16U & 14U Callum Warren, Ayden Hardyal, Neil Murdoch (junior team captain).
One of the oldest established sporting clubs in Inverness has celebrated a successful competitive tennis season in the Galbraith Highland League with ambition for more to come.
Inverness Tennis and Squash Club, which was established in 1892 with expansion into squash in the early 1970s, enjoyed victories in two of the junior leagues and the adults didn’t miss out either on trophies.
The star of the show was nine-year-old Daniel Thompson who belied his tender years by winning all of his matches by playing in both the under-14 and under-16 teams.
The 14 and under mixed team were unbeaten on their way to win the 14U second division title.
Each match used four players with all playing a singles and doubles match each.
Junior tennis captain, Neil Murdoch said: “It was great that we had a sizeable pool with so many players getting the opportunity to represent the club.
“The 16 and under boys’ team had a much closer result with a three-way points tie between Inverness, Grantown and Gordonstoun but Inverness won with a greater percentage of sets.
This made them the outright 16U Highlands champions.”
14U Daniel Thompson, Charlotte Thompson and Callum Warren.
The adult members were not to be outdone either with the Mixed A team, led by veteran and prolific trophy winner Brian Mackenzie, winning their league and the Men’s C triumphant in their domain.
The club which has floodlit all-year round all weather courts, are now preparing for their annual internal championships next month and the competition between members will continue throughout the year with box leagues etc organised.
The club is also running a Fast Four LTA open tennis doubles tournament on Saturday, September26. Entries open on Friday, August 14 via the LTA website.
In May, a very successful Family Open Day was held which attracted new members with talks progressing on other future events.
Details will be posted on the club’s website where information can be found on all the facilities available at our Bishop’s Road clubhouse opposite Eden Court, membership and guest fees and how to organise corporate memberships by contacting the management team.
They include not only tennis and squash with changing rooms and showers for members, but also racquetball and table tennis. For the fitness fanatics, there is a gym with modern equipment and weights plus a sauna to wind down.
16U Ayden Hardyal, Daniel Thompson and Callum Warren.
Tennis captain Anne Rennie said: “The club is always looking to increase our membership and activities while recognising the tough financial climate we all live in.
“Our coaching throughout all the sports at the club is vital and we are lucky to have LTA qualified Jack Macaulay offering individual and group programmes for all ages and standards.
“Some of his sessions are free to members which is attractive to those who join.”
Squash also enjoys top qualified coaches in club manager Ailsa Polworth and her assistant Malcolm Mackay and the club accommodates four courts, including the Championship show court which has seating and viewing capacity for 100 spectators.
Internal box leagues and regular tournaments are run throughout the year and some of the best players in the country are hosted on the show court.
Mackay also collaborated with Macaulay and they were the key – with the the help of a band of volunteers including other qualified coaches.- to the success of the recent junior summer camps for members and non-members.
Table Tennis is also thriving with coaching run by Stephen Gertsen who is a UKCC Qualified Coach.
Our teams compete in the National League also. There are two tables located in the upstairs studio and a further two tables available for use on Squash Court 2 and a weekly club session at Inverness Leisure where there are 12 more tables.
Racketball is a new and developing section with a regular group taking part in box leagues and it is part of the squash club play session on Saturday afternoons.
Restringing is an important part of all Racquet sports and the club has a quality service including regripping for tennis, squash as well as badminton rackets.
The club’s ball feeders for all sports are used as coaching aids but can be hired for solo use.
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