Squash and Racketball

Within the squash and racketball section players are able to enjoy a wide range of activities. We welcome new members and their guests. Book coaching sessions, enjoy friendly games – for fun, or as part of your fitness programme – or play more competitively in the monthly leagues & annual club tournaments.

Both of our courts have tiered spectator galleries to view the action. There is on-going investment in the club to continually improve amenities and services for our members and guests to make each visit as enjoyable as possible.

 

CLUB NIGHTS

Club nights are great fun – they provide opportunities for getting to know other members and play different people. All abilities are welcome.

Squash Club Night takes place every Friday from 1745 onwards. Cost: £3 (pay at the bar).

Racketball Club Night takes place every Wednesday at 1915. Cost: £3.

Ladies’ Night. We are pleased to see an upsurge in the number of ladies taking up squash. Weekly club nights take place on a Wednesday at 1915 (alongside the racketball club night).  Cost: £3. Beginners welcome.

 

ANNUAL TOURNAMENTS

The annual squash and racketball tournaments take place during April and June respectively. They involve the following events:

Squash

  • Men’s Open
  • Ladies’ Open
  • Minor Leagues
  • Handicap
  • Doubles
  • Veterens’ Handicap (Over 45)
  • Superveterens’ Handicap (Over 55)
  • Junior Open

Racketball

  • Open
  • Ladies’ Handicap
  • Handicap
  • Doubles

The finals are played in front of a gallery of spectators.

TEAM SQUASH AND RACKETBALL

During the 2022-23 winter season the club ran 2 teams in South East Kent Squash League and 2 teams in the newly formed racketball league involving Hythe, Dover, Folkestone and Canterbury.

This year the squash section has also taken part in some MATS matches (Mixed Ability Team Squash) against other Kent clubs providing opportunities for our junior and senior players to participate alongside one another.

 

SQUASH TOURNAMENT 2023

The Squash finals took place on Friday 12th May  at HCSC and provided a feast of entertainment for the spectators present. There were more entrants than in recent years and a number of new players that have not featured before.

Throughout the recent squash season the top players at the club have been vying for premier position. After some close matches in the Open tournament, the final came down to a match between No 2 seed Jamie Butler and No 3 seed Sam Conebar. The first game saw Conebar take a lead and then close out the game with a display of power play. However, Butler was not to be outdone and came back strongly in the second, using a combination of disguise and good line and length to force errors from his opponent and win the game. This pattern continued and although close, Butler won the third and fourth to take the match 3-1.

In the ladies tournament, Mel Booth took on one of the junior members who was in her first senior club tournament. Although the teenager played well and made the first two games close, she was unable to match the consistency of Booth who ran away with the third game to win 3-0.

In the other finals, the Plate resulted in a keenly contested battle between wily old campaigner Tom McCorkindale and the improving Dan Large. Despite an array of inch perfect drops and serves from McCorkindale, Large kept the rallies hard. After 2 close games, McCorkindale wilted in the third and Large won 3-0.

The Veterans (045) final featured Gary Hollamby against the ever nimble Bill Lightfoot. In a fast moving game Hollamby stayed on top throughout and despite some excellent retrieving by Lightfoot, Hollamby ran out the winner 3-0. In the Supervets (O55) final, former Open champion Ray Semadeni took on Tom McCorkindale returning for his second final of the night. Semadeni, with a steely stare, was in no mood to take prisoners and despite the best efforts of the courageous McCorkindale, took the match 3-0.

The Handicap final featured crafty racqueteer Darrel Moyle and club captain Gary Hollamby in his second final of the night. Moyle won the first game with ease but Hollamby came back strongly to take the second. The third and fourth games were fiercely contested with a wide array of shots from Moyle bamboozling the usually consistent Hollamby and triumphing 3 games to 1.

Some of the club’s up-and-coming juniors were also able to showcase their talents during the evening, with three finals taking place. The competitors played with confidence and good sportsmanship, treating the spectators to some exciting rallies.

A presentation followed the matches with Squash Section Chairman, Glenn Mousley, handing out the prizes to the worthy winners and runners-up.

The doubles final – which took place a week later – saw Tristan Blackwell and Matt Day take on Glenn Mousley and Tom Ash. The match featured some lengthy, fast-paced rallies. After a close first game, which Blackwell and Day won 15-10, the pair continued to play consistently well, winning the match 3-0.

   

   

   

   

   

     

     

     

RACKETBALL TOURNAMENT 2022

The climax to the club’s annual racketball tournament took place on the evening of Friday 10th June. Spectators were treated to some exciting rallies and close-fought matches as four out of the five events were decided in the final game.
In the men’s plate competition, Steve Davies, having been 2-0 down, beat Gary Hollamby 3-2. Sue Giles won the ladies’ title beating Mel Booth 3-2. John Good and Dave Brewer battled hard in the handicap competition, with Good emerging victorious, 3-2. The doubles – always popular with spectators – was fast and furious with Mel Booth and John MacIntyre beating Lee Divers and Emma Walton 3-2. Finally, the Open was won by Sean O’Donovan who beat John Good 3-0.
A great evening.