Trio's titles put Northland top

BACK TO BEST: Tayla McDonald (left), Kaitaia, Mirna Manuel, Maungaturoto, and Aaron Randall, Dargaville, won titles in their respective grades at the national Champion of Champions and here have the "backing" of their Northland teammates.PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Three Northland squash players have secured national titles at the Champion of Champions National Squash finals in Christchurch.

Kaitaia teenager Tayla McDonald, 16, won the ladies' F grade title, adding to two other titles secured by her Northland stablemates.

Dargaville's Aaron Randall, 16, claimed the men's D grade championship while Maungaturoto's Mirna Manuell took out the the ladies' D grade title at the event last weekend.

With the trio securing three of the 11 titles up for grabs - albeit with no women's A grade competition held due to insufficient interest - Northland was hailed as the leading province in the nation at the event's conclusion, Squash Northland's Sharon Crawford said.

She added that for the travelling troupe to claim a quarter of the trophies - from a field which attracted 95 entries - made it a proud day for squash in Northland.

Looking back on a successful trip, Crawford said Northland had seven out of the 10 players in the semifinals by Saturday afternoon, four eventually progressing into their respective finals.

McDonald came up against McKenzie Birch from Bay of Plenty with the Far North player walking off the court a winner by taking the last game 15/0. This match was followed by Manuell versus Taylor Clarke, also from Bay of Plenty, in a match which went to four before the Maungaturoto player secured victory.

Later, Phil Tana, also of Maungaturoto, faced Scott van Lieshout from Auckland who proved too strong, winning the C grade men's title in four.

Randall secured the hat-trick by prevailing over Liam Taylor from Wellington to claim the New Zealand men's D grade championship for 2013.

Other results by the 10-strong Northland team at the event included Ngature Stephens, of Kaitaia, finishing third in the E grade men, Whangarei's JJ Stewart third in the F grade men, Reanna Watson of Whangarei fourth in the E grade ladies, and Kamo's Shontelle Goodhew finishing fifth in the C grade ladies.

McDonald's mother Nirelle McDonald (Kaitaia, and Tayla's mum) finishing 13th in the C grade ladies, and Vincent Robson (Kerikeri) ninth in the B grade men's division.

The squad left last Thursday, boarding the plane to Christchurch in the quest to compete to be the top of their grade. Arriving early, they headed into the city to have a look around, as well as sorting out the two clubs where the titles were being contested.

Also travelling with the team were manager Terre Spooner (Kerikeri) and supporters, Karla Shadbolt and Karla Tana.