Ian Wright, Club Secretary, introduced the game of Squash to the club in 1965 and acted as foreman to build the second court for under £3,000 in 1967. The court fee for 40 minutes was 10p per player. Some ten years later, Ian experimented with some short handled rackets and the core of a tennis ball as an alternative game for dual use of Squash Courts.
Ian wrote a set of rules and a constitution for an association for this new game of Racketball.
On 13th February 1984, in Stourbridge LTC, the British Racketball Association was founded, having adopted Ian’s Rules and Constitution and elected Ian as its first Honorary Secretary.
The Sports Council, on 30th October 1984, officially recognised the British Racketball Association as the Governing Body for the sport. Membership stood at 55 clubs with 239 individual members.
By 1988 the Individual Membership of the British Racketball Association stood at 650 members and a Sports Council survey found there to be 30,000 players in the UK.
In 1998, control of the game passed to England Squash, with Ian Wright, as Vice President of the Governing Body, becoming Chairman of the Racketball Committee.
The game has flourished in the Bexley Club with 72 players in the internal Racketball League and the Club teams, arguably, the best in the South East of England.
Bexley Club Members have won Kent and England Championships
KENT CHAMPIONS:
Rob Lewis and Mark Steeden,
Nick Eagle (Over 35), Ray Jennings (Over 35), Paul Slater (Over 35),
John Prowse and Peter Lewis (Over 55), Ian Wright (Over 65), Nicky Slater (Over 35).
ENGLAND CHAMPIONS
Ian Wright (Over 50, Over 65 and Over 70), Peter Lewis (Over 55),
John Prowse (Over 60), Paul Slater (Over 35).
The club currently has internal squash and racketball leagues and runs 5 squash teams in the North Kent Priory League and a Racketball team in the South East Region Racketball League along with 2 junior teams in the Kent league. Bexley is home to UK-Racketball Series legend and winner of 16 Titles Ted Jeal.
Ian wrote a set of rules and a constitution for an association for this new game of Racketball.
On 13th February 1984, in Stourbridge LTC, the British Racketball Association was founded, having adopted Ian’s Rules and Constitution and elected Ian as its first Honorary Secretary.
The Sports Council, on 30th October 1984, officially recognised the British Racketball Association as the Governing Body for the sport. Membership stood at 55 clubs with 239 individual members.
By 1988 the Individual Membership of the British Racketball Association stood at 650 members and a Sports Council survey found there to be 30,000 players in the UK.
In 1998, control of the game passed to England Squash, with Ian Wright, as Vice President of the Governing Body, becoming Chairman of the Racketball Committee.
The game has flourished in the Bexley Club with 72 players in the internal Racketball League and the Club teams, arguably, the best in the South East of England.
Bexley Club Members have won Kent and England Championships
KENT CHAMPIONS:
Rob Lewis and Mark Steeden,
Nick Eagle (Over 35), Ray Jennings (Over 35), Paul Slater (Over 35),
John Prowse and Peter Lewis (Over 55), Ian Wright (Over 65), Nicky Slater (Over 35).
ENGLAND CHAMPIONS
Ian Wright (Over 50, Over 65 and Over 70), Peter Lewis (Over 55),
John Prowse (Over 60), Paul Slater (Over 35).
The club currently has internal squash and racketball leagues and runs 5 squash teams in the North Kent Priory League and a Racketball team in the South East Region Racketball League along with 2 junior teams in the Kent league. Bexley is home to UK-Racketball Series legend and winner of 16 Titles Ted Jeal.