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February Newsletter

by | Mar 6, 2023 | Community Events, Gym News, News - General, Social News, Squash News, Tennis News

February Newsletter

February was another busy month at Wolverhampton Lawn Tennis & Squash Club featuring the following events;
• Pancake day
• Holiday Camps. Our Easter Holiday Camps are now open for booking at; https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/everypoint/Coaching/Camps
• February Quiz with Baggers
• Staffordshire Tennis County Matchplay
• JDA (Julian Dukes Agencies) Racketball Club Championships
• WLTSC Member Survey
• touchtennis tournament hosted by Clayton Edge

Another superb month at WLTSC.
#WLTSC #TeamWLTSC
“Keep healthy, play sport, make friends”

2023 JDA Racketball Graded Club Championships

by | Feb 21, 2023 | News - General, Squash News

Well done to all finalists who competed in our Racketball Club Championships. Thank you to Julian Dukes Agencies for sponsoring the event! 

Grade A Final: Jason Smith beat Rami Labib

Grade A Plate Final: Guy Birkett beat Marc Hughes

Grade B Final: Tom Watson beat Pete Sandhur 

Grade B Plate Final: Madan Chalotra beat Malkit Sal 

Grade C Final: Ed Cooper beat Mike Davis 

Grace C Plate Final: Clayton Edge beat Karl Vernon 

Grade D Final: Dave Thorpe beat Andrew Samuels 

Grade D Plate Final: Robert Clark beat Rob Binnion

A huge well done to all competitors and a massive thank you to Mike Harris and the squash and racketball committee for organising a superb tournament. 

Regional Masters Squash Tournament

by | Nov 20, 2022 | News - General, Squash News, Uncategorised

Regional Masters Squash Tournament is a hit for players

Squash players from across the country gathered at Wolverhampton Lawn Tennis & Squash Club (WLTSC) last weekend to take part in a masters competition.

WOLVERHAMPTON JONATHAN HIPKISS 06/11/2022. Regional Masters Squash Tournament at Wolverhampton Lawn Tennis & Squash Club.

Pictured L/R Neil Patel (Over 50s plate winner), Jane Hatton (Over 60s 5th place) and Mike Harris (Over 50s runner up) all from Wolverhampton.

The tournament ran for three days, with the finals across a variety of age groups on Sunday, November 6.

The event comes after the success of team England on the international stage at the Commonwealth Games, where they won five medals, and now WLTSC hosted this regional tournament to give players from different backgrounds the opportunity to play competitive squash.

The age categories ranged between 35-75 for men and 30-60 for women.

Helen Tottey, director of squash and racketball at WLTSC, said the competition was a ‘great success and added that the standard of the play was ‘very competitive’.

She said: “We were really pleased to host such a prestigious event at WLTSC.

“It was a great success with very competitive squash games.

“There were 190 entrants, and 15 of our own members enjoyed playing in the competition, and many more enjoyed watching on.

“Our aim is to help promote the benefits of squash from all levels and this event showed how competitive squash can be enjoyed up to 70+ years.

“We were really pleased to have both of our squash coaches reach their respective age category finals.

“Darren Lewis won the over 40s category 3-0 and Mike Harris, unfortunately, lost 2-3 in the over 50s, but it was a great game.”

WOW! Radio speaks volumes of what WLTSC offers!

by | Sep 11, 2022 | Community Events, News - General

WOW! Radio speaks volumes of what WLTSC offers!

WOW! Did you hear Sports Manager Marc Hughes on Radio WM, speaking with Natalie Graham on #wellbeingwednesday last month?

The importance of personal wellbeing was discussed, not only coming from playing squash &, racketball, tennis; working out in the gym or taking part in one of the numerous gym/spin classes on offer at WLTSC, but also from the social benefits of the community of like-minded people coming together, often making life-long friendships. Listen from 1.33 to hear the full 10minutes.

The interview came about after recent successes of some of the tennis juniors and seniors at Wimbledon tournaments during August; with a member entering the 060 men’s singles (quite an achievement), Marc winning the ITF O55 British Grass Court Doubles Championships with his partner, and some juniors competing in Play your way to Wimbledon resulting in a win in the U14 boys event and another reaching the final 16 in their category– ones to watch in the future!

We offer an extensive junior squash & tennis programmes and whichever sport a junior chooses to play, they will be taught by qualified and enthusiastic coaches. Marc explained that it isn’t just sporting skills that develop here, but also confidence in social interactions and team-work that sport provides juniors with.

He also commented that we now have previous juniors representing WLTSC in teams and external leagues, which is lovely to see and shows our current juniors what they can achieve. We hope that the #squashstars course will inspire the next generation of Commonwealth medallists – we are still excited to have watched squash be showcased during the #B2022 – catch up with our last blog for more details if you missed it.

The interview wasn’t all about elite sport, but also the numerous beginner’s squash & racketball, and beginner’s tennis courses that are on offer. These courses are designed to give those that come along all the racket skills they need to enjoy the sport and play games with others, helping fitness and wellbeing. For those that have played before, there is Rusty Rackets for returning tennis players and Skills & Drills for squash & racketball.

Although we are entering Autumn/Winter season, we do not stop! We have an extensive programme of squash, tennis, gym, fitness; social events in our bar & restaurant and our member walk for fun. We will also be welcoming England Squash Karakal Midlands Masters 2022-23 tournament in November.

For existing squash players who fancy testing themselves, entries close Friday 21st October so you could come and compete on one of our 6 courts! Our members and friends are looking forward to watching top class squash during this weekend – there is something for everyone here at WLTSC!

As we move into what is predicted to be a tough winter, the warm environment provided to all members, is something we are very proud to offer, not only in temperature but also in the friendships and sense of family that our member testimonials confirm, we provide. Get in touch if you would like to join our community.

Getting children stoked for Commonwealth Games

by | Aug 2, 2022 | News - General

WLTSC opens its doors to children to stoke excitement ahead of Commonwealth Games

 

Last summer, a year before the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, organisers announced that they wanted to give one million children an authentic Games experience.

On Friday, the Wolverhampton Lawn Tennis and Squash Club fulfilled that dream and opened its doors to schools and members of the local community to get them involved in six sports which will take pride of place at the Games.

Children from seven schools got the run of the club until 2pm, where they got to try out squash, boxing, wrestling, wheelchair basketball, table tennis, and archery.

Helen Tottey, director of squash and racketball at the club, said: “You can hear the laughter as you walk in. I asked some of the children what they were excited for and they said “everything”.

“We’re very excited because the Commonwealth Games is really good for all sports and it’s important to get juniors involved in sports.

“The Olympics united the whole country and Wimbledon puts the spotlight on tennis, but the Commonwealth Games has everything and gives people ideas about different sports.”

The children even got coaching from double medal winning Paralympic archer Mel Clarke, who bought in her silver medal and 2012 Paralympic torch to show the children.

Community engagement manager for the Birmingham Games, Asma Ajaz-Ali, said: “We’re hoping to celebrate and inspire, so children can take a piece of the game and have a go themselves.

“They can say ‘oh wow, where can I go to do this’ and coaches can signpost them to local clubs.

“It’s nice for a facility like this to open its doors to local schools and communities and take advantage of what’s on offer – we’re trying to bring the games to the people.”

Children from St Luke’s Primary, St Andrews Primary, Bilston CofE Primary School, Whitgreave Primary, Eastfield Primary, St Pauls CofE Primary, and Claregate Primary School all took part, before the club was opened to everyone from 2pm.

Commonwealth Games mascot Perry the Bull even made an appearance, posing with members of the public and getting involved with some of the sports on offer.

Mike Harris, head of squash and racketball at the club, is also head of Squash United, the Legacy Programme for Squash at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Mike said: “We wanted to take squash to the people and that meant getting it outdoors.
“To build an outside squash court or take one to a school – it’s just not practical, you could only take a net.

“So we build these mini outdoor courts which are a quarter of the size of a usual court.

“The Commonwealth Games pledged to give a million children a Games experience, and Squash United has seen over 80,000 children so far.

“It was our responsibility to see 50,000 but we’ve done that and we’re still going. We hope to meet 90,000 by the time the Games start and 100,000 by its completion.

“Squash isn’t in the Olympics so we’re very excited for the Commonwealth Games.

“It’s time for squash to be showcased.”

Special Educational Needs and Disability/Junior development fundraiser 29 June

by | Apr 18, 2022 | Community Events, News - General

Special Educational Needs and Disability/Junior development fundraiser

29th June
Long standing member of the club, John Vaughan passed away a number of years ago. He wanted to leave a lasting legacy so his family very kindly donated some money to create our John Vaughan SEND and Jnr Development Fund.

Since then we have had many donations and a special post covid fundraising event in June 2021 raised an additional £5,000. As of 8th November 2021, the John Vaughan SEND & Jnr Development Fund amounts to £7,778.53.

Aim of the Fund

The fund is to be used to enhance the club’s inclusivity credentials and reputation within the local community and specifically to enable minority groups and young people to experience the positive effects of playing sport and being active.