Brianna Robinson dug deep into her reserves of character and skill to realise a long-held dream, defeating Elzandri Janse van Rensburg to be crowned the Growthpoint South African Junior Nationals U19 women’s squash champion at Makers Landing at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town on Saturday, 15 August 2026.
Facing a determined Northerns opponent, the Joburg Squash player fought back from 2-1 down to level the match before taking control of the fifth game with superb movement around the court to secure a 3-2 victory.
In the U17 division, Northerns’ Starla Phillips held off a strong challenge from Border’s Kate van Biljon to claim the girls’ title 3-1.
It was a disappointing end to the championships for Janse van Rensburg, who had won the Growthpoint U17 title in 2024 and 2025. She had also lost to KwaZulu-Natal’s Makayla Naidoo earlier in the tournament to finish third in her section.
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For Robinson, however, the victory represented the culmination of several years of hard work, with the emotions flowing as she began to appreciate the significance of her achievement.
“This has been a big goal for me since I started playing this tournament, so I’m very proud to have got the win.”
2026 Growthpoint SA Junior Nationals Women’s Squash Champion, Brianna Robinson
“I am just so grateful to everyone who has helped me over the past few years to make this sort of result possible.”
In the U17 girls’ final, Phillips recovered strongly after coming under early pressure from longtime rival Van Biljon to secure a deserved 3-1 victory.
Both players entered the final unbeaten, with left-hander Phillips particularly pleased to beat a player who had defeated her in the Growthpoint U15 girls’ final in 2024.
After dropping the opening game 11-8, Phillips seized control with accurate length play, repeatedly pushing Van Biljon into the back corners before capitalising on loose returns with her skilful short game.
There was a brief moment of concern in the fourth game when Phillips, leading 10-6, allowed three match points to slip, but she kept her composure to produce a winning backhand drop and seal the national title.
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“I’m feeling good and very happy right now,” Phillips said afterwards. “I’ve had some good results this year, and also a few bad ones, but I am glad I was able to finish it off today.
“Kate and I have been playing each other for many years and always have a good game, so I’m happy to get the win today.”
Women’s Sections Final Results at the Growthpoint SA Junior Nationals squash championships at Makers Landing at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town on Saturday, 15 August 2026
U17 Girls 1-4
Starla Phillips (Northerns) bt Rylee Howells (KZN) 3-0 (11-4 11-7 11-8)
Kate van Biljon (Border) bt Chelsey Cameron (KZN) 3-0 (11-5 11-4 11-5)
Rylee Howells (KZN) bt Chelsey Cameron (KZN) 3-1 (7-11 11-3 11-8 11-5)
Starla Phillips (Northerns) bt Kate van Biljon (Border) 3-1 (8-11 11-8 11-8 11-9)
Final placings:
1. Starla Phillips (Northerns)
2. Kate van Biljon (Border)
3. Rylee Howells (KZN)
4. Chelsey Cameron (KZN)
U17 Girls 5-8:
Keira Huang (Free State) bt Lala Masingi (Joburg Squash) 3-1 (8-11 11-7 11-8 11-8)
Genevieve Lang (WP) bt Shannon Render (Northerns) 3-1 (11-6 11-3 3-11 12-10)
Final placings:
1. Keira Huang (Free State)
2. Genevieve Lang (WP)
3. Shannon Render (Northerns)
4. Lala Masingi (Joburg Squash)
U19 Women 1-4:
Makayla Naidoo (KZN) bt Dane Meintjies (Boland) 3-0 (11-6 11-5 11-6)
Brianna Robinson (Joburg Squash) bt Elzandri Janse van Rensburg (Northerns) 3-2 (11-9 5-11 7-11 11-6 11-5).
Final placings:
1. Brianna Robinson (Joburg Squash)
2. Makayla Naidoo (KZN)
3. Elzandri Janse van Rensburg (Northerns)
4. Dane Meintjies (Boland)
U19 Women 5-8:
Hanrie Duits (Eden) bt Emma Hill (EP) 3-0 (11-4 11-8 13-11).
Final placings:
1. Hanrie Duits (Eden)
2. Benedette van Tonder (Free State)
3. Emma Hill (EP)
4. Tara Neville-Smiley (WP)
Original Copy: BLD Communications, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Brianna Robinson claimed the U19 women’s title at the Growthpoint SA Junior Nationals squash championships at Makers Landing at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town on Saturday, 15 August 2026. All Photos: Petri Oeschger / Gallo Images
Photo 2 Caption: Starla Phillips won the girls’ U17 title at the Growthpoint SA Junior Nationals squash championships
