Superchamps Go off with a Bang

Superchamps went off with a bang over the weekend, with most Districts holding their District Eliminations.

It was a perfect weekend to be playing squash around most of the country, with nasty weather conditions outdoors.  However, those same weather conditions nearly prevented many teams from competing in the District Eliminations, as roads were closed and ferry services cancelled.

Over the coming days there will be many teams booking their travel to the National Finals venues, a few nursing sore bodies, and plenty ruing 'the one that got away'.

A few success stories/interesting facts:

• Hokitika C Grade men having to wait for the Arthur's Pass route to open so they could travel to Canterbury C Grade Superchamps, which they duly won.
• Cromwell C Grade men having to wait for the road to open so they could travel to Otago C Grade Superchamps, which they also won.
• Northland, Waikato, BOP, Eastern and Canterbury all had increased participation compared to 2012.
• Wanganui men winning Central E Grade Superchamps, meaning they'll get to contest the National Finals with home advantage on their side.
• Marlborough men winning Wellington C Grade Superchamps by beating Island Bay 3/2, with the final match won 15-12 in the fifth set.
• Northland increasing participation numbers by 40% compared to last year.
• Most popular grades: C Grade men, C Grade women and E Grade men.
• Watch out for Eastern teams at National Finals: the same club won both the men's and women's titles in C, D, E and F grades, so they'll have plenty of support at Nationals.
• Most teams from a single club travelling to National Finals: 5 (Whangarei, Hawkes Bay Lawn Tennis and SquashGym Palmerston North).
• Bernie the legend: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKf8QUKc-1s.  Bernie, from Geyser City, was drawn to play last on Sunday at the BOP Superchamps District Eliminations.  Twice he pulled out big wins with his team locked at 2-2 to get them through to Nationals.  And don't the crowd love it!?

Do you have a great story from Superchamps?  Share it on our facebook wall and tell us about it!