Squash players visit H¯awera

Taking squash to the regions was very much the theme for two of New Zealand’s Commonwealth Games squash representatives who visited Ha¯ wera on May 4.

Professional players Lance Beddoes and Zac Millar were at Ha¯wera’s Lawn Tennis and Squash Rackets Club to help conduct junior and senior coaching workshops, as well as having a hit around with some of the club’s 80 members.

The evening also featured a game between the pair, a dinner and a question and answer session.

Beddoes, who is now based in London, is currently half-way through a tour on which he will visit eight squash clubs.

‘‘It’s great touring New Zealand and getting to places I haven’t been and at the same time bringing exposure to the game in places that normally wouldn’t get it,’’ he said.

The pair represented New Zealand at the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, Beddoes in the men’s doubles and Millar in the mixed doubles.

Beddoes said he had enjoyed his first visit to Ha¯ wera.

’’They’ve really taken care of us and the hospitality here has been awesome,’ he said.

Millar was just happy to be able to give something back to a game that had given him so much.

‘‘I’ve been playing since I was five and got into the game by watching my dad and would often play games against my sister,’’ he said.

‘‘I remember a visit by a pro player to our club in Kapiti when I was younger and it left a really lasting impression on me.’’

Ha¯ wera club captain Melville Holmes said he had sold around 70 tickets for the event. Holmes’ son Reece, 11, has been making a name for himself in junior squash and is the current New Zealand Under-11 boys squash champion.

‘‘For our juniors the visit will mean a lot as they wouldn’t normally get to see these athletes,’’ Holmes said.

Two of the country’s top squash players Lance Beddoes, left, and Zac Miller, right, were in Hawera last week. Pictured here with, from left, Reece Holmes, Abbie Holmes, Kayla Ryan and Alana Ryan.