Squash PEI recognizes top athletes
Squash PEI recently celebrated another incredible season, as the 2015-2016 Awards Banquet was held on Saturday, April 30 at the Old Triangle Pourhouse with Emcee Lyndon Oulton presenting 14 winners for 12 categories on the evening.
The well known Jinks family of Stratford had an impressive evening taking home six awards.
17 year old Connor Jinks continued his streak as the reigning Junior Male Athlete of the Year, and also added the top male prize as Male Athlete of the Year. Jinks season kicked off months before the Maritime Squash Circuit began to start any pre-season conditioning as he participated in numerous Junior Core events with the Squash Canada Circuit as well as summer tournaments in Europe. He also participated in the qualifying round of the Bluenose Classic PSA event in Halifax last October. In all, Connor took part 5 Men’s A Finals in Maritime events. He won his first division title in February during the Squash PEI Junior Fundraiser event, followed by winning the Moncton Invitational the following weekend. Connor was also a finalist for Sport PEI Junior Male Athlete of the year.
His sister Emma would go on to win her second consecutive Junior Female Athlete of the Year title, and her first Female Athlete of the Year. It was an outstanding season for Emma who built off momentum from an impressive 2015 and was very competitive as the only active female in the Men’s A Division. She became a three time Canadian Junior Squash Champion, winning the U17 Female title last month in Markham, Ontario. In February, she received another top accomplishment as was named Sport PEI Junior Female Athlete of the Year.
Other Jinks family member winners were 14 year old Liam, winner of the Junior Heart & Soul Award, as well as father Lester, who shared the Adult Heart & Soul Award title with Ken Sampson of North Rustico.
Another family was recognized as well for their dedication and passion for the sport, as Derek Anderson and son Logan Anderson were named the Adult & Junior recipients for Most Sportsmanlike Players.
Recognition was also given out on the evening to the Squash PEI Executive. Kelly MacWilliams (President), Steve & Kady Bruce (Vice-Presidents), Shara Coady (Past President), Matthew Ramsay (Secretary), and Ken Sampson (Treasurer) and Andrew Avery (Tournament Chair). Sampson and Avery along with their busy titles in the Executive were also the Commissioners of the Squash PEI Wednesday Night House League at the SPA Total Fitness Centre.
SQUASH PEI 2015-2016 AWARD WINNERS
MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Connor Jinks
FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Emma Jinks
MOST SPORTSMANLIKE PLAYER (ADULT)
Derek Anderson
MOST SPORTSMANLIKE PLAYER (JUNIOR)
Logan Anderson
MOST IMPROVED PLAYER (ADULT)
Greg McGuire
MOST IMPROVED PLAYER (JUNIOR)
Olivia Phillips
JUNIOR MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Connor Jinks
JUNIOR FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Emma Jinks
VOLUNTEERS OF THE YEAR
Mitch Chaisson / Matthew Ramsay
HEART & SOUL AWARD (ADULT)
Ken Sampson / Lester Jinks
HEART & SOUL AWARD (JUNIOR)
Liam Jinks
STEVE ROGERS AWARD
Jo Spencer
(submitted article)