Squash booms in Sumner

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32839, 12 February 1972, Page 14

Squash booms in Sumner

It will be a red letter day for squash in Sumner today. Mr T. M. McGuigan, M.P., will officially open the second squash court and the new club room of the Sumner Tennis and Squash Club. In February two years ago, Sumner’s first squash court was opened with a membership of 83. Today the membership is more than 300, and with tennis players, the combined membership is approaching 450.

The new clubroom, which runs the full length of the original court and changing rooms, is 700 sq. ft. in area. Money was raised by various activities, including a buffet dinner and auction and the sale of garden tubs.

The original building was financed by a loan from the Canterbury Savings Bank, and it has approved another loan of $BOOO to add to the initial $7500. This, together with $3OOO from the City Council and money already held by the Chib, brings the total investment to almost $20,000. The contract let did not include any painting, and, even before the builders moved out, a team of keen members had moved in with brushes and rollers. This saved the club $4OO.

Although the playing area and club house are in first class order, much still remains to be done outside. The club plans to landscape the surrounds to make it a sports area of which Sumner may well be proud.