In The News
What is Squash Stars?
Aimed at 5-11 year olds, Squash Stars is our new junior programme at Sedgefield starting on 25th April that builds fundamental skills and confidence, encouraging kids to reach for the stars on and off court.
This six-week junior beginner’s programme focuses on guiding children to collect stardust in skills such as hand-eye coordination, racket work, movement, balance and match play. The more stardust they have, the brighter they’ll shine!
Each Squash Stars session is led by our trained leader, and will give your child the chance to explore, play, and make friends in a fun and safe setting. We want to help them soar in every aspect of their life and that starts with a positive experience with sport.
What does your Squash Star get?
For just £42, your star will get six sessions and a kit bag which includes a racket, ball, Squash Stars t-shirt and a pair of goggles straight to your door.Why should my child try Squash Stars?
Squash will leave your child beaming from ear to ear. As it’s suitable for kids of all backgrounds, shapes, and sizes, squash provides an inclusive space where they can truly belong. It’s also an indoor sport, so they can avoid the unpredictable British weather and stay warm on our courts! By taking part in Squash Stars, your child will benefit in many ways:They'll have tonnes of fun whilst being active and learning something new.
It’s an opportunity to make friends outside of school.They can put their new skills into practice and head to the court as a family, giving you an opportunity for extra quality time together.
The sessions boost confidence and encourages them to reach for the stars.Find out more and sign up your child at squashstars.co.uk
Presentation Night
Everyone is welcome to attend our first presentation evening since 2019. There will be free pie and peas (or vegetarian option) for all attending, and a bar managed by the SCA. Proceedings start at 7.30pm, and the venue is the Parish Hall in Sedgefield.
In addition to the awarding of prizes and trophies to the successful players, there will be a raffle and the opportunity to bid for experiences in the form of sealed bids. Please add your name to the list in the club, or contact Sheila Peden (sheelsiep@gmail.com) if you are unable to come to the club. All names to be in by 28th April as we need to inform the caterers by this date.
If anyone has any raffle prizes they would like to donate, please contact Sheila Peden and she will be happy to collect/collate all contributions.
PLEASE NOTE: the bar is on a cash only basis, plus some loose change for raffle tickets and daft games will also be required.
Sponsorship
We can proudly announce that we will be sporting the Great North Air Ambulance logo on our team shirts next season. This has been made possible by the generosity of a local business sponsoring the club. A massive thank you to them. The kit will be available to order in the next few weeks.
Women's Squash Week
Sedgefield Squash Club is the winner of the Women's Squash Week Dunlop contest for the social media photo competition.
The club has won adult and junior equipment, including rackets, balls, eyewear and a racket bag.
We are very proud to have won this national competition, a great accolade for the club.
COVID-19 Update (Jan 2022)
Things have moved on since we opened the club fully on 25th July 2021. In December 2021, the Government announced ‘Plan B’ restrictions for England, but further changes again have meant that England have fully reverted to Plan A on 27th January. Please click on the link below to the England Squash Club site for their advice and recommendations for clubs, venue and coaches. It is the responsibility for every member to comply with regulations and provide a safe way to enjoy squash for all.
backtosquash (Squash England advice)
Members should:
• Not enter the club to spectate or play if they have symptoms of Covid-19
• Regularly sanitise, and continue to wash your hands frequently, in particular before and after games
• Wipe surfaces and furniture in the relaxation and spectating areas
• Not wipe their hands on the court walls
ipe surfaces and furniture in the relaxation and spectating areas
Christmas Squash club walk
The annual Christmas Squash club walk was a great success this year and was well attended by member with 15 people on the walk and a few furry 4 legged friends too. Due to poor weather for what seems like an eternity, the walk was changed to be into Durham starting near where the old Cock of the North used to be at Low Burnhall Woods. The walk (after wading through 30 metres of mud to start), took us past the Wickerman where we stopped for the inevitable picture.
The walk then continued through Houghall Woods and past the Rugby club to the river which was followed into Durham where we stopped for a few refreshments.
From there we walked back down the river and through the University Sports grounds, past the Pump House and the Equestrian Centre and back to the start.
While on the walk nearly all of us discussed maybe doing a walk once a month to keep a bit of fitness and fresh air, so we propose to do a walk somewhere on the last Saturday of every month, the route being organised by different people each month. To sort this a discussion group on WhatsApp has been set up with an ever growing number of members.
If you fancy doing a little walk in the future and wish to be kept in the loop of discussions around it, drop Craig Muller a text or WhatsApp message on 07557 640974, or drop him an email on craigmuller120574@gmail.com.
Durham & Cleveland Squash Masters Competition 2019
5 players represented Sedgefield Squash Club in this year’s competition with Tom McKay (left)in the Over 35, Andy Black in the Over 45 and Neil Bunney, Gordon Peden and Chris Rowsby (below) entering the Over 55 draws. There were mixed results for all players with Tom reaching the final of his age category but unfortunately losing and Andy Black reaching the final of the O45 Plate but unable to play due to illness.
Gordon Peden and Neil Bunney both made it to the Quarter finals of the O 55 competition with Gordon narrowly losing 2 -3 in his match. An all Sedgefield Quarter Final saw Club Chairman Neil Bunney lose a tight match to Chris Rowsby 1-3 with Chris’s progress eventually being halted in the Semi-final. Rumour has it, Chris R’s annual subscription has been doubled for next year!
Summer Team Competition
The new Internal summer team competition all came down to the penultimate match of the season, with Andy Blacks Battalion overcoming a 7 point deficit over James Knowlson's Knights to claim the title. Its been a great summer of squash keeping people playing in the summer months and introducing lots of new players to team squash. The winning team - NIck Hill, Neil Ross, Andy Black (c), Gordon Peden, Jack Stephenson, Marie Priest and Richard Flanagan. Special mention goes to Shaun Bottomley as a stand in player for the last match who absolutely smashed it and extra special thanks to Craig Muller for organising such an engaging, fun and "flexible" tournament!
Winning Team members - Shaun Bottomley, Gordon Peden, Marie Priest, Neil Ross, Andy Black (C).
Summer Team Competition
Summer Squash Blitz
Saturday 31st August saw the annual Sedgefield Summer Squash Blitz being held with 3 teams of 5 players battle against eachother on court for timed periods throughout the afternoon. The simple format of "score as many points as you can" in your allotted time on court is extremely punishing as you don't have much time to rest between games and even less to get warmed up once on court!
A kinetic afternoon of squash saw Team 1 (James K, Colin P, Katy H, Chris E, Ben W and Jonny C) win the blitz with a total of 552 points. A fantastic effort by all and the afternoon was rounded off with a BBQ at Ceddesfield Hall where nearly 40 club members got together and enjoyed some delicious food prepared and cooked by unofficial club chef Andy Black and his wife Gail.
Image: Some of the BBQ attendees hogging the BBQ and making Andy's job even more difficult!.
Summer Team “Fun” Squash Competition
The Summer Team “Fun” Squash Competition organised by club member/trophy hunter Craig Muller has been hitting the headlines in recent weeks due to the seriousness of approach and preparation by some of the teams (Muller’s Maestros) competing!
There have been stories of sponsored playing kit, walk on music and legend has it, post-match beer and pizza as a win bonus/incentive!
Thursday 22nd August sees the desperation to be crowned Summer Team Champions reach new levels when none other than PSA World Number 19, Daryl Selby (not Shelby Mr Chairman) makes an appearance for Muller’s Maestros. In a bid to regain the momentum after their shock defeat to Gillespie’s Crushers, Team Captain Craig Muller has shown he will stop at nothing to win the competition that he created.
Daryl will be charged the agreed £2 playing fee (like all other competitors) and it is hoped that his attendance will draw huge crowds to the club and raise lots of cash for charity! #teambobby #bobbythedazzle
Summer Blitz Competition
Will be on Saturday 31st August 2019 and will be followed by a BBQ for those participating as well as any other Club members and friends and family - further details to be displayed at the club soon!
The blitz is for all standard of players to enter - entrants are ranked to ensure that you play against similar standard players, you become part of a team and are on court for 6 minutes trying to score as many points as possible. Your points and all other team members points are added together to see which team wins the match. You then play all the other teams during the day - it’s a fun packed and busy Saturday afternoon at the Club to get the season started!
Entrance sheets up at Club – please sign up ASAP!
Team Handicap Competition
runs over 5 separate nights from 4th to 19th September.
This is another FUN start of season competition! Open to all members, once again entrants are ranked and handicapped to hopefully give every entrant a chance to win their match. Add up the number of wins against opposing teams to see who wins the match then it's onto another team on another night.
Entrance sheets up at Club – please sign up ASAP!
Success
The first honours of Sedgefield Squash Club’s season have been decided over the last few weeks. The Junior Team Handicap was won in a remarkably close contest, with the winning group comprising Richard Flanagan, Cameron Andrews, Maharishi McElhoney, George Nott and Chiara Rutherford.
And the junior success didn’t end there. The club held its Individual Handicap competition, which is open to both junior and senior members. After battling through three tough rounds, the semi-finals saw a battle between John Cant and Gordon Peden. Gordon came out on top and went on to face the Weatherspoon family champion in the final, after Jess triumphed over dad Craig.
The final on 10th January saw 13-year-old Jess attempting to hold on to her handicap, which required Gordon (aged over 13) to make up a deficit of 11 points. Despite Gordon’s sustained run of winning points, Jess held on to win 2-0 – adding the trophy to her already impressive haul. Yet again, well done Jess!
Fund Raising activity in aid of Chris Allinson
Funds raised at club afternoon on Saturday 19th January and other donations received the following week are being donated to 2 charities to support Chris Allinson.
Chris played squash for Guisbrough squash club and very sadly passed away last year leaving a 6 year old daughter. Chris's friends and family are raising funds to support 2 charities, one in support of Epilepsy and the other to provide funds for his daughter's future. We are making a donation of £100 to each of the charities from funds collected from members and a donation from the club.
For more information please see the crowdfunding page set up in aid of Chris's daughter
https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/paul-davies-457/updates/3d563?utm_term=bWwn8xqAJ
Nick Matthew Visit
Nick Matthew (former World No.1) exhibition match at club on Friday 14th December The night comprised Junior Group Coaching Sessions hosted by Nick, Members vs Nick slots, and the night ended with a Nick vs Chris Gillespie exhibition match and a fun doubles match to conclude the playing - Nick and Chris vs Stephen Rowsby and DanToas. Players and spectators then adjourned to Ceddesfeld Hall for Pie and Peas and an informal Q&A Session with Nick.
Individual Handicap Competition
Won by Jess Weatherspoon (-9 handicap) vs Gordon Peden (-22 handicap).
Women's Squash Week
Sheila Peden and Friends at the Court in England Squash Women's Squash Week.
World Squash Day
Bunch of members taking squash back to the 80's with a fundraising day on World Squash Day - Theme "Headbands and Wristbands" . . . with wooden rackets!