Youngsters stand out
Mana Squash Club is taking young players and turning them into national and international competitors. Under the attentive eye of coach Nick Mita, the club’s most junior players are stealing the limelight from the old hands.
Ten- year- old Kobe Fleming and 9- year- old Joe Smythe are part of Mana’s Junior Squash Academy. The extra attention the boys have been getting through its training programme has paid off. Fleming is now ranked No 2 nationally among under-11 players, and Smythe came fifth in last year’s New Zealand junior champs.
Club captain Steve Roughan says both boys are stars of the future. Fleming was travelling to Sydney at Easter to take part in the Australian Junior Open, a big step for the Hutt International Boys School pupil who lives in Whitby.
Meanwhile, Smythe, who attends Plimmerton School, has decided to give up football this year to focus on training for the Wellington, North Island and New Zealand under-11 squash titles.
Both boys have been knocking a squash ball about since they were nip- pers, initially encouraged by squashplaying parents, then by Mita.
Roughan says the Mana club, which has lots of court time available, would like to see more people take up the game – young and old. The club is also keen to attract more women. He says squash was recently voted the healthiest of sports by Forbes magazine.
Mana Squash Club is holding two open days this weekend, April 6-7, between 3pm and 5pm. The clubrooms at Ngatitoa Domain will be open for visitors to have a look around and have a hit. Rackets and balls will be provided.
The club also holds nights for social squash every Monday, from 7.30pm9.30pm. For more information, visit www.manasquash.co.nz