WATCH - Inverness Squash Club make history entering women's team in Scottish League
INVERNESS Squash Club will make history on Saturday when they become the first women’s team from the city to enter the National Squash League.
They will take on established teams from Edinburgh and Glasgow at Inverness Squash Club in the first fixture of the season when players from the Highlands take on the best in Scotland in a bid to become national champions.
With members of the public invited to take part in taster sessions also being held between games at the club, Saturday is seen as important moment for women’s squash in the Highlands, in a sport traditionally dominated by men in the north.
In August last year, out of 200 members at Inverness Squash Club, only 15 were female.
However, the club launched a new initiative for more women to get into the sport by establishing Inverness Red Kites.
It proved to be a success as the number of women at the club has grown rapidly from 15 to 40.
Club manager Ailsa Polworth says in the past, the dominance of male members was a factor in them struggling to attract more women to the game.
But due to the success of the initiative, women’s squash in the Highlands is in a stronger position than it has ever been before.
“We are getting more younger women trying out the sport,” she said.
“There has always been a gap of young girls in the past, but now we have women in their 20’s and 30’s coming to play which is fantastic.
“Because there are more men at the club, it can be intimidating to women to come along and play, especially if they are new to the sport. The group of women playing together gives them confidence and is breaking down any intimidation.
“They are integrating into the club which is what we wanted. It is the first time that we have had a women’s team in the National League. There have been a few men’s teams in the league before, but this is a big first for us.
“Last year we launched Red Kites to get more women playing squash and we now have 40 women playing.
“In the first session there was 14 that came along, some were new, some were existing players, but the majority of women coming into the sport are new to it so it is going well.”
The Squash National League is a competition organised by Scottish Squash.
The competition runs a men’s and women’s league and the winners from each league qualify to compete in the European Club Championships.
The Inverness team will play against three other teams - Edinburgh Sports Club, Edinburgh University and Western Sports Club in Glasgow.
Polworth says having Inverness playing in top level competition will be a positive move for women’s squash.
“It is the first time the National League is being brought to Inverness, bringing attention to women’s squash in the Highlands never seen before.
“We have seven players in the squad and we have some strong players.
“But the league is a high standard as we are playing the top players in Scotland.
“We will enjoy the experience of being part of the National League and bringing players of those standard to the club and seeing that standard being played.
“We have a strong squad with a couple of professional players. Donna Lobban, who is the wife of squash professional Greg Lobban and Alex Haydon who has a world ranking of 80 both confirmed.
“All other players are from Inverness.
“This has been possible thanks to a recent drive in female participation in squash at the club from beginners to advanced level.
“A lot of work has been done behind the scenes to generate interest and support more female squash activity.
“We are also lucky to have a few high standard female players at the club just now which is enabling us to compete at this level.”
Medical student Carrie Hallam (25), is part of the Inverness team which will compete in the National Squash League.
She has previously played in the National League for Edinburgh and is excited about being part of the first team from Inverness to compete in the competition.
She is also pleased to see the enthusiasm for the women’s game grow in recent months.
“I have been playing squash for 15 years after my dad got me into it in Edinburgh and since then I have been hooked,” she said.
“I am so pleased in the last couple of months there has been a drive for females in sport in Inverness.
“I am proud to be part of it, female sport and squash has been part of my life since I was child.
“I came from Fort William last year where there was a few females there. I also helped out at Oban Ladies and then coming here is bigger and better.
“I have played in the National League for Edinburgh Sports Club, but this is the first time that I have been playing for another team.
“We have a brilliant team that have worked together for the last couple of months, we have the teamwork and put in the hard work for the last few months to give it a good go.
“It was big decision to decide to play for either Inverness or Edinburgh, but I am really excited.”
The dates for the fixtures of the national league have been confirmed. The first fixture takes place at Inverness Squash Club on Saturday. The second fixture will take place in Edinburgh on Saturday, March 18.
The final round of fixtures will take place in Glasgow on Saturday, April 16 when the winners will be crowned.
For each fixture, clubs can enter seven players in their squad for each round of fixtures.
On Saturday, all teams will play each other with three matches each. The matches are scheduled to take place at 11am, 1.30pm and 4pm.
As well as matches taking place during the day, people are being invited to come down and take part in taster sessions at the club in between matches.
Polworth says they are keen to use Saturday to build on the success they have achieved in recent months and increase the number of women playing in squash further.
“We want to use this opportunity to further promote Women In Squash and celebrate this achievement for Inverness,” says Polworth.
“There is a strong momentum currently for women in sport locally and nationally. We are going to run taster sessions on the day for girls and women between the matches.
“Also we will be advertising the free entry to come and watch some of the best female players in Scotland battle it out.”
For more information visit the Inverness Tennis and Squash Club Facebook site.
