Johannesburg, South Africa: Gqeberha-born Dewald van Niekerk heads a glittering array of top national squash stars when the regional qualifying rounds of the Growthpoint South African Nationals are played this weekend. Taking place at eight venues around the country, this is the first step for the cream of the country’s players as they strive to secure a place in the top eight men and women for the August showdown. Those who advance from the weekend’s regional events will gather at the V … [Read more...] about Growthpoint SA Nationals regional qualifier
Squash
Ryder, Bailey crowned SA squash57 champions
Jacqui Ryder won her second straight title and Sean Bailey joined her on the podium as the men’s champion following two gripping finals in the Rystix SA National Squash57 Championships at Crusaders in Gqeberha on Sunday. In a repeat of last year’s title decider, Eastern Province’s Ryder defeated provincial teammate Kacey-Leigh Dodd 2-0, while Bailey, also Gqeberha, just had too much in the tank for a game Tyler Whitby, also winning 2-0. The finals were a climax of another successful … [Read more...] about Ryder, Bailey crowned SA squash57 champions
SA players fired up for Squash57 Nationals in Gqeberha
Eastern Province is gearing up for an action-packed weekend on Gqeberha’s squash courts when the third edition of the Rystix Squash57 SA National Championships takes place from Friday to Sunday. With three men’s sections and two women’s divisions, there promises to be some serious competition over the three days, particularly in the men’s Open division, despite champion Christo Potgieter not being there to defend his title. Much to his dismay, the two-time titleholder from Johannesburg has … [Read more...] about SA players fired up for Squash57 Nationals in Gqeberha
EP pair Ward and Dodd crowned SA doubles champs
The Eastern Province pair of Hayley Ward and Kacey-Leigh Dodd crowned a successful return to the Tswalu SA National Doubles Squash Championships when they regained the title in Johannesburg at the weekend. They had previously won the title in 2021, but were then ousted in the final the next year before a severe knee injury sidelined Dodd for about 12 months. But at Country Club Johannesburg on Sunday there was no stopping them as they kept their errors to a minimum and exploited their … [Read more...] about EP pair Ward and Dodd crowned SA doubles champs
Ryder, Potgieter crowned SA Squash57 national champs
Local star Jacqui Ryder and Johannesburg’s Christo Potgieter underlined their versatility by annexing the national titles when the Pam Golding Properties Squash57 championships took place in Gqeberha at the weekend. As the 36-year-old Potgieter picked up his second straight men’s crown, Ryder, 46, kept the women’s title in Eastern Province after the inaugural tournament was won by provincial colleague Hayley Ward in 2022. Both players are exceptional squash exponents and have … [Read more...] about Ryder, Potgieter crowned SA Squash57 national champs
Game EP Squash
The South African Country Districts men’s and women’s teams took a step closer to yet another Growthpoint Squash Interprovincial triumph as they put themselves in pole position to drive for victory in the final rounds on Friday. In Thursday’s key Kaplan Cup women’s clash, SA Country Districts A underlined their depth to quell a spirited challenge from logleaders Joburg Squash A, making the successful defence of their title a formality. Joburg Squash still head the log but they have … [Read more...] about Game EP Squash
Success for EP’s Number One Player
Defending champion Hayley Ward was joined by first-time entrant JP Brits on the winners’ podium when a successful Crusaders Squash Club PSA satellite tournament drew to a conclusion at the club in Park Drive club on Sunday. The 25-year-old Ward, who leaves for India on Thursday with the SA team to compete in the World Cup Championships, won her second straight Saders title with a comfortable win over Keschia Scorgie in three games. Brits, 32, was at the tournament for the first time and … [Read more...] about Success for EP’s Number One Player
EC Squash Players Dominate in National Team
The South African squash team to compete in the WSF World Cup Championships in India next month has a remarkable Eastern Cape connection, with all four team members having their squash roots in the province. Although Hayley Ward, who attended Collegiate and NMU, is the only one of the four who represents Eastern Province at interprovincial level, her teammates – siblings Dewald van Niekerk and Lizelle Muller, and Tristen Worth – all learnt their squash in the region. Van Niekerk and … [Read more...] about EC Squash Players Dominate in National Team
Gqeberha pair fired up to land SA women’s doubles squash title
Gqeberha’s national squash players Lizelle Muller and Hayley Ward will team up for the first time to challenge for top honours when the Tswalu South African Doubles Squash Championships take place in Johannesburg this weekend.The tournament will be held at the Country Club Johannesburg courts in Auckland Park from February 24 to 26, and will see the cream of South Africa’s players gunning for the women’s, men’s and mixed titles. Muller and Ward, who both represented South Africa at the African … [Read more...] about Gqeberha pair fired up to land SA women’s doubles squash title
Notable accolade for SA women at World Squash Champs
South Africa may not have featured in the top eight but coach Paul Atkinson was delighted with their ninth place finish in the recent Women’s World Squash Championship in Cairo in Egypt after starting the tournament seeded 12th .The final outcome saw the SA line-up of Alex Fuller, Lizelle Muller, Cheyna Wood and Hayley Ward being named the team of the tournament at the final prize-giving. After losing to England and a competitive Hong Kong outfit in the group matches, SA set their sights on the … [Read more...] about Notable accolade for SA women at World Squash Champs
PE players qualify for SA Nationals squash finals
A total of six players with strong Port Elizabeth connections will represent the region when the finale of the Growthpoint SA Nationals squash tournament takes place in Pretoria from Thursday to Saturday (October 15 to 17). A field of 16, eight women and eight men, will contest the showcase section of the event on the all-glass court at the Brooklyn Mall following the eight regional playoffs around the country at the weekend. After the lengthy break caused by Covid-19, the sport announced … [Read more...] about PE players qualify for SA Nationals squash finals
PE siblings head seedings for regional squash qualifier
Port Elizabeth siblings Rudi van Niekerk and Lizelle Muller are the local favourites to qualify for the Growthpoint SA Nationals squash tournament when the regional event kicks off at Londt Park in PE on Thursday. This is one of eight regional competitions taking place around the country, with the men’s and women’s winners of each advancing to the main event at the Brooklyn Mall in Pretoria from October 15 to 17. Muller was a beaten finalist in the 2019 Nationals, losing to Milnay Louw, … [Read more...] about PE siblings head seedings for regional squash qualifier
Durbach, Muller win PSA Satellite squash titles in Port Elizabeth
Rodney Durbach and Lizelle Muller were crowned champions when the SPAR PSA Satellite Closed squash tournament drew to a thrilling close at Londt Park in Port Elizabeth on Sunday. The 47-year-old Durbach lived up to his top seeding by defeating No 2 Gary Wheadon, nine years his junior, 3-1 in a tough men’s final which lasted 47 minutes. In the women’s title match, hometown favourite Lizelle Muller, seeded two, defeated the top-seeded Alexa Pienaar, but only after a terrific fightback from … [Read more...] about Durbach, Muller win PSA Satellite squash titles in Port Elizabeth
Van Niekerk, Maree dig deep in PSA Satellite event
Dewald van Niekerk and Kyle Maree were forced to dig deep before securing their quarterfinal spots in the opening round of the SPAR PSA Closed Satellite squash tournament at Londt Park in Port Elizabeth on Friday. While those matches were hard-fought, there were no upsets in the men’s draw in the first round. The unfortunate Ruan Olivier had to withdraw through injury in his match against Lawrence Kuhn, with the former trailing 2-0 at the time. The minor upset of the night came in the … [Read more...] about Van Niekerk, Maree dig deep in PSA Satellite event
Van Niekerk, Muller head PE field for top squash event
Leading Port Elizabeth squash players Rudi van Niekerk and Lizelle Muller will head a contingent of local competitors who will be eager to make an impact when the Londt Park PSA Closed Satellite tournament takes place in Port Elizabeth next weekend. The Stella Londt club will be the venue for one of the most high-profile tournaments the region has hosted for several years, with a number of leading players from across the country in the draw. The event will take place from June 7-9 and will … [Read more...] about Van Niekerk, Muller head PE field for top squash event
