Whitecraigs first junior tournament hailed as success, as organiser encourages others to give it a go
Whitecraigs Lawn Tennis and Squash Club has hailed its first ever junior squash tournament as a major success, after welcoming 34 players from near and far earlier this month.
The Whitecraigs New Year Junior Bronze was a graded event, featuring four grades – allowing all players a competitive and enjoyable experience.
Squash Convener, and one of the tournament organisers Hassan Bhatti said: “We had opened the tournament to 32 players, and there was actually an oversubscription which was really positive.
“In total there were 34 kids there, for our first one it was a really good turnout.”
Feedback from parents and competitors was overwhelmingly positive, with special praise for the warm, community atmosphere at the event.
Hassan said: “The general comments were that it was well run, well organised and a great day for the kids.
“They especially loved the trophies – we chose trophies instead of medals and the kids loved them.”
It was a team effort for the club, with Hassan and co-organiser David Simpson supported by the involvement of club juniors in refereeing matches, a factor which featured positively in parent feedback.
Having now had a taste for hosting tournaments, Hassan is keen for the club to do so again.
He said: “For our next one we’ll be so much more experienced, and so much of the preparation work will have been done.
“We’ll be even more organised and hopefully the tournament will be one step better.”
A key aim for the club was to boost visibility and offer options for young players, with a desire to support the development of young players at the club and at neighbouring clubs.
The success of the event has reinforced the club’s belief in the value of grassroots competition.
With that in mind, Hassan would encourage other clubs to consider running a tournament, and shared some key tips for first-time organisers:
- The best way to learn is by doing
- Build a team of volunteers and parents to support the event
- Take advantage of support offered by other organisers and Scottish Squash
The club hopes their experience will inspire others to run their own events and provide more opportunities for young players across Scotland.
If you are interested in following Whitecraigs Lawn Tennis and Squash Club’s example, click here for more information on hosting a tournament or get in touch.
