Racquet Wrap

According to a recent BMI-Sport Info study, there are at least 500000 people playing squash in South Africa. It is difficult to give the exact number of women playing the game, as there are many players playing at gyms and not in official leagues and tournaments.

Although the women’s squash scene seems healthy, there are definitely a few challenges. At the Annual Convention of Squash South Africa held at Olympic House on Saturday 13th June, the concern was expressed that the number of women’s leagues is declining as well as the entry into some championships. The leagues are played in the evenings and as a result of various factors affecting our society countrywide, innovative ways are needed to change the league format.

The under-14 group is small and unless a strong recruiting campaign gets underway this will ricochet down the age-groups. There is however a reasonably strong core of girls playing competitively in both the schools leagues and the numerous tournaments held countrywide.

In the junior arena, there are numerous individual tournaments for the U11, U13, U14, U16 and U19 age-groups. The interprovincial team events also cater for the same age-groups with each of the U14, U16 and U19 groups, having 120 girls participating.

The tertiary institutions host their intervarsity event in the winter vacation. The Open and Masters age-groups have many tournaments with doubles becoming especially popular around the country. The Masters interprovincial averages about 350 women in the various sections.

A group of 28 boys and girls in the U14, U16 and U19 age-groups have just returned from a successful tour of Malaysia. Kwazulu Natal’s Taryn Harborth did particularly well reaching the semi-final of the Milo All Stars Under-17 Championship. The international exposure is invaluable for the players.

In the major provinces there are strong girls’ school leagues organised with the highlight, the annual Top Schools Championships being staged at Epworth High School in Pietermaritzburg in August. Epworth has dominated this event for nearly two decades.

Women’s squash in South Africa has always had the respect of countries world-wide. Although the number of players playing internationally has been extremely limited they have always made an impression on and off the court.

In the 80’s diminutive Rene Aucamp, who won the South African national title eight consecutive times featured in the top 10 in the world. Rene was followed by Claire Nitch who broke Rene’s national record winning the title on 9 occasions between 1993 and 2004. Claire travelled the world for a decade with her world ranking oscillating between 9 and 17. No mean feat, and while travelling she completed a university degree through UNISA.

Following in their footsteps was the highly talented Natalie Grainger who is now an American Citizen and holds the World’s number two slot.

In 2005, a 17 year old burst on to the scene winning her first senior National crown. Dark haired, quietly spoken Tenille Swartz from Parys moved through the ranks winning three consecutive National titles. On the World circuit she provided many a surprise jumping from 215 in 18 months to 29.

Unfortunately 2008 proved to be Tenille’s “ annus horribilus” – she injured her bicep muscle and then in November having undergone a slow but methodical rehabilitation two weeks before she was due to travel to Egypt to lead South Africa in the Women’s World Team Championships, she suffered an injury to the muscle sheath.

Tenille is now back playing competitively and in her first sortee overseas she upset Raneem El Weleily, ranked 22 in the world, moving 170 places after her first event.

Tenille is hungry to return regularly to the international circuit and move up to her target of being ranked in the top 10.

2007 saw Ronel van Coller (WP) collect the World Deaf Women’s individual title when the championships were hosted in Cape Town while van Coller, Theresa Greenwood and Claire Sternberg were also victorious in the team event.

South African players have been a force to be reckoned with in World masters Championships. In 2003 Angie Clifton Parks won the women’s 35-39 followed by the 40-44 in 2006: Janet van der Westhuizen the 45-49 title in 2006: Jean Grainger collected the 55-59 title in 1999; the 60-64 title in 2003 and the 65-69 title in 2008. Averil Heath won the 70 and over title in 2008. Helene Schlebusch (2003), Dawn Kaiser (2003) , Glenda Erasmus (2006), Helena Kruger (2006), Sonia Pinter, Lisa O’Grady and Antoinette Morris (all 2008) have collected silver in the various groups: Sharon Wakeford, Sharon le Roux, Lisa O Grady, Margie Hunt-Kemp, Jean Grainger, Liz Pratten, Dawn Kaiser all won bronze in 2006 with Janet van der Westhuizen also taking a bronze in 2008.

Since Unity in 1992 when South Africa was allowed to participate internationally in the World Team events which are held bi-ennually, we have had a proud record although we have never had more than one person playing the circuit full time.

1992 we finished 5^th: 1994 3^rd: 1996 3^rd: 1998 5^th: 2000 5^th: 2002 8^th: 2004 9^th: 2006 6^th: 2008 10^th. The seedings are done understandably on the world rankings and in 2008 we were seeded 15^th as none of our players were playing the international circuit. South Africa finished a very creditable 10^th. Siyole Lusaseni had a highly successful tournament upsetting the world’s number 22 former South African Annelize Naude and then finishing the week unbeaten in the 3^rd slot.

On the continent we lie second behind Egypt in both the senior and the junior ranks.

Egypt has a sports school system where the talented players are identified and attend

School in Cairo for a few hours a day and are trained and coached for the rest.

Since 2005 South Africa, thanks to Lottery funding, have been able to send a team to the Junior World Individual and team championships. In both 2005 and 2007 South Africa finished 10th. This year the championships will be staged in Chennai, India. Cheyna Tucker (G) captains the line-up of Robyn Baptiste (N), Elani Landman (EP), Alexandra Fuller (WP). Elani’s twin, Lume, is the promising under 17 who will accompany the team for experience playing in the individual championships .

What is exciting about this team is that both the Landmans and Fuller will be eligible in 2011

2009 sees the fiftieth playing of the Kaplan Cup – a women’s interprovincial team championship which runs concurrently with the Jarvis Cup (Men). The PricewaterhouseCoopers Jarvis/Kaplan Cups will be played in Johannesburg, hosted by Central Gauteng, from 6^th-10^th July. It is appropriate that the Kaplan Cup which was first played in 1960 in Johannesburg returns to its roots.

Administration-wise women are particularly active throughout the country but perhaps more in the secretarial sphere with the men forming the Executives of the various provinces. Vanessa Christensen (Mpumulanga Lowveld), Yolande Steyn (Easterns) and Kierryn Keeton (Albany) are the chairpersons of their respective regions while Alison Burchell is President of Squash South Africa.

In the coaching field most of the coaches are women with Angela Difford (EP), Sally White (Midlands), Angie Clifton Parks (Easterns/Gauteng). Liz Mackenzie (Northerns) being amongst the handful of level 2 coaches –the highest qualification South Africa has at the moment.

Marking and Refereeing is another field in which some women excel : Cecile van Rie has qualified as a National Referee and in 2007 she officiated at some of the matches played at the World Men’s Team Championships.

As with anything there is always challenges, highlight and lowlights but women’s squash is presently enjoying their rightful place on the playing stage.

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