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Southland Squash Championships in 1980 - A great sport

7/25/2015

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I remember squash in the 1980's it was a growing sport in those days and was another alternative to netball and rugby in the winter.  I played in the 26th Southland Championships with a lot of players that put in a mass amount of time into the game. 
The open was run over three days at three different complex with the main courts being the glassed courts at Onslow Street.  With the great calibre of players on display the crowds were one of the largest I had seen at a squash tournament.  The Mens Open Grade had competitors from the North Island in Rod Hayes from Christchurch who was defending his title and was ranked at number three in New Zealand.  Hayes played an extremely intelligent game and was even better under pressure, where he would play impossible shots.  Not only does Rod have a incredible understanding of the game he has a great physic and is ultra fit.  There was Rob Durey from Napier who was just out of the junior ranks and was selected for the New Zealand U23 team when he took Hayes to five sets Brian Simpson takes the third seeding and from Christchurch was playing in the New Zealand No two squad and would have to be one of the most dedicated players at the moment. From Auckland was the fourth seed, Paul Devoy and was technically one of the best around and I tried to get all young kids to watch him as he knew how to play correct basic squash.
Another A grader was John Redpath from Palmerston North, and was a classy New Zealand A grade player and we were hoping he would challenge Hayes and Devoy to their limits.
Others to enter were Craig Hibbert, John Oakley (Christchurch) Ross Fitzimmonds, John Dancaster, and Bob Foster (Dunedin)  and Kevin Learly from Timaru.
From Southland were Phil  Arnold, Des Burnett and Neil Simpson , all three would learn valuable lessons from the other competitors and we could see no reason why an upset could not happen.  Phil Arnold had proven that he could match it with any A Grader which is the one we were going to watch with great interest.
The new Woman's open was the strongest ever and heading the seeds was New Zealand's up and coming Joanne Milne who was dominating the women's squash.  She had an uncanny way to upset her opponent by playing the right shot at the right time to off set or wrong foot them.
John Redpath's wife, Ros Redpath was the second seed and had just completed a tour of Australia with the New Zealand team.  Her style of play was very determined which provided her opponents with a rugged crafty style.  Wife of Viv Hargreaves, Kathy (nee  Graham) will provide a challenge to anyone she draws.  Tania Cusmans, from Oamaru showing real potential, she was young and fit which shows the benefit of an intensive training programme she has undertaken.  Kate Carpinter is no mug and may upset some of the seeds above her.  Other top woman participating were; Carolyn Oakley, Heather Simpson, Joan Crighton, Caron Cowie, all from Dunedin and Pam Anderson and Freda Walker from Oamaru.  The strongest opposition from Southland would have been Janice McAra, Pam Webb, Margaret Hollands, Margaret Keelty all from Invercargill and Pam Anderson and Freda Walker from Oamaru.
Has anyone got the results from this year?
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