Thame fitness centre gets Gold!

A Thame fitness centre has been awarded the
England Squash and Clubmark Gold Award, the top award in the National Club Recognition Scheme.
Racquets Fitness Centre’s Squash co-ordinator and head coach, Sue Downhill, said:”We have always taken pride in offering fun and competitive squash to all ages and all standards and the Clubmark Award
recognises this, along with the welcoming atmosphere and quality of facilities here at Racquets.”

Sue added that a number of people have been instrumental in helping to gain the award and that particular mention must be made of volunteer, Roger Ridler, who has organised squash lessons for classes from all three primary schools in Thame over the past year, which saw over 200 children take part in squash lessons at Racquets through these school links.

“We would like to thank the teachers and parents at Barley Barley Hill, John Hampden and St Josephs for making the effort to bring the children out of the school to the club during class time,” she said.

The Gold Award recognises the achievements of coaches to bring children through to county and national level. Currently Racquets has one Nationally ranked 12 year old (Alex Noakes) and eight Oxfordshire County ranked players.

Ben Hedger won the Oxfordshire County Closed U11s in September 2007, Chris Backhouse was runner-up in the U13s, Kian Guerzoni represents Oxfordshire in the U15s, Will John represents Oxfordshire in the U17s and Josh Rose represents Oxfordshire U19s and is the
reigning U19 champion.

The girls at Racquets are represented strongly at U13 county level with Aisling Guerzoni, Ellie Maitland, Hannah Isherwood and Lucy Potts representing the county.
The centre’s latest initiative is to encourage teenagers to take up the sport and it is working with
Lord William?s Upper school to organise squash leaders awards for the older teenagers and
then in term time squash lessons for the pupils of the Lower and Upper schools.