At Henley Junior Squash we offer:
1. Introduction to mini-squash for 7-9 year olds
2. Mini-squash coaching sessions for 7-9 year olds leading to:
3. Group coaching for 9-16 year olds
4. One-to-one coaching
5. The opportunity to play against other children in a junior league
6. Competitive match play against other clubs
7. An introduction to county level tournaments
For more information please contact:
Richard Little
0118 947 1187
richardlittle@quintessa.org
Michelle Djemil
01491 571746
mdjemil@yahoo.com
Would you like to join Henley Junior Squash Club?
If you would like to join the Junior Squash Club, please click here for the Junior Membership Form
>>>> See the latest Junior squash newsletter for news and upcoming events.
Our coach is Andy Longman (Level 3 England Squash Coach)
and here is Andy in action with the kids
The Henley Junior Squash Club Autumn 2010 Newsletter
Match Report
Henley Juniors entertained Marlow Juniors on Sunday. Henley got off to a flying start with Rupert Wiseman and Max Djemil both comfortably winning their games 2-0. Helen Henshaw and Charlie Borg both had tough games but both were eventually beaten 2-0. With the match evenly poised, it was up to Hamish Wooding and Jonathan Betts. Hamish cruised past his opponent with some powerful hitting. Jonathan then dispatched his opponent 2-0 for Henley to take the match 4-2. After suitable refreshments of orange squash and Jaffa cakes, both teams then played a series of friendlies.
Our next match is scheduled for Sunday 5th December against Burnham Juniors. Contact Roger Betts (roger.betts@btconnect.com) for more details.
Christmas Party
The Junior Club's Christmas Party will be held for members from 4.30 pm to 8.30 pm on Wednesday 8th December at the Henley Leisure Centre. After last year's roaring success, Bec Dixon and Ed Hughes-Burne are busy developing plans for this year's party. Further details will be sent out closer to the date but, for the time being, please put this date in your diary - it's not to be missed!!
County and Regional News
The Club members were celebrating success at the recent Oxfordshire Junior County Closed squash tournament in Abingdon. Emily Carr beat fellow Henley junior member Bec Dixon in the final of the girls' Under 17/19, while Jonathan Betts finished runner up in the boys' Under 15s with Freddie Borg in third place.
All four players have since represented Oxfordshire in recent inter-county matches, whilst fellow club member, James Little has played for Berkshire in their U15 and U17 teams. In addition, Emily and James have been invited into the South Regional Squad.
Well done to one and all!
AGM
Following our recent AGM, your committee for 2010/11 is:
Chair - Richard Little
Treasurer - Shelley Djemil
Secretary - Catherine Gosby
Team Manager - Roger Betts
Head Coach - Andy Longman
Schools' Liaison Coordinator - Matt Burnett
Girls' captain - Bec Dixon
Boys' captain - Ed Hughes-Burne
Regular Activities
After-school coaching
Held on Wednesdays and Fridays for all standards of player. Contact Richard Little (richardlittle@quintessa.org; 07786 942670) for details.
Junior leagues
The are now online (www.henleysquash.co.uk/)!! Well done to the latest league winners:
Division 1: Freddie Borg
Division 2: Ailsa Maclean
Division 3: Charlie Borg
Division 4: Joel Gosby
Division 5: Marcus Bagshawe
The leagues are open to all members. If you are interested in entering them, please let Jane Gray know (jane.gray@btconnect.com; 01491 579779).
Turn up and play on Sundays for both members and non-members. The Year 6 & under session is from 2.15 to 3.45 pm and the Year 7 & over session is from 3.45 to 5.15 pm. Rackets and goggles are provided for those who do not have them. The sessions will continue to cost £3 for members and £4 for non-members. Just turn up and play!
Club Closed 2011 Tournament
We will be holding the 2011 Club Closed over the weekend of 12th and 13th February 2011. The format will be similar to this year's event, i.e., a competition for Year 6 and under, and a competition for Year 7 and over. Further details will be sent out closer to the date but, for the time being, please put this date in your diary.
For further details about Henley Junior Squash Club and its activities, please contact Richard Little (richardlittle@quintessa.org; 07786 942670).
The Henley Junior Squash Club Summer 2010 Newsletter
Fun Tournament
The latest in our series of fun tournaments was held in June. There were two separate competitions (Year 6 & under and Year 7 & above) with a total of 18 players taking part. It was great to see so many players turn out and so much enthusiasm for the game. In the Year 6 & under competition, Max Gosby and Ella Jennings came third and fourth, respectively, while the deciding match for first place was between Charlie Borg and Max Djemil. Charlie used his speed around the court to great effect and overcame the strong resistance provided by Max. The competition for the older players was equally spirited with Sam Owens and Harry Borg finishing third and fourth, respectively. The deciding match saw Jonathan Betts and Freddie Borg battle it out with some excellently constructed rallies. Jonathan's dominance of the court meant that he managed to forge an early lead. With Jonathan poised for victory, Freddie put in a spirited fight back but it was not sufficient to prevent Jonathan from securing a well-earned victory. A big thank you to our Head Coach, Andy Longman, for organising the tournament. The next fun tournament will be held in October - details will be announced closer to the time.
Membership Renewal
A reminder that junior club membership is due for renewal at the beginning of September. The cost of membership is being kept at £18. Membership forms are available for the club's website (www.henleysquash.co.uk). Any player wishing to have after-school coaching, play in the junior leagues, play for the club and/or attend our amazing Christmas party (!!) needs to be a member. Furthermore, members have the benefit of reduced fees for turn up & play and holiday squash sessions, plus automatic membership of England Squash and Racketball.
Summer Holiday Coaching
As many of you know, we are running a summer holiday programme of coaching on Wednesdays up to an including Wednesday 1st September. Both group and 1-to-1 sessions are available. If you are interested, please contact Richard Little (see end of newsletter for contact details).
After-school Coaching for the Autumn
After-school coaching for members will start up on Wednesday 8th and Friday 10th September and run for a 13 week period to Wednesday 8th and Friday 10th December with a week off for half term (i.e., week beginning 25th October). Both group and 1-to-1 sessions are available. Each session is 45 minutes and the total cost for the 13 sessions during the autumn term is as follows:
Year 6 & under group sessions: £78.00
Year 7 & over group sessions: £91.00
1-to-1 sessions: £149.50 - £292.50 (depending on the level of the coach)
If you are interested in these sessions, please let Richard Little know no later than Wednesday 25th August. In order to help Richard develop the coaching timetable, please let him know:
The name(s) and age(s) of your child(ren);
The day(s) and time(s) that your child(ren) can manage; and
Whether you are interested in group or 1-to-1 sessions.
Please note that those who received coaching during the summer term will need to re-register! If you don't, it will be assumed that you do not wish to continue.
Turn Up and Play
As from Sunday 12th September, we are re-introducing “turn up and play” sessions on Sunday afternoons. The focus of the sessions will be to provide an informal environment in which the children can have fun playing one another at squash. The Year 6 & under session is from 2.15 to 3.45 pm and the Year 7 & over session is from 3.45 to 5.15 pm. The sessions will be open to members and non-members and will provide an ideal environment for children new to squash to come and “have a go” (rackets and goggles will be provided for those who do not have them).
In order to encourage players to join in the sessions, the sessions for the first half of term will be subsidised. The cost will be £3 for members and £4 for non-members (to be paid on the day) for each 90 minutes session. We will run the sessions each Sunday afternoon and there is no requirement for players to turn up every Sunday. They simply pay as they play!
Leagues and Teams
The junior leagues continue to go well with over 20 players currently registered. Well done to the latest league winners:
Division 1: Jonathan Betts
Division 2: Ailsa Maclean/Harry Borg
Division 3: Charlie Borg
Division 4: Ella Jennings
Division 5: Max Gosby
The leagues are open to all members. If you are interested in entering the junior leagues please let Jane Gray know (jane.gray@btconnect.com; 01491 579779). During the autumn, it is planned that a number of friendly games will held against other teams. Details will be announced once the fixtures have been confirmed.Our more advanced juniors are now playing in the adult leagues and even the adult teams!! So there is the opportunity of a smooth progression from the junior leagues & teams into the adult leagues and then into the adult teams.
Junior Competitions
There are a number of local squash events for juniors coming up in September for a range pf abilities and age groups. Why not have a go and enter! Typically, they are arranged as traditional 32 or 16 draws with the winner of the first round match progressing to the next round and the loser going into the plate competition. So you are guaranteed at least two matches!
4th and 5th September: Abingdon Junior U17 and U19 Open at Abingdon Squash Club. Entry forms can be downloaded at www.englandsquashandracketball.com/competitions/309. Closing date for entries: Monday 23rd August. Suitable for club level players.
11th and 12th September: South Regional Closed Championships 2010 at Winchester Tennis & Squash Club for U11, U13, U15, U17 and U19. Entry forms can be obtained from Ben.Doyle@englandsquashandracketball.com. Closing date for entries: Friday 27th August. Suitable for county level players.
18th and 19th September: Abingdon Junior U11, U13 and U15 Open at Abingdon Squash Club. Entry forms can be downloaded at www.englandsquashandracketball.com/competitions/310. Closing date for entries: Monday 6th September. Suitable for club level players.
25th and 26th September: Oxfordshire Junior County Closed 2010 at Abingdon Squash Club for U11, U13, U15, U17 and U19. Entry forms can be downloaded at www.oxfordshire-squash.com. Closing date for entries: Monday 20th September. Suitable for all levels of player since there are “A” and “B” events.
Annual General Meeting
The Junior Club's AGM will be held on Wednesday 22nd September. It will be an opportunity for us to share ideas and plans for the coming year on a range of activities including:
Coaching;
Junior leagues;
Friendlies against other clubs;
Turn up and play sessions; and
Fun tournaments.
The meeting will be held at the Henley Leisure Centre and will start at 7.30 pm. All posts will be up for re-election so if you are keen to get involved with the running of the club, this is your opportunity! In particular we have a vacancy for a Schools' Liaison Coordinator. Their role would be to raise the profile of the Junior Squash Club within the local primary and secondary schools and to encourage the children to come along to our turn up and play sessions and give squash a go. If you are interested in this or any other role, please feel free to contact Richard Little for a chat (see below for contact details). For further details about Henley Junior Squash Club and its activities, please contact Richard Little (richardlittle@quintessa.org; 07786 942670).
Henley Junior Squash Club 2010 Championship
Henley Junior Squash Club held its annual club championship during the recent half term. The preliminary rounds were held on the Saturday, with the finals and third/fourth place play-offs being held on the Sunday. There were two competitions; one for players of primary-school age, the other for those of secondary-school age. Both competitions saw some great squash with all players showing boundless enthusiasm and energy.
On Saturday, the preliminary rounds consisted of a series of league-based round-robin matches for both age categories. There were some very tight matches in the younger age group including one between Andrew Tonkinson and Max Djemil that resulted in Max winning by the closest possible margin, 21-20. Not to be out done, the preliminary rounds for the older age group also saw some closely fought matches the highlight of which was a 21-20 thriller between Jack Neighbour and Billy Howell that Jack just won.
On the Sunday afternoon, the primary-school age final saw some good squash from newcomer Andrew Tonkinson who ensured that the more experienced Joel Gosby did not have it all his own way, especially in the third game. However, Joel prevailed and won the final by three games to nil. In the third/fourth place play-off, Rupert Wiseman beat Marcus Bagshawe. The secondary-school age final featured two boys from Year 8, Jonathan Betts and James Little. Jonathan, who had come through a very close semi-final match against Freddie Borg, put up some determined resistance in the first game. Nevertheless, James managed to win the first game 11-7, and then went on to take the remaining two games 11-4, 11-2. In the third/fourth place play-off, Freddie Borg beat Sam Street.
It was great to see so many of the club's juniors entering the championship and enjoying the competition.
Photo: Senior Club Captain, Roger Booker, with the finalists, from left to right, Jonathan Betts, James Little, Andrew Tonkinson and Joel Gosby
Autumn 2009 Newsletter
As always, there is much to tell you! Items that need your response are marked in bold italics and yellow highlighter. So if nothing else, please read these sections!!
AGM AND MATTERS ARISING…
Committee
Following our AGM, the committee is:
Chair - Richard Little
Treasurer - Shelley Djemil
Secretary - Catherine Gosby
Team Manager - Roger Betts
Head Coach - Andy Longman
Schools' Liaison Coordinator - not currently filled (see below)
Girls' captain - Bec Dixon
Boys' captain - Ed Hughes-Burne
Fun Tournament
It was decided at the AGM that we hold a fun tournament for all members (and non-members) on Sunday 29th November. The tournament is being run by our club head coach (Andy Longman) and it is hoped that it will be the first in a series of fun tournaments that will be held through out the 2009/10 season. The aim is to bring the club members together and give then the opportunity to play one another in fun competition. There will be an event for Year 6 and under players from 2.15 to 3.45 pm and an event for Year 7 and over players from 3.45 to 5.15 pm. The cost will be £1 for members, and £2 for non-members. If you would like to enter the fun tournament, please contact Andy (longmansports@hotmail.co.uk, 07977 535916) as soon as possible. Places are limited to ten per event and will be allocated on a first come first served basis - so contact Andy now!!
Schools' Liaison Coordinator
Is anyone interested in fulfilling the role of Schools' Liaison Coordinator? The local schools are an important source of players for the club. At present, we are looking for someone who would be willing to act as a point of contact between the club, its coaches and the local primary and secondary schools. The scope of the role is very much for the coordinator to decide, depending upon their availability. So if you are interested in the role, please contact Richard Little (richardlittle@quintessa.org; 07786 942670).
OXFORDSHIRE COUNTY CLOSED
Club members Rebecca Dixon and Jonathan Betts were celebrating success at the recent Junior Oxfordshire County Closed squash tournament in Abingdon. Rebecca had a particularly good weekend when she became the champion in both the Under 15 and Under 17 girls' categories, while Jonathan finished runner up in the boys' Under 13s.
Bec and Jonathan with their Oxfordshire County Trophies
There was bad lucky for Emily Carr, another Henley Junior, who had been in excellent form before sustaining a nasty ankle injury. This meant that she was unable to complete a close match against Rebecca in the Under 15s and had to pull out of the Under 17s event the following day.
As well as Jonathan, Henley Squash club were also represented by Freddie Borg in the U13 Boys' event. Freddie won his first three games but then had to withdraw from the competition when he fractured his toe playing the tournament winner, Ben Hedger. Jonathan lost his first game to Ben 3-0, but then beat Mark Rodgers and Edward Noble in his next two games and then needed to beat Jacob Coxon in his final game to come runner up. Jonathan took the first and third game to lead 2-1. Both players were now playing excellent squash and Jacob took the fourth game 12-10. Jonathan was looking tired at the end of the fourth but managed to take a commanding lead in the final game and finally won 11-7.
COUNTY AND REGIONAL NEWS
Henley juniors enjoyed further success at the recent South East Regional Championships held in Winchester with Emily Carr, prior to her injury, finishing second in the U15 girls' event and James Little finishing third in the U13 boys' event. Both players, together with Rebecca Dixon, have been invited into the South East Regional Squad.
Bec, Emily, Jonathan Betts and Richie Hopkins have played in recent matches for Oxfordshire, whilst James has played for Berkshire.
REGULAR ACTIVITIES
After-school Coaching for Members
After-school coaching will take a break for half term (i.e., there will be no coaching on Wednesday 28th and Friday 30th October). Coaching will resume in the first week in November and will continue until Wednesday 9th and Friday 11th December, inclusive. The timings of sessions will remain the same for the first half of term.
If you are not yet involved in the coaching but are interested in either 1-to-1 or group sessions, please contact Richard Little (richardlittle@quintessa.org; 07786 942670) for details. We have sessions suitable for all standards of players.
Leagues
The leagues for the junior and mini-squash players are going well. Well done to the winners of the latest leagues: Jonathan Betts, Oscar Wiseman, Charlie Borg and Max Djemil. The leagues are open to mini-squash and junior squash players who are members of the club and they run over a month. If you are interested in entering the leagues please let Jane Gray know (jane.gray@btconnect.com; 01491 579779).
Friendly Matches
Henley Juniors were last in action against Burnham in July at LA Fitness in Slough. The Henley players were Rebecca Dixon, Ed Hughes Burne, Jonathan Betts, Freddie Borg, Hamish Wooding, Ailsa McClean and Sam Street. The two teams were divided into four groups with each player playing three games, first to 21 points. The team result was decided by the best average score. Henley started well with one of the best games of the match, Rebecca Dixon playing Danny Talwar. Rebecca eventually winning a closely fought contest 21:20. However, Burnham proved a little too strong on the top strings and eventually ran out winners of the team event with 50 points against Henley's 42. In the individual competition, Burnham players filled the first three places with Jonathan Betts coming fourth.
The Henley Team that played Burnham in July
The return match against Burnham is on Saturday 31st October at Henley Leisure Centre. Thereafter, it is hoped to arrange matches against Abingdon, Esporta Oxford and Bisham over next next couple of month. For more details, contact Roger Betts (roger.betts@btconnect.com; 01491 579779).
DATES FOR THE DIARY
Fun Tournament
Sunday 29th November - see earlier article.
Christmas Party
The Junior Club Christmas Party will be held for members from 4 pm to 8 pm on Wednesday 16th December at the Henley Leisure Centre. Bec Dixon and Ed Hughes-Burne are developing plans for the party so if you have any specific ideas, please let them know. Further details will be sent out closer to the date.
Abingdon Open 2009
The Abingdon Open for U15 and U17 Boys and Girls will be held over the weekend of 12th and 13th December. It is an ideal opportunity for players to experience playing in a local “open” event. For more information go to: http://www.englandsquashandracketball.com/competitions/75
Club Closed 2010
Following the success of this year's event, we will be holding the 2010 event over the weekend of 6th and 7th February 2010. It is envisaged that the format will be similar to this year's event, i.e., a competition for Year 6 and under, and a competition for Year 7 and over. Further details will be sent out closer to the date.
FOR MORE INFORMATION…
For further details about Henley Junior Squash Club and its activities, please contact its Chair (Richard Little) by e-mail (richardlittle@quintessa.org) or phone (07786 942670).
Henley Juniors match against Burnham July 2009
Henley Juniors were in action against Burnham last Sunday. The Henley players were; Rebecca Dixon, Ed Hughes Burne, Jonathan Betts, Freddie Borg, Hamish Wooding, Ailsa McClean and Sam Street. The two teams were divided into four groups with each player playing three games, first to 21 points. The team result was decided by the best average score. Henley started well with one of the best games of the match, Rebecca Dixon playing Danny Talwar. Rebecca eventually winning a closely fought contest 21:20. However, Burnham proved a little too strong on the top strings and eventually ran out winners of the team event with 50 points against Henley's 42. In the individual competition, Burnham players filled the first 3 places with Jonathan Betts coming fourth. The winners were: 1) Roisin McNeil, 2) Megan McNeil, 3) Harry Wyld 4) Jonathan Betts. Many thanks to Andy Longman for arranging an excellent competition.
Henley Junior Squash Club 2009 Championship
Henley Junior Squash Club held its first ever club championship during the weekend of 21st and 22nd March 2009. The preliminary rounds were held on the Saturday, with the finals and third/fourth place play-offs being held on the Sunday. There were two competitions; one for players in Year 6 and below, the other for those in Year 7 and above. Both competitions saw some great squash with all players showing great enthusiasm.
On Saturday, the preliminary rounds consisted of a series of league-based round-robin matches. There were some very tight matches in the Year 6 and below competition including one between Lauren Church and Max Djemil that resulted in Max winning by the closest possible margin, 21-20. The winners and runners-up of the opposing leagues then faced one another in the two semi-finals, with Sam Street and John Cooper defeating Max Djemil and Henry Blois-Brooke, respectively with two games to nil victories. The Year 7 and above preliminary rounds also saw some closely fought matches including a 21-19 thriller between Jonathan Betts and Hamish Wooding that Jonathan won, thereby securing his place in the semi-final by the narrowest possible margin. The two semi-finals saw James McNaughton and James Little overcome Jonathan Betts and Ed Hughes-Burne, respectively with three games to nil victories.
On the Sunday afternoon, the Year 6 and under final saw some good squash from newcomer John Cooper who ensured that pre-match favourite, Sam Street, did not have it all his own way during the early exchanges of the first game. However, Sam's greater experience meant that he managed to overhaul John and take the game 11-5. John continued to battle during the second game, although Sam held his nerve and took the game 11-8. By the third game, Sam was well into his stride and dominated the game to take it 11-1 and the match three games to nil. The Year 7 and above final was even closer with the number one seed, James McNaughton, being run close by his younger opponent, James Little, in all three games, 11-8, 11-8, 11-9. The quality of squash was high and the third game, in particular, saw some well-constructed rallies by both players. The third/fourth place play-offs saw Max Djemil and Henry Blois-Brooke enjoy some excellent rallies with Max running out victor 11-6, 11-6 and 11-6 in the Year 6 and below event, whilst the match between Ed Hughes-Burne and Jonathan Betts was a five-game epic with Ed finally overcoming his younger opponent 11-9, 9-11, 11-8, 11-13, 11-5 in the Year 7 and above event.
Final positions for the 2009 Junior Club Championship for Year 6 and Under Event
1 Sam Street (pictured below first left accepting his award from Roger Booker)
2 John Cooper (second left)
3 Max Djemil (third left)
4 Henry Blois-Brooke (fourth left)
5 Joel Gosby
6 Lauren Church
7 Luca Babb
8 Rupert Wiseman
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Final positions for the 2009 Junior Club Championship for Year 7 and Over Event
1 James McNaughton (pictured below first left accepting his award from Roger Booker)
2 James Little (second left)
3 Ed Hughes-Burne (third left)
4 Jonathan Betts (fourth left)
5 Ailsa Maclean
6 Hamish Wooding
7 Freddie Borg
8 Helen Henshaw
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HENLEY JUNIOR SQUASH CLUB NEWSLETTERS
EASTER NEWSLETTER
After-school Coaching for the Summer Term
Coaching will re-start on Wednesday 22nd and Friday 24h April and run through to Wednesday 15th and Friday 17th July, inclusive (with the week beginning 25th May off for half term). In addition, we are hoping to open up some extra group and individual coaching sessions on a Monday afternoon that will be taken by Andrew Welby (who takes the turn up & play sessions on Sundays). These will probably be between 5.15 and 6.45 pm. If you would like to join an after-school coaching group after Easter, please contact Richard Little (richardlittle@quintessa.org). We have groups suitable for all standards of players.
Regular Activities
Remember that we have a number of regular activities in addition to the after-school coaching.
Turn up & play on Sundays: open to member and non-members. The Year 6 and below session is from 2.15 to 3.45 pm and the Year 7 and above session is from 3.45 to 5.15 pm. The sessions will re-start after the Easter break on Sunday 17th April. The cost is £3.50 for members and £4.50 for non-members (to be paid on the day) for each 90 minute session.
Junior leagues: Now already into their sixth month! Contact Jane Gray (jane.gray@btclick.com) if you want to join.
Friendly matches: Our first match of the year was against a strong Burnham team (also coached by Andy Longman). There were some tightly fought matches including a thriller between Bec Dixon and Jenny Marten, which Jenny eventually won 3-2. Burnham eventually ran out 4-2 winners. Team manager, Roger Betts, is looking for players aged between 10 and 16 to play in the next match which is scheduled for May/June. If you are interested in participating, please contact Roger (roger.betts@btconnect.com).
Henley Youth Festival
As part of Henley Youth Festival, Andrew Welby and Matt Burnett ran some taster sessions for any children interested in trying squash on Monday 23rd March. With three sessions during the day, they worked with 45 children in total from various local primary schools. The sessions were used to teach a basic understanding of the game but also to have lots of fun! Many games were played and the noise coming off the courts proved it was a great success and thoroughly enjoyable for the coaches and the children. We hope to get many new members to the Junior Squash Club!
County and Area Players
Well done to Emily Carr, Bec Dixon and James Little for success on the county and area fronts.
Despite only being 14 years old, Emily and Bec played for the Oxfordshire U19 girls team in the recent inter-county championship. They both won matches to help Oxfordshire to second place overall. Meanwhile, James successfully defended his Berkshire U13 county title in March.
Bec and James have been selected to represent the U15 Girls' and U13 Boys' South East area teams in the inter-area championships in Birmingham during the Easter holidays. We wish them every success.
Dates for the Diary
There is a graded tournament at Datchet (near Windsor) on Sunday 17th May. The tournament will be ideal for anyone wishing to try a local tournament that is graded in terms of ability rather than age, so children will play other children of the same ability level. The emphasis is on having fun whilst gaining some competitive squash experience. The tournament is for all boys and girls aged 18 and under and entries will be accepted from beginner to County level. Further details can be obtained from the organiser, Ross Norman (rossnorman@talk21.com)
In addition, May and June see the following open tournaments in the area.
Sat 16th and Sun 17th May: Oxfordshire Junior Open for U13 and U17 - entry form from: http://www.englandsquash.com/competitions/evitem.cfm?ID=7363
Sat 23rd and Sun 24th May: Oxfordshire Junior Open for U15 and U19 - entry form from: http://www.englandsquash.com/competitions/evitem.cfm?ID=7364
Sat 30th and Sun 31st May: Newbury Junior Open for U13, U15 and U17 - entry form from: http://www.englandsquash.com/competitions/evitem.cfm?ID=7365
Sat 6th and Sun 7th June: Winchester Junior Open for U11, U13, U15, U17 and U19 - entry form from: http://www.englandsquash.com/competitions/evitem.cfm?ID=7366
For more information…
For further details about Henley Junior Squash Club and its activities, please contact its Chair (Richard Little) by e-mail (richardlittle@quintessa.org) or phone (07786 942670)
MARCH NEWSLETTER
The Henley Junior Squash Team played their first match against Burnham on Sunday. Sam Street was first on court playing at sixth string against Tom Burge. Sam chased everything but was eventually beaten 5-11, 5-11, 11-8, 7-11. Fifth string, Freddie Borg played Sachin Kumar in the next match, and after a slow start, Freddie overpowered his opponent winning 11-6,11-3,11-5. Jonathan Betts took on Joshua Secker at fourth string. Jonathan’s serving and use of the drop shot proved too much for his opponent and Jonathan won comfortably 11-6, 11-8, 11-8. Edward Hughes-Burne played Elliot Dowling at third string. Edward lost the first game, but then pulled a game back to level the score. The third game was very close with Ed just missing out losing it 10-12. Ed’s opponent then went on to take the fourth game and the match, 3-1. The match was now evenly poised at 2 – 2 and all depended on the top two strings. Rebecca Dixon playing at second string took on Jenny Martin in what was probably the best game of the match. Both girls were striking the ball powerfully around the court and the first game went to Jenny 11-9. Rebecca fought back in the second winning 11-8 and then took a 2-1 lead winning the third game 11-7. Jenny then seemed to step up a gear and eventually won the next two games to win 3-2. James McNaughton now had to win his game against Matt Davies for Henley to draw and he got off to an excellent start winning the first game 12-10. Matt then began to dominate eventually winning 10-12,11-7,11-5,11-7. Final score Henley 2 Burnham 4. Roger Betts, Henley Junior Squash Team Captain
FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER
Half term is almost upon us and it is time once again to update you on the activities of the Junior Squash Club and its members!
Christmas Party
As all present will testify, the Christmas Party was a resounding success. Over 25 members and their parents joined in the fun and games and entered into the festive spirit by coming in fancy dress. The event was brilliantly organised by Bec Dixon and her group of helpers and caterers, and Andy and Matt came up with some excellent on-court and off-court games to keep all players entertained for over two hours. Well done to Team Carr for winning the team competition and to Helen Henshaw for winning the fancy dress competition.
Half-term Taster Sessions
There will be four 90-minute taster sessions on Tuesday 17th February at Henley Leisure Centre. They are designed for children who are new to squash or have just started. If you are interested or have friends who might be interested then please let Richard Little (richardlittle@quintessa.org) know. The cost is £5 per session.
Turn Up and Play
Remember our “turn up and play” sessions on Sunday afternoons which are open to member and non-members. The Year 6 and below session is from 2.15 to 3.45 pm and the Year 7 and above session is from 3.45 to 5.15 pm. The sessions will take place on both half-term Sundays (i.e., 15th and 22nd February).
As mentioned in the last newsletter, the cost has been heavily subsidised by the club for the first half term. From Sunday 22nd February, the cost will rise to £3.50 for members and £4.50 for non-members (to be paid on the day) for each 90 minutes session.
Junior League
The league is now well and truly up and running and we now have five divisions altogether, two in the Premier Division and three in the (soon to be renamed!) Championship Division. Well done to the January divisional winners: Jonathan Betts; Ben Wiltshire; Sam Street; Charlie Borg and Rupert Wiseman. If anyone is interested in playing in the league, please let Jane Gray (jane.gray@btclick.com) know. In particular, it would be good to have some more players over 11 to make the upper divisions more exciting!
Friendly Match
Henley Juniors are to play a friendly match against Burnham on Sunday 8th March. Our team manager, Roger Betts, is looking for players aged between 10 and 16 to play in the match. If you are interested in participating, please contact Roger
(roger.betts@btconnect.com). Roger is hoping to arrange more matches against local teams - watch this space…
Mini Squash Coaches
There is an England Squash scheme for juniors who are 14 or over to be trained as mini-squash coaches from which Ed Hughes-Burne has already benefited. Bec Dixon, Emily Carr and James McNaughton will be attending the course to be held in the Spring. Is there anyone else who would like to attend? The course fees will be paid by the Club. If you are interested, then please let Richard Little (richardlittle@quintessa.org) know.
County Players
Emily Carr, Bec Dixon and James Little have all been playing for their counties in the recent round of inter-county matches. Emily and Bec played for the U15 and U17 Oxfordshire teams, whilst James represented Berkshire at U13 and U15. Despite their Counties not winning the overall team competitions, Emily, Bec and James all recorded some excellent victories against much older players. Unfortunately the Oxfordshire U13 match was cancelled and so Jonathan Betts, Freddie Borg and Richie Hopkins did not have the opportunity to play.
Dates for the Diary
Sun 8th March: Friendly Match vs. Burnham - contact Roger Betts (roger.betts@btconnect.com) for details
Sat 14th and Sun 15th March: Berkshire Junior County Closed for U11, U13, U15 and U17 - entry form from http://www.berkshiresquash.org/ (open to all those born, living or attending school in Berkshire who have not played for another county in 2008/9)
Sat 21st and Sun 22nd March: Henley Junior Club Closed for U11, U13 and combined U15/U17 - contact Richard Little (richardlittle@quintessa.org) for details (open to all Henley Junior Squash Club members)
Sat 16th and Sun 17th May: Oxfordshire Junior Open for U13 and U17 - entry form from: http://www.englandsquash.com/competitions/evitem.cfm?ID=7363
Sat 23rd and Sun 24th May: Oxfordshire Junior Open for U15 and U19 - entry form from: http://www.englandsquash.com/competitions/evitem.cfm?ID=7364
Sat 30th and Sun 31st May: Newbury Junior Open for U13, U15 and U17 - entry form from: http://www.englandsquash.com/competitions/evitem.cfm?ID=7365
Sat 6th and Sun 7th June: Winchester Junior Open for U11, U13, U15, U17 and U19 - entry form from: http://www.englandsquash.com/competitions/evitem.cfm?ID=7366
CHRISTMAS 2008 NEWSLETTER
Season's greetings from the Henley Junior Squash Club!
CHRISTMAS ACTIVITIES
Christmas Party
Remember that the Junior Club Christmas Party is being held for members from 4 pm to 8 pm on Thursday 18th December at the Henley Leisure Centre. There will be food and drinks, as well as a fun squash tournament. Tickets (£5 for juniors, £3 for adults) for the party are selling quickly. To book your place, please e-mail Bec Dixon (fiona@fdixon.fsnet.co.uk) by Monday 15th December.
After-school Coaching
For those of you who participate in the Wednesday and Friday after-school coaching programme, the final sessions will be on Wednesday 17th December (i.e., this coming Wednesday) and Friday 12th December (i.e., last Friday!). Our treasurer, Michelle Djemil, will be chasing up those who still owe money for the autumn term - you have been warned!!
Taster Sessions
We have decided to allow everyone (including the coaches!) to have a well-earned rest from squash over the holidays. So there will be no taster sessions. However, we will be organising sessions in the February half term, so watch this space!
Junior Leagues
For those of you in the junior leagues, the holiday period provides you with an ideal opportunity to play your league matches. The leagues started in November and saw some excellent competition. League winners for November were: Hamish Wooding, Freddie Borg, Charlie Borg and Sam Street. If you are not yet in a league but want to join in please e-mail Jane Gray (jane.gray@btclick.com).
NEW YEAR ACTIVITIES
After-school Coaching
Coaching will re-start on Wednesday 7th and Friday 9th January. It will be assumed that all those currently receiving coaching will to want to continue in New Year; if you do not wish to continue please let Richard Little (richardlittle@quintessa.org) know by 28th December. If you would like to start after-school coaching in the New Year, please let Richard know. We have groups suitable for all standards of players.
Turn Up and Play
Due to popular demand, we are re-introducing “turn up and play” sessions on Sunday afternoons. The focus of the sessions will be to provide an informal environment in which the children can have fun playing one another at squash. The first session will be on Sunday 11th January. There will be a session for mini squash players from 2.15 to 3.45 pm and a session for junior players from 3.45 to 5.15 pm. Each session will be taken by Andrew Welby (a Level 3 England Squash coach) who will be on hand to coordinate the sessions and to provide some coaching advice (although the focus of the sessions is fun rather than formal coaching). The sessions will be open to members and non-members and will provide an ideal environment for children new to squash to come and “have a go” (rackets and goggles will be provided for those who do not have them).
In order to encourage players to join in the sessions, the sessions for the first half of term will be subsidised. The cost will be £3 for members and £4 for non-members (to be paid on the day) for each 90 minutes session We will run the sessions each Sunday afternoon and there is no requirement for players to turn up each Sunday. They simply pay as they play!
Team Matches
Roger Betts is busy organising friendly matches against Abingdon and Burnham for mini-squash and junior players for the New Year. Details will be sent out shortly.
Henley Junior Club Closed
Dates for your diary!!! The Junior Club will be holding its first ever championship for club members over the weekend of 21st and 22nd March 2009. The plan is to have competitions for three age categories (those who are Under 11, Under 13 and Under 17 on the 22nd March). Each age category will be open to both boys and girls and players can enter more than one age category. The preliminary rounds of the U11 event will be in the Saturday morning, the U17 event on Saturday afternoon, the U13 event on Sunday morning. The semi-finals and finals of all age groups will be held on Sunday afternoon. The entry fee for each age category will be £5.
An entry form for the Junior Closed will be sent to all members in the New Year. In the meantime, if you have any questions then please let Richard Little (richardlittle@quintessa.org) know.
OTHER NEWS
Girls' and Boys' Captains
The Junior Club now has its first Girls' and Boys' Captains. They are Bec Dixon (fiona@fdixon.fsnet.co.uk) and Ed Hughes-Burne (jude.burne@talktalk.net). Their role will be to represent the junior members at the Committee Meetings and to contribute their ideas and those of the other juniors on how the club should be run and the direction that it should take. So if you have any ideals and thoughts, please feel free to contact them.
County and Regional Players
A number of our junior players have been representing their counties in the recent inter-county matches.
* Emily Carr and Bec Dixon have played for the Oxfordshire Girls' U15 and U17 teams and have attended the South East Regional Academy.
* Jonathan Betts, Freddie Borg and Richie Hopkins have played for the Oxfordshire Boys' U13.
* James Little played for the Berkshire Boys' U13 and U15 teams and has attended the South East Regional Academy.
Well done to one and all and keep it up!
And Finally … Shoes!!
Please remember that it is important to ensure that you wear clean indoor court shoes whenever on court. This is for both aesthetic reasons and safety reasons. Indoor court shoes are available from a number of sources including our club coach (Andy Longman, 07977 535916 and longmansports@hotmail.co.uk) and the internet (e.g. http://www.tennisnuts.com/ishop/677/shopscr190.html). They would make an ideal Christmas present for the squash enthusiast!
AUTUMN 2008 NEWSLETTER
As always, there is much to tell you! Items that need your response are marked in bold italics. So if nothing else, please read these sections!!
TOURNAMENT AND EXHIBITION MATCH
Wednesday 17th September saw a great afternoon and evening of squash for the Club. The afternoon started with a Fun Tournament for our mini-squash and junior players. In the mini-squash group, Sam Street won all his matches with Charlie Borg coming second. The junior group was very tight with just two points separating Harry from his brother Freddie.
The tournament was followed by an Exhibition Match between two top British players, Alison Waters and Dominique Lloyd-Walter. After the match, there was chance for each junior to go on court and have a game with the professionals.
Thanks to all those involved in the event, especially Andy Longman and Matt Burnett for organising the Fun Tournament, Paula Borg, Fiona Dixon and Jane Gray for the food and drinks that kept one and all going, and Sally Birkett and Sian Hickman.for all the form filling that ensured that we received the Awards for All grant that made the whole thing possible.
AGM AND MATTERS ARISING…
New Committee
Following our AGM, we how have a new committee!!
Chair - Richard Little (richardlittle@quintessa.org)Treasurer - Shelley Djemil (mdjemil@yahoo.com)Secretary - not filled at AGM, although Catherine Gosby has since stepped forward to fill the roleTeam Manager - Roger Betts (roger.betts@btconnect.com)Head Coach - Andy Longman (longmansports@hotmail.co.uk)Schools' Liaison Coordinator - not currently filled, although Fiona Dixon will provide assistance to this roleMany thanks to the outgoing committee, especially Sally and Sian, for all their hard work.
Girls' and Boys' Captains
At the AGM, it was suggested that the Junior Club should have a Girls' Captain and a Boys' Captain. Their role will be to represent the junior members at the Committee Meetings and to contribute their ideas and those of the other juniors on how the club should be run and the direction that it should take.
If you are interested in fulfilling the roles, then please let Richard Little (richardlittle@quintessa.org) know by 31st October.
Training of Mini Squash Coaches
There is an England Squash scheme for juniors who are 14 or over to be trained as mini-squash coaches. Ed Hughes-Burne has already been on a training course and is already helping with Andy's mini-squash group on Wednesdays. Ed's course fee was paid by the club out of the Awards for All grant. If there are other juniors willing to put themselves forward for training, their fees will also be paid for from the Awards for All grant.
If you are interested, then please let Richard Little (richardlittle@quintessa.org) know.
Turn Up and Play
We are planning to re-introduce the “turn up and play” sessions at the weekend for members and non-members. Depending on demand, we will run separate sessions for mini-squash and junior squash players. The plan is for the session(s) to be supervised by a coach who would provide some informal coaching. The emphasis will be on match play. The cost is to be finalised but would probably be no more than £5 for each 90 minutes session and there would be a reduced rate for members.
If you are interested, please let Richard Little (richardlittle@quintessa.org) know by 31st October. Please indicate which of the following times you could typically manage:
Saturday morningSaturday afternoonsSunday morningsSunday afternoonsThe idea is that we will run the sessions each weekend, but there is no requirement for players to turn up each weekend. They simply pay as they play!
OXFORDSHIRE COUNTY CLOSED
There was a good turn out from Henley Junior Squash Club at the Oxfordshire Junior County Closed Squash tournament at the end of September.
Bec Dixon became Oxfordshire Under 15 champion by winning all of her matches, and then went on to finish runner-up in the Under 17 category. Emily Carr also played well and finished runner up in the Under 15s. Bec has also been voted by the Oxfordshire coaches as 'Girls Inter-County Player of the Year' - well done!
Sam Street from Stoke Row School was runner up in the boys Under 11 category. This is a great achievement as he only started playing squash this summer when he joined our coaching programme.
There was a good showing in the Under 13 boys competition from Richie Hopkins, who finished runner up, and from Freddie Borg and Jonathan Betts. Freddie won his first round match, but came up against strong opposition in the second round when he was beaten by the eventual competition winner. Jonathan was beaten in the first round, but went on to win the plate competition. In the Under 15s, James McNaughton was also a first-round winner.
All of this is a sign of the improvements being made under the coaching of Andy and Matt, and augers well for the future of the club. Congratulations to all the juniors that took part - keep it up!
UP AND COMING
After-school Coaching
After-school coach will take a break for half term (i.e., there will be no coaching on Wednesday 29th and Friday 31st October). Coaching will resume in the first week in November and will continue until Wednesday 17th (i.e., 7 sessions) and Friday 12th December (i.e., 6 sessions). The timings and costs will remain the same as the first half of term. Please note that those who have being receiving coaching during the first half of term do not need to re-register, we assume that you will be continuing unless we hear otherwise! If you are not yet involved in the coaching but are interested, please contact Richard Little (richardlittle@quintessa.org; 0118 9471187) for details.
Leagues
The leagues for the junior and mini-squash players will be starting up on 1st November. Jane Gray will be coordinating the leagues and already has 20 players registered. The leagues will be open to mini-squash and junior squash players who are members of the club and they will run over a month. Typically there will be about 4 players in each league all of a similar ability. So if you are interested in entering the leagues and have not done so already then please let Jane know (jane.gray@btconnect.com) by Monday 20th October.
Christmas Party
An important date for your diaries!!!! The Junior Club Christmas Party will be held for members from 4 pm to 8 pm on Thursday 18th December at the Henley Leisure Centre. There will be food and drinks, as well as a fun squash tournament in optional fancy dress and the chance to play some of the coaches and adults who will be suitably handicapped (e.g., balloons on their rackets!). So make sure that you put the date in your diary. Bec Dixon is developing plans for the party so if you have any specific ideas, please let her know. Further details will be sent out closer to the date.
AND FINALLY … SHOES!!
Please note that it is a requirement of the club (and Henley Leisure Centre) that players wear indoor court shoes whenever on court. This is for both aesthetic reasons (e.g., avoidance of black marks on the court) and safety reasons (e.g., avoidance of bringing mud and grit onto the court, on which players can slip). Indoor court shoes are available from a number of sources including our club coach (Andy Longman, 07977 535916 and longmansports@hotmail.co.uk) and the internet (e.g. http://www.tennisnuts.com/ishop/677/shopscr190.html).
Henley Junior Team (in white) in a recent match against High Wycombe
Summer 2008 Newsletter
There's a lot to let you know about so here goes!
Holiday Squash
For those of you who cannot get enough squash, there is 1-to-1 and group coaching on Wednesday afternoons during the holidays at the Henley Leisure Centre, which can be booked on a week-by-week basis. There are still some places available, so if you are interested in having coaching on any of the Wednesdays between 23rd July and 28th August, please let Richard Little know (richardlittle@quintessa.org; 0118 9471187).
Ahead of the return to school in September, there will be a series of four 90-minute squash taster sessions at the Henley Leisure Centre on Thursday 29th August for new junior squash players and for those juniors who have not played for a while. An England Squash coach will be on hand to provide expert tuition. There will be a choice of “morning” sessions (either 10.30 - 12.00, or 12.00 - 13.30), and afternoon sessions (either 14.15 - 15.45, or 15.45 - 17.15). The cost of a session will be £5 and places can be reserved by contacting Richard Little.
You don't have to be a member of Henley Junior Squash Club to come along to these holiday events. So make sure to tell your friends!
Our head coach (Andy Longman) is putting on further coaching and taster sessions during the holidays for various abilities at LA Fitness in Burnham. Contact Andy (longmansports@hotmail.co.uk; 07977 535916) for further details.
Autumn After-school Coaching
1-to-1 and group coaching for the autumn term will start up during the week beginning Monday 8th September and run for a 14 week period to the week ending Friday 19th December with a week off for half term. It is proposed to hold the coaching on Wednesdays and Fridays, although other days might be open up if there is the demand. The cost for the coaching is still to be determined but is expected not to exceed:
1. 45 minute mini-squash group session: £84 for the 14 sessions
2. 45 minute junior group session: £98 for the 14 sessions
3. 45 minute 1-to-1 session: £308 for the 14 sessions
If you are interested in these coaching sessions, please let Richard Little know no later than Friday 26th August. In order to help Richard develop the coaching timetable, please let him know:
o the name(s) and age(s) of your child(ren); and
o the day(s) and time(s) that your child(ren) can manage.
Please note that those who have being receiving coaching during the summer term will need to re-register!
Fun Tournament/Exhibition Match/Social
Wednesday 17th September is definitely a date for your diary!
The Junior Club will be hosting a free exhibition match between 6 and 7 pm at the Henley Leisure Centre between Tania Bailey (the former British Champion and current World No. 5) and Alison Waters (the current British Champion and World No. 11). This event is aimed at the junior players so they can learn and be inspired by watching top professionals. After the match there will be an opportunity to go on court with the players and ask any questions about the life of a top professional squash player. If you want to come along and watch the match and to play the pros, then please e-mail Richard Little to reserve your place. Given the limited viewing area, we will have to restrict the number of spectators so tickets will be issued on a first come, first served basis.
Ahead of the exhibition match (between 4 and 6 pm), there will be a fun tournament for mini-squash and junior squash players that will be organised by our head coach, Andy Longman. It will be a chance for our juniors to put all their coaching and practice to good use in a competition. There will be prizes for the winners of the mini-squash and junior squash tournaments that will be presented by Tania and Alison. If you are interested in taking part in the tournament, please let Andy Longman know by Friday 12th September.
To ensure that players and parents don't go hungry and thirsty during all this squash activity, we will be providing free food and drink so the focus will not be solely on the squash!
AGM and Social for Parents
Yet more food and drink will be available at the Junior Club's AGM on Monday 22nd September. It will be an opportunity for us to share ideas and plans for the coming year on a range of topics including:
1. coaching;
2. junior leagues;
3. friendlies against other clubs;
4. turn up and play sessions at the weekend; and
5. junior club closed and open tournaments.
The evening will be held at the Henley Leisure Centre and will start at 6.30 pm, with food and drinks. The AGM will start at 7 pm.
Leagues
Come the start of September, we will be starting up our junior leagues once again to give our juniors an opportunity for a little bit of competition. Jane Gray has kindly volunteered to coordinate the leagues. The leagues will be open to mini-squash and junior squash players who are members of the club and they will run over a month. Typically there will be about 4 players in each league all of a similar ability. So if you are interested in entering the junior leagues then please let Jane know (jane.gray@btconnect.com) by Friday 26th August.
For our more advanced junior, there is the opportunity to play in the adult leagues (four are already playing). If you want to join them, then e-mail to adult league coordinator, David Forster (david.forster@hotmail.co.uk).
Tournaments
For those of you who want to spread your wings a little further in terms of squash tournaments, there are a number of external tournaments coming up over the next couple of months.
1. Three fun tournaments for all ability levels will be held on Mondays 28th July, 11th August and 25th August at LA Fitness in Burnham. Contact Andy Longman for further details.
2. A fun tournament for all ability levels will be held on the final weekend in August at Wellington Sports Centre in Crowthorne. Please contact Desiree Schalkwyk (ctschalkwyk@dial.pipex.co) for more details.
3. The Oxfordshire Junior Closed will be held on Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th September at Abingdon Squash Club. Please contact Catherine Wood (cafw@dsl.pipex.com) for more details.
4. The Area Junior Closed (covering Berks, Bucks, Hants and Oxon) will be held on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th October. The venue is still to be confirmed but those interested should contact Richard Little who will ensure relevant information is passed on, once it becomes available.
Enjoy the summer and your squash!!
May 2008 Newsletter
Back Home!
We are finally back at Henley Leisure Centre after an absence of just over a year!! A big thank you goes to Queen Anne's School, Caversham for providing a temporary home for us over the last year. We should also say thank you to our coaches (Andy and Matt) and those juniors and their parents who have stuck with the coaching over the last year despite the logistical challenges of getting across to Caversham! You have kept the Junior Club going through this difficult period - well done!
Now that we are back in Henley, we will be starting up our usual programme of events, so read on…
Half-term Squash
There will be a series of four 90-minute squash taster sessions for juniors at the Henley Leisure Centre on Friday 30th May. Two England Squash coaches will be on hand to provide expert tuition. The focus of each session will be on introducing squash to potential new players, as well as returning juniors (i.e., those who have not been playing at Queen Anne's). (There might be some spaces available for the “keenies” who have continued coaching over the last year!) There will be a choice of two “morning” sessions for 7 to 9 year olds (either 10.30 - 12.00, or 12.00 - 13.30), and two afternoon sessions for 10 to 12 year olds (either 14.15 - 15.45, or 15.45 - 17.15). The cost of a session will be £5. You don't have to be a member of Henley Junior Squash Club to come along to these taster sessions. Depending upon demand, there might be scope to include a session for 13 to 16 year olds.
If you would like to reserve a place, please e-mail Richard Little (richardlittle@quintessa.org) by Friday 16th May giving the name(s) and age(s) of your child(ren) and the session(s) that you would like them to attend.
Summer After-school Coaching
Now that we are returning to Henley Leisure Centre, we are planning to start up a series of new coaching sessions. Sessions will run over the four-week period from the week beginning 2nd June to the week ending 27th June (inclusive). There will be options for 1-to-1 sessions as well as group sessions. Sessions will be available between 3 pm and 9 pm on Wednesdays and Fridays for all standards of player between 7 and 16 years of age. The costs will depend on numbers but should not exceed the following:
30 minute group session: £5 per session
45 minute group session: £7.50 per session
30 minute 1-to-1 session: £15 per session
45 minute 1-to-1 session: £21 per session
If you are interested in your child(ren) having coaching, please let Richard Little (richardlittle@quintessa.org) know no later than Friday 16th May. In order to help Richard develop the coaching timetable, please let him know:
the name(s) and age(s) of your child(ren); and
the day(s) and time(s) that your child(ren) can manage (please be flexible and give as wide a range of days/times as possible! “Either day and anytime” is the best possible answer!!).
Membership
In order to participate in after-school coaching, you will need to be a member of Henley Junior Squash Club. The annual membership fee is currently £18 per year and the membership year runs from 1st September to 31st August. As a special offer, we are offering membership to the 31st August 2009 for £18 so if you are not already a member, please complete the membership form below. This will also give you membership of and insurance via England Squash (www.englandsquash.com), and entitlement to play in Henley Junior Squash Club teams and the Club's junior squash leagues.
Awards for All Grant
Awards for All distributes money raised through the National Lottery to local communities throughout the country. Last year we applied for a grant so that when the Henley Leisure Centre reopened we would be able to return and attract both former and new members.
We heard in March that we had been successful and we have received £2450. Some of this money is being spent on staging an exhibition match at the Henley Leisure Centre between Tania Bailey (World No. 5) and Alison Waters (British Champion and World No. 11). This event is aimed at the junior players so they can learn and be inspired by watching top professionals. After the match there will be an opportunity to go on court with the players and ask any questions you might have about the life of a top professional squash player.
We will be spending the bulk of the grant on running additional subsidised squash courses in order to introduce and attract new juniors of all ages to the sport. Hopefully many children will benefit from this and we will have many new members and a thriving club as a result.
Henley Youth Festival
In early March, 48 pupils from three of Henley's primary schools participated in two hour squash taster sessions as part of the Henley Youth Festival. The children from Valley Road, Sacred Heart and Peppard Primary Schools were introduced to the game by Andy Longman, our squash coach and his friend, Hardeep Reel, the Kenyan national champion. The two day coaching event was sponsored by England Squash Mid West Region and Shiplake College kindly donated the use of their squash courts. We hope that many of the children involved will come and play squash on the two new courts at Henley Leisure Centre and join the junior coaching programme.
Further Success for Junior Players
Henley Junior Squash Club players continue to excel in county, regional and national tournaments. Over the last six months, Richie Hopkins has been helping the Oxfordshire U13 team through a series of qualifying games to reach the grand finals of the 2007-08 inter-county championships, where Oxfordshire finished in fourth place. Richie, together with his older brother, Ed, also represented the Mid West Region in the inter-regional championships held in Birmingham in mid April.
Three further players from Henley were in action in the recent Four Counties Tournament in Burham. Freddie Borg and Jonathan Betts played for the Oxfordshire U11 team whilst James Little played for the Berkshire U13 team. Well done to one and all.