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Squash Section Report 1999/2000
To be presented at the AGM on 8th October 2000
Playing Members
We now have some 123 club members playing squash on a regular or occasional basis. Of these, 75 are Squash section members (including 24 members of 10 families), and 48 are Full members (including 18 members of 6 families). There are now 6 juniors learning the sport, largely encouraged by their squash-playing parents. The courts are now fully used during the winter peak periods from 5.15 to 8.15, and the 8.15 slot is being used increasingly. Our present feeling is that when playing numbers reach 150, it will be necessary to restrict new memberships. Proposals to open the courts to all club members off peak have been rejected as impracticable by the Executive Committee. We regret this as the Section feels that this would have given club members an opportunity to try out racketball and squash, and would have raised additional revenue, particularly when other sports are disrupted by the weather.
Congratulations to Paul and Frances Heneghan and Louise and Frank Nuttall on their personal contributions to the expansion of the Section, and to Errol Ferris and Karen Archard on their wedding.
Competitions
During the year, we again ran 5 individual knock out competitions. Winners and finalists were:
Club Open Championship: Glenn Danks, Brett Green
Ladies’ Championship: Louise Nuttall, Lorna Robinson
Open Handicap Competition: Neil Healey, Glenn Danks
Club Open Plate: Tony Arthur, Pete Scully
Open Handicap Plate: final not played
Open and Ladies’ Ladders operated throughout the year, apart from a short period following the vandalisation of the Open Ladder. In addition, a summer Ladder League was run. Many thanks to our tireless Secretary, Paul Heneghan for organising the various competitions.
Teams
The club again ran 7 regular winter teams, the Club teams competing in the Worcestershire League, and the Veterans in the Gloucestershire Veterans Squash League. Also, a team participated in the Worcestershire summer league. Results were as follows:
- Men's First Team, Worcs League, Division 1 - 6th of 9
- Ladies' Team, Worcs Ladies’ League, Division 2 - 1st of 7
- Men's Second Team Worcs League, Division 2 - 4th of 7
- Men's Third Team Worcs League, Division 4 - 6th of 8
- Veterans' A Team Glos Veterans League, Division 1 - 1st of 9
- Veterans' B Team Glos Veterans League, Division 2 - 5th of 8
- Veterans' C Team Glos Veterans League, Division 3 - 1st of 7
- Men's Team Worcs Summer League 1st
- The Ladies were promoted to play in the 1st Division in the current season
- The Veterans won the League Team Knock out Shield
Provisional ratings for the current season have recently been announced, subject to any individual challenges to resolve disputes.
Facilities
At the start of the season, the court builders carried out routine maintenance, rectifying the loose floor boards in court 2, and eliminating bowing on court 3. During the summer, a new lighting system was installed, to recommended SRA and safety standards. This has considerably enhanced the standard of our courts. Many thanks to John Parry for providing the lighting at cost, and to Johnny Johnson and Gerald Heath for installing it, with assistance from George Oxley. The changing rooms remain a disgrace, generating critical comment from both visitors and members. A limited amount of remedial work has been carried out, but Club policy is to keep such expenditure to a minimum, pending reconstruction plans dependent on lottery funding.
Club Reconstruction
Members will be aware that a major reconstruction plan has been prepared, for submission shortly to the Lottery Commission. These include the provision of 3 new tennis courts, the expansion of the boathouse and purchase of additional boats, and the conversion of the existing changing rooms into a gym, with the construction of new changing rooms upstairs. All sporting sections of the Club have submitted Development Plans, approved by their respective governing bodies, including the SRA. The Squash section plan identifies the following objectives:
- To increase regular playing membership up to 150, and establish a category of off peak membership.
- To increase the number of Junior players to an optimum level of 30, by the provision of specialist coaching sessions, assisted by players and parents.
- To increase the number of qualified coaches at the Club by encouraging existing members and parents to become SRA registered coaches; to increase the number of qualified referees and markers, by the provision of appropriate training courses.
- To raise the range and standard of Squash facilities at the Club by the achievement of Squashmark status, when this new Club grading facility is introduced by the SRA
- To improve playing standards throughout the Club by participation in national grading events, the provision of improved coaching facilities, and additional tournaments and competitions.
- To continue to welcome new members of all standards and social and ethnic backgrounds, and to encourage disabled persons to participate in Squash and Racketball as players or markers.
Mike Francis
Mike Francis is stepping down as Vice Captain after three years. As you will know, Mike has suffered a serious back injury, and is now recovering from surgery. He is still hoping to play again, but can’t be certain when. Mike’s contribution to the section has been outstanding; he played a major part in the preparation of the courts for rebuilding, and, with a small band of fellow enthusiasts, saved the Club thousands of pounds, at the same time laying the foundations of a new team spirit which has grown throughout the Section ever since. A regular 3rd team player, and latterly a member of the veterans B team, he was always willing to help in the running of tournaments and the administration of the Section. Many thanks to Mike for all his efforts on our behalf, and we hope to see him back on court very soon.
http://www.eveshamsquash.co.uk
Finally, I would like to congratulate Paul Heneghan for the development of our website, packed with news and information on the Squash section, and commend everyone to visit it. His perspective match commentaries should not be missed!
Brian Ireland
Squash Captain
6 October 2000