Aaron Smail top seed in Southland Junior Squash Open in 1986.....

Junior squash was strong in Invercargill in 1986 thanks to Ted Mortimer of Makarewa who has been passionate about the juniors in the game.  
The format for tournaments was changed in that year for the Southland junior squash open.
It was decided to have just eight players in a grade to ensure that they were always getting tough
competition as sometimes the difference between the first seed and the lower seeds  was just too much of a gap and the players were  not getting enough to challenge them.
Ted Mortimer's protege, Makarewa's Aaron Smail is top seed, and many of other club members are entered in the tournament.
Brothers, Darren and Scott Fairweather were second and third seeds with their younger brother, Mark, who was only 11, is seeded eight.  Mark was one of the most promising junior squash player in the South Island.
Waimate's Jason McLauchlan was seeded fourth with Richard Syme (Invercargill), Bernard Giles (Bluff) and Nigel Russell (Blues) making up the rest of the A Grade.
Girls:
The  girl's seeds starting from the top was Carmen Orlowski (Old Boys), Debbie Keelty (Blues), Jan Freeman (Blues),Wendy Jackson (Old Boys), Nicola Dale (Cromwell), Nadine Kahuroa, (Riverton), Riwa Kahuroa (Riverton), Nicola Jackson (Old Boys).
Any one of these players could upset.  Carmen had been playing in Wednesday interclub so would have the experience, Debbie Keelty had came back from a year off where she had concentrated on her netball, it was great to see her back.
Jan Freeman was dedicated to the cause and her inclusion in the Southern District team the previous years would have given her the confidence she needed.
Wendy Jackson had the ability and determination to go further in the sport.
Ted Mortimer was aware that most juniors were committed to other sports as well and they are trying to set the tournament so players could play their other winter sport if need be.  It was an endless job for the person making the draw to try and accommodate all players and their other sports.

Reference:  The Southland Times June 1986 "New Format in use at Junior Squash Open" 
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Article, Courtesy of The Southland Times June 1986