After claiming three consecutive national squash championships in succession Patrick Foster could be forgiven for thinking the title was his to keep.
But the former pro is training harder than ever to retain his crown. And he insists it means just as much to him to win the Digicel Bermuda championship as it did for any of the World ranking events he contested in his professional days.
Foster believes he has been 'clinging on' over the past few years with Nick Kyme and James Stout both pushing him hard in the last two finals.
The Englishman - also Bermuda's squash coach and tournament director - says it is getting tougher and tougher to beat younger, fitter players while balancing the responsibility of organizing the tournament.
He is still the favourite for this year's championships - which get under way on February 14 - but he expects Kyme to give him a real battle.
"This is my one big tournament of the year. I'm training hard and I expect to be there or thereabouts.
"I'll have to beat some good guys on the way to the final and my first aim is to come through comparatively unscathed and give it everything I've got in the final."
Foster will be seeded one, Kyme two and the pair - who train together - are expected to meet in the final. James Stout, the current World Rackets champion, has yet to enter the tournament. If he does, he has the potential to upset that pecking order as he did in 2007, reaching the final before going down in five sets to Foster.
"Nick has beaten me a couple of times in practice recently. He's really relaxed right now and is playing some very good squash.
"We had a very close match in the final last year which I won in four sets. It took a lot out of me and I really hung on for the win at the end.
"The previous year I was 2-2 and 8-5 down in the fifth against James Stout and it was only a bit of extra experience that got me through.
"I've been lucky to win the past couple of years. I've been hanging on really."
Always renowned for his scruffy look, Foster will be sporting an even shaggier image at the 2009 championships. He has grown his hair and a ZZ Top style beard in preparation for St. Baldrick's Day where he will take part in the charity head shave.
"Between Dave (squash club manager Dave Elliott) and myself we are trying to raise $10,000 for charity," he said.
In the women's event national coach Denise Sommers is expected to retain her title. Club champion Leah Bishop and perennial challengers Liz Martin and Denise Kyme are also expected to be in the mix.
Top juniors Emma Keane, Alex Marshall and Jennifer Ince have been highlighted by Foster as three young players to watch in this year's event.
Meanwhile the most intense rivalry and some of the most fiercely competitive games are expected in the veteran's tournament.
Defending champion Norman Furtardo, John Stout (James Stout's father), Colin Alexander, Richard Brewer and Don Mackenzie are the main challengers in the men's event, for over 45s.
In the women's event Kyme and Martin, Bermuda's top two female squash players of the past two decades, will fight it out.
There will be no skills-based divisions this year with an open draw in all four tournaments.
"We're seeding the top 32 players but beyond that anyone can play anyone. It means any player has at least a theoretical chance to be national champion at the start of the tournament."
It also means a rank amateur could be blitzed off the court in the first round by the likes of Foster or Kyme.
But the format does guarantee each player three games with the losers from the opening round going into a plate competition. The losers from the opening round of the plate also filter into a third competition.
"You will end up playing at your own skill level. But everyone has the chance to challenge themselves against stronger opponents."
Around 120 entrants are expected for the tournament. Entry forms can be picked up from the squash club or downloaded at www.bermudasquash.com. There is a $35 entry fee for members, $40 for non members and $20 for Under-19s. The closing date for entries is February 9.
The tournament starts on February 14 with finals day held on the 21st.
Last year the winners of each division received a Blackberry cell phone and Shane McDonnell, corporate sales manager for sponsor Digicel said a similar prize would be offered this time.
"We've combined with Blackberry to sponsor the event again. It's a great tournament for us too - grassroots involvement doesn't get any better than a national championships. If we can see a future champion coming out of Bermuda it would be great for us to be involved with," said McDonnell, who also plans to take part in the event.
