Squash: Abbie Palmer carries on top form

Mike Martin lines up a backhand shot during his game against Josh Oakley, son of Dame Susan Devoy, at the Northland Squash Open.Photo/John Stone

Dame Susan Devoy made an appearance at the Northland Squash Open, supporting her kids, as top Northland squash player Abbie Palmer claimed top prize in the women's open grade.

Bream Bay's Palmer - who earlier this year won the girls title at the New Zealand Junior Open - went in as top seed and didn't disappoint.

In the final of the women's division earlier this month, Palmer had a convincing win over Jasmine Chan from Melbourne to win the women's title.

Northland's Sacha Pou-Tito took out third place from Jacinta Matson, an ex-Northland junior now playing her squash for Waikato while studying at university there.

Whangarei's Zoe Dykzeul, ninth seed and the youngest player at the Northland Open, took fifth place with a comfortable win over Kamo's Fiona Moselen.

Meanwhile, in the men's grade, Tauranga's latest professional squash player, and top seed, Ben Grindrod took out the men's title against third seed Max Trimble - winning in three sets.

Trimble, however, made it to the final after a close five set battle with his training partner and mentor Brent Lewis.

Devoy's sons Josh and Jamie Oakley were both playing in the men's open division with Josh, who is currently vying for selection into the New Zealand Junior Boys team along with Trimble, finished fourth.

Josh, who was seeded fifth, played Northland's Lewis for in the third and fourth play-off.

The division 1 men's final was a tense battle between Dargaville's Aaron Randall and Dean Williams from Cambridge, with Randall winning in an exciting five-setter.

The prize-giving was followed by a highly-anticipated $500 cash draw sponsored by Angus.kiwi.nz, which was won by 10-year-old Devlin Gurr of Mid-Western.

Organisers felt it was a successful event, citing the tournament attracted 97 entries from all over Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty and one from Australia.

RESULTS

Men's Open: Winner: Ben Grindrod; Runner-up: Max Trimble; Third: Brent Lewis; Fourth: Josh Oakley; Fifth: Mike Martin.

Women's Open: Winner: Abbie Palmer; Runner-up: Jasmine Chan; Third: Sacha Pou Tito; Fourth: Jacinta Matson; Fifth: Zoe Dykzeul.

Men's Division 1: Winner: Aaron Randall; Runner-up: Dean Williams; Third: Sam Dykzeul; Fourth: Kane Turketo; Fifth: Monty Kirkman.

Women's Division 1: Winner: Hayley Green; Runner-up: Gemma Turketo; Third: Vicki Ferguson; Fourth: Annmarie Holst; Fifth: Julie Geange.

Men's Division 2: Winner: Dave McNally; Runner-up: Angus McDonald; Third: Terry Watts; Fourth: Mat Tana; Fifth: Kodi Foster.

Women's Division 2: Winner: Rochelle Bekker; Runner-up: Michelle Schimanski; Third: Deb Pou Tito.

Men's Division 3: Winner: Dave Pope; Runner-up: Devlin Gurr; Third: Ned Saunders.

Women's Division 3: Winner: Jade Connell; Runner-up: Bailey Coates; Third: Samantha Allen.