Penrith Squash & Racketball Club is launching a major community‑wide crowdfunding campaign — SAVE OUR CLUB — aimed at raising essential funds to refurbish and modernise its ageing facilities. The club is calling on individuals, families, local businesses, and fellow sports organisations across Penrith and the wider Eden area, to rally behind the campaign and help protect a much‑loved community asset.

Founded nearly 50 years ago, the club has been one of the cornerstones of local sport, offering a welcoming space for people of all ages and abilities to stay active, learn new skills, and enjoy the social and health benefits of squash and racketball. However, with the building now in urgent need of refurbishment, the club faces a critical moment in its history.

“This campaign is about safeguarding the future of a facility that has served generations,” said Richard Utting, Chair of the club. “Our courts are in real need of investment. Without support from the community we’ve been proud to serve, the long‑term future of the club is at risk.”

The funds raised will go directly towards essential improvements, including:

• Court refurbishment
• Improvements to the roof
• Upgraded lighting
• Accessibility improvements to ensure the club is welcoming to all

The club emphasises that every contribution — no matter the size — will make a meaningful difference. Supporters can also help by sharing the campaign, spreading the word, and encouraging others to get involved.

Richard Utting added: “We want this club to thrive for decades to come and with the squash appearing in the Olympics in 2028 we need a facility which is fit for purpose. With the community’s help, we can create a modern, vibrant facility that continues to inspire people to get active and stay connected.”

The crowdfunding campaign is now live, and the club encourages everyone who values local sport, community wellbeing, and accessible recreation to take part.

How to Support the Campaign

The crowdfunding page, full details of the project, and donation options can be found at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/save-penrith-squash-club-26 or use this QR Code

If people would like to try squash or racketball we are opening our doors on the evening of our Campaign Launch – from 6.30pm on Friday 1^st May

It’s fun and it’s free

About Penrith Squash & Racketball Club

Penrith Squash & Racketball Club is a volunteer‑run, not‑for‑profit organisation dedicated to promoting squash and racketball within the local community. The club offers coaching, competitive leagues, junior development programmes, and social sessions for players of all ages and abilities.

DONATE

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There were many very competitive, well contested matches that finally led to 2 well matched players playing in the final.

Played over 10 minutes this featured Bob Shelmerdine and Garry Hobson who are ‘well healed’ squash players but who have relatively recently taken up the sport.

Bob had a 15 point start on Garry and even though Garry did make some inroads into the points difference Bob came out on top.

Many congratulations go to Bob

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This year’s Penrith squash club championship held on Saturday 20^th April heralded a new winner in the final of the main ‘A’ competition in the guise of Steven Birkett beating David Gray who had beaten last year’s title holder Mark Jackson in the semi-final. 

It was a fitting finale to a well contested and well supported championship seeing 15 club members fighting it out in in both a men’s A & B draw and a Ladies final.

All games were heavily contested at all levels.

The plate finals (those who were first round losers) in both A & B draws were close matches with Jonathan Christian getting the better of Dan Fawcett 3-0 in the A Draw and Richard Lee beating John Scott 3-0 in the B Draw.

The ladies final was between Nicola Parker and Kath Gray with Nicola coming out the winner 3-1.

The men’s B Draw final saw the old timer Richard Utting competing a much younger, fitter and taller Ben Morrison.

Despite these advantages Richard used his guile around the court to defeat his opponent 3-1. 

What followed was the final of the main competition between David Gray and Steven Birkett with the younger man coming out on top 3-0.

Steven has returned to the club he once played at up to the age of 18 before moving away to University. Playing there, in London and for the Bondi Beach club in Australia where he resided for a number of years, Steven has returned to Penrith where he was born and brought up.

Richard Utting, the chair of the club commented by saying ‘It’s great to have a new name on the championship trophy. With Steven returning to the club where he learnt to play the game this has given our other top players a real challenge to achieve the clubs No.1 position.

Thanks go out to all participants for a great contest as well as John Scott who organised the whole event’.

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Penrith Squash Club Championship

Dear Penrith Squash Members

The club Championship will be held in mid April with the semi finals and finals being played on the afternoon and evening of Saturday 20th April 2024. Timings and schedule of the competitions will be announced once we know final number of entrants.

We plan on running a ladies, men’s and plate competitions, along the same lines as the Cumbria county closed squash championship, where all players according to their ability will be graded into groups of 8. The competition is an excellent format to play other players of a similar standard. ie the top 8 players will be placed in the A group, the next 8 in the B group etc etc.

A £5 entry fee will apply. The competition will be followed by a meal at the Beehive at £3.50/head, so please also let me know if you would like to join us?

If you would like to enter, please put your name on the lists on the noticeboard or contact me, John Scott. The closing date for entry will be Saturday 13th April with a preliminary round being played between 15th and 19th April.

If you have any questions, please get in touch with me

Regards

John Scott

Mob: 07831 592 778

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ANNUAL HANDICAP SQUASH COMPETITION

An afternoon and evening of quick fire squash saw 12 competitors take part in the annual squash handicap tournament played at Penrith Squash & Racketball on Saturday 13^th January.

This competition pits lower league players and relative beginners with the more experienced highly ranked players who are heavily handicapped so everyone has a chance to win.

And so it proved the case with many very competitive, well contested matches that finally led to 2 well matched players playing in the final.

This featured Nicola Parker and Harry Ewbank, two players with very different styles which led to a very competitive match with Nicola coming out the eventual winner. 

All in all a very enjoyable competition featuring a number of players playing in the competition for the first time and a number of lady competitors coming from the increasingly popular ladies section.

John Scott, organiser of the event commented by saying 

‘It’s been most gratifying that there were many new members who decided to play in this year’s event particularly those from the ladies section. 

It certainly reflects the ever growing popularity of the sport in Penrith right across all ages.

It was a great competition – one which not only gave the opportunity for members to play those who they would not have normally played but also to socialise and watch some top players’.

Well done to everyone who took part and those who helped in the afternoon and evening’’. 

Penrith Squash & Racketball Club it proving to be as popular as ever with an ever increasing number of junior and lady members.

Whether you have played before or would like just to give it a go contact the club by emailing info@penrithsquash.co.uk or phone Richard Utting on 07711549257.

It was a great result and a great team effort!

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Penrith Squash smashes its target for BBC Children in Need

The Penrith Squash & Racketball Club 24 hour ‘rackethon’ in aid of the BBC Children in Need far exceeded expectations with nearly an additional £1,000 over and above the original target of £500 – a total of £1,450!

Thanks goes out to all those who participated and donated.

It was a great result and a great team effort!

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The Penrith Squash & Racketball Club is to raise money for this year’s BBC’s Children in Need appeal by getting ‘SPOTacular’ with a 24hr Rackethon.

From 6.00pm on Friday the 17^th November (the night of the BBC’s live entertainment extravaganza) members of the club are coming together to play squash, racketball and table tennis over a 24 hour period until 6.00pm the following day 18^th November.

Speaking of their plans, Richard Utting said: “We’ve always wanted to do something for Children in Need and felt a 24 hour racket marathon would be a great way to support it. We would like to thank everyone who has supported us so far and we are looking forward to the day and hope it raises lots of money for BBC Children in Need.

We are also hoping that people will want to come down to the club and support us as well as donating to our JustGiving page www.justgiving.com/page/1699214354475-penrith-squash-and-racket-ball-squashathon’.

29 members of all ages are supporting the event playing 2 hour stints across the 24 hours.

They will be able to play either squash, racketball or table tennis or all 3 during their stint.

The club will be ‘dressed’ in Children in Need bunting and posters and hopefully many of the participants will also dress up in Pudsey gear.

This will hopefully bring our squash community closer together not only to raise money for a great cause but also to have some fun.

Further details can be obtained by contacting the club chair Richard Utting on 07711549257 or by emailing richardutting54@gmail.com.

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Penrith Squash had two reasons for celebrations at its open day on Saturday 14th October.

Not only was it World Squash Day, when it opened its doors to all those who would like to try the game of squash, but also to celebrate the fact that the International Olympic Committee has just approved squash for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

Chair of the Club Richard Utting commented by saying ‘Inclusion into the Olympics has been a long term dream of all those involved in squash and it’s great that the announcement was just made in time for our open day. As an Olympic sport squash will benefit from an increased profile giving clubs across the country including our own an opportunity to inspire a new generation of players to hit the court’.  

Richard Utting continued ‘Squash players are some of the best all-round athletes in the world and squash’s inclusion for LA28 will add an incredible spectacle of speed, skill and determination to the Olympic programme’

It is such a game changing moment at all levels of squash. It will bring further investment and opportunities for squash and it will be a really exciting next 4 to 5 years’.

Penrith Squash we will be opening up further opportunities for people to come and try the sport similar to that on Saturday.

It proved to be a great success with a mixture of junior and adults coming to try their hand and more importantly a few new members to add to the nearly 200 who are already members.

Richard Utting continued ‘We have seen that since things have returned to near normal after the Covid outbreak, more and more people are taking up the sport particularly amongst the female fraternity. We now have a vibrant ladies section as well as an extremely well-attended junior section’. 

The future looks bright and we welcome anyone who would like to give it a try – just go to www.penrithsquash.co.uk to find more details and how to contact us’.

Notes to Editor:

About Penrith Squash and Racketball Club: We are a well-established friendly club with a thriving Squash and Racketball scene with three competition size squash courts and changing facilities. Whatever you’re level of standard, we offer you are very warm welcome. Beginners are encouraged and welcome, with coaching available and a thriving junior club and ladies section.  

For further information contact either Richard Utting (Chair) on 07711549257/email richardutting54@gmail.com

Some of the attendees at our recent Open Day

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Saturday 14^th October sees Penrith Squash & Racketball open its doors to newcomers to celebrate World Squash Day.

Its coaches and senior players will welcome FRIENDS & FAMILY who want to have some FUN trying squash and racketball with the added benefit that it is absolutely free.

World Squash Day is about promoting squash to the wider community as the very best game for Fun and Fitness.

Clubs across the UK are putting on events to mark the event and Penrith is opening its doors for people to come and try it out for free.

We welcome all, whether individuals or families to come and have a go!

The club will be open from 10am in the morning on the 14^th October until 4pm.

All equipment and refreshments will be provided at no charge. 

Richard Utting, Chairman of Penrith Squash & Racketball commented by saying ‘Squash is a great game and what we want to do by opening up our club is to showcase the fun, friendships and fitness that squash delivers. 

A warm welcome is in store for all those who would like to come along on 14^th October to give the game a go’.  

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On Saturday 16^th September members of Penrith Squash Club, new and old, gathered together to say its farewell to Chris Lilley who has been part of the fabric of the club for over 40 years.

Chris, who is moving south with his wife to be closer to his grandchildren, has been the backbone of Penrith Squash and member’s wished to celebrate his time by putting on a fun afternoon of squash followed by a celebratory meal at the Cross Keys Inn which was also attended by members of the Penrith Rugby Club

As part of the celebrations his long service was recognized by renaming both his favourite court and the club championship cup in his name. 

The afternoons handicap squash competition, won by Craig Donald in the final against Dan Cook, wasn’t just about the game; it was about honoring Chris Lilley, who embodied the spirit of camaraderie and sportsmanship that defines the local squash community.

John Scott, one of the organisers of the event commented by saying ‘ The whole event was not just an ordinary gathering; it was a celebration that brought together members of the Penrith Squash Club both competitively and socially as well as support from the Penrith rugby club which showed testament to Chris’s wide-reaching impact. 

Chris will be sadly missed not so much for his bad jokes but for someone you could always count on for a friendly game or a word of encouragement, win or lose or a host to welcome new members to our friendly club. We wish him well’

A Great turn out to give Chris the send off he deserved.

The afternoons handicap squash competition was won by Craig Donald in the final against Dan Cook.

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