We’ll do it monthly.  We’ve introduced it because we feel this particular moment in time represents both a challenge and an opportunity for women’s squash and racketball at Berkhamsted, and we want to load the dice for the latter.

 

On the one hand, we are punching below our weight at Berkhamsted, with very low numbers of women in our squash and racketball box leagues, and we haven’t run a women’s team for the best part of a decade.

 

On the other hand, however, we have some of the best facilities around (yes, the showers are well overdue for a refurb - we’re on the case), we have 2 brilliant coaches, 1 of whom is in the world top 100 women players (and aiming to go much higher!), and we have a number of players and prospective players who are keen to pick up a racket again after the problems of the past 18 months - in some cases returning after not having played for a number of years.

 

So let’s seize the moment!

 

 

An increasing number of you are now part of this chat group for Wednesday evening women’s squash training with Grace.

 

The Wednesday session had a lull during the Summer holiday period but, with schools starting back and the Winter squash and racketball leagues starting in the next round, let’s get it going again in readiness for the new season!

 

If anyone else is interested in joining the WhatsApp group for coach-led training with Grace - or using it as a handy way to reach out to other squash women for a game - message Grace on 07809 647554.

 

 

Starting soon will be a daytime racketball coach-led session for all standards including beginners.  To launch it with sufficient numbers, it will be a men and women.

 

We’re thinking of Thursday mornings, 11 to 12.  Watch this space.

 

Racketball is a great game for newcomers to a squash court - or returning players who haven’t picked up a racket in a while - with a bigger and bouncier ball, and a racket head that is closer to your hand, and it is increasingly being seen by squash players as a complimentary sport for their fitness and ball control, as well as being less stressful on knees and hips and so on.

 

Adam has rackets and balls, so you could have your first ever go at racketball without needing to buy any new kit!

 

We’re sure that, if we can successfully launch a weekly session, we can establish a base camp from which we can tap into the growth potential for encouraging more women to give the sport a go.  We could even use the session as a ’try before you buy’ opportunity for any of your friends - or some of our tennis members - who may be enticed to try it.  Anyway, let’s not get carried away - let’s get it started first!

 

 

Talking of Winter squash leagues (sorry to keep mentioning Winter!), it’s confirmed that this coming season we will be fielding a team for the first time in a number of years!

 

Lily Main has kindly offered to captain the team and lead the return of women’s team squash to our club.

 

Also in the squad will be Corina, Cassie, Kimi and Liv.  With a guest appearance from time to time of Lily’s sister, Natalie (now up to box 4 in the squash box leagues!).

 

It will be a 3-person team and this season the league are experimenting with 4 teams playing at 1 venue each match, making it more of a sociable evening for all 12 players.

 

I’m expecting the fixture list to be announced shortly.

 

 

Each year there is a women’s squash (and racketball!) week promoted by the national squash governing bodies around the world, with a particular emphasis on re-engaging lapsed players and attracting new ones.

 

This year, we have signed up with England Squash to be a delivery partner, in return for which we will be receiving a goodie bag of Dunlop kit.

 

We will be putting on a number of events to put the stuff to good use and see if we can do our bit to grow the numbers.

 

 

We always manage to pick up a few new members on these occasions, and it helps if there is some activity happening on the courts.  Courts will be free of charge and we’ll have rackets and balls available for both squash and racketball.  Please come along and play and by all means bring a friend to have a go!

 

 

That’s all for now - let’s get women’s squash and racketball moving at our place!

 

 

(John Shaw, Mark Shattock, Adam Fuller, Gill Trimmer, Rob Harbron)