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NMSA Newsletter 2012_01

This is the first newsletter of the Northerns Masters Squash Association (NMSA) for 2012 addressed to all Masters Squash players in Northerns. The aim of the newsletter is to keep you informed of NMSA news and related events through the year, as well as achievements of Northerns Masters players. Any feedback will be welcome.

Committee

The NMSA committee for 2012 consists of Blaar Coetzee (Chairman), Mandi Joubert (Vice-chairperson), Saartjie Cromhout (Treasurer) and Martin Barnard (Additional member). Additional members will be co-opted to help with some of the events during the year.

Anna Botha, 2011 Chairlady with Mike Pearce, NSF President at the 2011 prize giving function.

2011 Chairlady Anna Botha received the NSF President’s award at the annual prize giving at the end of last year for her contribution to squash in the province.

Registration fee

At the end of 2011 it was decided to implement a R50 annual registration fee for Northerns Masters Squash players. The once-off annual registration fee will be payable by all players that want to participate in NMSA events.

This levy will mostly go to cover the SA Masters Squash levy that is raised on each participating player that had to be paid from other income in the past. Players will be invoiced by NMSA for the levy as and when you indicate that you want to participate in any of the NMSA events.

Enter the Quadrangular Inter Provincial tournament

The next official external event for the year is the Quadrangular tournament that is traditionally played between Northerns, Easterns, Gauteng and Free State. This year the tournament is hosted by Free State in Welkom on 3 and 4 March.

Teams consist of 7 men and 4 ladies. The tournament cost is R250 per player and a list of available accommodation will be sent to all participants. The closing date for entries is 20 February and all fees must also be paid by then.

The committee will select a team from all available players. Please let us know if you’re available to play in this fun tournament to get your squash year going on the right note. Send a mail with your contact details to masters@northerns.co.za to confirm your availability.

All Northerns players in this tournament automatically qualify for the IPT teams later this year.

SA Masters Championship

The SA Masters take place at Parkview in Johannesburg from 1-4 March 2012. Click on this link to download an entry form from the concept website.

Other events on the calendar

Please make a note in your diaries of the following Masters Squash dates for the year. More detail will follow closer to the events.

  • NMSA Satellite 1: 23-25 March 2012
  • NMSA Closed: 11-16 June 2012
  • NMSA Satellite 2: 24-26 August 2012
  • SA Masters IPT’s: 7-11 September 2012 (East London)
  • SA Masters Doubles IPT’s: 7-10 November 2012 (Eastern Gauteng)

Sponsored league 2012

The very popular sponsored league will continue this year in the same format as last year where we had 110 players participating over the 11 rounds. More information will be provided soon.

IPT teams 2012

Northerns performed adequately in the 2011 Inter Provincial Tournament where 16 of our teams participated. This year we aim to improve on last year’s performance in both quantity and quality. The IPT takes place in East London early September and they have promised to make it a tournament that you’ll never forget.

We would like to encourage all Northerns Masters players to clear their diaries well in advance and even to put a few bucks aside to ensure that you can attend the IPT. We want the top players in each age group to participate and represent Northerns. Last year 3 teams won their sections but we have the players to win many more sections.

Toepie Wood, Mark Liebenberg, Steve Sotiralis, Johnny Orsmond and Mario Kotze, winners of the 55-59 Men's A-section of the 2011 IPT with Anna Botha, 2011 chairlady of NMSA.

To qualify for participation all you have to do is to play in and complete one of the Northerns tournaments (Satellite 1 or 2, NMSA Closed, 3 games in Sponsored League 2012) or one of the sanctioned external tournaments (Quadrangular, SA Masters, Gauteng Masters Open, World Masters).

World Masters Squash Championship in 2012

2012 promises to be an exciting year for Masters squash with the World Masters Championship taking place in Birmingham, England in July just before the Olympic Games.

Northerns have nominated 5 players to Squash SA as potential medal winners at the World Championship and we will follow their progress with great interest. They are Trevor Wilkinson (50-54), Johnny Orsmond (55-59), Peter Carey (55-59), Gordon Daniel (60-64) and the only lady Elize Mostert (55-59).

Any other players that are going to the World’s must please let us know.

Contact information

Contact us by mail on masters@northerns.co.za or phone or sms Blaar Coetzee on 082 781 6917.

P.S. Remember to let us know if you want to play in the Quadrangular tournament 3-4 March in Welkom!