about us

Vaal Triangle Squash - Squash Excellence Since 1979

A Legacy of Champions

Established in 1979, Vaal Triangle Squash has been a cornerstone of the squash community in the Vaal Triangle for over four decades. Our rich history is not just about the sport, it’s about cultivating champions who excel both on and off the court.

Unmatched Experience and Expertise

With years of experience in training players of all levels, we bring a wealth of knowledge and a proven track record of success. Our dedicated coaches are committed to elevating your game, whether you’re a beginner or an aspiring champion.

Join a Thriving Community

At one of Vaal Triangle Squash clubs, you’ll find more than just a place to play, you’ll be part of a vibrant community that fosters camaraderie and sportsmanship. Connect with fellow squash enthusiasts and share your passion for the game!

history of vaal triangle squash

1976

The Vaal Triangle started to play provincial squash as a province. The pioneers in starting our squash province were people like Cliff Barnes, Johann Calitz, John Clayton and Jeff Langton. Before this date squash was played as local league, but not on provincial level. Some players like Dennis Human played Jarvis for 1978.

Vaal Triangles team to SACD in George:

  • Men – Won their section – Toepie Wood, Ian Cass, John Clayton, R Tyndall, Jeff Langton and Pat Farla
  • Women – Atri Wilson, Salome Pienaar, Sarie Hartzenberg, Marietjie Kritzinger, Doreen v/d Merwe and Honor Greyling.
  • Salome Pienaar was the runner-up in the individuals during the SACD

1979

Vaal Triangle teams: Men – Ian Cass, John Clayton, Harold Dickerson, Pat Farla and Jeff Langton. Women – Salome Pienaar, Marietjie Kritzinger, Honor Greyling, I Basson and E Halliday. Usco Started playing Transvaal league (2nd and 6th league) later the Usco side included any player in the area because of travelling costs to Johannesburg.

1980

  • SACD – Men runners-up in Newcastle. The team was Ian Cass, John Clayton, Toepie Wood, Harold Dickerson, Pat Farla, Jeff Langton. 
  • The women’s SACD team was Salome Pienaar, Marietjie Kritzinger, Honor Greyling, I Basson, Sarie Hartzenberg and Elize Halliday.
  • USCO played in the Transvaal league in the 2nd and 6th leagues

1981

SACD – Men winners of their section in Kimberley.

1982

Vaal Triangle teams:

  • Men: Ian Cass, Toepie Wood, Fanie Hattingh, Pat Farla and Jeff Langton.
  • Women: Atri Wilson, Sarie Hartzenberg, Doreen van der Merwe, Marietjie Kritzinger and H Sieberhagen.

1984

Vaal Triangle teams:

  • Men A: John Clayton, Ian Cass, Toepie Wood, Jeff Langton, Pat Farla.
  • Men B: Glen Bryce-Borthwick, Fielie van der Walt, Kobus Sandenberg, Daan Gouws, Harold Dickerson and Gerald Porter
  • Women: Sarie Hartzenberg, Marietjie Kritzinger, Atri Wilson, Doreen v/d Merwe and Salome Pienaar.
  • League teams: 1st -8, Res. 10, 2nd – 10, 3rd 10 and 4th 10 teams Usco A winners of 1st league and Verref B winners of Reserve league.
  • Vaal Triangle Masters Squash was started by Eddie Fitzhenry and is still going strong.

1985

  • League results: Men 1st –Usco A, Res. Sasol B, 2nd – Sasol C, 3rd – Heilbron, 4th – Iscor G
  • Schools 38 teams in league, Championship 80 players.
  • U/19 B 10 Tal Benschacher Runner-up Pieter vd Westhuizen. U10 G – Carol Cass Runner-up – Christi Joubert. U 16 –B Grant Langton. U16 G Delienne Naude

1986

Vaal Triangle team:

  • Men – Johan Smit, Willie Esterhuizen, Toepie Wood, John Clayton and Harold Dickerson
  • Women: Toets van der Westhuizen, Doreen van der Merwe, Hester de Klerk, Avril Jennings, Ronel de Swart en Marie Trusler

1988

League results:

  • Men: 1st – VCC A, Res. Glen Douglas A, 2nd – VCC C, 3rd – Iscor G, 4th – Iscor E
  • Women: 1st – VCC A and 2nd – Sasol B
  • Sportsman of the year was Stefan de Wet and Sports-woman of the year Doreen v/d Merwe

Most improved players:

  • Men: Ettienne Koekemoer
  • Women: Illona Muller
  • Juniors: The first ever Vaal Triangle U/12 teams to Cape Town. The boys were Duane Hocknell, Danie Grovè, Gerhardt Greeff, Henry van der Walt and Benjamin van der Merwe. The girls were Lynette Swartz, Matilda Jubber, Hendra van der Merwe and Jandri Keyzer. Doreen van der Mwerwe and Sarie Hartzenberg accompanied the teams.

1989

League Teams:

  • Men 1st 11, Res. 10, 2nd 10, 3rd 10, 4th 6 teams ladies 1st 5 and 2nd 5 teams

1992

League Teams:

  • Men 1st 8 teams, Res. 10, 2nd 10, and 8, 4th 8 teams. Women 1st 5 and 2nd 5

1995

Hendra van der Merwe is number 1 on the SA ladder for girls U/19. She also holds the number 12 position on the SA women’s ladder. She was the official reserve for the South African side to Australia.

Toepie Wood started to organise the Blitz league.

1996

Hendra van der Merwe is number 22 on the SA ladder.

1997

Danie Grove represent the South African boys U/19 side to Zambia.

2003

Declan Silver, Pieter Lategan, Johan van Rensburg, Hester de Klerk and Belinda Stein were chosen to play in the Jarvis/Kaplan tournament.

Tenille Swartz, Mary-Ann Bowden, Janus Botha and Paul Prinsloo represented South Africa overseas as juniors.

2005

League results:

  • 1st – Iscor A, Res. Iscor F, 2nd – Iscor I, 3rd – Parys E.
  • Kyle Dougherty and Ronnie du Plessis was elected to play in Jarvis tournament.
  • The Parys school girls did very well. Tenille Swartz was number 1 on the South African ladder, while Mary-Ann Bowden was number 2 and Mignionette de Bruin was number 8. All from one school and one club.
  • Tenille also played for the South African U/19 side in Holland.

2006

Tenille Swartz is number 28 in the world. She was also named by WISPA (Womens International Squash Player Association) as the “Young player of the year” after she won her first WISPA tournament – The Meersquash Open in Hoofdorp, Holland at the age of 19. She was the SA women’s champion.

The Blitz league changes to Summer league.

2007

  • Tenille Swartz is number 38 in the world. She is the SA womens champion. No womens league since 2007 until 2014.
  • Masters did quite well and the men 35C, 40B and 50B won their sections on the IPT.

2008

  • Francois Smith (Jnr) is number 5 in South Africa for boys under 14.
  • Christine Ferreira is number 5 on the SA ladder and played for SA girls U/19 against Botswana and Malaysia.

2009

Tenille is the SA women’s champion. No women’s league.

2011

Tenille van der Merwe (Swartz) is the SA women’s champion.

2013

Graham Hocknell (on behalf of the Vaal Triangle Masters) received the trophy in Pretoria as the best organised province for Masters Squash.

Schools Squash

  • The schools league was initiated by Salome Pienaar. In June 1980 the Vaal Triangle was divided into 2 sections. The western section included the schools of Vanderbijlpark and Sasolburg and was organised by Salome Pienaar. The eastern section included the schools of Vereeniging and Meyerton and was organized by Johann Strauss. From 1981 all the schools participated in only one section. Under the chairmanship of Salome Pienaar many provincial tournaments were attended and there-for lots of the scholars of the Vaal Triangle received Vaal Triangle colours.
  • Not only did teachers help with the coaching of the juniors, but some senior squash players were involved in the coaching of the juniors.
  • Juniors included players from matric down to players younger than 6 years old. People that did a lot for coaching out of their own free will must be mentioned. They are Salome Pienaar, Doreen van der Merwe, Elize Prinsloo, Johan Calitz, Mike Woodroffe, Graham Hocknell, Johann Strauss, Johan Smit,
    A special word must be said towards the juniors of Parys. This must be the school or squash club with the best junior players in the world.
  • Junior players with world and national rankings came from Parys. Outstanding juniors such as Tenille Swartz, Hendra van der Merwe, Mary-Ann Bowden, Christine Ferreira, Francois Smith and Leandri Sieberhagen must be mentioned. The reasons for this outstanding success stories can be named as Elize Prinsloo and Doreen van der Merwe.
  • The Parys High School won the “Squash Top School” award in SA in 2005.
  • Summer league or earlier known as Blitz league.
    The purpose of the Blitz league (the brain child of Toepie Wood) was to get the players fit for league. This league was played in the beginning of the year (Jan/Febr.) on Tuesdays and Thursdays. When Toepie left the area Tat Greyvenstein took over and did the organizing. Later, under Graham Hocknell, it was changed to the current Summer league. The purpose of the summer league is more social, but also to help the players to keep fit during the off season.


Business league

  • The Vaal Triangle squash players of 2016 want to thank the squash pioneers of 1976. Thank you for what you guys have started so that we can still enjoy squash as a province. A province small in size and numbers but big in attitude and heart.