Barnett and Van Der Salm Take North Island Titles

Rebecca Barnett and Chris Van Der Salm have won the North Island under 19 titles this weekend.

The early rounds in the girls' under 19 division went according to seeding, with Rebecca Barnett (Mitchell Park) and Ellie Epke (Harcourts Eden Epsom) advancing easily to the final.  The two rivals, with a head to head match record of 1-1 so far this season, played another excellent match at Hamilton Squash & Tennis Club with the North Island title on the line.  Epke won the first set 11-8, before Barnett was able to shift the momentum in the second, winning 11-2.  Barnett then ran away with the match 11-2, 11-4 to be crowned champion.

In the boys' under 19 division tight matches were the order of the weekend from the outset.  Top-seeded Chris Van Der Salm of Oamaru was made to work very hard in his semi-final against SquashGym Palmerston North's Regan Smith before coming away a 3/2 victor.  On the other side of the draw, second seed Andrew Ellis of Burnside was up against Rangitikei's Dylan Tasker.  This semi-final also produced a see-sawing five setter, which was eventually won by Tasker (and after which Ellis was forced to withdraw from the third/fourth place playoff with injury).  Tasker made a strong start in the final, winning the first game 12-10.  However Van Der Salm was not to be denied after finishing runner-up at the South Island Junior Age Groups last weekend, and took the final three games 11-3, 11-8, 11-4.

The under 17 divisions were won by Scott Galloway and Abbie Palmer - their titles all the more impressive as both were playing up an age group.  The udner 15 titles were won by Sam Sayes and Anna Hughes.  Under 13 glory was taken by Corbin Faint and Kaitlyn Watts - both of SquashGym Palmerston North; with Kobe Fleming and Charlotte Galloway winning the under 11 titles.

More results are available here. 

Congratulations to all of the juniors who participated, and especially the ten 2012 North Island Junior Age Group champions.

Under 19 champions Chris Van Der Salm and Rebecca Barnett.