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New Zealand
Nationals
22-26 Aug 2008, Remuera Rackets Club, Auckland |
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Tue 26th, Team Finals:
Women's Final:
Waikato bt Auckland 2-2 (80-77 on points countback)
K Lindsay beat L Harrison 9-1 9-3 9-6
A Cranston beat L Cowlard 9-1 9-0 5-9 9-1
Lassie Cull lost to J Laurenson 9-1 9-0 9-0
A Sincock lost to R MacLeod 2-9 9-6 9-0 9-5
Mens' Final
Wellington bt Auckland 3-0
M Knight beat C Grayson 9-3 9-2 3-9 3-9 9-6
E Williams beat C Jamieson 9-2 9-6 9-7
S Johnstone beat A Grayson 10-8 10-8 10-8
Wellington & Waikato
take team titles
Defending champions and top seeds Wellington and surprise
package Waikato have taken out the titles at the New Zealand
National Teams Squash Championships in Auckland.
Wellington has grabbed the honours in the men's competition,
retaining the title it won in 2007 with victory over second seeded
Auckland in the final this afternoon. It is the fourth time in six
years Wellington have been the National team champions.
However, the favourites have been upstaged in the women's draw.
Third seeded Waikato has taken out the title for the first time
since 2004, with victory over top seed Auckland in the final.
Auckland had been gunning for its fourth title in succession.
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Individual
Event |
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Mens Teams Event Semifinals –
Monday 25th August
Wellington beat Bay of Plenty 4/-
Martin Knight beat Matiu TeKani-McQueen 9/4 9/1 9/6
Evan Williams beat Brent Sherman 9/4 9/0 9/3
Shane Johnstone beat Brodie Davis 9/2 9/2 9/1
Keegan Burkhart beat James Skiffington 4/9 9/1 9/6 9/5
Auckland beat Canterbury 4/-
Campbell Grayson beat Scott Gardiner 9/2 9/0 9/2
Graeme Wilson beat Steve Wren 9/5 9/0 9/4
Cameron Jamieson beat Tim Williams 9/7 9/2 9/0
Alex Grayson beat Kade Atkinson 8/9 9/2 9/1 9/5
Mens Teams Event First Round – Monday 25th August
Wellington BYE
Bay of Plenty beat Central 3/1
Danny McQueen beat Kent Darlington 9/5 9/5 9/5
Matiu TeKani-McQueen beat Tim Preston 9/6 9/6 9/6
Paul Bedford beat Glenn Carson 5/9 9/5 9/2 7/9 10/8
Brent Sherman lost to Matt Nation 9/1 9/1 9/5
Canterbury beat Waikato 4/-
Scott Gardiner beat Chris Lloyd 9/0 4/9 10/9 10/8
Grant Craig beat Mark Dunwoodie 9/4 10/8 9/1
Tim Williams beat Luke Gordon 9/3 9/3 9/1
Kade Atkinson beat Steve Martin 9/2 9/1 9/2
Auckland beat Southland 4/-
Campbell Grayson beat Isaac William 9/1 9/1 9/0
Graeme Wilson beat Neil McAra 9/2 9/0 9/1
Cameron Jamieson beat Adrian Mennell 9/4 9/3 9/5
Alex Grayson beat Brendon Frew 9/0 9/0 9/1
Womens Teams Event Semifinals – Monday 25th August
Auckland beat Bay of Plenty 4/-
Lana Harrison beat Kathryn Austin 9/2 9/2 9/1
Lisa Cowlard beat Vicki Beker 9/1 8/10 9/2 9/1
Jackie Laurenson beat Sandra Egan 9/2 9/2 9/1
Rachel McLeod beat J Bunton Brown 9/1 9/1 9/0
Waikato beat Wellington 3/1
Kylie Lindsay lost to Tamsyn Leevey 9/3 9/6 9/7
Amanda Cranston beat Elizabeth Day 9/0 9/0 2/9 9/3
Lassie Cull beat Emma Millar 9/4 4/9 10/8 9/2 9/5
Amanda Sincock beat Liz Wilson 9/7 9/5 4/9 9/4
Womens Teams Event First Round – Monday 25th August
Auckland BYE
Bay of Plenty beat Canterbury 2/2 countback
Kathryn Austin beat Shayle Higginson 4/9 9/2 9/2 9/3
Vicki Beker lost to Karen Walton 5/9 10/9 10/8 9/7
Sandra Egan lost to Megan Craig 9/2 5/9 9/4 9/5
Tanya Colyer beat Erin Dipple 7/9 9/5 9/6 9/1
Wellington bet Central 4/-
Tamsyn Leevey beat Alison Wilson 9/5 9/7 9/0
Elizabeth Day beat Amnda Landers-Murphy 9/4 9/2 7/9 9/7
Emma Miller beat D Flourie 10/8 9/4 9/3
Katrina Palmer beat N Budd Clement 9/0 9/3 9/0
Waikato beat Otago 4/-
Kylie Lindsay beat Amy Alison 10/8 9/6 9/3
Amanda Cranston beat Tracey Flux 9/6 9/0 9/1
Lassie Cull beat C Sincock 9/4 9/1 9/7
Amanda Sincock beat K Van Biel 9/0 9/0 9/1 |
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Individual Event |
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Sun 24th, Finals:
[1] Kashif Shuja bt [3] Martin Knight
3/9, 5/9, 9/6, 9/4, 9/3
[1] Shelley Kitchen bt [2] Jaclyn Hawkes
9/2, 7/9, 9/4, 9/2
Knight falls as titles are retained
Gary Denvir reports
Martin Knight has fallen just short of a major upset in the
final of the National Squash Championships at the Remuera Rackets
Club in Auckland.
The third seeded Wellingtonian has been beaten in five by top seed
Kashif Shuja, who had to fight back from two games down to
retain his title.
Knight set the match alight by winning the opening two games 9/3
9/5, but Shuja gradually battled his way back into the match,
finally sealing victory 9/3 in the fifth.
Meanwhile, top seed Shelley Kitchen didn't have things her
own way in the women's final either, taking four games to account
for second seed Jaclyn Hawkes.
The world number seven won the first game 9/2, but dropped the
second 7/9 as Hawkes looked to make amends for her straight games
defeat in the International Festival of Squash earlier this month.
However, Kitchen re-established her dominance to take the next two
games, closing out the match 9/2 in the fourth.
Shelley Kitchen and Kashif Shuja join an elite group of players to
win the National title four times or more.
Dame Susan Devoy and Paul Steel remain the most successful players
in the history of the event with 10 titles apiece.
Attention now turns to the teams event over the next two days.
Martin Knight will back up from the individual event to spearhead
the title challenge for top seeds Wellington, who are expected to
face a stiff test in second seeds Auckland.
In the women's event, top seeds Auckland are also likely to have
their work cut out against second seeds Wellington, who are led by
the rejuvenated Tamsyn Leevey, the former world number 24.
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Sat 23rd, Day Two:
Knight rules in semis
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Gary Denvir reports
Wellington's Martin Knight has caused the only upset in the
semifinals of the New Zealand National Squash Championship in
Auckland.
The third seed is through to the title decider after an epic battle
with second seeded Aucklander Campbell Grayson, eventually clinching
a high quality encounter in five gruelling games.
Knight will now have to dig deep to take on top seed Kashif Shuja in
the final tomorrow. The kiwi number one looks to be in superb form,
beating eighth seed Evan Williams in straight games in the
quarterfinals before notching up a 3/0 victory over fourth seed Josh
Greenfield.
In the women's draw, former world number 24 Tamsyn Leevey celebrated
her return to the national event with a surprise 3/0 win over fourth
seed Kylie Lindsay. However, Leevey found the going too tough
against top seed Shelley Kitchen in the semis, with the world number
seven winning 3/0.
Kitchen will face second seed Jaclyn Hawkes in the final, in a
repeat of the title decider at the recent International Festival of
Squash in Mt Maunganui. Hawkes earned her place in the last two with
a 3/1 win over third seed Jaclyn Hawkes.
Men's Semis:
1. Kashif Shuja bt 4. Josh Greenfield
9/5, 9/6, 10/8
3. Martin Knight bt 2. Campbell Grayson 9/2, 9/0, 7/9, 6/9,
9/2
Quarters:
1. Kashif Shuja bt 8. Evan Williams
3/0
4. Josh Greenfield bt 5. Graeme Wilson
3/0
3. Martin Knight bt 6. Scott Gardiner
3/0
2. Campbell Grayson bt 7. George Crosby 3/0
Women's Semis:
1. Shelley Kitchen bt 5. Tamsyn Leevey
9/6, 9/1, 9/0
2. Jaclyn Hawkes bt 3. Louise Crome
9/7, 9/1, 6/9, 10/9
Quarters:
1. Shelley Kitchen bt 8. Jackie Laurenson
3/0
5. Tamsyn Leevey bt 4. Kylie Lindsay
3/0
3. Louise Crome bt 6. Amanda Cranston
3/0
2. Jaclyn Hawkes bt 7. Lana Harrison
3/0
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Kashif Shuja
Leevey & Kitchen |
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Fri 22nd, Day One:
Top seeds all safely through
Gary Denvir reports
Men's Round Two:
1. Kashif Shuja beat 17. Cameron Jamieson 3/0
8. Evan Williams beat 24. Gary Duberly 3/1
5. Graeme Wilson beat 21. Tim Williams 3/0
4. Josh Greenfield beat 20. Alex Grayson 3/2
3. Martin Knight beat 19. Grant Craig 3/0
6. Scott Gardiner beat 11. Shane Johnstone 3/0
7. George Crosby beat 10. Danny McQueen 3/1
2. Campbell Grayson beat 15. Christopher Lloyd 3/0
Women's Round Two:
1. Shelley Kitchen beat 17. Rachel McLeod 3/0
8. Jackie Laurenson beat 9. Lisa Cowlard 3/1
5. Tamsyn Leevey beat 12. Vicki Beker 3/0
4. Kylie Lindsay beat 20. Alana Sincock 3/0
3. Louise Crome beat 14. Elizabeth Day 3/0
6. Amanda Cranston beat 11. Trina Moore 3/1
7. Lana Harrison beat 10. Rebecca Hawkes 3/0
2. Jaclyn Hawkes beat 15. Emma Miller 3/0
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No major dramas for the top seeds on day one of the New Zealand
National Championships at the Remuera Rackets Club in Auckland.
Kiwi number one Kashif Shuja has cruised through his opening two
matches in the men's draw, beating fellow Aucklander Aaron Smail 3/0
first up before repeating the dose against Cameron Jamieson, also
from Auckland, in round two.
It was a similar story for second seed Campbell Grayson, who opened
his account with a 3/0 win over Bay of Plenty junior Matiu Te Kani-McQueen
before winning in straight games against Waikato's Christopher
Lloyd.
In the women's draw, top seed Shelley Kitchen had a bye first up,
but was quickly into her stride as she downed Auckland's Rachel
McLeod 3/0 in the second round.
Second seed Jaclyn Hawkes also had the benefit of an opening bye,
and was similarly impressive in her second round straight games win
over Wellington's Emma Miller.
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Top turnout for NZ Nationals
Gary Denvir reports
An impressive line-up will take to the courts at this week's New
Zealand National Squash Championships at the Remuera Rackets Club in
Auckland.
Nearly all of the country's top touring pros have entered the
prestigious event, along with a couple of familiar faces from the
past. The only exception is Joelle King who has pulled out due to a
hamstring injury.
 Shelley Kitchen is favoured to take out the women's draw,
after a stellar year that has seen her climb to number seven in the
world rankings. Kitchen will face Waikato's Kendyl Morris in the
opening round on Friday afternoon.
Also in title contention is second seed Jaclyn Hawkes, the
world number 19, while third seed Louise Crome may well fancy
her chances, after reaching a career high 22 in the latest world
rankings.
The other notable name in the line-up is former world number 24
Tamsyn Leevey, who has come out of retirement after last playing
the event two years ago.
 In the men's draw, kiwi number one Kashif Shuja is the top
seed and should be too good for fellow Aucklander Aaron Smail in the
opening round on Friday. However, like the women's draw, there are a
number of players more than capable of giving the title favourite a
run for his money.
Second seed Campbell Grayson has been one of the big
improvers in the world rankings this year, climbing to number 90
after a string of consistent results, while third seed Martin
Knight is not far behind at 96 in the world.
Also in the hunt will be fourth seed Josh Greenfield while
the possible dark horse in the field is George Crosby, who is
back in the country after a stint overseas.
 "A
very big welcome to players, spectators and sponsors. Remuera
Rackets Club is proud to host the 2008 New Zealand National
Championships.
"There has been a hive of activity at the club to finish renovations
to the bar and court viewing as well as some hard work to make sure
the courts are in pristine condition.
"This year sees one of the strongest fields entered in both the
Men's and Women's draws for a number of years with a good mix of old
legends and young talent.
"We are looking forward to some top squash in both the individual
titles over the weekend and the hotly contested district teams event
early next week.
"Good luck to all."
Tournament Director |
Men's Draw
2007 Champions
are top seeds
Women's Draw |
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The Quote Box ... |
 “My
preparation for the NZ Nationals has been going well. We had the Mt
Maunganui Festival of Squash a few weeks ago which was a excellent
build up for all our top players leading into the Nationals.
We were lucky to have world class players Madeleine Perry, Kasey
Brown, Ong Beng Hee and Azlan Iskandar competing at the Mt. The NZ
Nationals is the biggest tournament of the year in NZ and its great
to play in front of friends, supporters and family.
My next overseas tournament is the World Open in Manchester, England
starting mid October. I start my training programme for this next
week so it will be nice to go into this period feeling confident and
happy with my performance at the Nationals.”
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 “I
am feeling good - luckily I have the home advantage with Remuera
being my club so hopefully I can play well in front of my friends
and family.
I think if I play well I can make the final and give Shelley a run
for her money.
The Nationals is so important to all of us. It is the tournament
that when you are growing up we all dream of winning.”
 “Training
has been going well leading into Nationals so I feel well prepared
and am looking forward to playing. Semi finals is the first target
and anything from there is a bonus.
Nationals is always a special event and something that I want to do
well in. Being national champ is always a main goal.”
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2008 Officials
Men's
Honours Board
Women's
Honours Board |
Intro from the CEO
 It
was an easy decision to award the 2008 NZ National Championships to
the Remuera Racquets Club.
This tournament continues a fine tradition that this club has forged
over the years.
This club possesses great people on and off the court and it has
been my pleasure to meet a few. From the tireless work that people
like Aileen Buscke, 2007 Squash Personality of the Year to
Julie Hawkes, 2007 Coach of the Year, to Steve Hall the
GM and the admin secretary Liz Callaghan and to the current
crop of established talent of players like Jackie Hawkes and
Louise Crome, the club has made an immediate impression in my
first 18 months in this role.
Thanks to the Club, the Board and all of the staff and volunteers
who have made this event a success on and off the court.
As always, the referees have played an important component of this
events success and and it is always good to use events like these to
see the coming of together of people from all walks of the squash
community.
This weekend not only sees on court action but we also take the
opportunity for the Squash NZ Board, the National Referees and
National Events Advisory Group to convene formally and informally. A
special welcome to John Small who has come over from
Australia to bring an international refereeing flavour to
proceedings to contribute to assessment and professional development
of our national referees.
Squash NZ has brought John over to improve our support of officials
and their pathway to national and international accreditation.
Most of all, Squash is about fierce competition and camaradery. The
great Jonah Barrington described Squash as 'boxing with
racquets' and while this description captures the competitive
element, I know the friendships formed and enhanced on and off the
court over the course of the week brings that special personality
that epitomises the unique character of our sport.
I hope you all enjoy the rivalry and revelry and wish you success in
pursuit of your goals in Squash.
Squash New Zealand CEO |
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Team Event, 25-26 August |
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“Feeling
confident and looking forward to the event.
"I
have been moving pretty well and feeling good this past week, I want
this to last for another few days!!
"Nationals
is the biggest event in the NZ calendar and it means a lot to all of
the players. It means a lot to me to be a part of this event and
especially this year when it’s being held in Auckland and at Remuera,
which was my home club for many years. I am really looking forward
to the Nationals!
