Vanessa Jennings reckons she was the "arty kid" at school and never played sports. But now in her 30s, the mother of three has developed an addiction for squash. She plays up to five times a week and has shared her habit by enticing friends and other mums into playing regularly atKamo Squash Club. This weekend squash clubs around Northland are opening their doors to anyone keen to get a taste of the game and swing a racquet. Six clubs will offer free racquet hire and court use plus members will be on hand to show people around and give them a hit. Jennings says the sport has plenty of benefits. "I've gained a lot more muscle over my back and shoulders and I'm much fitter." She was encouraged to have a crack at the game by a fellow mum and competitive squash player Fiona Moselen. Jennings was recovering from a dislocated right shoulder after slipping on her way out the door to go for a run a few years ago when she considered playing squash. The shoulder had stiffened as it mended and Jennings thought squash would be a good way to strengthen it as well as increase the mobility. It's the first sport she has played and she never envisaged becoming hooked. "If I don't play for a while I get withdrawal symptoms. I'll ring a friend and instead of going drinking we'll have a quick squash game." A group of mums meet regularly on Monday mornings at the Kamo Club to play. "It's got so many pluses. There's the fitness side and then the social side." The Northland clubs that will be open on Saturday and Sunday are Wellsford, Whangarei, Kamo, Kaitaia, Mid Western, Bream Bay.
