Squash Central's Junior series titles decided at Whanganui courts

The Top 8 boys and girls at the Junior Prince Series.

Last Sunday saw over 50 entrants attend Squash Central's Junior Prince Series finals at the Whanganui Squash Club, as three matches per player meant another full day on the local courts.

The finals came at the end of a very competitive 16 week series, which saw J-Grade level players attend Sunday tournaments played in Taranaki, Whanganui and the Manawatu.

J-Grade is designed as an introduction for juniors to enter competitive level squash, getting a taste of tournaments before moving up to E-Grade and beyond.

Numbers have grown in the Squash Central catchment to attend these tournaments, specificially from the Manawatu, Whanganui and Ruapehu areas.

During the 16 weeks, players collect points for attendence, winning matches, and two extra for winning their division at a given tournament.

The overall Boys winner for 2018 was Dannevirke's Shane England, well ahead on 112 points.

Winner for the Girls winner was Isla Sweeney of SquashGym Palmerston North, who finished on 85 points.

The Top 5 players on points also won a $100 Central Coaching voucher each for their efforts.

In related news, the latest NZ Junior rankings for July show three Wanganui players in the Top 20 for Under 11's.

Aria Bannister is the No 2 ranked nationally for Girls Under 11's, while Thor Darlington and Maximus Mathews are 9th and 16th respectively for Boys.

Junior Prince Series results

Top 5: 1. Shane England (Dannevirke) 112; 2. Isla Sweeney (SquashGym Palmerston North) 85; 3. Rhys Hurley (Patea) 82; 4. Kasen Hanks (Tararua) 82; 5=. Macauley Arnott (Tararua), Grace Burnard (Ohakune) 78.

Boys: 1. Shane England (Dannevirke) 112; 2. Rhys Hurley (Patea) 85; 3. Kasen Hanks (Tararua) 82; 4. Macauley Arnott (Tararua) 78; 5. Koben Hanks (Tararua) 77; 6. Brodie Bennett (Tararua) 74; 7. James Stanyon (Kawaroa Park) 74; 8=. Harris Sweeney (SquashGym Palmerston North), Thor Darlington (Whanganui) 71.

Girls: 1. Isla Sweeney (SquashGym Palmerston North) 85; 2. Grace Burnard (Ohakune) 78; 3. Allyka Hanks (Tararua) 77; 4. Aaliyah-Lee Robinson (Tararua) 73; 5. Elizabeth Laws (Tararua) 70; 6. Aria Bannister (Whanganui) 68; 7. Emma Burnard (Ohakune) 68; 8. Annabel Chilcott (SquashGym Palmerston North) 68.