Another fabulous evening was enjoyed by all at the Squash Excellence Awards at the Herne Bay Ponsonby Rackets Club with a number of notable success stories on the night. 

Elijah Thomas won the Sportsman of the Year award for an impressive third year in a row whilst Ella Lash deservedly claimed two awards as both the Young Sportswoman and Sportswoman of the Year after a tremendous year on the court.

Auckland's remarkable Masters team again won the District Team of the Year award (in the second year of it's existence) after winning their seventh national championships in a row in 2023. 

Titirangi had a particularly satisfying night winning four awards in total.  Connor Hansford and Damien Bullick won the Most Improved Junior and Most Improved Senior awards whilst Judeth Orr won the Masters Player of the Year in recognition of an incredible year and career as a Masters player. The Administrator of the Year award also went to Titirangi's Paul McKenzie for the catalogue of great work he has achieved at the club.

North Shore claimed a couple of big awards with their Mitchell Cup-wining team taking out the Club Team of the Year and Paul Hornsby winning the Performance Coach of the Year.

Finally, the Club of the Year went to Papakura for the first time in their history, testament to the passion and dedication of their committee, and particularly their President Brian Wickett and Club Captain Courtney Webster-Frost.  Well done to everyone at the club for earning this significant accolade.

A huge thanks to Mariann and the team at Herne Bay for their hard work, to Dave Worsley for once again being a superb MC, to Kaye Jackson & Manu Yam for helping put it all together and to Glen Wilson for a fascinating live Q&A.
 

The full list of award winners:

Most Improved Junior Male - Connor Hansford (Titirangi)

Most Improved Junior Female - Mollie Rouse (Warkworth)

Most Improved Male Player - Damien Bullick (Titirangi)

Most Improved Female Player - Lucy Wong (Eden Epsom)

Referee of the Year - Jason Mouat (Papakura)

Club & School Coach of the Year - Rafa Yam (Belmont)

Administrator of the Year - Paul McKenzie (Titirangi)

Personality of the Year - Repeka Relf (Royal Oak)

Volunteer of the Year - Neil Tulloch (Shepherds Park)

Club Team of the Year - North Shore Mitchell Cup Team

District Team of the Year - Auckland Masters Team

Masters Player of the Year - Judeth Orr (Titirangi)

Performance Coach of the Year - Paul Hornsby (North Shore)

Young Sportsman of the Year - Apa Fatialofa Jnr (Henderson)

Young Sportswoman of the Year - Ella Lash (Belmont)

Sportsman of the Year - Elijah Thomas (Eden Epsom)

Sportswoman of the Year - Ella Lash (Belmont)

Club of the Year - Papakura Squash Club

Article added: Wednesday 29 December 2023