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The weather was lousy in Maniototo at the weekend but the squash made up for it. The 2025 South Island Triangular was hosted by the Maniototo Squash Club on Saturday & Sunday with close battles between all three areas. Central Otago was triumphant overall beating Otago Metro in a very close battle needing games to decide the winner of the event. Otago Metro came in second in overcoming Midlands in another close battle with the Otago Men winning 4 - 1 and the women 3 - 2. Representing the areas were:
Central Otago: Tim Schwass, Steve Thomson, Phil Borland, Tom Cunnington, Garrad Eketone, Brooke Elizabeth, Kelly Smith, Veronika Gregurkova, Liga Berke, Hannah Rathe & Manager - Gary Toye. Otago Metro: Jacob Brown, Neil Hampton, Kent Hitchens, Jaraz Waerea, Zak Knight, Alana Graham, Yasmin McLean, Danya Kerr, Kerri Bridgman, Helen Brownlie & Manager - Aynsley Munro. Midlands: Tim Cresswell, Regan Thompson, Jeremy Proudfoot, Blake Cummings, Alistair, Cron, Christina Cron, Hayley Donaldson, Amber Brady, Debra Cameron & Manager - Hayley Donaldson. Saturday evening concluded with all teams meeting socially for dinner at the Waipiati Hotel for what everyone agreed was a very competitive day of squash. Round One: Otago Metro versus Central Otago Men: Central Otago 3 - 2 Women: Otago Metro 3 - 2 = Central Otago 23 games to 17 Round Two: Central Otago versus Midlands Men: Central Otago 4 - 1 Women: Midlands 3 - 2 = Central Otago 6 matches to 4 Round Three: Otago Metro versus Midlands Men: Otago Metro 4 - 1 Women: Otago 3 - 2 = Otago Metro 7 matches to 3
Well done to all South Island juniors that competed so well over the weekend at the 2025 New Zealand Age Group Champs hosted in Auckland at the Henderson Squash Club.
Special mention to Levi Casey (Cromwell) in winning the Under 13 title from club mate Jack Crossan. Another success for the Cromwell club was Violet Casey (9) in coming runner up in the Under 11 Girls final in a five setter battle with Shelby Duncan from Waikato. Well done to Aria Bannister (17) in taking out top seed Erin Wylie (BOP) in three in the semi-finals (11/9 11/5 11/5) to reach the final of the Girl's Under 19 draw with Mackenzie Tait (Wellington) edging out Aria in a close 3 - 2 fought win in the final (14/12 11/7 3/11 7/11 9/11).
Kawaroa Park and Ashhurst Pohangina won the titles at the 'C' Grade Nationals which concluded on Saturday at the Otago Squash Club. Kawaroa Park, from New Plymouth, won a cliffhanger against the Pirates Cub who were representing the Otago region. The final went down to the decisive 5th match and Anna Stokes gradually wore down Stacey Hitchcock in 4 sets to clinch the title. Earlier, Pirates had beaten Katikati, Rangiora and Squash City (Invercargill) in pool play before accounting for Hamilton in the semi final. Hitchcock along with Alana Graham and Yasmin McLean suffered their first losses of the tournament in the final while Hollie Thomas had her first win in the final. The other winner for Pirates in the final was Georgia McKenzie who won the crucial 4th match to set up the finale. Kim Hutton also played a crucial part in the team's progress and was unbeaten in her 3 matches at number 5.
The men's draw was very competitive throughout pool play and eventual winner Ashhurst Pohangina, a club just north of Palmerston North, only qualified for the final on a 3 way countback against Otago University and Upper Hutt. The combined students and Otago club team had beaten the eventual winners 3-2 in pool play but a loss to Upper Hutt in their final match by the same score line led to the countback after Ashhurst Pohangina had earlier beaten Upper Hutt 3-2. The local hopes were condemned to the playoff for 5th and 6th which was a cruel outcome after being so close to the final. They bounced back to claim 5th place against Te Rapa with yet another 3-2 score-line. Paul Grant and Makaia Sutton went through unbeaten for the local team. In the final, Ashhurst Pohangina defeated Hawkes Bay 3 - 2 after winning 3 of the first 4 matches. The winners were spearheaded by Brayden Bryce who won all 5 matches at number 1. Of the other Southern teams, Oamaru finished 7th and Squash City 9th in the men's draw while Squash City females finished 7th. |
