Inside the 2025 Masters Doubles IPT: Northerns at the Coast
The 2025 Masters Doubles Inter-Provincial Tournament (IPT), hosted in KwaZulu-Natal, was nothing short of spectacular – a true celebration of squash, spirit, and sportsmanship. With over 420 players across all divisions, this year’s tournament raised the bar in every way, and the Northerns squad was out in full force.
From the moment teams arrived, it was clear this wasn’t just another tournament – it was an event. Hosted across multiple high-quality venues, the courts were in pristine condition, and matches ran smoothly throughout the week, reflecting the level of preparation behind the scenes.
The Northerns Charge: A Strong Showing Across the Board – 52 players participated
Northerns fielded a powerful group of men’s, ladies’, and mixed doubles teams, many of whom delivered standout performances in their respective sections:
| 🥇 Mixed Section: | |
| Section 4 Brett Cousins & Karla Hunt | 1st |
| Section 5 Tarn Finck & Annine le Roux | 2nd |
| Section 6 Freddy Lapage & Kristen-Lee Hunt | 3rd |
| Section 8 Frikkie Breedt & Tanya Nieman | 3rd |
| Section 11 Fritz/Sjouke & Ilana Carstens | 1st |
| Section 12 Tjaart van der Linde & Corinne Budler | 1st |
| Section 13 Ruben Render & Anna Botha | 1st |
| Section 16 Piet Jordaan & Alicia Hart | 2nd |
| Section 17 Foeta Nel & Sonja Nel | 3rd |
| Section 18 Vermaak Beeslaar & Michelle de Villiers | 1st |
| Section 18 Izak Lamprecht & Thea Van Bart | 2nd |
| Section 19 Laurie Korsten & Dina Korsten | 1st |
| Section 20 Grant Williams & Delana Williams | 1st |
| Section 21 Brendan Wepener & Maggie Wepener | 1st |
| Section 22 Johan Els & Mandi Joubert | 1st |
| 🥇 Ladies Section: | |
| Section 3 Karla Hunt & Kirsten-Lee Hunt | 2nd |
| Section 4 Ilana Carstens & Anine le Roux | 2nd |
| Section 5 Michelle Arpin & Kalinka Faul | 1st |
| Section 6 Dina Korsten & Maggie Wepener | 1st |
| Section 7 Anna Botha & Delana Williams | 2nd |
| Section 8 Sonja Nel & Tanya Nieman | 1st |
| Section 10 Thea van Bart & Corinne Budler | 1st |
| Section 11 Michelle de Villiers & Alicia Hart | 1st |
| 🥈 Men’s Section: | |
| Section 5 Barry Martin & Andrew Martin | 3rd |
| Section 7 Brett Cousins & Freddy Lapage | 2nd |
| Section 9 Frikkie Breedt & Ruben Render | 1st |
| Section 11 Vermaak Beeslaar & Will Coetzee | 1st |
| Section 12 Piet Jordaan & Altu Sadie | 2nd |
| Section 12 Sam Moffat & Philip van Rooyen | 3rd |
| Section 13 Michiel Goosen & Denzil Lohrmann | 3rd |
| Section 15 Tjaart van der Linde & Hendrik Botha | 1st |
| Section 16 Grant Williams & Grantham Daniels | 2nd |
| Section 17 Fritz Beukes & Izak Lamprecht | 2nd |
| Section 18 Sjouke Vellema & Johan Els | 3rd |
| Section 20 Laurie Korsten & Brendan Wepener | 3rd |
But beyond results, the true highlight was the camaraderie, on-court focus, and post-match laughs that defined the Northerns spirit throughout the tournament.
A Tournament Built on Excellence and Energy
While the squash was top tier, the experience extended far beyond the courts. The KZN hosts delivered a tournament that felt like a festival – complete with exceptional food (yes, we noticed), vibrant entertainment, and thoughtful details like commemorative goodie bags, shirts, and towels marking the 20th anniversary of the event.
Evenings were filled with live music, social events, and spontaneous dance floors -offering a chance for old friends to reconnect and new friendships to form across provinces. It was a reminder that IPT is more than a competition – it is a tradition that binds the Masters squash community together.
Looking Ahead
The Northerns teams return home proud, as overall winners!! FIRST TIME IN HISTORY, but most importantly, is the energy they brought to the courts and the memories made. As we look ahead to the next tournament, there is a renewed sense of unity, purpose, and excitement in our community.
To everyone who represented Northerns in KZN – whether on court, podium or in the bar – thank you for flying the flag with passion and pride.
Here’s to IPT 2026 and the continued legacy of Northerns Masters squash.
The second annual North vs South Masters Squash Doubles Derby took place at the Parkview Courts on 2 August 2025. The event brought together 24 competitive doubles teams, and the standard of play was outstanding, with every match fiercely contested.
The atmosphere was electric, filled with great sportsmanship, camaraderie, and plenty of laughs both on and off the court. It was a truly memorable day of squash, made even better by the flawless organisation and attention to detail.
A huge thank you to Dino and Linda for their exceptional planning and for treating everyone to a delicious spread after the games – the perfect way to end a fantastic day.
We are already counting down the days to next year’s event, when it will be our turn to host.
Lowveld Masters – Jock Tournament
A Weekend to Remember
This past weekend, a spirited group of 20 players from Northerns descended on Nelspruit for the Lowveld Masters – Jock Tournament, and what an incredible weekend it was!
With more than 120 participants competing, the event was a remarkable success, bringing together a vibrant community of masters players in a well-organised and friendly atmosphere.
Our Northerns contingent truly made their mark across the divisions, showcasing depth and skill throughout the competition. In the Mixed Doubles B section, our teams dominated the leaderboard by securing 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th places — an outstanding achievement reflecting the strength and dedication of our squad.
In the fiercely competitive A section, we continued to impress, with teams claiming 3rd and 4th place finishes, proving that Northerns players are forces to be reckoned with across all levels of the tournament.
Beyond the fierce competition on court, Nelspruit played host to a wonderful social atmosphere, making the tournament not just a test of skill but a celebration of camaraderie and the joy of the game. The excellent organisation and warm hospitality added to an unforgettable weekend for all involved.
A huge thank you to the organisers and everyone who contributed to making the Lowveld Masters – Jock Tournament such a success. We are already looking forward to returning next year to defend our titles and continue building our masters squash community.
Congratulations to every player from Northerns who participated—you made us proud! Here’s to more great squash, strong competition, and lasting friendships ahead.
#TeamNortherns #LowveldMasters #JockTournament #MastersSquash #SquashCommunity #ProudAndFocused
Beacon Bay 100
What a weekend we had at the Beacon Bay 100 🌊 in East London.
This past weekend, Team Northerns Masters had an absolute blast competing in the Beacon Bay 100 – one of the most enjoyable and well-organised Masters events we’ve ever attended!
The concept is simple, but fantastic – you and your partner’s combined age must be 100 or more to qualify.
We had five teams representing Northerns and proudly competed across three of the four sections. Michelle & Pieter & loyal supporter Lizette, Thea & Izak, Piet & Alicia, Theo & Carin and Michelle Arpin & Gerhard. A total of 37 pairs played in the tournament.
A massive congratulations to Piet & Alicia, who were runners-up in their section – a brilliant performance and a reflection of the strength of our squad! 🥈
The spirit of the tournament was truly special. But what really made it shine was the amazing people, top-tier squash, and an atmosphere that felt like family.
We were absolutely spoiled – water and fruit flowing all day, delicious breakfast buns, and a hearty lunch of lasagne and curry that kept us fuelled for action on the courts.
And let’s not forget the perfect weather, thanks to East London giving us sunshine and smiles all weekend long! ☀
To the organisers and Beacon Bay Country Club – THANK YOU for a smooth-running, superbly hosted event. Your effort and energy didn’t go unnoticed – we felt welcome, supported, and inspired. 🙌
We can’t wait to be back next year – and we’re already counting down the days to the Masters Doubles IPTs in KwaZulu Natal, where we’ll be sure to link up with most of you again! 💪
#TeamNortherns #MastersSquash #BeaconBay100 #SquashFamily #GratefulAndProud #SeeYouNextYear
In 2010, Winston Baatjies began to experience a gradual decline in his health, which was later diagnosed as severely impaired liver function. Despite the dedicated efforts of his medical team, his condition worsened over the years, ultimately leading to metabolic liver failure. By 2018, Winston spent the majority of the year in and out of hospitals as his health deteriorated further.
On 15 December 2018, Winston underwent a life-saving liver transplant, receiving a donor liver from a cadaver. Just nine days later, on 24 December, he was discharged from hospital—marking the beginning of an incredible journey of recovery and resilience.
Remarkably, even in the face of metabolic liver failure, Winston maintained an active lifestyle and a commitment to regular exercise. Just three months after his transplant, he was already back on the bike using an indoor trainer. His passion for fitness only grew, leading him to resume gym workouts and return to the squash court.
In 2022, Winston competed in his first National Transplant Games, where he took part in cycling and squash. His outstanding performance earned him qualification for the World Transplant Games, held in April 2023 in Perth, Australia. There, he made an impressive international debut—securing second place in squash and eighth place in cycling in his age category.
Winston’s determination and athletic excellence continued to shine at the 2024 National Transplant Games in Cape Town, where he once again qualified to represent South Africa at the upcoming 2025 World Transplant Games. The event will take place from 17–24 August 2025 in Dresden, Germany. Winston will be competing in cycling, squash, and race walking.
His journey is a powerful testament to the strength of the human spirit, the gift of organ donation, and the incredible possibilities that arise through perseverance and purpose.
We at Northerns Squash are incredibly proud of Winston and all he has achieved. We wish him all the best in Dresden and hope he returns with gold!
I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the Northerns Masters committee. I had the privilege (along with another 34 masters) to attend the NMSA Satellite 1 Open tournament held this past weekend at Pretoria Country Club. So much work goes in behind the scenes that is unnoticed and often underappreciated. The tournament ran smoothly from start to finish. We all had a lot of fun and some hard games, resulting in more than a few sore bodies this morning. We saw some fresh faces and built some new friendships. The facilities were great. The meal and prize gave a perfect ending. A big Thank You to Kratos for their generous sponsorship and support. Please keep up the good work!
George, Irene Squash Club
Please note that the NMSA Satellite 1 tournament is cancelled.
Come and join us for the first tournament in 2021
Satellite 1 Open tournament
Dates: 29 to 31 January 2021
Entry Fee: R 150-00
Venue: Pretoria High School Old Boys Club
ENTRY FORM (Click Here)
NMSA IPT qualifier 20 to 24th May in Pietermaritzburg
