Squash: North hotshots dazzle in south

Zoe Dykzeul and Abbie Palmer won titles at the South Island junior age-group squash. Here Dykzeul switches her squash skills to the tennis court this year for Huanui College. Photo/File

Two Northland teenagers have won three titles between them at the South Island junior age-group championships.

Whangarei Squash Club's Zoe Dykzeul claimed the under-15 girls' title, while Bream Bay's Abbie Palmer won the under-17 and under-19 girls' titles.

Dykzeul won the under-15 title in style, winning her final in three straight sets over the top seed Ruby Turnball, of Canterbury, last week.

The Whangarei teen is touted as one of Northland's most promising juniors and the victory underscored her potential.

Meanwhile, Palmer lived up to her reputation as top seed to win the prestigious under-19 girls' title as well as the under-17 title.

Palmer proved far too good for Waimea's Sophie O'Connell in the final of the under-19s competition, with an 11-5, 11-4, 11-4 victory.

Not surprisingly, she was also too strong for Southlander Katie Fairweather in the under-17 title decider - winning in three sets.

Palmer's wins continue her fine season, which has also seen her win the girls' title at the New Zealand Junior Open and the women's open grade at the Northland Squash Open.

Dykzeul and Palmer were the only Northland juniors to travel to Oamaru this year as the Northland Juniors event was played the same weekend in Kaitaia.

The Kaitaia Squash Club hosted the Northland Juniors and the Kaitaia Open on the same weekend, with 106 players entering.

Max Trimble won the Northland Junior Boys' title for the third year in a row, playing fellow junior Reagan Wakeling, of the Dargaville Squash Club, in the final of the Northland junior boys' competition and the men's open.

The Northland junior girls' title went to Annmarie Holst of Maungaturoto who beat Hayley Green of Mangakahia in the final.

The women's open winner was Sacha Pou-Tito, who beat Trina Moore (nee Kitchen) - originally from Kaitaia but now living in Auckland - in the final.