Rural club comes roaring back to life

ADVANTAGE HUNTERVILLE: Jess Leary has been part of the Hunterville Squash Club revival. The country club has been named Central Squash club of the year in its first official year back since 1994.PHOTOS/LEWIS GARDNER 081214WCLGSQUASH1

DON'T tell Hunterville squash players that rural clubs are dying.

After the Hunterville Squash Club lay dormant for almost 20 years, a group of squash players set about resurrecting it. Last used in 1994, it folded due to lack of membership and support.

But less that two years after opening its doors again, it has been named District Club of the Year at the Central Squash annual meeting in Wanganui.

Meanwhile, members George Jeffery and Sue Lewis picked up Central Squash Coach of the Year for their work with juniors.

A group of former players are behind the resurrection.

"As a kid, I was always at the squash club. My parents were part of the founding committee," committee member Jess Leary said.

Last year, Leary and her friends found themselves going to Marton to play. "I thought, this is silly, we're driving past a squash club."

So they formed a committee, re-registered as a club and held working bees to bring the club to life again.

"We wanted to get it back to its glory days, because I know how popular it was back in the'80s. It just needed somebody to really get it going."

The club re-affiliated to Squash NZ this year and boasts 90 members. The two gongs received last weekend cap a remarkable rise.

"The fact that Taihape nominated us as well, that's really special," Leary said.

President Boy Manunui said the work of a dedicated committee was a big part of the club's success.

"The 90-strong membership from a town of 400 was amazing, he said. It had a strong relationship with Hunterville School too, with 45 juniors on the books.

"It's a family thing and we've got a lot of people there by having the kids there and putting out a family membership."

The club only has one court but there has been space to build a second since it first opened. It was something the club planned to fundraise for.