Report from January 4, 2026
What a difference a week makes. Phone calls, voicemails, text messages, and a string of brand-new walk-in players thanks to Leanne “form a line” Vanderdonk and Natalie “phone a friend” Wear saw a final makeup of 52 players ready and raring to go for next week’s Monday and Tuesday Night Autumn Competitions. Thirteen of those players didn’t feature in last year’s competition including nine new players and four returning players. With eight juniors also signed up, the club is looking forward to some great squash action over the coming months with the promise of some thrilling and entertaining matches to follow.
With so many new and first-time players the onus will be on the regular players to assist them with scoring and umpiring from the beginning with some new rule changes coming into effect this year.
Saturday Social Hit
Fifteen players enjoyed a jam-packed afternoon of squash action with the courts full of energy and purpose to get some miles into their legs and power into their swing. The beauty of the Saturday Social hit is that it doesn’t matter how old you are or how good you are, there is always someone waiting to give you an enjoyable game.
Sunday Morning Juniors
Four juniors were given plenty of activities and drills to practice their swing over and over and over again with lots of improvement by the end of the session. Justus, Jaxon, Travis and Max put their heads down and their legs into gear for lots of ball chasing from the front of the court to the back of the court. With the school term up and running juniors can look forward to plenty of opportunities to play in tournaments and events throughout the year starting with the return of the Hunter Junior Circuit on Sunday 22nd February at Watagan for Round 1.
Monday Social Hit
Fourteen players were keen to push themselves to the limit, or at least say hello and have a chat to everyone else there at the courts with plenty of time for a couple of games in between catchups. As players came and went there was time for some group hit ups to give everyone a chance to be king of the court, if only until the next rally.
Tuesday Night Social Hit
The games came thick and fast with a record 20 players for a social night realising it was their last chance for a hit before comp starts next week. With new players getting instructions how to play the game and regular players getting instructions how to play the game better it was a night for the spectators with lots of fun on and off the court. After a couple of games each several players started playing three quarters leaving the second court free for individual matchups and final grading matches. New players were warmly welcomed, and everyone is looking forward to putting their best foot forward when competition kicks off next week. One matchup to watch out for will be a rematch of the A Grade Men’s Club Championship Final between Noman “no more autographs” Jawaad and Scott “this isn’t over” McCarthy next Tuesday night.
See you on the courts
–Adrian Barwick
