Bhide and Van Der Salm Claim U23 Titles 

Chris Van Der Salm and Juee Bhide have claimed their respective NZ Under 23 Championship Titles at the Te Puke Squash Club after what can only be described as some hard fought final games. 

With over 100 entries in the NZ Under 23's event it was always going to be a big weekend of squash at the Te Puke Squash Club. This was the second year this event has been run after having an extended break from the Squash calendar. 

The first rounds in both the Men's and the Women's draw all went relatively to plan with the only upset coming from Sean Dykes who beat the higher seeded Jason Van der Walt in 4 sending Dykes through to the second round. The Men's Division carried on relatively straight forward with all the seeds following the respective run sheet, there however looked to be a moment where this might not have happened in the Semi-Finals. Lance Beddoes took a relatively straight forward win over Scott Galloway taking the win in 3, but in the other Semi-Final between Chris Van Der Salm and Zac Millar it was a much closer affair. Millar came out strong and took the first game, but this made Van Der Salm keen to show what he was made of and he turned the tables in the second and levelled the game score at 1 a piece. Van Der Salm edged a tight third out but Millar wasn't letting him get away this easily and he made the match go long in the fourth. Both players wanted to get through to the final and with the game going long in the fifth Van Der Salm held his nerve and made his way into the final for the second year runnning and he was ready for a rematch against Lance Beddoes who he lost to in a tight five setter in 2014. 

The Women's draw was also relatively straight forward with all the seeds taking their respective positions on the final day, the only exception coming where fifth seed Lauren Clarke managed to take a win from her younger opponent and fourth seed Ruby Turnbull in a battle of the fourth and fifth seeds. However it ended up being the number 1 and 2 seeds Juee Bhide and Hayley Hughes who made it into the final of the NZ Under 23's for the first time. 

The Women's final was a hard fought battle between Juee Bhide and Hayley Hughes, with the first two games both going long it was thought to be anyones game as each player both chalked up a game. Hughes however found some magic in the third and took a the lead 2-1. Bhide however showed her strength and ability to stay calm under pressure, even when the game had gone long she dug deep to claim the fourth game and level the score. Everyone was on the edge of their seat in the fifth and as both players battled it out going point for point the match fell Bhide's way as she edged out a long game in the fifth and claimed her first NZ Under 23's title. 

The Men's final was always going to be a tough competition with both Lance Beddoes and Chris Van Der Salm having played numerous times this year they were both out to show what they were made of. These two players competed in the final of the NZ Under 23's in 2014 and they were set for a big rematch. The first game started off with Van Der Salm managing to edge out the win in a long first game, Beddoes made sure to come back in the second to level the score at 1-1. Van Der Salm however dug deep in the third and some great shots and another long game fell his way giving him a 2-1 lead over Beddoes. Beddoes however wasn't going down without a fight and he came back out in the fourth to level the score. With both players tensions high they both came onto court firing, Van Der Salm however managed to pull off some strong shots and eventually he took the lead and the match to win this battle between the two players and to put his name on the Fleming-Vatuvei NZ Under 23 Champions Trophy.

Thanks to Te Puke squash club for a big weekend of squash!

Mens Division 1 - Round 1

Alex Revington beat Sam Sayes 11/9, 8/11, 11/2, 11/6

Sion Wiggin beat Lwamba Chileshe 4/11, 8/11, 11/6, 11/4, 12/10

Sean Dykes beat Jason Van der Walt 7/11, 11/8, 11/9, 11/9

Jamie Oakley beat Jordon Le Comte 11/8, 11/3, 11/7

Womens Division 1 - Round 1

Lauren Clarke beat Taylor Clarke 11/1, 11/3, 11/4

Chelsea Johnson beat Abby Wotten 9/11, 11/9, 11/6, 11/3

Ruby Turnbull beat Olivia McOnie 11/5, 11/3, 11/4

Camden Te Kani-McQueen beat Amy Horscroft 11/2, 11/4, 11/8

Casey Owen beat Lucy Carter 11/7, 8/11, 9/11, 11/1, 11/3

Kate Fox beat Parearau Kutia 11/4, 11/6, 11/8

Mens Division 1 - Round 2

Lance Beddoes beat Alex Revington 11/7, 11/3, 11/6

Scott Galloway beat Sion Wiggin 9/11, 11/7, 4/11, 11/7, 11/8

Zac Millar beat Jamie Oakley 11/4, 11/7, 11/4

Chris Van der Salm beat Sean Dykes 11/5, 11/6, 8/11, 11/2

Womens Division 2 - Round 2

Juee Bhide beat Chelsea Johnson 11/6, 11/2, 11/4

Lauren Clarke beat Ruby Turnbull 11/4, 13/11, 11/5

Camden Te Kani-McQueen beat Casey Owen 11/8, 11/4, 12/14, 3/11, 11/9

Hayley Hughes beat Kate Fox 11/2, 11/4, 11/8

Mens Division 1 - Round 3 

Lance Beddoes beat Scott Galloway 11/8, 11/8, 11/4

Chris Van der Salm beat Zac Millar 8/11, 11/2, 13/11, 8/11, 12/10

Womens Division 1 - Round 3

Hayley Hughes beat Camden Te Kani-McQueen 9/11, 11/6, 11/7, 12/10

Juee Bhide beat Lauren Clarke 11/3, 11/6, 11/5

Womens  Division 1 - Final

Winner:  Juee Bhide beat Hayley Hughes 10/12, 12/10, 5/11, 13/11, 12/10

3rd Place:  Camden Te Kani-McQueen beat Lauren Clarke 11/6, 9/11, 13/11, 11/2/

Special Plate:   Casey Owen beat Chelsea Johnson 4/11, 11/8, 11/6, 13/11

Plate:    Abby Wotten beat Parearau Kutia 12/10, 11/9, 11/3

Consolation Plate:    Lucy Carter beat Olivia McOnie 11/5, 12/10, 11/9 

Mens Division 1 - Final

Winner:  Chris Van der Salm beat Lance Beddoes 13/11, 7/11, 12/10, 6/11, 11/8

3rd Place:  Zac Millar beat Scott Galloway 11/9, 6/11, 11/9, 11/9

Special Plate:  Jamie Oakley beat Alex Revington 11/6, 8/11, 11/5, 8/11, 11/3

Plate:   Lwamba Chileshe beat Jason Van der Walt 11/7, 15/13, 3/11, 11/13, 11/4

CLassic:  Sion Wiggin beat Sean Dykes 11/6, 11/2, 11/7

Consolation: Jordan Le Comte beat Sam Sayes 11/8, 5/11, 11/6, 5/11, 11/7