Festival of Squash Scoops SPARC Award

Recognition of a job well done for the organisers of the Mount Maunganui Festival of Squash.

"The 2009 event has won the Innovation Award at a function hosted by Government sports funding agency SPARC in Wellington.

The Festival of Squash broke new ground for squash in New Zealand, taking the game out of its traditional club environment and into the heart of the Bayfair Shopping Mall in Mount Maunganui. The event incorporated the A1 Homes New Zealand Women's Open, which saw 13 of the world's top 20 players doing battle on a glass court in the middle of the mall.

SPARC's judges rewarded the organisers for doing something completely different and quite literally taking the sport to the public.

Squash New Zealand CEO Jim O'Grady says it is a great fillip for the sport and deserved recognition for those behind the concept. He says Sport Bay of Plenty CEO Wayne Werder, Coaching Team Leader Dave Clarke and Mount Maunganui Squash Club President Mike Flood-Smith were instrumental in getting the event off the ground.

"An incredible amount of work went into making the Festival of Squash a reality, and Wayne, Dave and Mike can take the credit for its success.

"Ross Thomas from A1 Homes and Bayfair manager Andrew Wadsworth should also be congratulated for having the vision to back the tournament financially, along with SPARC who also saw the value in the event".

Jim O'Grady says Squash New Zealand is always looking for innovative new ways to promote the sport in New Zealand, and the Mount Maunganui Festival of Squash is a great example of what can be done if people have the passion to make an event succeed."

Gary Denvir
Media Manager
Squash New Zealand