Category: Tournament

Club Championship Finals Deliver Excitement & Anniversary Memories!

What a fantastic conclusion to our Club Championships! We witnessed some truly exciting matches across all divisions, showcasing the incredible talent and passion within our club. While we know everyone has their own experience on the court, the energy and sportsmanship displayed throughout the tournament were outstanding. It’s moments like these that remind us how much we grow, both individually in our game and together as a vibrant squash community. Thank you to everyone who participated and made this year’s championships so memorable!

Let’s give a huge round of applause to our finalists and champions:

  • Women’s B Singles: Winner – Joanie Harper, Runner-up – Maria Beltran
  • Women’s A Singles: Winner – Vanessa Steinwall, Runner-up – Lisa Pratt
  • Men’s D Singles: Winner – Sudhish Nair, Runner-up – Daniel Warren
  • Men’s C Singles: Winner – Andres F Rozco, Runner-up – Shane Morgenstern
  • Men’s B Singles: Winner – Trevor Charbonneau, Runner-up – Jesse Riley
  • Men’s A Singles: Winner – Sameer Vadera, Runner-up – Scott Gormley
  • Mixed Doubles B: Winners – John Kerr & Jim DeLouchry, Runners-up – Shan Ganesh & Garie Youngs
  • Doubles A: Winners – Sameer Vadera & Raj Vadera, Runners-up – Alfredo Portillo & Mark Rowland

Following the thrilling matches, we celebrated our 40th Anniversary with a banquet. John Kerr was awarded the Chris Doona award. Chris Doona was one of the four founding members of the Pickering Squash Club. Chris was taken from us far too soon and as a memorial to his service to the club we created the Chris Doona Memorial Award in 1993.

The Chris Doona Memorial Award is given out each year to the person who most represents the spirit of the Pickering Squash Club. The recipient has contributed their time and efforts unselfishly over many years to help make the Club what it is today.

John has been on the executive committee that helps run the club for several years, manages the membership applications and payments, and can often be seen helping out at the bar at tournaments. John is known for his kindness, quiet dignity and sense of humour and has a mean kill on the doubles courts!

It was a special evening commemorating four decades of squash camaraderie and community spirit within our club. Thank you to everyone who came out to mark this milestone with us!

None of this would have been possible without the incredible dedication of our volunteers who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to organize both the championships and the anniversary banquet. Your hard work and commitment are truly appreciated!

Just a reminder that the regular season for our Doubles House League wraps up this week, with playoffs just around the corner. Stay tuned for another post outlining our plans for singles play throughout the remainder of the spring and summer.

Thank you all for being such a fantastic part of our squash club!

More pictures to come!

Club Champs – Day 4, Doubles Recap

Hi Everyone,

The matches over on the doubles side yesterday were awesome!  The Vadera duo were absolutely on fire…Raj was hitting nicks like they were handing them out for free!  Their opponents, Mike and Eric, didn’t know whether to chase the ball or just clap!  Meanwhile, Sameer was covering the court like a cheetah on steroids, flying around with so much speed and intensity you’d think the ball owed him money.  And then there was Darryl, who gave us the comedy highlight of the night by taking a mighty swing off the easiest serve of the match and totally whiffing the ball!  He then proceeded to stare down his racquet like there was something wrong with it…sorry Darryl, it wasn’t the racquet’s fault!  Great effort by everyone last night!

I’ve made some changes to the times due to conflicting doubles and singles matches so be sure to check your times again!

We are back over on the singles courts tonight finishing up around 7.  There are only two 6:00 doubles matches this evening so we can all get our beauty rest so we can party it up at the banquet tomorrow night.

See you on the courts,

Nicole

Club Champs – Day 3

Hi Everyone,

Our tournament is in full swing and we had some great matches over on the singles court yesterday.  Kavita came in hot with her killer drop shots and Scott showed no mercy.  Over on the doubles court, our women’s doubles OSDL team lost a very close semi-final playoff game 2-1.  Great effort from everyone!  

Please note, there are mulitple events going on at the complex on Sat. including a hockey tournament and a swim meet.  If you play on Sat., give yourself extra time to find parking because the complex will be super busy.

We are back over on the doubles courts tonight…who’s going win between Kitt/Alison and Nav/Juan?

Be sure to check the draws and results:

https://clublocker.com/tournaments/17618/draws

See you on the courts,

Nicole

Club Champs – Tuesday Recap

Hi Everyone,

Yesterday the doubles competition started and there were some great matches.  Unfortuately Darryl had to go straight home to bed after his match becasuse he was so dizzy from all of Mike’s winning reverse boasts.  Later on in the evening, Ian saw so may balls that his partner Adam was able to go take a shower while the rally was still going on and be back for his next shot!  Despite the chaos, the night was a success!  Over on the singles courts, we had a fun junior tournament where young and upcoming Bennett Sandilands took the title of junior champ!  

Tonight we are back over on the singles courts starting at 5pm.  Be sure to check the consolation draws if you lost your first (or second) match.  I will be sending out some banquet information later on today for those who will be attending the banquet on Sat. evening.  Stay tuned and don’t forget to check your draw daily.

https://clublocker.com/tournaments/17618/draws

See you on the courts,

Nicole

Club Champs – Monday Recap

Hi Everyone,

We got off to a great start on the singles side yesterday!  Somehow JP squeaked out a win and Eli gave Andres a run for his money!  For those of you who lost yesterday, be sure to check the consolation draw in your division.  If you are new to Clublocker, be sure to click on the drop-down menu under division to see the consolation and plate draws.  This will allow you to see your times for your next match.  Doubles matches start tonight and I look forward to watching some more fun competition this evening (best 3 out of 5 games to 15pts).  

See you on the courts,

Nicole

Don’t forget to check your draws daily!

https://clublocker.com/tournaments/17618/draws?divisionId=228&sectionId=38&viewMode=detailed

2025 upcoming events at the Pickering Squash Club

– From Nicole Pirko

The first half of the squash season has been a success and there is much more to come in the new year.  So don’t you dare put your racquet away over the holidays because we have a busy schedule of house leagues, tournaments and lots of clinic opportunities coming up in the new year.  

First up is our Monday Night Singles House League that will be starting up again on Monday Jan. 20th.  I have automatically added everyone from the final round in December so there is no need to sign up if you were participating in the final weeks before the break.  If you are new to the league and would like to participate, simply send me an email and say “I’m in” and I will add you to the list. If you are not sure if you are included, just send me an email and I’ll confirm.  All levels are welcome and the house league is a fun way to meet other players and get a great work out.  

Our doubles house league will also be starting on the week of Jan. 20th.  The sign-up sheet is posted on the board outside the doubles courts.  Please find yourself a partner and add your team to the list!

 Our annual Lee Hanebury Memorial Tournament – Jan. 31, Feb. 1, 2, 2025. I would like to invite you all to participate in the Pickering Squash Club’s annual Lee Hanebury Memorial Tournament on the weekend of Jan. 31-Feb. 2.  This is a tournament weekend you do not want to miss!  Tournament events include Men’s and Women’s singles events levels A-E (This means everyone at every level should play), as well as Doubles Men’s and Women’s B and C draws (you will need to register with a partner).  Women may play both singles and doubles (only required to pay one entry fee) but due to limited court time, men may only play one event.  Your entry fee includes a tournament souvenir, licensed bar, Saturday breakfast and lunch, Saturday night doubles Calcutta (if court time permits) followed by a social night at our local restaurant and lots of squash.  You must register on the Squash Ontario website at: www.squashontario.com (under the “tournament community” tab.  The sign-up deadline is Wed. Jan. 22th but please sign up early to avoid disappointment as some draws WILL fill up fast!  Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.  

Junior Squash Programs:

Our junior squash program is in full swing and we have added more clinics for juniors of all levels and ages!  All clinics are 12 weeks and the emphasis will be on teaching the kids proper techniques, drills, game play and of course fun!  Here are the details below.  Please sign up early because the clinics fill up fast!

Tuesday’s 4:30-5:30- Advanced Junior Clinic (all ages)

Tuesday’s 5:30-6:30- Intermediate Junior Clinic (Ages 7-14)

Saturday’s 12:30-1:30 – Novice/Beginner (Ages 4-15) 

Saturday’s 1:30-2:30 – Intermediate Junior Clinic (Ages 7-14) this is an additional class for our Tuesday Intermediate players. 

Please contact Nicole to sign up for all Tuesday classes and Sameer for all Saturday classes.

Are looking for some extra training to improve your game, why not try a clinic?  Here are the new clinic dates for various levels starting in Jan. 

Beginner Squash Clinic (men and women) – Wednesday’s 6:00-7:00 – 4 week program – Contact Nicole to sign up

Men’s intermediate Skills Clinic (tournament level C/D) -Thursday’s 6:00-7:00- 6 week program- Contact Sameer to sign up

Mixed Performance Advanced Clinic (tournament level A/B) – Thursday’s 7:00-8:00 – 6 week program – Contact Nicole to sign up

Lastly, our social directors are busy planning this year’s banquet party and we have a date confirmed.  Be sure to add Sat. April 5th on your calendars for this year’s banquet party following our Club Championships Tournament.  More details to come!

I hope you all have a safe and happy holiday and we will see you on the courts in the new year!

Nicole

Celebrating the Success of the 2024 Heidelberg Materials Ontario Championships at Pickering Squash Club!

This past season opener was an amazing experience for the Pickering Squash Club as we hosted the 2024 Heidelberg Materials Ontario Championships, Presented by NFP Canada. Players from across the province came together for a memorable weekend filled with exciting matches and great camaraderie. From intense singles matches in the Men’s and Women’s divisions to high-energy doubles play in the Harvest Hit tournament, it was an event that truly celebrated the competitive spirit of squash.

Heidelberg Materials, the Title Sponsor at this year’s Ontario Championships, along with NFP Canada, Squash Ontario, and the Pickering Squash Club with our dedicated volunteers made this tournament possible. Their support allowed us to provide players with an amazing tournament experience, complete with fun extras like a tournament top, Friday night pizza, Saturday lunch, and generous prize money for the Open divisions.

Special Spotlight: The Women’s Social and Seminar

This year, supported by Heidelberg Materials, we were especially excited to host the Women’s Social and Seminar, an event that brought together female players for a discussion on “Competing in Squash.”

Led by Marci Sier and a panel featuring top competitors Hollie Naughton, Nadia Luttmer, and Vanessa Steinwall, this seminar offered valuable insights into managing performance anxiety and maintaining mental focus. As part of our commitment to increase women’s participation in squash, this social event marked a meaningful step forward in bridging the gender gap within the sport.

Although squash has often led the way in supporting female athletes, we’re aware that Ontario’s recent participation numbers show 2.5 male players for every female player. It’s our mission to create welcoming spaces and events that encourage more women to join, compete, and thrive in the game.

For a more detailed look at the tournament and the Women’s Social, read the full article on Squash Ontario’s website.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this tournament a success! We look forward to seeing more of you on the courts throughout the season.

The tournament results and photos of the champions are displayed below – congratulations to all participants on a fantastic start to the 2024/2025 squash season!

ABOUT Heidelberg materials

Heidelberg Materials is excited to be supporting Squash Ontario and is delighted to be the Title Sponsor at this year’s Ontario Championships.

Heidelberg Materials is one of the world’s largest building materials companies and operates on five continents. Our products are used for the construction of houses, infrastructure, and commercial and industrial facilities, thus meeting the demands of a growing world population for housing, mobility, and economic development.  Learn more about Heidelberg Materials.

ABOUT NFP CANADA

We are excited to share that NFP will officially partner with Squash Ontario in the 2024-2025 season as a Corporate Partner and Presenting Sponsor of the 2024 Ontario Championships. This partnership will continue to offer the 15% home and auto insurance discount to Squash Ontario members and in exchange, they will be supporting Squash Ontario events and contributing to the Lee Hanebury Junior Squash Fund. To learn more about the discount program, please visit Squash Ontario’s Membership webpage.

Please read below for our 2024 Champions, runners-up, and 3rd place finishers.

Draws

Women’s Open, left to right: Hasti Shemirani (5th), Olivia Bolger (4th), Sasha Lee (3rd), Hollie Naughton (Champion), Niki Shemirani (2nd).
Men’s Open, left to right: Blake Reinson (2nd), Wasey Maqsood (Champion), Will Harris (3rd), Nicole Pirko (Tournament Chair).
Men’s C, left to right: Shiraz Mohideen from NFP, Scott Haynes (3rd), Marcus Lee (Champion), Sandeep Reddy Kancharla (2nd).
Women’s C, left to right: Tania Kumar (2nd), Sydney Meek (Champion), Hania El Ayoubi (3rd).
Men’s D, left to right: Shiraz Mohideen from NFP, Manoj Reddy (3rd), Anatol Sharoyan (Champion), Leon Chan (2nd).
Women’s E, left to right: Nicole Pirko (Tournament Chair), Jota Botia (2nd), Priya Vasamsetty Kaliprasad (Champion), and Ongelle-Lise Burnett (3rd).
Women’s A, left to right: Elka Markus (2nd), Vanessa Steinwall (Champion), Thandi Myers (3rd – not pictured).
Men’s B, left to right: Yianni Theodoropoulos (2nd), Erez Provizor (Champion), Rahul Godavarthi (3rd).
Women’s B, left to right: Sumintra Koowar (2nd), Alexis Pirko (Champion), Iris Capistrano (3rd).
Men’s E, left to right: Dhruvil Shah (2nd), Nathan Chan (Champion), Andrew Hyndman (3rd).
Men’s A, left to right: Arturo Guzman Franco (2nd), Usman Khan (Champion), Jack Chen (3rd).

Harvest Hit Doubles Tournament and the 2024 Heidelberg Materials Ontario Championships Welcome and Info

The Pickering Squash Club in partnership with Squash Ontario is welcoming competitors to our annual Harvest Hit Doubles Tournament and the 2024 Heidelberg Materials Ontario Championships Presented by NFP Canada starting this evening, October 25, 2024!

We have an extremely packed schedule this weekend with no open court time, so are asking competitors to please arrive early for your matches so we can stay on time.

All winners will be expected to referee the next match on their court, unless told otherwise by a volunteer or Nicole. 

Start times can be found in your welcome email. Draws were posted Thursday under the draws tab on Clublocker for each tournament this weekend.

If you are running late or unable to make a match, it is extremely important you let Nicole know ahead of time so she can inform your opponent. Please see the welcome email for her contact information.

Scheduled Events:

Friday: Squash Matches 5:00pm – 9:30pm

There will be snacks and of course drinks served at the bar in the doubles court area. Craft 360 is our beer/cooler sponsor for the weekend so you can redeem your drink ticket for a Craft 360 beverage at the bar located in the doubles squash courts. We have a cash bar only for the weekend and all alcoholic drinks are $5, please bring some cash.                     

Saturday: Squash Matches 9:00am – 9:00pm

Lunch 12:00pm – 2:30pm, lunch will be served on the second floor outside the singles courts viewing area. 

Saturday Women’s Social and Mental Toughness Seminar – Meeting rooms 1 & 2 (upper level) – 4:30-5:30 pm

We will be hosting a complimentary women’s seminar and panel discussion hosted by Marci Sier who is a squash coach and Certified Mental Performance Consultant, in Sport and Performance Psychology.  Our panel members include Hollie Naughton (PSA World # 20), Vanessa Steinwall, and Nadia Luttmer.  Topics will include: how to deal with nerves and how to create a positive mindset surrounding nerves, as well as the benefits of competition and the squash community!

Sunday: Squash Matches 8:45am – 4:00pm, Presentation and Awards to follow

Extra Notes: We do not have a restaurant facility at our club so please pack extra snacks! We will be serving lunch on Saturdaybut if you have specific dietary requirements, please pack your own lunch. There are plenty of eateries near the club. Our club alongside with Squash Ontario has worked very hard to give everyone a great tournament experience and we are looking forward to a fun weekend of squash, social and of course some great competition! There is no towel service at our club so please bring your own towel.

With thanks to title sponsor Heidelberg Materials and presenting sponsor NFP Canada, we trust you will have a great tournament experience.

What’s more? With thanks to Squash Ontario’s partnership with NFP Canada, Squash Ontario members can enjoy discounted home and auto insurance.  Feel free to stop by the NFP booth throughout the weekend, or reach out to [email protected] to get a quote!

Thanks and good luck,

Nicole Pirko (Tournament Chair)