Superchamps champions crowned

The winners of the 2014 Superchamps National Final titles have been found at the five host venues this afternoon.

89 teams from around the nation have been training hard for the National Finals since winning their District Eliminations in July.  Only ten could come away with the coveted national titles - the ultimate reward for training done and sacrifices made.

At the B Grades in Cambridge, top seed Devoy Squash and Fitness were too strong for surprise finalists Surf City of Gisborne.  For the second year in a row, the Surf City lads from Gisborne were forced to play bridesmaids (in 2013 they were beaten by SquashGym Palmerston North).  The margin of victory for Devoy was 4/1.  SquashGym picked up the women's title, beating Hamilton 3/2 in the final to get over the line.  Palmerston North were originally seeded first, but lost personnel resulting in a drop down to fifth seed.  A great effort to overcome their injury problems to take the title.

On the North Shore the C Grade titles were won by SquashGym Palmerston North and Whakatane.  SquashGym edged a close women's final 3/2 over Hawkes Bay Lawn Tennis - sweet reward for the club after finishing in second position two years in a row in the grade.  Whakatane defeated double-defending champions SquashGym Palmerston North in the men's final to secure the club's first national Superchamps title since 2006.

Down in Otago it was the North Shore men's team who took out the D Grade title, beating Kawaroa Park in the final.  It is the first Superchamps national title since 2006 for the powerful Auckland club, and the team managed it from all the way down at seventh seed.  The women's title went to Manaia, who defeated Devoy S&F 3/2 to pick up the first Superchamps national title of the club's history.

The E Grade titles were contested at Christchurch Squash Club, and were won by Maungaturoto and Ohakune.  After winning the D Grade ladies title last year in Tauranga, Maungaturoto doubled their title tally by beating Te Puke in the women's final in Christchurch.  In the men's final Ohakune got out to a great start by winning the first two matches.  Devoy just managed to stay alive by winning the third match 16-14 in the fifth, before also picking up the fourth match to extend the tie to a decider.  This too went the full distance, with Ohakune eventually clinching it in five games.

The F/J Grade titles were won by Devoy Squash & Fitness and Ohakune - fine reward for two clubs that place great emphasis on developing junior and beginner players.  After winning the first title of the club's history last year in the E Grade ladies, two further titles this year has cemented Ohakune's status as one of the heavy hitters of Superchamps!

Superchamps is over for another year.  Impressive hauls for Central and BOP with four and three three titles respectively.  Northland feathered its cap by picking up two titles as well.  Big thanks must go to the five host clubs, and the committees of individuals who gave up their time to make the event happen.  Time now for summer training, and the embellishment of this year's Superchamps stories to occur...