Squash finding way back

SQUASH: Former Toowoomba and world champion Robyn Prentice believes the reasons for the gradual decline of squash as a high-profile sport over recent decades are many.

But the game she said is far from a spent force and in fact is showing signs of a resurgence with Toowoomba playing its part in the rebuild.

Toowoomba, 30 years ago, was home to five major squash centres.

One by one they continued to disappear but the tide has turned with Toowoomba Squash Inc in James St now providing nine renovated courts for the game’s faithful and stars of tomorrow.

Prentice returned to Toowoomba last Saturday to attend a Meet and Greet day at the complex while helping the Toowoomba Squash committee plan for next year’s State Masters Titles to be played at the centre.

“It hasn’t got the publicity a lot of other sports get, but I think squash is more alive than the general public realise,” Prentice said.

“I’m anxious to try and help Toowoomba Squash build.

“They are actually surging ahead with the opening of nine refurbished courts.

“It’s amazing. Twenty volunteers have done this over the last couple of years.

“The courts were let go pretty badly and were unused.

“But they are totally refurbished. They have nine operational courts and everything is looking really great.

“We are about to host the state Masters squash titles here which will be a big event in May. It’s the first time I think state titles have been played in Toowoomba for many years.

“The message I’d like to get out to the public is Toowoomba Squash is keen for anyone who used to play and wants to come back, they have something going on every night of the week for every level of player.

“They have done amazing job to get nine courts up and running. What we need to do is try and fill them and that’s happening already.

“They have doubled their membership.”