If you walk into the Courtenay Recreation Centre on a Wednesday night, the first thing you’ll often hear is the sound of something being “smacked around.”
Upon closer inspection, the prevailing sound is accompanied by two extremely sweaty and typically out-of-breath players moving in small quarters hitting a little squishy black ball, using chess-like strategies to make a winning shot.
The game of squash heralds all the qualities of healthy living – the continuous nature of the game requires a lot of stop and start requiring both speed and endurance. Not unlike chess, squash requires players to be patient in their attack coupled with quickly thinking on their feet. Camaraderie and laughter is always at its best at the courts; many of us moan and groan about missed shots, while our opponents raise their glasses and gloat about their winning drop shot.
The Comox Valley Squash Club is home to over 200 players; a mixture of beginner and seasoned players. April typically marks the end of the season for most local players and the Comox Valley Squash Club is gearing up to host its traditional Easter Bunny Squash Tournament from April 3-6. It’s known in the squash community as “the best Island tournament” and many players travel to enjoy the competition, great food and entertainment and the welcoming community of the Comox Valley.
The squash club has partnered with St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation to raise funds to support the purchase of sleep-over chairs for the Birthing Rooms at St. Joseph’s Hospital.
“St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation is very grateful to the Comox Valley Squash Club to have the opportunity to partner with this event,” says Lynn Dashkewytch, executive director of the St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation. “It takes support from the community to keep the hospital on the cutting edge of equipment and patient comfort items.”
There are many ways to get involved:
• Support a local squash player and the hospital foundation by purchasing a raffle ticket to win great prizes – two tickets anywhere WestJet flies, a Whistler Golf package worth $1,300 and an original painting by Vancouver Island artist Maureen Maryka worth $600. Raffle tickets can be purchased at the hospital foundation or by e-mailing cvsquash@gmail.com.
• Sign up for the tournament. We welcome and enjoy new members. For more information, go to http://www.squashbc.com/calendar/index.cfm. Entry deadline is March 28.
• Not sure you want to play yet? Come on out and enjoy this fantastic spectator sport. Squash is highly entertaining. It’s fast, fun and furious. You won’t be disappointed.
– Comox Valley Squash Club