Teams Tournament - The History

This year is the 22nd year of the National Secondary Schools Squash Championships. The inaugural tournament in 1985 consisted of 43 teams, predominantly form Auckland area, with a sprinkling of other North Island centers. Lincoln High School (Canterbury) was the only South Island school present.

The initial event was the culmination vision of Auckland squash enthusiast and Auckland Grammar School geography teacher Mr Tim Cooper. In 1982 Mr Cooper organized the Auckland Secondary Schools Squash Championships as a regular weekly competition – the first at school level in the country. The growth of this competition prompted him, with the co-operation and assistance of Squash New Zealand, in turning his energies to a National Schools Tournament.

The 1985 event was an instant success, with Rangitahi College Girls Team and Westlake Boys High School winning the new Susan Devoy and Ross Norman trophies respectively. Lynora Hati runner-up in the 1989 Junior Girls World Championships was a member of that Rangitahi team.

The National Championships has continued to grow, the event held in Wellington in 1986 and 1987 under the organisation of Mr Tony Naughton. The same teams as in 1985 won the 1986 event. The 1987 titles were won by Thames High School (girls division), with Westlake Boys winning their third consecutive title.

The 1988 tournament was held in Christchurch with former New Zealand squash representative Rod Hayes on the organization. The boys division was won by Hamilton Boys High, Thames High School took out the girls division for the second time.

Auckland hosted the 1989 event, Paul Godfrey, Ken Simson and Julie Barbour as the organizers. New schools came to the fore this year, Manurewa winning the boys and Kaitaia the girls title.

The tournament moved to Hastings and Hawkes Bay in 1990, Alan Waton heading the organising committee. This saw the event grow to 77 teams. Kaitaia won the girls division and Cargill High School the boys.

The 1991 tournament moved to the South Island in Timaru. Entries from the South Island schools were not up to expectation with just over half the total entries coming from the North Island. With 300 competitors, however, this was still a very large tournament. Gisborne Girls High School won the girls competition and Ashburton College took out the boys title.

Hamilton hosted the tournament in 1992, with the largest entries in the history of the championships – 86 teams. Underdog Trident High School upset the Jade Wilson-led Waitakere College to win the girls championship. Southland Boys High School continued their domination of the boys championship.

Wellington assumed responsibility of the 1993 championships with “ever-graying” Tony Naughton and the office of the College Sport Wellington organising the tournament. The 18-team girls draw saw Kaitaia College win the girl’s championships and Westlake Boys the boys championships in the 32-team boys draw.

Whangarei, Wayne Buckland organising with the assistance from Northland Regional Sports Grant Harrison, hosted the 1994 tournament. Hometown Kaitaia College made it two in a row in the girls championship and Westlake Boys added to it proud record taking out the boys championship.

Margaret Hyder of Christchurch Girls led a small 1995 organising committee, helped by Canterbury Regional Sport Director’s Office. Kaitaia College continued its dominance over the girls competition, winning for the third year in a row. In the boys competition, John Paul College took out its first national title.

The 1996 tournament hosted by Palmerston North, Warwick Gay organising with assistance from Manawatu Sports Foundation’s Secondary School Sport Director Simon Wickman. Cambridge High took out the girl’s title for the first time. Westlake Boys High won the boys competition for the sixth time in the last 12 years.

The 1997 tournament returned to the ‘City of Sails’. Tania Harrison led a team on behalf of Auckland schools. Mike Smith was responsible for the draw and ASSHA provided the necessary assistance. The girl’s title went to Tokoroa and the boys to St Kentigern College.

In 1998 the tournament was held in Dunedin for the first time. Simon Clouston and Geoff Simons, the Westpac Trust Otago Sports Director, led the organising committee. In the girls competiton, Tokorua repeated its win from the previous year and St Paul’s Collegiate won the boys championship title.

New Plymouth hosted the tournament in 1999, John Sims and Sylvia Aim headed the organising committee. The girls title went to Westlake Girls High for the first time and Westlake Boys High won the boys title for a record seventh time.

In 2000, the tournament returned to Hamilton for the second time under a committee headed by Annette Houghton and Robert Aldridge. For a second year running teams from Westlake Girls High and Westlake Boys High won their respective grades.

Nelson hosted the 2001 for the first time. The tournament was very friendly and very well run by Susan O’Connell and her team. Gisborne Girls High School took out the girls title while Auckland Grammar were successful in winning the boys title.

The 2002 tournament was held in Palmerston North for the second time in six years. The central location and experience of Palmerston North was a highlight to the success of the tournament. With 52 teams participating the event saw Gisborne Girls High School repeating their 2001 success in the girls section and a first time winner in the boys division, Tawa College.

The 2003 tournament was held in Auckland for the record fourth time in the 19-year history. A home team, Auckland Grammar took out the boys title, while New Plymouth Girls High School, stopped Gisborne Girls rein at the top.

The tournament returned to Christchurch in 2004 for a third time with the organization a joint effort of school Sport Canterbury and Canterbury Squash. 54 teams (38 boys and 16 girls) entered what was a highly successful tournament. Both 2003 champions (New Plymouth Girls High and Auckland Grammar) repeated their success in commanding fashion. Auckland Grammar’s strength was evident with its second team also making the major draw sem-finals.

For the first time, Tauranga, hosted the tournament in 2005. Organisation was a major undertaking by Graham Randolph, with the assistance of Sport Bay of Plenty. 27 boys schools and thirteen girls schools participated with a total of 42 teams. Auckland Grammar and Epson Girls Grammar were the winners, with Palmerston North Boys and High and Rotorua Girls High respectively, being runners up.

Back to Wellington again for the 2006 event, co-ordinated by Ngaire Drake of College Sport Wellington with assistance from Rob Walker of Club Kelburm, Graham Williams of the Tawa Squash Club and Steve Baker of the Mana Squash Club. 30 boys schools and fifteen girls schools participated giving a total of 45 teams. Auckland Grammar (1st seed) retained their title for a fourth year, beating Mt Albert Grammar (2nd seed) 3/2 in the boys final. In the Girls final, first time winners,
St Cuthbert’s (2nd seed) beat Central Southland (4th seed) 4/1.