2018 Club of the Year

Waimea Squash Club won the 2018 Prestige Title of ‘Club of Year’, in what was a closely contested race and a tough choice for the judges. The standard of the finalists was exceptional, which was just fantastic to see.

Finalists included Christchurch Football Squash Club, Hoon Hay Squash Club and Marlborough College Old Boys Squash Club.

As we all know, Clubs play an important role in society. They draw people together, they help to knit communities and they provide a place where people can enjoy themselves both on and off the squash courts. The Club of the Year award recognizes clubs for their valuable contribution and achievement in the delivery of community squash. Last year Malvern won this prodigious title.

Some of the highlights from Waimea’s year:

• From November 2017 to February 2018 the Club ran a new Business House Competition with the inclusion of 8 business house teams (40 players) into this competition from the Richmond/Tasman area.  Through this competition they gained new members who have continued on to play social and competition squash through 2018.   
• Through 2018 they have also run regular social competitions every term with social and graded players taking part.  These leagues regularly have up to 44 players participating. 
• The Club hosld a regular Saturday afternoon Club day from 2pm-4pm where all members are welcome to come down and they offer this to new members as a way to meet other fellow squash players.   
• They also held a Sunday Social Ladies Slam session with coaching for a period of six weeks which saw a great uptake by some of our existing and newer ladies.  This has provided them with the confidence to move into joining up with the social leagues on offer throughout the year.
• The club has taken the initiative to run three J Grade and D and below tournaments over this season with good turnout to all tournaments from players in the upper South Island regions.  
• They have a solid membership of 100+ members over the 2018 season and in addition to this they have regular casual court usage throughout the year
• Through the 2018 season they have had weekly articles written by our President go in to the local Waimea Weekly paper and another committee member has held a regular timeslot on the local Radio station on a Saturday morning over the Winter season to give updates of club activities, progression of junior players and general exposure of squash. 
• This year the Club hosted the Canterbury Junior Open in September and had 34 entries from Ch-Ch, Greymouth, Takaka, Marlborough and Nelson Juniors. They also hosted the C Grade District Eliminations for Superchamps. Feedback very positive!!
• Two of their junior boys Henry Aitken and Liam Gale were selected to be a part of the NZ junior squads and have travelled extensively over the year to North Island Age Groups, tournaments in Christchurch and to Nationals in Ch-Ch (2017) and Nationals in Auckland (2018). 
• They have developed a five-year strategic plan with short term and long-term goals.
• Over the past 2 ½ years, the Club has had a complete turnaround in regard to its finances, from recording deficits each year – to now showing surpluse.