SQUASH and racketball’s prominence in Jersey has been thrust into the national spotlight, with the esteemed Squash Player Magazine publishing three double-page spreads featuring both the sports in Jersey.
The articles praised not only the level the game is played in Jersey, but also the facilities and hospitality on offer for the sporting community, while being a premier sports tourism destination.
The opening pieces also touched on how local surfing legend Gordon Burgis discovered his love of squash in Australia.
When the surf was less than ideal, he and his fellow surfers would keep fit on the squash courts of Manley, NSW.
Today, Burgis runs the successful racketball league at Les Quennevais Sports Centre, which hosts up to 70 players in any one cycle.
In a piece called “Island Hopping”, Nick Taylor’s incredible rise from the director of squash at Jersey Squash Club to the head coach of Team USA’s Olympic squash team is highlighted.
For many years, Jersey benefited hugely from Taylor’s coaching skills and experience. He was instrumental in harnessing and growing local talent, particularly among juniors at the St Clement Club.
His vision was to make the sport inclusive and, during his time in Jersey, he championed the outreach programme to give local primary school pupils an opportunity to try out the sport.
The magazine also paid tribute to Jersey’s Annual Squash Festival, which attracts hundreds of players from the UK and beyond to Jersey’s shores.
It is the longest running festival of its kind in the UK, having been founded in 1978, and, being held in the autumn, provides a boost to the local economy during the shoulder months.
President of the Jersey Squash Association Andy Lewis said: “Squash and racketball in the Island remain strong despite competition from other growing racket sports, such as padel and pickleball.
“The advent of additional racket sports has resulted in many players competing in more than one discipline, causing growth across the spectrum of all racket sports.”
Many young players compete successfully at county level and some who leave Jersey regularly return for the inter-insulars and Island Championships as well as putting themselves forward for the Jersey team, which has competed at the European Championships for many years.
This year’s instalment is to be held in Malta in April, which once again will feature a team from Jersey.
More imminent is the annual inter-insular for squash and racketball, which is to be held in Guernsey on 8 March, where the Caesareans will be eager to defend their title from 2024.
The sport’s future lies in the success of the Jersey Squash Academy (JSA), steered by Anthony Harkin – a protégé of Nick Taylor.
The academy has over 100 juniors in training and competition, hoping to follow in Taylor’s giant footsteps.
The JSA in conjunction with Jersey Sport has succeeded in delivering an outreach programme to a number of schools throughout the squash season, but its future depends on the continued support of Jersey Sport and also the contracting of a commercial sponsor.
For more information on how you could sponsor the programme, the club can be reached via info@jerseysquash.org.je.
For additional information about the squash scene in Jersey and recent notable junior achievements nationally, contact Andy Lewis on 07797 711042 or via email at lewisad1963@gmail.com.
