The Bay of Plenty is hosting the 35th New Zealand Secondary Schools Squash Championships this weekend.
The event starts today and runs all weekend at the Devoy Squash and Fitness Centre (Tauranga) along with supporting venues Mount Maunganui and Te Puke Squash Clubs.
This event is the single largest squash tournament in New Zealand which Devoy Squash and Fitness has successfully secured the hosting rights for, for three years.
This year there are 52 teams participating from all over New Zealand, with teams being made up of seven players, as well as coaches, managers and supporters coming to the Bay.
Tauranga has only hosted the event twice before, the last time back in 2012 after the opening of the new club facilities.
This was also the first year that Tauranga Boys' College won the title which was held for three consecutive years before passing it over to the current trophy holders Westlake Boys High School who have held it for the past four years.
The last time a Bay of Plenty girls' school has taken hold of the title was Te Puke High School in 2009.
With 20 girls teams in the running, there will be tough competition. Tauranga Girls' College A team is currently seeded 9th heading into the event; Katikati College is seeded 12th, Papamoa College is seeded 17th and Tauranga Girls' College B team is seeded 19th. All these teams are made up of Devoy Squash and Fitness club members. Tauranga Boys' College A are currently sitting 2nd seed followed by their B team who are 6th seed. Aquinas College also have a team in the event seeded 32nd.
The event starts with an opening ceremony at 9am Friday morning at the Devoy Squash and Fitness club and then round 1 begins from 10.30am and running into the evening Friday. It starts at 8am on Saturday for a full day, then straight back into it from 7.30am Sunday morning with prize giving scheduled at 2pm.