Ballymena and Mid-Ulster team players at friendly in Cookstown on 12th June.
Ballymena Squash Club is reflecting on a successful launch season as club members take a break for the summer. The last months have been filled with growth, achievements, and exciting developments for the sport, locally here in the town and across Northern Ireland.
The club, which started in January with 39 registered members, quickly gained momentum and hosted 17 club nights, averaging 16 players per night. The season highlight was the "Ballymena Open" on March 23rd, where members welcomed guests from various clubs, including Antrim, Mid-Ulster and Omagh.
Despite the occasional challenge of fitting everyone into the two courts, the club's sessions have been described as "great fun," featuring a variety of games and activities designed to keep all players engaged and active.
The sessions usually involve a short warmup, group games including 3/4 game, the lobbing game, drive and drop, some short games (first to 6 points), all aiming to keep everyone involved and not let anyone get cold waiting for action!
Club members have also enjoyed individual success, with Hugo Carlin winning his draw at the Ulster Squash Open in November, Mark McKane winning draw E in the Ulster Squash Closed in February, and Ben Irwin winning Draw B in the Ballymena Open.
Robert Maban and Yuv Pahuja.
Robert Maban achieved a notable result, coming runner up in a recent fundraiser at the Belfast Boat Club Graded Tournament in his draw against Yuv Pahuja, one of the Boat Club's very promising junior players.
The club's success has also led to the formation of new connections and friendships across the province, with plans for a new North West League set to commence in September. Ballymena Squash Club has already hosted a friendly with Mid-Ulster and made a return trip to Cookstown Leisure Centre, showcasing the growing camaraderie among clubs in the region.
Leslie Gordon (in yellow) in action vs Stuart and Ben Simpson at the Mid-Ulster friendly.
The club has also benefited from expert coaching and encouragement from Ulster Squash, including Danny Goldring, liaison officer for Ulster Squash, and lots of encouragement from the Ulster Squash team including Dan Greenaway, Will Nicholson, Mark Gilliland and Lynda Dunlop amongst others.
With squash set to make its debut as an Olympic sport in 2028, the club is looking forward to an exciting future and increased participation in the sport.
Looking ahead. as the summer break concludes, Ballymena Squash Club is gearing up for a busy season ahead, with plans for a friendly match in Coleraine in mid-August and a Memorial tournament hosted by Mid-Ulster in Cookstown Leisure Centre from August 19th to 24th.
The club is set to resume regular meetings on Monday, August 26th, from 6:15pm to 8:30pm, and encourages interested individuals to visit their Facebook page for more information.
Ballymena Squash Club has made significant strides in its first season, and with a strong foundation in place, the club is poised for continued growth and success in the years to come.