Squash / Racketball - Start of Season Newsletter

The Summer heat has at last given way to more moderate temperatures - and even rain - and the start of the new squash / RB season in September is now imminent. There is plenty lined up for all you regular squash / RB players and we are keen to encourage the tennis players back inside as well. This newsletter will cover the following topics so please have a scroll up and down to check what is happening:

1. Sussex Squash teams - 1st and 2nd team matches - are you in the squad?
2. Squash rules / marking instruction evening - diary date for Monday 12th September
3. Squash ladder - are you moving up?
4. Friday Fitness with Giles / Pilates with Sue - pre-season training opportunity
5. Club nights on Monday and Thursday - open for everyone even tennis players!
6. Ladies squash - monthly Tuesday club nights and team matches update
7. RB leagues - next leagues start 1st September
8. Squash / RB KO competitions - dates for the next comps are announced
9. Squash / RB coaching - update
10. WhatsApp group for squash/RB - are you on the list?


1. Squash Teams
The 2022/23 Sussex Squash leagues will start in September and we have entered 2 teams. Keith Wilson stood down at the end of last season and we thank him for all his work as captain over so many years. Joe Collier (07878 747802) has been appointed the new men’s team captain and will manage both the 1st and 2nd teams. Joe will be trying to include as many people as possible in the teams and is keen to encourage new players into the team squads so if you are interested in playing please contact him.

The full fixture list is on the Noticeboard and the initial matches are as follows:

2nd team - Friday 9th Sept - home v David Lloyd 3
1st team - Thursday 15th Sept - home v Acorns Copthorne
2nd team - Thursday 22nd Sept - away v Dunnings 4
1st team - Tuesday 27th Sept - away v Crawley

2. Squash Marking / Refereeing Instruction Evening
Giles will be running an instruction evening at squash club night on Monday 12th September (from say 7.45pm) to enable all team players to sharpen up their knowledge of the rules and how to mark a match. Please make the effort to attend.

3. Squash Ladder
It’s good to see the new squash ladder being actively used and forming the base for team ranking positions. Remember we do ask that you play a minimum of 2 matches within a 6 month period and you can challenge anyone up to 4 places above you. Please see the rules on the Noticeboard / website. If you would like to enter (or withdraw) please send me an email.

4. Friday Fitness class with Giles / Pilates with Sue
Giles (07870 644454) is running an increasingly popular fitness class on Friday evenings and Joe will be encouraging team players to have a few pre-season sessions. Please send Giles a message if you would like to join in. Sue Perera (07887 732983) has also started a Sunday morning Pilates class for club members so please call her for further information as to when the next block of sessions will begin.

5. Club Nights
Monday night squash
Thursday night racketball
On both nights one court is available from 6.10pm with all courts then in play from 6.50pm. Simply turn up and mix in - players of all abilities welcome and particularly those tennis players wanting to try out either sport.

6. Ladies Squash
A growing band of ladies are enjoying their squash and the once-a-month ladies club night on a Tuesday (next evening Tuesday 30th August) is proving very popular - maybe its the food after?! We are hoping Sussex Squash will be running a ladies squash league this year and in captain Heather Bean’s autumnal absence, Sue Kent will be in charge of the team.

7. RB Leagues
We currently have 20 players in 4 leagues and are hoping that more people will sign up now that summer is coming to an end. The leagues run over a 2 month period and there are normally 5 players per league requiring you therefore to play up to 4 matches max over an 8 week period with the excitement of promotion and relegation and bonus points! The current leagues finish at the end of August so please email me if you want to be added to the next leagues (Sept/Oct) or the following league (Nov/Dec).

8. Squash / RB KO Competitions
Andy Norris will be running the Squash handicap KO and plate competition for the first time post covid with finals night set for MONDAY 12th DECEMBER. All squash players will be entered so please watch out for the first round draw and get your matches played on time please.
Roger Bean will be running the Racketball handicap KO and plate competitions which will take place between January and March 2023.

9. Squash / RB Coaching
Coach Giles (07870 644454) is available for private coaching sessions and will also be looking at running further Saturday morning coaching sessions later in the Autumn if sufficient demand. With help from Schools co-ordinator Roger Bean, Giles is also continuing the coaching programme in local primary schools which has proved a popular way of introducing the sport - and our club - to the wider local community.

10. Squash / RB WhatsApp Group
Ideal for arranging games at short notice, checking who is going to club nights etc. I promise no nonsense or social media trivia - just messaging! If you want to be added please email me.