What started as a casual hit around at the gym with her father and brother, has turned into a full-fledged passion for squash.

Sixteen-year-old Lily Collier was recently named as a non travelling reserve for the Squash New Zealand South Island Age Group Tournament – and has KiwiSport Funding to thank.

The KiwiSport Regional Partnership Fund continues to break down barriers by providing opportunities for youth in our community to gain quality physical activity experiences.

Allocated to Sport Canterbury by Sport New Zealand, the fund is distributed to the Canterbury community in accordance with the Sport Canterbury KiwiSport RPF Plan. The plan gives priority to programmes and initiatives that focus on various areas of identified need; such as low participating groups and communities, understanding and meeting the needs of young people aged 12 to 18 years, and innovative approaches that get girls and young women participating in activities that meet their needs.

A self-confessed ‘sporty girl,’ Lily plays a variety of sports throughout the year including cricket, indoor cricket, basketball, volleyball, and netball, but nothing has got her hooked like squash.

“I love the open and inviting environment, even if you are a top player, you give back to the community by coaching, refereeing or volunteering. I have never met people like them - the community is amazing.”

Lily began playing squash with one of the KiwiSport funded programmes Canterbury Squash offered last year targeting girls over the age of 13. According to Di McCoy, the Junior Development Officer for Squash Canterbury, “Lily has been a regular at these sessions for the last 12 months, has now joined a local club, is playing in her local interclub and in junior tournaments and was announced as the ‘Female Most Improved Player’ for the Autumn Competition.”

The KiwiSport Regional Partnership Fund is distributed each year in September, applications are closed for this year, but will reopen again in June 2020.

For more information visit - https://www.sportcanterbury.org.nz/Community-Sport/Funding/KiwiSport-2020