Snowy Mountains Open Squash Tournament: A Weekend to Remember
The 2nd annual Snowy Mountains Open Squash Tournament has wrapped up at Jindabyne Bowling & Sports Club, and what a success it was. Two action-packed days, 64 competitors across eight divisions, and quality matches from start to finish.
Here’s a look back at the weekend.
Players From Across NSW
The tournament attracted competitors from right across the state, marking solid growth from the inaugural event. Players travelled from as far as Coffs Harbour in the north, with strong contingents from Canberra and Sydney joining those from the Bega Valley and South Coast towns including Batemans Bay, Merimbula and Kalaru. Our local Jindabyne players rounded out an impressive field.
The eight-division structure ensured everyone from casual social players to seasoned state and national champions found matches suited to their level.
The Atmosphere
The club buzzed with energy across both days. Courtside viewing areas filled with families and supporters following the action, while the live stream to big screen and throughout the sports bar kept spectators entertained between matches – that area remained packed throughout.
Courts ran continuously from early morning through late afternoon, with organisers keeping the schedule tight despite the volume of matches. Competition was fierce across all divisions, with multiple contests going to five games and close scorelines the norm rather than the exception.
Division Champions
Congratulations to all our finalists:
- Open Division: Craig Brann (Sydney) defeated Peter Bastow (Sydney)
- Division 1: Aidan Coady (Bega) defeated Kallen Coady (Bega)
- Division 2: Lauren Illig (Canberra) defeated Jeff Row (Batemans Bay)
- Division 3: Billy Lambert (Jindabyne) defeated Mal Weston (Jindabyne)
- Division 4: Sean Meyers (Kalaru) defeated Ben Becker (Merimbula)
- Division 5: Jamie Gould (Batlow) defeated Matt Xuereb (Flinders)
- Division 6: Tyler Holt (Terrigal) defeated Lee Colclough (Jindabyne)
- Division 7: Lachlan Dierkx (Coffs Harbour) defeated Nick Oakman (Jindabyne)
Well done to everyone who stepped on court over the weekend.
Thanks to the Organisers
Tournament directors Corey Bedingfield and Ryan Petrov deserve tremendous credit for making the weekend run so smoothly. Draw management, court scheduling, scoring, and the countless logistics involved in coordinating a field this size – they handled it all brilliantly.
The squash community is grateful for their dedication.
Thanks also to Trista Heath from The Monaro Post for her coverage, helping share the event with the wider region.
Our Sponsors
Running a tournament of this calibre requires plenty of support from the local community. We’re fortunate to have the continued support of Banjo Paterson Inn, Eastern Ridge Electrical, DLC Joinery and Sticky Fingerz – local businesses who believe in community sport. Thanks Dean from DLC also for the new cupboard and shelf installed to mount the live streaming gear.
Without their generosity, events like this simply wouldn’t happen.
Looking Ahead to 2027
The Snowy Mountains Open is establishing itself as a fixture on the NSW squash calendar. The growth from year one to year two has been encouraging, and there’s plenty of room to build further.
If you’ve been considering picking up a racquet- or returning after time away – this weekend demonstrated there’s a thriving squash community in the region ready to welcome you. All skill levels are encouraged. You can start by joining our Wednesday Squash comp, with a new season to start soon. Check out the Squash Comp @ Jindy Bowlo Facebook page for more info.
Thank you to everyone who competed, volunteered, sponsored and cheered from the sidelines. See you next year.
Image Gallery
Take a look at some of the images from the weekend.
