Junior Nationals preview

The 2014 Junior National Age Group Championships commence on Thursday 2 October at Remuera Rackets Club. 

The first matches begin at around 11am, from which point more than 200 players, plus a myriad of coaches, referees, parents and other supporters, will descend on the club.

The latest versions of the draws can be found here.

The favourites for the under 19 titles are two youngsters: Ellie Epke and Scott Galloway.  The two sixteen year olds are still eligible to play in the under 17 category, but are playing up to seek greater competition (and the ultimate reward). 

Neither is a stranger to success at the Junior Nationals.  Galloway (of the Mitchell Park Squash Club) has accumulated five national titles in the younger age groups, and will be seeking his first at under 19 level.  Standing in his way are national under 19 team-mates Max Trimble (Whangarei), Luke Jones (SquashGym Palmerston North) and Chapman Kutia (Gisborne High School Old Boys), who round out the top four seeds.

Epke twice won the under 13 national title before moving into the under 19 division to contest the biggest prize, which she has already won twice.  If the seedings hold true, she will join Kylie Lindsay and Glen Wilson as the only players in history to win the under 19 title three times.  Epke has time on her side, too, and could win it as many as five times before becoming a senior!  Her biggest competition is expected to come from Eden Epsom clubmates Hayley Hughes and Juee Bhide.  New Zealand's youngest A Grader, 13 year old Kaitlyn Watts (SquashGym Palmerston North) rounds out to the top four seeds.

Heading interest in the under 17 divisions are Jamie Oakley and Abbie Palmer.  Oakley (Devoy Squash & Fitness) has previously won the under 13 national title, and will need to head off second seeded clubmate Alex Revington to pick up a second.  Palmer has an impressive palmares that includes six national titles from the under 11 to under 17 age groups.  Her closest competition is expected to come from Camden Te Kani-McQueen of Rotorua.

Heading the seedings in the under 15 division are Ruby Turnbull (Christchurch Football) and Matthew Lucente (Belmont Park).  The top seeds in the under 13s are Glenn Templeton (Katikati) and Anika Jackson (Hamilton).  Mason Smales (Henderson) and Martha Toghill (Wanaka) are expected to win the under 11 titles.

The Inter District Teams Event gets underway on Monday, with Auckland and Bay of Plenty expected to defend their titles.  Draw:  2014 Junior Nationals Teams Event Draw.

Stay tuned to our website and facebook page for results and photos throughout.