Squash: Northlander Natalie Sayes honoured again

Whangarei-raised Natalie Sayes continues to be one to watch on the Auckland squash circuit. Photo / Supplied

Northland continues to churn out top young sporting talent as squash player Natalie Sayes proves.

The 13-year-old, raised in Whangarei but who now schools at Remuera Intermediate, has been clocking up the accolades over the last few years.

The most recent of which was winning the Auckland Young Squash Sportswoman of the Year for the third time in a row.

Sayes has some expert coaching to rely on. Nine-time Filipino national champion Manu Yam is guiding her, though she has been tutored by Northlander Shelly Kitchen, a Commonwealth Games bronze medallist, and former world number 24 Glenn Wilson.

She will start preparing for her battle with Australia as part of the 2018 New Zealand Junior squad in Redcliffe in January.

Sayes has also been included in the New Zealand 2018 elite junior girls' squad which is a group selected to prepare for possible inclusion in the 2019 Under-19 World Junior Championships.