The final results were a pleasant surprise for the three Yukoners that competed in a recently held Victoria squash tournament this past weekend.

Lori Muir, Chris Ziegler and Chris Toleman all had solid showings in their respective divisions at the two-day competition.

Ziegler placed second in the men's C/D category and Toleman came in fourth in the men's B event, while Muir highlighted the Yukon performances by winning the women's B category.

"It was easier than I expected," she said. "I didn't expect to win it, in fact I almost had to change my flight because I didn't expect to win and I so I didn't expect to play on Sunday at all."

"Usually we are just one level below the outside provinces because they have more of a selection, so that's where I ended up. I was really strong and I trained quite hard. My game improved over the last year quite a bit."

Muir played for Assante this year in the Tuesday Night Squash League, which runs from the end of October until April, providing Yukon players with plenty of game exposure.

It's also a co-ed league, which Muir said is helpful in getting better.

"It would be nice to have more women to play, but I play the guys," she said. "They beat me all the time, but I still play them. I am just an all-around competitive person anyways, so it doesn't really matter what I am doing, I have to be the best at it."

Heading into the Victoria competition, Muir worked on her length, which is when a player hits a squash ball down the wall to the back of the court.

Muir said there was about 20 players in the women's B division in Victoria. She said she plans on entering the women's A next year.

Marie Desmarais credits Muir's tenacity on the court and good fitness for her success in Victoria.

"She played well," Desmarais said about Muir. "She plays all top guys here, so that helps."

Ziegler was also pleased with how he did in Victoria.

"I found the division varied as far as skill level goes," he said. "The man that I played in the final he was from Seattle and he was head and shoulders above everybody, nobody took a game off him. My goal was to take a game off of him. That was basically my goal because he was that good."

Ziegler didn't end up winning a game in the championship match, but came close, losing one by a 9-7 score.

He said placing second was a good result for him.

"I felt very pleased by it because it's Victoria and you get to play other people with different skill levels," Ziegler said. "I find the game is a little different, because we play the same people over and over here all the time. So it was good for me to see how other people play the game and strategies involved."

Despite his great play on the squash court, Ziegler said one of his main highlights in the tournament came from being a spectator, which included watching some matches in the men's and women's A division.

Another highlight was being able to officiate one of Toleman's matches in the B division.

"I got to watch it up close and personal and he played a great match, he pulled it off in five games and it was tough," Ziegler said. "And watching Lori play, she was just awesome, she was on fire in the women's B. It was great to watch the other two Yukoners."

Other upcoming squash events include the Yukon Open championships, which will be held later on in May. The tournament's registration deadline is May 5. So far there is around 50 players signed up for the Yukon squash tournament.

The Better Bodies Cross Training Centre will also host an officiating clinic, which Desmarais said is free to participate in.

"As Chris Toleman says, 'The officiating clinic is priceless,'" she said. "And it improves your game and then you can argue with more confidence."