Fifty-seven of Northlands youngest squash players had their turn to take the court, in the Kamo Junior Squash Tournament over the weekend.

Children from 7 to 16 years old, some just new to squash the week prior, travelled from as far away as Kerikeri and Maungaturoto to get a taste of the fun of competitive squash.

In an ambitious attempt to cater for children who play other Saturday sports, the majority of games were played on Sunday, meaning the courts were full to overflowing, with games from 8.30 in the morning until 5 oclock at night. 

Top seeded boy James Green, and Danielle Nauman in the girls, both from the Mangakahia club, and both rising stars on the adult tournament scene, reached their finals as expected, but were toppled by Kane Turketo (Kamo) and Jacinta Matson (Mangakahia) in exciting matches.

In another thriller Whangarei’s  Zoe Dykzeul took five sets to overcome Mackenzie Johnson (Kamo) 17-15 in the fifth game, to win the girls second division final.

Maungaturoto’s Hawkins family had a thoroughly successful day with Liam taking out the Division 4 boys final over Connor McMurchy from Whangarei, while sister Shawna proved too powerful for her opponents in the Division 4 girl’s competition.

The heroics of the day were provided by local 5^th Division lad Josh Salmon, who in his first ever tournament, stepped up to fill a gap caused by a last minute withdrawal from Division 3.  Though not winning any of those three matches, he pushed his opponents right to the wire, before completing his clean sweep of Division 5 by beating Kamo clubmate Brad Moselen in the final.

Other division winners were Boys Division 2 Vincent Spooner-Robinson (Kerikeri), Boys Division 3 Liam Seeley (Whangarei), Girls Division 3 Bailey Coates (Maungaturoto).

Prizes from Wild Poppy, Salt Surf or Wilkinsons Sports made a special end to a great day of junior squash.

This tournament was the first of the Northland Black Knight Junior Series of tournaments.  The next is to be hosted by the Wellsford Squash Club on the 14^th to 16^th of May.

Full prizewinners list:

Boys Division One:  Winner Kane Turketo (Kamo Rugby), R/up James Green (Mgk), Special Plate Chris Smith (Bream Bay), Plate Hayden Nauman (Mgk), Consolation Plate Milton Brookland (Whg) Division Two:  Winner Vincent Spooner-Robinson (Kk), R/up Finn Trimble (Whg),  Sp Plate Travis Durham (KR), Plate Charl Compaan (KR), Cons Plate Cameron Pye

Division Three: Winner Liam Seeley (Whg), R/up Hayden Lupton (Mgto), Sp Pl Scott Donaldson (Mgto), Plate Ashton Coates (Mgto), Cons Pl Ben Van Veen (KR)

Division Four: Winner Liam Hawkins (Mgto), R/up Connor McMurchy (Whg), Third Taylin Koroi (Kk)

Division Five: Winner Josh Salmon (KR), R/up Brad Moselen (KR), Third Sean Hay (KR), Cons Pl Hunter Smith (KR)

Girls Division One: Winner Jacinta Matson (Mgk), R/up Danielle Nauman (Mgk), Third Kate Shepherd (Kk)

Division Two: Winner Zoe Dykzeul (Whg), R/up Mackenzie Johnson (KR), Sp Plate Hayley Green (Mgk), Plate Gemma Turketo (KR), Cons Pl Nadia Thomas (KR)

Division Three: Winner Bailey Coates (Mgto), R/up Maria Wright (KR)

Division Four: Winner Shawna Hawkins (Mgto), R/up Anna Moselen (KR), Third Tayla Smith (KR)

The Northland Sport Expo was held on Saturday 20 March 2010 at the ASB Leisure Centre / Kensington Stadium.  We were fortunate enough to have 11 Regional Sports Organisations on show, as well as Pasgaard Sports Distributors, Kensington Fitness Centre and the Northec Sport & Recreation Programme. 

The Expo provided a fantastic opportunity for all visitors to get first hand information on how to get involved with various sports available in our region.  Whether it is participating, coaching, volunteering or merely supporting, the Expo was the perfect place to gain this knowledge.

 A variety of practical workshops were held during the course of the day, which provided visitors with the chance to actually participate through “have a go” sessions which proved to be highly popular and entertaining!

Well done Annie and crew for helping promote our sport.

• Boys Open - Tate Matson, seeded 6th, finished 6th
• Girls Open - Sacha Pou-Tito, seeded 8th, finished 8th
• Girls Open - Abbie Palmer, seeded 9th, finished 9th
• Girls Div 1 - Jacinta Matson, Winner Special Plate
• Boys Div 2 - James Green, R/Up Special Plate
• Boys Div 2 - Chris Smith, R/Up Plate 
• Girls Div 2 - Olivia Brookland, Consolation Plate Winner
• Boys Div 3 - Hayden Nauman, Winner Classic Plate
• Boys Div 3 - Max Trimble, R/Up Special Plate

Once again Kerikeri Club attracted the maximum number of competitors that two courts can accommodate so inevitably there were late nights. There was some wonderful squash and we believe the PAR (point a rally) scoring produced closer competition. The standard among the junior competitors was a joy to watch. Meals on both Saturday and Sunday nights could only be described as a seafood extravaganza – an unlimited supply of crayfish, oysters, mussels and snapper as well as lamb on the spit. Competitors and families were fed all weekend, compliments of the Kerikeri Club and its generous members.

The Club has a reputation for great prizes and once again they did not disappoint. The event would not take place without the generous support of sponsors and donors.

Results

Women

Div A

Champion Paige Benioni, r/u Sacha Pou Tito, Spec Pl Shontelle Goodhew, Pl Miranda Jex-Blake, Consol Pl Amanda Gould

Div B

Champion Eva Timu, r/u  Kate Shepherd,  Spec Pl Renee Larmer, Pl Danielle Nauman, Consol Pl Nirelle McDonald

Div C

Champion Jo Hay, r/u  Debbie Shepherd, Spec Pl Jordanah Thomas, Pl Debbie Pou Tito, Consol Pl Leigh Rockell

Men

Div A

Champion Tate Matson, r/u Clayton Campbell, 3^rd Scott Hudson

Div B

Champion Daniel Notton, r/u Gary Burton, Spec Pl Bruce Clay, Pl Josh Thomas, Consol Pl Dave Collins

Div C

Champion Tony Purnell, r/u James Green, 3^rd Alan Rockell, 4^th Claude Shepherd, Spec Pl Frank Navarro, Pl Bevan McCarthy, Classic Pl Gareth Nock, Consol Pl Mal Liddington

Div D

Champion Sam Sayes, r/u Steve Isbister, Spec Pl Terry Larsen, Pl Jerry Cortzee, Consol Pl Vincent Robson

Div E

Champion Peter Hoult, r/u Milton Brookland, Spec Pl Andy Hay, Pl Warwick Thirkell, Consol Pl Mal Shepherd 

What a busy year both at National level and in our Northland region with some major changes to personnel.

The resignations of Steve Bean and Peter Gearing and their departure at the beginning of the season was a

surprise to all, but with a great effort from the team things managed to tick over for the season. I would like to

acknowledge the long service and steady running that Peter gave to Squash Northland as SDO. In difficult

times he has left Squash Northland in a healthy financial position. Steve made a great contribution to squash

in Northland, and no one will forget those Residentials at Mid Western. Squash NZ has also seen changes in

personnel, but like Northland has managed to move forward in spite of these.

Both organisations have had new strategic plans drawn up and a new direction for squash implemented. It has

not been the major structural changes that were forecast, but more definite direction and delivering that has

been the strong message received by Squash NZ and the Northland committee. The new Squash NZ CEO

Jim O’Grady, the employment of the National Coaching Director Dave Clark, and the new IT platform

becoming ‘live’ has been the first very positive steps by Squash NZ to deliver a more professional game to our

members and to the public of NZ. SPARC sees squash as a sport that fits many of the important criteria it

holds in high regard for a sport in NZ. It is keen to see squash return to its glory days of world champions and

already has invested in the new direction of squash in NZ.

As with Squash NZ, Squash Northland has spent this year drawing up a strategic plan and developing a

structure that will ensure that the vision for squash by its clubs and members is realised. There has been

much discussion with clubs, players, Sport Northland and Squash NZ to ensure that our strategic plan and

structure is achievable, relevant and the maximum use of resources. This is why the old SDO role has not

been filled until a thorough plan is in place. As we know in business, one person cannot fit many roles so it is

important to have the right personnel in the roles to ensure success of the strategic plan. It is also important

that we seek out revenue streams that will make this as successful as possible. The challenge is to show good

governance, be more professional and ‘market’ our game to attract the ‘funding’ that some other sports enjoy.

I would like to thank all the people who have supported me this year, and filled the ‘gaps’ in my knowledge

about squash. The key was to keep things ticking over while the bigger plans were put in place, get as much

knowledge and information both locally and nationally so the right plans are put in place, and to build

relationships that will make it all happen.

Thank- you to Karen Dykzeul for her long service as Treasurer. Everyone is fully aware of the ‘extra mile’ that

you have always gone in your duties for Squash Northland. I am sure you will enjoy being a ‘squash mum’.

Thanks also to Maria Quin for her long service as District Statistician. This has always been a difficult job with

many ‘variables’ that Maria always managed to chase up and follow through. Thankyou Maria for your time

and patience. New technology is going to transform this area of squash for the new statistician so we look

forward to a more ‘up to date’ and accurate grading list thanks to Squash NZ’s new IT platform.

Also thanks to the coaching team that took the Junior A & B squads through the year, and to those who took

the juniors to nationals. To all the coaching that has taken place throughout Northland this year, from

individual to all the very successful superchamps teams that went to nationals. Well done to the Kaitaia E

Grade Ladies who won the National E Grade Superchamps Title.

Thank-you to the delegates who have travelled to meetings, and to our committee who have taken another

night during the week away from their families for squash. We look forward to a busy year next year and more

progress for the future of squash.

Squash Northland President

Leah Goodhew

Whangarei Squash Club hosted the final junior Black Knight series
tournament over the weekend.  Although
the entries were disappointingly low the kids that did play in the
tournament played some great squash and
one lucky player Fletcher Coutts (Whangarei) took away the spot prize
of a BK squash racket worth $189.
The final games of the tournament produced some great 5 setters and
one highlight was the battle Gemma Turketo (Kamo)
and Olivia Brookland (Whangarei) had for the girls plate final, with
Gemma winning 10/8 in the fifth.

 Results:Boys Div 1:             Winner:         James Green (Mangakahia)
                           Runner Up:     Kane Turketo (Kamo)
                           Special Plate:   Peter Houben (Whangarei)
                           Plate:               Rikajn Stuart (Kamo)
                          Cons Plate:     Reagan Wakeling-Geange

Boys Div 2:             Winner:         Sam Clotworthy (Whangarei)
                          Runner Up:     Milton Brookland (Whangarei)
                          Special Plate:   Campbell Shepherd (Kerikeri)
                          Plate:               Finn Trimble (Whangarei)
                          Cons Plate:      Liam Seally (Whangarei)

Boys Div 3:             Winner:         Ben Van Veen (Kamo)
                            Runner Up:    Connor McMurchy (Whangarei)
                            3rd Place        Felix Reed (Kerikeri)
                        4th Place        Aydan Devine (Whangarei)

Girls Div:             Winner:           Zoe Dykzeul (Whangarei)
                             Runner Up:     Hayley Green (Mangakahia)
                             Special Plate:   Olivia Devine (Whangarei)
                              Plate:               Gemma Turketo (Kamo)
                             Cons Plate:      Keighlee Burkhardt (Kamo)

Whangarei Squash Club wish all the kids going to the Junior Nationals
well, play hard and play fair!