Christchurch and Mount Maunganui took out the country’s premier club squash titles in dramatic style at Cambridge Racquets Club on Sunday.
The Waikato women’s bonus team featured plenty of Waipā locals, from left Jordan Herewini, Shelby Garrett, Ezra Murray (all Cambridge), Rebecca Rouse (Leamington) and Charlee Neilson (Te Awamutu). Photo: Mary Anne Gill
The Mitchell Cup for women and the Cousins Shield for men traditionally bring the best out in players and there was plenty of heartache and joy on display as the five players in each team went head to head at Cambridge’s show court.
The full house was testament to the hard work Cambridge and Leamington administrators and members put in. An estimated 2000-plus visitors attended the three-day tournament.
Cambridge club manager Suzie Halliday said it was the first time the town had hosted the event – first held for men in 1948 and women 10 years later – and they did Cambridge proud with their hospitality.
In attendance on finals day was former world champion Dame Susan Devoy there to watch as her Tauranga club stormed to a 2-0 lead against Mount Maunganui in the women’s final only to see their Bay of Plenty neighbours grab the title 3-2 in a come from behind performance for the ages.
Christchurch won its first men’s title, also in nail-biting style, defeating perennial winners Henderson 3-2.
Austin Furness of Te Awamutu went down in his match against Royal Oak’s Senithu Thilakarathne in the playoff. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Waikato clubs competing were Te Awamutu – who lost in the quarter finals to North Shore – and Hamilton in the men’s while the women were beaten by Devoy Squash and Fitness in the semi-finals.
Waikato Bonus teams made up of players selected by the host club took out the men’s plate at Leamington against Hamilton 5-0 and lost in the 13-14th place play off in the women against Surf City from Gisborne.
Meanwhile there was success for Waikato Bonus player Charlee Neilson of Te Awamutu who won girls’ division one in the Waikato secondary school championships held in conjunction at Cambridge with the national club tournament.
Sabine Veitch of St Peter’s School, Cambridge was third.
Cambridge’s Chloe Hopson was second and Sophie Chipperfield of Te Awamutu third in division two while Ōtorohanga’s Katelyn Clark was second in division three.
Te Awamutu took out gold and bronze through Luke Downard and Wai’Aryn Mills in division three for the boys while in division seven, Max Booth edged out Piopio College’s Blair Ballantyne.
The happiest visitors, despite playing off for 13th and 14th places, was the Surf City Gisborne women’s team, from left Kat Harbott, Casey Miller, Holly Shuja, Aana Donnelly, Jaime Tipu, Jena Gregory and Bella Seymour-Manuel. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Joseph Williams, Chris Van der Salm, Tom Marshall, Jackson Beresford, Jayden Millard, Matthew Smith, and Jason Oxenham – an outstanding performance and a hard-earned victory.
Ella Lash, Jacklyn Kemp, Larissa Stephenson, Casey Owen, Aria Bannister, Sam Mickleson, and Karen Roberts on a hard-fought and well-deserved result.
Christchurch and Mount Maunganui took out the country’s premier club squash titles in dramatic style at Cambridge Racquets Club
Christchurch and Mount Maunganui took out the country’s premier club squash titles in dramatic style at Cambridge Racquets Club
Christchurch and Mount Maunganui took out the country’s premier club squash titles in dramatic style at Cambridge Racquets Club
