As we come to the end of 2019, along with many other groups it’s a good time to reflect on what is happening within the squash club.
Squash Committee After 4 very successful years, Ben Robinson has stepped down as Team Leader of the committee. Ben has achieved a lot during his leadership:
• Creating a Club Environment • Putting a few pennies into the Bank • Online Booking System • Creation of Sports Engagement Officer in Ashbrooke Sports Club (ASC)
I have stepped into Ben’s shoes.
Ben Sims has moved on from his job as the Sports Engagement Officer, which did allow some of his time to be focussed on squash. I’d like to thank Ben for the work that he delivered for the squash section.
Anne Page has joined the committee as Treasurer. Although this happened much earlier in the year, it’s worth enforcing the positive benefits that Anne has brought to the team.
We do have spaces on the committee, particularly in marketing, so if you feel you can contribute, please let me know, we’d love some fresh faces on the team.
Trustee Chris Johnson stepped down earlier this year and Jeff Stoker has joined the board. This is a volunteer post, which as well as requires a lot of time, involves sorting out some long-standing issues within the club. Jeff and new colleagues on the board are making positive steps. Jeff remains on the squash committee.
Teams We now run four teams in the Northumbria leagues and this season we have added a development team in the Durham & Cleveland.
Currently, the team's positions are:
Northumbria Leagues First Team: Promoted back in the Premier Division, the addition of 2 quality players has enabled us to hold a steady 4th position
Second Team: We currently sit top the of Division 2
Third team: After a double promotion, we are 4th out of 8 teams.
Fourth Team: After a promotion, we are 5th out of ten teams.
Durham & Cleveland Managing to get a team at the last minute in the leagues, we are currently 5th out of 9 teams.
Coaching This team is led by Jeff Stoker. With many members on the wrong side of 50, from a playing perspective, we launched our Squash Academy in September 2019. However, it was not the correct approach and we need to go back to the drawing board.
We did finish the year with some excellent news that St Aidan’s School, who have been sending Year 8 boys on a Monday afternoon, as part of the PE curriculum, will now extend this to Year 7 boys on a Tuesday. One hour’s squash coaching, followed by the option of attending the St Aidan’s After School club, on the same days. This will not only introduce boys to squash in a controlled and properly structured coaching environment, but it also introduces each school year to ASC.
We need to extend the coaching programme to other juniors and also re-activate our Ladies programme, that has fallen fallow since Ben Sims moved on.
Christmas Handicap 2019 The annual tournament is taking place on Saturday 28 December, so Matt Agar is looking for the last few players to arrange the tournament. If you are unable to play, then feel free to watch the tournament or join the players in the bar after for a few beers and food from Diego’s.
Facilities After much cajoling, we did get the male showers fixed, but the improvements to airflow, are dictated by the ASC club. Painting of the top and bottom corridor’s was started in the last full week before Christmas and will be completed when the team returns to work in January.
AIMS for 2020 Increased Membership – Seniors and Juniors Coaching – for all members Enhanced Ladies participation Stronger internal league participation
Are our key aims, which we will release more details of in January
Thank You’s There are many squash members, who give their time, above and beyond the basic commitment:
Committee Members during 2020
Steve Paisley – Painting the top Corridor Lewis Conqueror & Simon Cliff – Building the stand at the back of Court 4 Adrian Booth – Stepping into coach St Aidan’s at short notice in December.
And to anyone else that I have unintentionally missed – apologies.
Have a Great Christmas and I look forward to seeing you on court, very shortly.
Dermot Hamblin dermothamblin@btinternet.com
07748 776252
