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Being on the wrong end of a 19 to 1 scoreline is never flattering, but the CourtHouse is making squash look good.

Last year the CourtHouse was formed and became an active part of Bermuda's squash scene. While some may have worried the club would pull away members from the more established Bermuda Squash Racquets club in Devonshire, it has helped build the sport.

The two clubs began having matches against each other last year with the CourtHouse a shock winner when they met at the Hamilton facility.

Colin Whitney, the head squash coach at CourtHouse, said: "Having two clubs means we can have matches, which is good, otherwise you're playing the same people all the time. It gives them a chance to play different people. It also gets a lot of members interested in playing squash.

"We're a new club on the island compared to them guys, but I don't know if they thought we'd have such a strong squash section. Most of the established squash players started up there, but now the standard at the CourtHouse is really good as well."

The two clubs have split the four matches between them so far with each winning on its home court and the BSRA a 19 to 1 winner in last month's contest.

Whitney said he and Patrick Foster, the head coach at the BSRA, try to make sure the players are evenly matched to produce better games.

"To start with, I think he underestimated the strength of the squash here. There's a few members he knew, but we had quite a lot of new members. It was great for us, but they got their own back again last time.

"It was hard for us because our number two guy dropped out which meant everyone goes up one. I know they won 19-1, but I think we would have won six or seven matches looking at how close some of the other scores were. I don't think it would have been as bad as that."

Whitney added quite a few members of the CourtHouse turned out for the national Championships

He said the club has helped build the base of the number of people who play squash.

"We had a lot of new people join," he said. "We also had a lot of people who played before but wouldn't go out to Devonshire because they want to play during the day during work time. It's easy for them to come down, pop in play a game, have a shower and they're done in an hour within their lunch hour."

Foster, who is also the Bermuda national team coach, said the CourtHouse has added to a squash boon to the island.

The two clubs have had four matches against each other, and it's hoped Bermuda other squash clubs might get involved as well.

Active

Foster said: "We're on a bit of boom. Having a new club built is a massive plus for the sport. We've been the only active club - there's always been other courts on the island, but it's been very difficult to get them to play any league or inter-club squash. CourtHouse coming on board has been brilliant. They've seen to have found a bunch of new squash players on the island. They have a full, active membership. We're working together really well. We're trying to build a full Bermuda league that incorporates the other clubs as well. Coral Beach has a new head pro. I've met with him and they're looking to come on board as well. They want to get in on the next inter-club round."

The first match between the two clubs only involved five players and the last time there were 20 players.

"We managed to get a pretty comprehensive win. We have good strength and depth at this club. We have lot of the most experienced players in Bermuda, who have been training for years," Foster said. "We're expecting them to pick it up for the next round."

He did concede that having CourtHouse missing their number two player affected the score line.

"It makes it difficult when you have a team in order and when you have a person missing at the top end means everyone has to step up so it does make a difference.

Foster added: "A lot of matches were still very competitive in spite of the one-sided score line. There were a bunch of five set matches where a couple of our players came from behind to win. It was close and exciting. We had a big crowd and it was great for the sport to have competitive inter-club squash on the island.

"We're really enjoying that and they're hosting us next time around.

"Fingers crossed that's when Coral Beach will get involved. We always invite ACE and Malabar. There's also a possibility of having a team with a bunch of players who don't have a club, but want to be involved.

"I'd love to have a proper league."

He said "people were a little bit nervous about a new club opening and how's it going to affect membership here. In my view, the competition helps force people to up their game a bit.

"I can only see positives. CourtHouse is running a tournament this week, which is fabulous to see an organized event that is being run professionally and open to everyone and it's not having to be run here at our facility like it has for the last 40 years. It's great to see that happening."

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