MINUTES OF SQUASH COMMITTEE MEETING ON 21/10/24
PRESENT: Allan Curry (Chair), Roger Tames, Lesley Vitty, Keith Linsley, Dave North, Wayne Eastaugh, Andy Smith
APOLOGIES/ABSENCES:, Bob Aynsley, Tim Barker, Karen Heron
IN ATTENDANCE: N/A
AGENDA ITEMS 1. Minutes of previous meeting:
Approved
Sport Newcastle Awards Dinner 14th November – some members of the Committee and Jim Pollock have agreed to attend on a Northern table with Duncan Rutherford (Rising Star), Bob Aynsley (Coach of the Year) and their guests. AC & DN will attend. All costs covered either via Sport Newcastle or personally.
Junior Fund stands at approx £5k – with some expenditure earmarked for Bike Shed and Richard Vitty’s coaching fees/equipment for schools visits
Bunty Malhotra (Prestwick Care) has provided sponsorship for adverts on tins on all 4 courts (in addition to DB Glazier sponsorship).
Adam Coates to add advert to a white board back of court one which may attract further sponsorship for remaining boards
2. Jim Pollock’s Report:
Minutes of meeting on 25th September circulated. RT summarised discussion re NFC future development and ongoing work for NFC 150th anniversary 2025.
- Club Championships:
Organising team (consisting of TB, KL, DN and Julie Cornell) to agree date for 2025 and confirm to committee before promoting with members. Ideally looking for a date that allows as many members as possible to enter (including older juniors and students) bearing in mind exams season and holidays.
Organising team to report decision accordingly.
4. Wazygoose/Internal Leagues/Memberships (WE):
Wazygoose - No new features relevant to Northern Squash.
Internal Leagues - Winter leagues now underway - 86 players - Steady movement of Bob’s new members joining the main internal league. Discussing with SquashLevels re integrating league results but some concerns over sharing members data.
Memberships – total 363 (inc. 136 juniors). Income £25,000. Numbers will increase from coaching programme – particularly juniors
5. Adult Coaching (BA):
- Participants in the adult coaching courses continues to be strong – Sunday afternoon session started for Ladies which gives parity with Men’s sessions
- Women’s Squash week ‘Bring a Friend’ event (funded by England Squash grant and run by BA ans Shae Paterson) was successful, as are free taster sessions (from word of mouth etc enquiries)
- BA wants to progress to Level 3. RT to investigate if Sport Newcastle can help with cost. Committee agreed that Club via junior fund could also help (potentially match Sport Newcastle?).
RT to progress and report back.
6. Ladies Squash
LV provided an update on Ladies team’s positions – League likely to split into 2 Divisions for 2nd half – hopefully Ladies 1 will be in top Division.
Provision of post match meals was discussed as Gi is struggling to provide these cost effectively on some nights (Mondays/Tuesdays in particular). Stuart Mitchell has sourced some delivery options (as alternatives to Papa Johns pizzas, which has been the default when delivery has been needed). Strong feeling is that Club should still host post match meals, even if delivery option (organised by club staff) is needed on occasions. AC to go back to Gi to discuss further and agree way forward.
- Teams/County/ES/club play: (DN) Teams: Winter Leagues started 17th Sept. DN provide update on Northern teams current positions. County:
County Committee still looking for a new Treasurer. England Squash:
Have asked to hold Coaching Workshop at Northern on 22nd January 2025 – 2 courts needed 10.20 to 3 pm. AGREED Club Play:
Numbers continue to be good – up to 20 plus each week.
- Junior Squash:
RT reported that structure of Junior committee being considered as several willing parents don’t want to commit to regular meetings. RT happy to continue as Junior liaison for Squash committee and Exec Committee.
Northern staged the annual Northumbria Junior Championships over the weekend of Sept 21/22 bringing plenty of extra visitors to the club and full court usage. Northern carried off five titles - three by the Girls U11,U17 and U19 - and two by the boys - U15 and U17. There were six moire Northern runners-up.
Duncan Rutherford, who plays for the Northern junior first team has been awarded the John Dale trophy for the 2023 / 24 season. This prestigious award is made to the junior that has best represented Northumbria squash during the previous season, with emphasis on attitude both on and off court, as well as results at a national level.
Schools programme – committee previously agreed to pay RVs coaching costs from the aforementioned junior fund and he has restructured school festival to try to include all those who want to attend.
Ben Tudor is taking alternate Saturday sessions and Zoe Shipsey will cover for Tom Cornell when he goes travelling from January. BT and ZS are both level 2 coaches (both studying at Newcastle University).
9. Health and Safety;
- KL ;reported no issues, but has investigated Public Liability cover for the Club and individuals. NFC has cover for general areas of the club (bar etc) and squash section has cover for accidents on court through England Squash (as an affiliated club). Individuals who are members of England Squash (at the Just Play or higher membership level) are covered for personal accident and public liability cover. KL not sure of the current position now that ES has changed its position on personal membership.
KL to research further and report back to committee.
Safeguarding
- No current issues but a discussion took place re NFC view on transgender members squash or social.
AC agreed to move the question to the next Executive meeting.
10. Court Maintenance (AS):
The annual servicing of the squash court heaters and lights took place on 25th September.
No new issues to report.
- AOB:
Court remuneration for outside individuals or organisations discussed – agreed that a managed approach should be adopted
AC progressing bike shed (costings/position/instalment)
- Next meeting: Monday 18th November 2024 7.15pm.
