Di gets the job done on and off court

The New Zealand Squash Masters tournament in Nelson couldn’t have gone any better for one of the driving forces at Nelson Squash Club.

“We put five months into organising the event. From painting to fresh carpets and a new scoring system. There was a such good vibe when players arrived and that carried on throughout the weekend,” enthuses club committee member Di Connolly.

That vibe also flowed on to the courts where Di won the women’s 75+ grade.
Di started off in the 60+ division where she lost to Tākaka’s Sue Metto, but then took on Aucklander Diana Bennett in a 75+ play-off.

“I am used to playing younger women, so it was great to finally get to face someone close to my own age,” says the 76-year-old.

Diana took out the first game 11-9 but Di then took charge winning the next three 11-1, 13-11 and 11-5 to claim the title.

She also turned out in the teams’ event to help Midlands and won two of her four matches.

Individual events were contested y 220 players and 124 in the teams’ section.
Di only returned to competitive play 18 months ago after giving squash away for several years.

Buoyed by her success, she is now targeting the Oceania Masters Championships in Christchurch in March and a return to the World Squash Masters next August in Perth.

Di won a bronze medal at the 2009 masters in Sydney.