by Tim Dunbar  2001

Canterbury will have to defend its women’s national inter-districts’ teams squash title at Palmerston North next month without New Zealand champion Sarah Cook.

The mother of 18-month-old Taylor, Cook will play in the individual championships, but does not want to spend any more time away.

Cook, 26, was mindful of the fact that she starts a new job as a trainee firefighter on October 1.

“Basically, I was going to be away from Taylor for nine weeks – seeing him only at weekends – when I do my fire service training course,” she said.

“I felt the extra time was valuable.”

Cook has played in the inter-districts for Canterbury in 10 of the past 12 years, missing only the 1990 and 1997 events, since her debut as a 14-year-old. Three times the individual champion, Cook will be up against it in Palmerston North with world No. 1 Leilani Joyce (Auckland) playing.

Meanwhile, a feature of the Canterbury men’s team named yesterday was the return, after three years, of Barrie Matthews, a former convener of national selectors, at 44. Two women’s team members, Julie McFadzien and Freda Walker, are back after even longer – 15 and 10 years, respectively. Andy Jacques is the only newcomer in either team.

Canterbury squash teams named yesterday: Senior nationals at Palmerston North, August 31-September 4:

Men: Mike Allred A1, Evans Chileshe A2, Jason Oxenham A2, Nick Mita A2, Barrie Matthews A2, Andy Jacques B1. Player-manager: Allred.

Women: Freda Walker A2, Ann Harliwich A2, Sarena Gardner B1, Mary Turnbull B1, Julie McFadzien B1. Manager: Kay Gilray.

Junior nationals in Hawkes Bay, September 21-27:

Boys: Kevin Milne (Linwood), Kade Atkinson (Hokitika), Grant Evans (Burnside), James Smith (Hoon Hay), Henry Tallott (Kaiapoi). Manager: Steven Young. Girls: Katie Douglas (Burnside), Alanah Tocker (Rangiora), Maria Smith (Football), Samira Sultan (Hoon Hay), Georgie Mackie (Lincoln). Manager: Robyn Sultan.