Recently, over three weeks, Chamber Exiles Squash Club hosted the annual Joburg Squash Wannabeez Tournament.
The competition, whose finals took place on July 20, has been in existence for about 15 years and is always played at the same time as the Growthpoint Senior Interprovincial Tournament. This one, however, is for the lower league players who aspire to improve their game, hence the name Wannabeez.
Held in Emmarentia, the tournament only featured players who play in the second to sixth Joburg men’s league or the ladies league. It is a fun but serious tournament that was played every night from Monday to Thursday with players who entered both the singles and doubles sections playing a lot of squash.
It consisted of four sections: Mens A and B, Ladies, and a new first for the event – a mixed doubles section. Altogether, 80 players from clubs all around the city entered the tournament with 58 men, 14 ladies and 16 doubles pairings taking part.
Ladies winner, Michelle Arpin, said this was her first Wannabeez and it was a great experience. “The social aspect of the tournament was amazing as it brought people from different clubs together.”
The youngest participant was 14 years old and the oldest was over 70, showing you’re never too young or too old to play competitive squash.
The winners of the four sections were as follows:
- Men’s A Winner: Russel Holland
- Men’s A Runner-up: Marc Rousch
- Men’s B Winner: Matt Scriven
- Men’s B Runner-up: Brendan Bishop
- Ladies Winner: Michelle Arpin
- Ladies Runner-up: Karin Robertson
- Doubles A Winners: Juan and Willie
- Doubles B Winners: Cheryl Strauss and Vic Lopes.
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