ESSEX WOMEN TAKE UP THE SQUASH CHALLENGE FROM AMERICA
Essex and Suffolk squash players are joining forces with sports fans in America, Canada, Barbados and Bermuda to help promote Women’s Squash Week 2015.
Players in the US have staged events across the country for the past seven years promoting squash, voted the world’s healthiest sport, and have encouraged thousands of players, former players and newbies to hit the courts and give it a go.
And the words is spreading with events springing across the globe, including Ipswich Sports Club where former tour professional Lauren Selby is the driving force behind a Fun tournament and exhibition, booked in for Sunday September 20th, (10am – 2pm).
Lauren, now head coach at the Off The Wall Squash Academy based at The Colchester Garrison, is passionate about getting more girls and women to play sport and has been a fierce campaigner and promoter of squash.
“Women’s Squash Week has been a great success in the States bringing women out in droves to play the game,” said Lauren this week. “This is not super serious squash, so no-one should be afraid to give it a go. It’ll be squash with a smile. We were invited to join in by US Squash, so we have to give it a go.”
Players of all ages and abilities are invited to join in at the Ipswich Squash Club in Henley Road. Alongside the tournament there’ll be an exhibition from a couple of local well known players, as well as stalls with beauty treatments, gifts and nibbles. Entry costs £5, and that includes a T-shirt. Suffolk Sport and Active Essex are also supporting the event.
For entry details, contact Karen Selby at [email protected] or call 01206 736924.
Lauren also spearheads a schools’ squash programme that has seen over 4000 children introduced to the sport and believes the message is getting through.
“Once children are introduced to squash, they absolutely love it,” added Lauren. “We send coaches into schools, even those without squash courts, and the response has been amazing. After introductory sessions in the schools, players are then invited to our squash club for tournaments and training. Looking at the numbers and listening to the decibels, I believe we are definitely winning the battle.”
