Whangarei's Max Trimble is essentially New Zealand's top under-17 squash player after claiming the South Island and North Island titles.
However, for Max to claim the South Island title he had to beat fellow Northlander, and clubmate, Sam Sayes in a four-setter.
Also coming away from the South Island Age
Group Tournament about two weeks ago was Zoe Dykzeul, who was runner-up in the under-15 girls while Max's brother Finn was runner-up in the under-15 boys. Not bad considering it was a small team of six who travelled to Oamaru for the tournament. One week later, Max was joined as a North Island champion at last weekend's tournament by Whangarei lass Jacinta Matson who won the under-19 title.
Some of the players were knocked out of the tournament by the winter flu as the tournament progressed while others were knocked out as they progressed through the rounds. But Northland's hardy players were still there to collect some of the prizes at the end. Reagan Wakeling claimed the special plate in the under-17 boys. Joining Wakeling with a special plate was MacKenzie Johnson who claimed the girls' under-15 one.
Meanwhile, of the other 17 Northland juniors who travelled to Eden Epsom to play in the North Island age group tournament, Shayden Toka was runner-up in the boys' under-15 while Annmarie Holst and Ocean Shadbolt came away with the runner-up special plate and the consolation plate in the girls' under-13 section.
