Penman only newcomer in squash teams

Press, 15 July 1987, Page 76

Penman only newcomer in squash teams

Michael Penman, one of the fastest improving squash players in the province, is the only newcomer in the Canterbury teams named yesterday for the national inter-dis-trict events at North Shore next month. Penman, aged 18, has made such progress over the last 12 months that his national grading has shot up from Cl to A2. He has always been very fast round the court, but his squash has developed to the extent that he can no longer be regarded as just a runner. “He’s always doing something with the ball,” said the convener of senior selectors, Mr Don Preston. Mr Preston said he was surprised that the Lancaster Park junior had come through so fast and "kept on coming” rather than hitting a plateau this season as might have been expected. In the course of the season Penman has picked up good wins over such players as Bryan Simpson (Nelson) and Canterbury’s Nigel Lloyd and Blair Michelson. As well he took the talented Elliott Jones to five games

in a recent Inter-club match. A regular member of the Canterbury side. through the 1980 s, Craig - Hibbert, is only the nontravelling reserve this time while the six times Canterbury champion, .* Rod Hayes, was unavailable because of other commitments. Justine Marriott returns to the senior women’s team after being unavall- ■ able for the 1986 event at Tlmaru while Ann Harliwlch won a close battle with Donna Church for the final team spot. This year’s Railfreight New Zealand championships lasts from August 7 to 1 with the teams’ event preceded by the individual championships. The teams named by. the representative selectors, Don Preston, Merle Holland arid Bruce Marriott, are.— Men: Paul Viggers, Robbie Burnett, Elliott Jones, Michael Penman, Nigel Lloyd. Non-travelling reserve: Craig Hibbert. Manager: Barry Gardiner. Women: Carolyn Viggers, Justine Marriott, Freda Walker, Adele Coll, Ann Harliwich. Non-travelling reserve: Donna Church. Manager: Kay Gilray.