Helmsdale club offers new sport

Like squash clubs across the country, fewer people are playing than before and so members decided to relaunch as a racketball club as well.

Racketball is a different game to squash, but uses the same court and the same markings and is potentially more attractive to beginners, as it is easier to get rallies going, less stressful on the joints and will give people a good workout. The racket is shorter but the ball is bigger and bouncier.

The club has refurbished the court floor and facility and set the membership levels at a price that they think is affordable: full member £15 (over 18), family £25 ( two parents and two children) and junior £8.

They have also purchased rackets and balls to enable people to play without the cost of immediately having to buy equipment. The only extra is money for the court lights (50p for 20 minutes).

The club will be open every day from 7.30am-10.30pm throughout the year. It is unmanned but has CCTV in operation.

The management committee includes members from Helmsdale, Brora and Golspie, all volunteers.

They have received funding from the Gordonbush Wind Farm benefit trust.

In the short to medium term they are planning to offer coaching and hope eventually to have competitive matches.

Chairman/secretary Shona Blance said: “We have a great facility and a new sport for people to try and we hope to cater for people of all ages and ability.

“We are open to take membership applications from today (Friday) and hope to get people playing as soon as possible.

“We will be running free taster sessions in October where people can come along to the court and try racketball – committee members will be there to hit the ball with people wanting to give it a go.

“Committee members are myself, Mary-Anne Ross (treasurer), Alisdair McDonald (Brora), Pat Sutherland (Golspie), Annette Macfarlane-Barrow and Alex Blance.”