the open singles, under 21 singles and veteran singles, and the men’s and women’s doubles on the Sunday. An open invitation ‘come and try’ session is to be held on the Friday afternoon, 3-6pm, 21st April, led by former England international Nick Jarvis and the top men’s seed Michael Isherwood (Derbyshire). The long weekend is being supported by Restormel Borough Council. For further information contact Ken Muhr, ETTA Information Officer, Tel. 01424 722525 Fax. 01424 422103 or John Wood, Event Press Officer, Tel. 01726 70607 Mobile. 07887 945071.