Champion of Champions draws released

The draws for this year's Champion of Champions National Finals at Tawa Squash Club are now available in the Current Tournaments section of iSquash: http://www.squash.org.nz/sit/tournament_spa#/tournament/1017801.

The 2014 Champion of Champions National Finals sees a welcome return to the national event hosting circle by Tawa Squash Club, who will be showing off their hospitality for the first time since co-hosting the Junior National Championships with Khandallah and Mana in 2003.  There will be 87 players travelling to the National Finals this year, whittled down from the 477 who contested the District Finals around the country earlier in the year.  This is a steady improvement on the corresponding numbers of 80 and 456 in 2013, and demonstrates the growing popularity of the event - in just its third year of existence.

Headlining the A Grade divisions are the country's two ninth ranked players: Cameron Jamieson (Hawkes Bay) and Abbie Palmer (North Shore).  The two top seeds are expected to face their closest competition from Max Trimble and Lassie Cull in round-robin draws that should provide some highly entertaining squash.

The top seeds of the F/J Grade divisions have both moved towards the top of E2 since the eligibility grading list date, highlighting the improvements that are possible in squash in a short period of time.  Ohakune's Tamara Double is the favourite in the women's draw, with Amber Knight (Edgecumbe) and Kiana Reid (Hawkes Bay) seeded second and third.  Jesse Allen (Hawkes Bay) is the favourite in the men's.

Experienced Wellingtonian Gary Aukett is the top seed in the B Grade division.  His Mitchell Park Club is celebrating its 50th jubilee this Labour Weekend, will Aukett be able to ice the cake by celebrating a national title a week later?  His closest competition is expected to come from Belmont Park's Rafa Yam - a promising junior with a full and exciting bag of deceptive tricks up his sleeve.  Rebecca Clifford, fresh from winning the B Grade Superchamps with SquashGym Palmerston North, takes top billing in the women's B Grade and will be eager to do the 'Superchamps - Champ of Champs' double.

Mt Maunganui's Erin Porter is hard to go past for the C Grade title, and will come up against Jordan Herewini (Cambridge) in the opening round.  SquashGym's Jonathan Bailey has top billing in the C Grade men's division, in what looks like one of the most open races in the event.  Any of his competition could make a realistic claim to the title, but many bookies will be backing third seeded Matty Skinner of Thorndon.  Skinner's disproportionately long levers make him devilishly tricky to play - especially with Wellington 'home advantage' behind him.

Lauren Wikohika of Central is the top seed in the Women's D Grade division, but will be strongly challenged by Anna Anderson and Pip Kirk.  Kirk, in particular, has been a big improver this year, and will be very difficult to beat if she can transfer the touch around the green that won her the Fiji Golf Open to the front corners of the squash court.  Very little separates Tristen van der Horst (Cambridge) and Ben O'Brien (Harcourts Eden Epsom) at the top of the D Grade Men's seedings, in what should be another very closely contested grade.

Renee Dudson (Geyser City) and Ben Wilkinson (Masterton) are the favourites in the E Grade division.  Closest competition is expected from second seeds Caroline Appleton (Thorndon) and Dylan Budge (Ohakune).