Martinborough Club leaps ahead

The Martinborough Squash Club is a winner, both on and off the courts.

The club has just been named the Wellington squash region Club of the Year through the outstanding results returned by its teams in inter-club play and the hard work of administrators to swell playing numbers and enhance their facilities.

The club's impressive growth is due in large part to a three-year strategic plan established in 2010, which had as its vision statement the desire to make Martinborough "the most progressive, friendly and viable rural squash club in New Zealand".

That it is well on the way to achieving that objective is illustrated by having already completed five strategic goals and six of nine-short term key performance indicators.

Any sporting club wanting to make progress has to have a strong junior section and Martinborough is clearly on the right track there. Over the past three years or so, the number of juniors has gone from a handful to 30 on the grading list and another 30 heading in that direction.

The youngsters are being given every chance to develop their skills through a scheme that ensures their coaches are well qualified to provide the necessary standard of tuition.

This year has also seen the Martinborough club welcome more females playing under their banner in interclub play and tournaments.

Here too, quality coaching has been provided on two levels, one to help those new to the game and the other to assist the more experienced players to improve their gradings. The effort by the women's E grade team to top their winter inter-league series shows just how successful that plan has been.

On the main interclub scene, Martinborough had nine teams entered in different competitions over the past year and they topped the regional winning rate, thanks in large part to the huge success of the men's C grade and women's D grade teams.

The past two years have seen some major refurbishment done at the Martinborough clubrooms. A new lighting system has been put in place, upstairs windows, which were a high risk to the safety of members, have been replaced and painted and new carpet has been ordered.

An agreement with the neighbouring golf club has been renewed, which allows members and visitors to use their upgraded bathroom and shower amenities, not to mention the installation of appliances such as a dishwasher, fridge, TV and heat pump.

Finally, no mention of the Martinborough club would be complete without reference to the warmness of their hospitality. Just ask those teams who come over the hill and return home with full bellies after dining out on paua, venison and wild pork, if you need any evidence of their excellence in that regard.