On Sunday July 4th the Papakura Tennis & Squash Club hosted the second event of the Squash Auckland Southern Region Junior squash tournament. 18 youngsters between 8 and 13 years of age laced up their shoes and proceeded to deliver exciting, committed and very well spirited matches. The team format encouraged every player to compete for each other bringing meaning to every point and game won.

Results

First place:

Team Jaguars - Anaru Matthews, Braxton Fletcher, Addison Matthews & Eilis Roden

Second place equal:

Team Tigers - Damian Rutkowski, Payton Runga, Kendall Alexander & Riana Sawyer

Team Cheetahs - Carter Runga, Harley Blair, Samuel Donaldson, Dani Chen & Cassandra Paihana

Third place:

Team Lions - Bradley McConnell, Kaia Manaia, Hana Manaia, Keeley Roden & Jag Coventry

Awards

Sportsmanship and tournament support award.

Riana Sawyer from the Manurewa Squash Club received an Eye Racket donated by Dardir Squash Creative for her excellent on court sportsmanship, empathy, and her willingness to referee tirelessly. A brilliant role model for junior squash, Riana was thoroughly deserving of this award.
 

Effort and commitment award.

The “Cake Mountain Award” was won by Addison Matthews. Her effort, intensity and commitment in every rally was a joy to see. What an inspiration to watch someone so young with so much potential who gives 100%. A future star in the making.   
 

Player of the day award.

This is awarded for squash prowess, a junior showing potential beyond his or her years. While there were several players who could have been recipients of the “Cake Tower Award” Papakura’s Bradley McConnell was the winner.
 

Cupcake champion award.

Every player received a “Cup Cake Champion Award” at the tournament prizegiving. A magnificent cupcake went some way toward replenishing the youngster’s energy levels at the end of a day’s squash.
 

Cake Mountain squash prizes.

Cakes and cupcakes for prizes are brilliant. Designer squash cakes, who would have thought it, but yes, Haylee McKinlay, a squash player and professional cake maker created amazing cakes and cupcakes as prizes. The cakes presented at the Papakura Junior tournament looked brilliant, were well received as prizes and gifts, but most importantly were extreeeemly yummy.   

Family atmosphere conducive to successful tournaments.
Throughout the day some 50 people enjoyed watching our young squash stars doing battle. Parental involvement has many benefits when running squash tournaments for young juniors. It positively reinforces their children and offers a safe place to retreat to after matches, whatever the outcome. A huge thank you to all the parents in attendance who supported both their children and the tournament to ensure the great success which the tournament was.

The next tournament in the Junior 1-Day Tournament Series will be held at the Waiuku Golf & Squash Club on Sunday 15 August.  Players can register here.

 

Report by Brian Barnett

Article added: Thursday 15 July 2021