Racketball squashes opposition in Huddersfield

Jul 7 2009 By Dave Himelfield

IT’S a whole different ball game that’s squashing the opposition.

Racketball has surged in popularity over the past three years. and it has taken off locally.

The sport, a lower impact variant of squash, is attracting players of all ages to clubs in Huddersfield, Honley and Skelmanthorpe.

Once a minority game, racketball is now played competitively in the region with teams battling it out in the Kirklees Calderdale Racketball League.

Indeed Honley duo Julie Lawton and Jim Lord (a double winner) became national racketball champions for their age groups in May.

The pair, from the Phoenix Squash Club, took singles titles at Over 35 and Over 40 at the British National Racketball Championships played at Edgbaston Priory in Birmingham.

David Hymas, head coach at Huddersfield Lawn Tennis and Squash Club, Edgerton, says the sport’s sudden rise is, in part, due to the rebranding of England Squash.