Ivan Pohe Memorial Doubles and Kamo Open Squash Tournament The 2013 Kamo Open squash tournament was played over the weekend, alongside the popular Ivan Pohe Memorial Doubles tournament. With squash players from Maungaturoto to Kaitaia making up the 78 participants in the singles, and 36 pairs in the doubles, the tournament was filled beyond capacity, necessitating games late into the night on Thursday and Friday, and throughout the weekend. Games spilt over to the Whangarei Club courts as well, before the tournament wound up with some fiercely fought finals battles late into Sunday afternoon at the Kamo Rugby Squash Club. The Ivan Pohe Memorial Doubles trophy was presented by Ivan’s wife Margaret, to Kamo Rugby Squash club players Gary Traill and Bruce Smith. The Saturday night doubles final went right to the wire, with a 15-13 final game score. Beaten finalists were the only mixed doubles pairing in the top division, Sacha Pou-Tito and Ari Welsh, who had reached the final by triumphing in an equally close semi-final with Kelvin Moselen and Craig Lilley. The second mens division went to Paul Sykes and Todd Morgan, from a Whangarei/Kerikeri combination dressed as a pair of ‘Where’s Wally’ characters, Hamish Browne and James Elliot. A very competitive ‘Lads and Ladies’ division was won by Marie Notton and Maria Clark, who won all their games in the round robin, while the other three pairings in this division could not be split – with one win each. In the ‘Vastly Experienced’ division, Kamo Stalwarts Tina (Finlayson) Jones and Mel Matheson, who have teamed up each year since the tournament began in 2004, won from Annie Greene and Vanessa Jennings. Another annual entrant, and driver of the memorial doubles tournament concept, Frank Colthurst, in his seventies, was at his competitive best in this division, winning the Consolation Plate with Mid-Western’s Billy Millar. In one of the two mixed doubles draws, Maungaturoto’s Phillip Tana paired with Whangarei’s Tammy Jordan to beat Hamish and Sarah Browne in the final; while in the other draw Kamo’s Marie Notton achieved her second doubles title of the weekend, this time with husband Cliff, triumphing over afro-headed Elle Mytton and Marcus Erihe from Whangarei. Some inventive playing uniforms added interest and hilarity, with fairies, a sumo wrestler and geisha, uniformed schoolgirls, super-heroes, and fully kilted Scotsmen taking the court. Star attractions of the singles tournament were Northland’s top ladies A graded Sacha Pou-Tito, and New Zealand Junior Girls team reserve Jacinta Matson. While Pou-Tito won the Ladies Open in three sets, the young pair wowed the audience with their classy shot making, and court coverage. Matson proved her fitness by also contesting the Mens Open, losing a close match to Hamish Browne, to place fourth, only two hours before the ladies final. Age and experience prevailed in the Mens Open, with two fifty-somethings meeting - Kelvin Moselen (Kamo) winning the title from Bruce Clay (Kaitaia). The men provided an equally entertaining final, showing some fast reactions and great touch shots. One of the hardest workers of the weekend had to be Keegan Robbins from Mangakahia. Seeded sixth in Mens Division One, he just fended off first round opponent and clubmate Ryan Morris 16-14 in the fifth set. He then scraped past James Elliot in another five set match, before finally succumbing to top seeded Marcus Erihe, yet again in five long sets! Keeping it in the family were brother and sister Jacob and Paige Browne from Kerikeri, who each won their second division finals. Mother Sarah was pipped at the post in Womens Division One by Kaitaia’s Cindy Hassan. Manaia’s Tia Saunders had to work equally as hard, but managed to claim the Womens Division Three title, taking the full five sets to knock out top seed Emma Ihaka from Maungaturoto, and fending off match ball to finals foe Jasmine Beazley before emerging victorious and exhausted in the fifth set with the final score 15-13, 12-15, 5-15, 17-15, 15-12. Kamo E grade team training partners Shane Hohaia and Mike Grbin kept everyone in suspense, as top seeded Hohaia ran away to a two game early lead in the Mens Division Three final, before the retrieving skills for which Grbin is becoming legendary earned him the next three games and the championship victory. Besides being Mens Open finalists, Clay and Moselen were also proud parents of Division Four champions – Ladies winner Kendall Clay (Kaitaia/Whangarei), and Mens winner Brad Moselen (Kamo). The singles tournament was part of the Northland Racquet Shop/Harrow Player Series, currently led by Vicki Ferguson. The next tournament in the series is next weekends Mangakahia Open. Full Results: Mens Open: Winner Kelvin Moselen, Runner Up Bruce Clay, Third Hamish Browne, Consolation Plate Bryce Phillips Mens Div 1: Winner Marcus Erihe, Runner Up Keegan Robbins, Special Plate James Elliot, Plate Shayden Toka, Consolation Plate Kieran Ferguson Mens Div 2: Winner Jacob Brown, Runner Up Isaac Van Praag Jarrett, Special Plate Bruce Osborne, Plate Ngature Stephens, Consolation Plate Nick Vine Mens Div 3: Winner Mike Grbin, Runner Up Shane Hohaia, Special Plate Ben Robbins, Plate Elliot Hassan, Consolation Plate Bradley Vuletich Mens Div 4: Winner Brad Moselen, Runner Up Matthew Zimmer, Special Plate Ben Van Veen, Consolation Plate Daniel Barr-Mitcalfe Womens Open: Winner Sacha Pou-Tito, Runner Up Jacinta Matson, Third Fiona Moselen, Plate Annie Greene, Consolation Plate Nirelle McDonald Womens Division 1: Winner Cindy Hassan, Runner Up Sarah Browne, Special Plate Bridget Johnson, Plate Penny Froggatt, Consolation Plate Tracey Klaricich Womens Division 2: Winner Paige Browne, Runner Up Gemma Turketo, Special Plate Margaret McKenzie, Plate Delwyn Houlihan, Consolation Plate Rochelle Bekker Womens Division 3: Winner Tia Saunders, Runner Up Jasmine Beazley, Special Plate Iyra Stewart, Plate Tania Toka, Consolation Plate Tayla McDonald Womens Division 4: Winner Kendall Clay, Runner Up Kate Harrison, Special Plate Liz Seaton, Plate Gina Hassan, Consolation Plate Kimberley Pow Doubles Serious Division: Winners Gary Traill/Bruce Smith, Runners Up Sacha Pou-Tito/Ari Welsh, Third Kelvin Moselen/Craig Lilley, Consolation Matt and Phillip Tana Lads and Ladies: Winners Marie Notton/Maria Clark, Runners Up equal Karen Dykzeul/Tammy Jordan, Shayden Toka/Jacob Browne, Terri Donaldson/Fiona Hailes Vastly Experienced: Winners Mel Matheson/Tina Jones, Runners Up Annie Greene/Vanessa Jennings, Consolation Frank Colthurst/Billy Millar Mens: Winners Paul Sykes/Todd Morgan, Hamish Browne/James Elliot, Third Cliff Notton/Alan Goodhew (Sam Johnson on Alan’s injury retirement), Consolation Harry Tana/John Edwards Mixed: Winners Phillip Tana/Tammy Jordan, Runners Up Hamish and Sarah Browne, Third Bruce and Elisha Smith, Consolation Terri Donaldson/Kenny Finlayson More Mixed: Winners Marie and Cliff Notton, Runners Up Elle Mytton/Marcus Erihe, Special Plate Gavin Benney/Maria Clark, Plate Nirelle and Bryce McDonald, Consolation Phil Durham/Pat Smith
Posted on: Sun, 07 Jul 2013 08:17:01 +0000
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