Squash champs turn into something of a family affair

Date: 07 November 2024 By: Andries van Zyl

The Soutpansberg Squash Club held its annual championships in October, with the finals taking place on 30 October. The event was a resounding success, showcasing exceptional talent and fierce competition among players of all ages and skill levels.

The tournament saw a record number of participants, making it the largest club championship in the past decade. The highlight of the event was the dominance of the Welman family, with Erik securing the men’s title and his mother, Ronel, winning the women’s championship. The Guillaume family also proved that squash is truly a family sport, as father and son, Bertus and Pieter, teamed up to win the doubles competition.

While experienced players dominated the main draw, the tournament also provided a platform for emerging talent. An impressive nine players competed in their first club championships, demonstrating the club’s commitment to nurturing young talent. In this section, Riaan Hamman claimed the men’s title, while Chante Joubert won the women’s section.

The club’s vibrant atmosphere and strong sense of community were evident throughout the tournament, with a large turnout of spectators cheering on their favourite players. To further enhance the club’s social aspect, a celebratory event was held on 30 October to honour the winners and recognise the efforts of all participants.

Looking ahead, the club is excited to announce the launch of an internal league in January 2025. This initiative aims to provide regular competitive opportunities for members and further strengthen the club’s thriving squash community.

For more information about the club, contact the chairman, Erik Welman, on (063) 168-9851.

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Andries van Zyl

Andries joined the Zoutpansberger and Limpopo Mirror in April 1993 as a darkroom assistant. Within a couple of months he moved over to the production side of the newspaper and eventually doubled as a reporter. In 1995 he left the newspaper group and travelled overseas for a couple of months. In 1996, Andries rejoined the Zoutpansberger as a reporter. In August 2002, he was appointed as News Editor of the Zoutpansberger, a position he holds until today.