Update from Chief Executive Martin Dowson
Dear Squash Community
I am thoroughly enjoying my new role. I have had the recent pleasure to travel the country during November, driving through each of our eleven districts, getting to meet over 100 people and stop in at about 30 clubs.
I did not get to every city however have committed to revisiting each district in the first half of next year and will prioritising going to towns/cities that I did not get to on my recent trips. It was such a stimulating experience, I love hearing all the great activities that clubs are running and observe the passion and commitment of so many people who volunteer their time towards enhancing the experience and environment of their local clubs to play squash in.
I don’t think I have come across two identical designed clubs with the possible exception of lower south island two court glass back clubs. It highlights that we share many of the same challenges and our context has many differences. Over the next month I will share with our direct stakeholders what I have heard, seen and think about the direction of Squash.
The game of squash is fantastic for our wellbeing, it keeps us fit, it is social and for many of us it allows us to express our competitive spirits. Squash is a perfect game for the future generations as it is fun, easy to play and quick to do.
We do need to come together as a community and be united in how we can optimise and share our great sport for all New Zealanders.
I’ll be in touch!
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Changes to the Squash New Zealand Board
Last month David Hawes announced he was stepping down as Chairman of Squash New Zealand. David will continue to work on the board and will focus on areas that will assist in taking the sport forward. The board thanks David for his time as chair and look forward to continuing to work with David in the coming months.
Kyle Pontifex has been appointed by the board as interim Board Chair until the AGM where the board chair will be elected by the new board.
Kevin Muir has also announced his resignation from the board due to a change in circumstances reducing his availability to contribute at the level he wished. Given the short timeframe until the AGM we will delay the board appointment process to replace Kevin until early next year which aligns with the rotation date of two of the elected members. The board thanks Kevin for his valued input and time over the last 3 years.
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Squash New Zealand Annual Awards 2020
The Squash New Zealand Awards were held earlier this month, this year virtually. In a year where the whole squash community came together, it was a hard process to pick the winners.
Did you miss the awards? Or want to revisit? watch again here: Squash NZ Annual Awards
Congratulations to all our winners
Derek Cook Memorial Trophy – John Fletcher
Personal Endeavor – Wayne Smith
Foundation Coach Of The Year – Suk Hee Kim
Development Coach Of The Year – Evan Williams
Performance Coach Of The Year – Paul Hornsby
Most Improved Junior Boy – Joe Smythe
Most Improved Junior Girl – Sophie Hodges
Most Improved Senior Male – Temwa Chileshe
Most Improved Senior Female – Grace Hymers
Volunteer Of The Year – Myles Sayer
Club Of The Year – Surf City
Personality Of the Year – Evan Williams
Chairman’s Award – Susie Simcock
Special congratulations to new Hall of Fame inductee Chas Evans. A formal ceremony to induct Chas Evans has been scheduled for early 2021.
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Canterbury Sports working together:
A desire to advocate for Canterbury kids in Northwest Christchurch has inspired a unique collective of community groups and sports organisations to team up and deliver new activities outside of traditional sport and recreation.
Read more on what Squash Canterbury is up to with a range of sports in the region: Canterbury Sport
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Squash 2021 Calendar
Check out the squash events lined up for 2021 below
Don’t forget you can filter by the New Zealand events by going into "category" and clicking Premier or Major, by your District, or by the international events!
The calendar can can also be downloaded to your phone as a pocket version: Calendar Wiz
Pleas note some Districts still have events to add so if you can’t see your favourite event there keep checking over the next month to get it in your diary!
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Barfoot and Thompson PSA Series
Squash Auckland and Squash NZ are proud to announce that the Barfoot & Thompson PSA Summer Series will be back for a second season in 2021. The series had a successful debut earlier this year with capacity tournaments hosted at the Henderson Squash Club, Eden Epsom Tennis & Squash Club, North Shore Squash Club, and Royal Oak Racquets Club. The same clubs will again have hosting duties, each holding an Open tournament which will have various levels of PSA (Professional Squash Association) status attracting top players from around the country to compete for lucrative world ranking points.
Find out more here: Barfoot and Thompson PSA Series
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Joelle King beats former world No 1 to reach first semifinal since World Tour resumed after Covid-19
Kiwi squash star Joelle King has tipped up the second-ranked Nouran Gohar to advance to the semifinals of the women’s CIB Black Ball Squash Open in Cairo.
King, the world No 8, beat the Egyptian with an 11-9, 11-5, 11-9 victory inside 39 minutes on Thursday (Friday NZ time).
“I hope I’m on the way up. You get some little testers along the way and I’ve had some tough, tough losses in the last year. Hopefully they’re a distant memory and I’m back on the rise.”
King faces the fifth seed, England’s Sarah-Jane Parry, for a place in the final on Friday (Saturday NZ time).
Stuff.co.nz | TVNZ
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Paul Coll into the top 4 in the world
New Zealand’s Paul Coll has become the first Kiwi since Ross Norman in March, 1989 to reach the top four of the PSA Men’s World Rankings after the December rankings were released earlier this month
Paul Coll will take the court in the Men's CIB Black Ball Open on Monday 7am NZT. He starts his campaign against German Raphael Kandra.
Read more from the PSA here: Coll becomes first male kiwi since 1989 to reach worlds top four
Listen to an Interview with Paul Coll on NewstalkZB : Paul Coll wants to make his opponents life as tough as possible
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SquashGym Summer Open Satellite
New Zealand squash No 3 Lwamba Chileshe has won yet another title to add to his growing list as he strives to improve his world ranking in a challenging year.
With overseas travel restricted, the 21-year-old, ranked 144 in the world, has had to compete at domestic level as much as possible.
He just won the SquashGym Summer Open Satellite title, his eighth in total, in Palmerston North, beating younger brother Temwa in the final in straight games 11-6 12-10 11-2.
Read more here: SquashGym Summer Open
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Squash New Zealand Update
As the year ends, we can all look forward to 2021 in excitement.
The Squash New Zealand office will be closed from the 24th of December until the 11th of January. iSquash and general queries will not be responded to in that period, and will be looked at upon the opening of the office on the 11th of January.
On behalf of the team at Squash New Zealand we thank you for the support you have all given the sport throughout a year that challenged everyone in ways never experienced.
We wish you all a Happy Holiday season.
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UNDER 11: ZEZIMA WAITAI
UNDER 13: BRODIE BENNETT
UNDER 15: CHRISTOPHER HEBBERD
UNDER 17: MASON SMALES
UNDER 19: ELIJAH THOMAS
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UNDER 11: AGATHA GRIFFITHS
UNDER 13: ZOE LEPPER
UNDER 15: MAIDEN-LEE COE
UNDER 17: SOPHIE HODGES
UNDER 19: GEORGIA ROBCKE
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For a full list, visit our rankings page here.
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