The South Sound Squash Club has elected a new leadership team, marking a transition for the organisation as it looks to revitalise its presence in the local sporting community.
On 14 March, a seven-member board was formed to serve a one-year term, with Lara Conolly appointed as chair and Patrick Bell serving as vice chair.
The board also includes directors Julian Jervis, Jade Pitcairn and Charlie Kirkconnell, with Marlene Pursley serving as secretary and Janet Sairsingh as treasurer.
Conolly, who expressed pride in the newly formed group, said, “Our seven-member board is made up of six Caymanians, many of whom have proudly represented Cayman on the national team and continue to play actively.”
“Our goal is to develop local talent and help squash thrive here in Cayman,” she added.
Jervis, who also serves as the assistant junior national squash coach for Cayman Islands National Squash Association, expressed his thoughts about his new role and the vision for the board.
“I feel I bring to the table the knowledge base and squash IQ to help build the club and squash itself to a place where it’s a household sport and most people on island own a racket and can tell you their favourite shot to hit,” Jervis said.
“Our goal as a board is exactly that; we want to make squash what we all think it can be, a sanctuary for safe, air-conditioned, fun learning of a great sport.”
Reflecting on the recent patterns of the sport locally, he added, “The club’s membership has been steadily decreasing over the last several years due to a transient squash community and competition from other sports. Our main objective is to change that. Not to say there can be only one, but I think sports like pickleball have done well to make their sport an appealing sell, on top of the fact that it is an easy sport to learn from a technical standpoint.
“Squash is more difficult to learn, sure, but it is so incredibly rewarding to improve and, to me, is a great way to teach oneself and, more importantly, one’s children about delayed gratification. Not only that, but at the highest level in the juniors, it is a great way to earn a path into the best schools in the [United States], especially the Ivy Leagues, who recruit heavily for squash.”
Beyond the competitive aspects, the board intends to emphasise the social and inclusive nature of the South Sound Squash Club.
“The club is more than just a place to play,” said Conolly. “It’s a welcoming, inclusive, community-focused club where everyone can get involved. With a full calendar of events, social nights and matches coming up, there’s never been a better time to get involved, both as a player and as a supporter of local sport.”
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