As far as Scottish squash is concerned, Donna Cruickshank has been invisible since she played in the 1990 under-19 Home Internationals. However, she has never given up the game and is a surprise entrant for the Scottish Championships starting at Heriot-Watt University on Friday.
A job as a computer consultant has taken the Heriot-Watt graduate to London, Holland, then back to London, and she is set for a six- month posting to India in January.
''I played a lot of squash in the Netherlands, and reached number 10 in the rankings,'' said the 28-year-old. ''Now that I'm back living in London I'm competing regularly in division one in the Middlesex league.''
''Too lazy'' is how she laughs off her disappearance from the Scottish tournament scene, but, in recent months, she has been working hard towards a long-time goal of full Scottish cap.
''Ever since the uder-19 days, I've wanted to play for the senior team,'' she says,''but I've no idea what is happening in the Scottish game, or the current standard.
''I've entered the Scottish Championships to get a feel for what is happening and next season I could make a big push to get into the team.''
If the call should come sooner than expected, she would like team manager Derek Davidson to know that the Indian trip will be no excuse. ''If the call came, I'd certainly be back,'' she stressed.
However, she realises she will face stiff opposition next weekend. The championships have attracted all the leading players, with Claire Waddell bidding for a third title as the defending champion, and 1995 winner Senga Macfie aiming to avenge last year's shock defeat in the final.
With the exception of Peter Nicol, who is having a tournament break after the great run that has him expecting to be named world No.1 at the start of next month, the men's event is at full strength. Martin Heath, the Scottish No.2, is seeded one ahead of defending champion, Stuart Cowie.
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