The top Central Otago Club, Wanaka won  a tight  battle over the top Dunedin Club, Otago University   in winning the Cableway’s Shield for the 2016 season. Hosting rights alternate between  Dunedin and  Central Otago and it was the turn of  Wanaka to host the event.  

​Unfortunately, Otago University paid dearly for not being able to field a ‘B’ Grade women due to   examination commitments with the result going right down to the wire – matches at 5 all and games 19 /16 to Wanaka.   Being runners-up in 2015 behind the Otago Club and consistent finalist over the last few years, Wanaka were worthy winners – well done.

The 2016 Otago  District ‘Open’ was hosted by the Alexandra Squash Club in conjunction with the 4th and final tournament of the 2016 Junior Highlander Series.    Southland dominated the ‘Open’ draws with Regan McNaught  and Anna O’Connor  both from the Makarewa Club winning the titles from Caleb Madden (Cromwell) and Hayley Flett (Squash City – Invercargill).  2015 Champion, Regan did not have it all his own way with Caleb having a number of match balls in the fifth but Regan  held his nerve and managed to take the final point in a very tight, exciting and worthy  final.  Anna played 2015 champion Hayley Flett and once again, a competitive final with Anna taking it out in four games.

Other grade winners were:
Boys ‘A’: Regan Miller (Taieri);  Girls ‘A’: Rinaria Hepi (Pirates)
Boy’s ‘B’: Jacob Budd (Squash City);  Mixed ‘A‘: Charlotte Wilde (Sunnyvale)
Mixed ‘B’: Eamonn Thwaites (Makarewa)
2016 Junior Highlander Winner:  Regan McNaught (Makarewa)
2016 Personality Winner:  Bianca Malcolm (Otago);

Central Otago teams won through in the only Super Champ eliminations held last weekend at Cromwell and Otago University Clubs.

Men’s ‘C’ Grade was held in Cromwell with the host club taking the title by  beating Wanaka 4 – 1 in the morning. Their afternoon tie against Otago University went right to the wire going into the final match at 2 games all with Scott Dickie clinching the tie for Cromwell by beating Oliver Waterworth by a 3 nil margin.  Otago University won the tie against  Wanaka by  4 matches to 1.

Men’s ‘E’ Grade was also won by Cromwell beating the hosts Otago University  by 4 matches to 1 with the Women’s ‘E’ Grade going to Alexandra also beating the host club Otago University by 5 – 0.

​Teams to represent the Otago District at the Super Champ Nationals are:

The 2016 Otago District Squash Championship final was an all Otago University affair with Sophie O’Connell defending her 2015 title by winning  in four games over Laura Rogers and Tamati Brooks (Otago University President) winning in three over  team mate Matt Ditchburn.  Both Laura and Matt played above themselves to get to the final but the experience and shot play of Sophie and Tamati was too strong on the day.

Ninety-four players competed over the weekend at the Otago Squash Club  with 12 year old junior Martha Toghill (seeded eighth) from Wanaka having a  particularly good tournament winning the Women’s ‘A’ Grade.