Racquet sport is a big hit in Bollington

AN innovative squash training programme for three primary schools in Bollington came to an exciting conclusion last week with a minitournament for the ‘Happy Valley Championship’ at the village’s leisure centre.

Since the early spring, and with funding from the North West Counties Squash League, Bollington Health and Leisure coaches have been introducing the sport to Year Four children at the Bollington Cross CE, Dean Valley CP and St John’s CE Schools.

Some 71 eight-to-nineyear-olds received training at a basic level in their school halls, before just under half of the overall contingent underwent further coaching on Bollington’s squash courts and, finally, three-player teams were selected to compete for the schools in the tournament.

Coach Chris Ogden was delighted with the results, commenting: “There was some good squash on show - which is all the more impressive when you realise that the children have had to learn a new sport in a short space of time.

“There are only a couple of other similar programmes running elsewhere in the country, so we are delighted to be leading the way in Bollington - and now have sponsorship to run it annually.”

Yenson Donbavand, Headteacher at Bollington Cross, praised the scheme as a way of bringing a lessmainstream sport to younger children.

“They have been really engaged and focused throughout,” he said, “but also found it a lot of fun.”

The tournament was won by the Dean Valley team - comprising nine-year-olds Sam Bardsley, Rory Downie and Jasper Weller - who became the inaugural Happy Valley Primary School Squash Champions.

“The boys showed great commitment, enthusiasm and sportsmanship,” said Melissa Downie, a Teaching Assistant from the school.

“We are so proud of the way they have taken to squash, and have played this afternoon.”