Over 5O’s Racketball at Fleming Park, Eastleigh

Mike Phillips (Pictured below on the left) the Hampshire Squash & Racketball Development coach has been working hard to establish Racketball to the O50 club at D C Leisure‘s Fleming Park Leisure centre in Eastleigh.

Mike first visited the centre in June 2010 and was pleasantly surprised to see that the whole sports hall was full of O50 fitness enthusiasts taking part in keep fit, in one half of the hall, they could not have fitted anyone else in, the other half had 5 badminton courts all in full use all playing doubles. The cross section was 50/50 men and women.

―I couldn‘t believe that there were this many O50‘s in one place actively keeping fit, they were an example to everyone‖ said Mike.

At this point Mike who himself is the current National O50 Racketball champion thought that himself teaching Racketball to the O50 club had a good ring to it and following a meeting with centre manager Jo Parker and liaising with O50 coordinator Ann Hardy the first taster session took place.

16 Participants took part with no commitment to sign up for the series of 6 lessons, however all 16 did sign up. Mike has continued delivering tasters with a follow up series of 6 lessons and is just completing his 4th block meaning between 60 – 70 O50‘s have experienced the sport.

―As long as they are still interested I will still be delivering‖ said Mike who has had several of the members ask if they can join in again to refresh their memories, one man in his late 60‘s said Racketball had improved his sharpness and reactions in life generally and now plays other centre members on a regular basis.

The 50 club at Fleming Park runs on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and Racketball is now a big part of their programme, long may it continue.