The Central Juniors Age Group Championships 2021 were hosted by Taihape Squash Club on 26 - 27th June.  While the temprature dropped dramatically outside over the weekend the Taihape club maintained a toasty temp with their new heat pumps and the hot action on court.

There were 10 age group titles up for grabs over the weekend as well as the top honours of the Under 19 titles there was also, under 17, 15, 13 and 11 years.  The field was extremely young this year which is also represented in the Junior Rep squads that are training for nationals.  The Central Juniors is one of the selection tournaments along with the North Island Age Group Champs to be held in New Plymouth in a few weeks.  The talent of the two Holmes siblings could not be ignored as they took both the under 19 titles with Abbie 18 years old beating ex club mate Kayla Ryan and Reece at only 14 years old beating the Ohakune talent Jayden Bailey who has improved hugely over the past year winning most improved junior at the district awards in December of 2020 after climbing the grading list by a massive 1130 points.  Holmes and Bailey had a fast paced match with both showing off their ball and court speed but it was Holmes who had the touch and pulled off some stunning drop shots from the back of the court along with the famous Hawera reverse boast.  Reece also claimed the Under 15 boys title from KP upcomer Cassius Leevey.  The Holmes siblings have plenty of growth and squash ahead of them and parents Melville and Denise Holmes are huge supporters of the game and both play themselves.  Another talented squash family produced some top results with the Darlington brothers of Whanganui Ethan and Luke taking 1st and second in the under 11 boys.  Taihape Squash Club has a good Junior programme and great membership they produced some top results over the weekend with the standout performance of the locals coming from Jack Squires who surprised and challenged the rep squad players and impressing selectors so much that he has been invited to join them for future camps.  

A huge thank you to Josh Hooper, Daryl O'Hara and all their volunteers at the Taihape Squash Club for their warm hospitality and the sponsors Lasercraft and Rustic Eating House for putting on what will be our last Junior Age Groups with the event being restructured for 2022 and onwards into a Junior Open.

 Girls

Under 11

Winner - Kylee Bennett TR

Under 13                                    

Winner - Grace Rowe OA

R/Up - Maria Melbourne TH

Under 15

Winner - Aria Bannister WG

R/Up - Isla Sweeney PN

Under 17

Winner - Grace Burnard - TR

 

OA

R/Up - Abby Treder TR

Under 19

Winner - Abbie Holmes KP

R/Up - Kayla Ryan HW 

Boys

Under 11

Winner - Ethan Darlington WG

R/Up - Luke Darlington WG

Under 13

Winner - Malachy O"Connor WG

R/Up - Diarmuid Mullins TH

Under 15

Winner - Reece Holmes HW

R/Up - Cassius Leevey KP

Under 17

Winner - Jayden Bailey OA

R/Up - Bradley Hopkins KP

Under 19

Winner - Reece Holmes HW

R/Up - Jayden Bailey OA

 Pictured Boys Under 19 final Jayden Bailey of Ohakune (white shirt) and Reece Holmes Hawera (Blue shirt)