Exciting new sport comes to Market Harborough Squash Club - here's how to try it out

You can now look forward to learning and playing an exciting new sport at Market Harborough Squash Club
Photo by Andrew Carpenter.Photo by Andrew Carpenter.
Photo by Andrew Carpenter.

The pioneering club, set up in the early 1970s, is blazing a trail in the East Midlands by launching Padel Tennis.

And over 50 people, ranging from teenagers to pensioners, turned up to try it at a special open day at the club on Fairfield Road, Market Harborough, on Sunday September 27.

Squash coach Georgie Willock, 40, said: “It went really well and we were delighted with the public response.

Photo by Andrew Carpenter.Photo by Andrew Carpenter.
Photo by Andrew Carpenter.

“We are thrilled that 15 people who came along have now joined up so Padel Tennis has got off to a very encouraging start here.”

She said the innovative move to introduce Padel Tennis, invented in Mexico in 1969, was the brainwave of club chair Steve Avil and his wife Alison.

“They got the ball rolling about 18 months to two years ago.

“Some of our members have played Padel Tennis in Spain and Portugal, where it’s played a lot, and loved it,” said Georgie, of Wartnaby Street, Market Harborough.

“So we approached Harborough District Council for help with funding while Market Harborough and the Bowdens Charity have also supported us.

“We are very grateful to them both while membership fees have also helped get this over the line.

“There are only a handful of Padel Tennis clubs all over the UK.

“We are the first to offer the sport in the East Midlands with the nearest clubs being out towards Norwich and London.

“So we are very proud to have had the vision, determination and imagination to push this through and really put Market Harborough on the sporting map.”

The fired-up mum-of-two said Padel Tennis is an exhilerating mix of squash and tennis.

It’s played between doubles teams on outside courts with glass walls and is scored like tennis.

“We actually opened our two new outside Padel Tennis courts three weeks ago.

“We have been testing them out and bedding them in,” said Georgie.

“It’s a fantastic sport to play during the current Covid-19 pandemic because you obviously play outdoors in the fresh air.

“It will help to keep you fit and healthy, it’s a very social game for you, your friends and your family.

“It doesn’t matter if you are eight or 80.

“And it’s also great for your mental health as well during this particularly tough time.

“So please come along, give it a go and join up.

“We are a very open, accessible and welcoming club and we look forward to seeing you,” said Georgie, whose daughters Harriet, 10, and Olivia, five, both play squash.

You can join Market Harborough Squash Club, which also offers racquetball, pétanque and table tennis, for a fully-inclusive membership of £28 a month.

If you would like to check out the club for yourself you can visit their website here: www.harboroughsquash.co.uk