Category: Singles Squash

Exciting Events for the 2024/2025 Squash Season!

The new 2024/2025 squash season is fast approaching and we have some exciting upcoming events!  Please get out your calendars and be sure to read this entire email so that you don’t miss out.  

Upcoming Events at a Glance

  • Provincial Singles Championships & Harvest Hit Tournament:
    October 25-27, 2024
  • Monday Night Singles House League:
    Starts September 16th, 2024
  • Doubles House League:
    Starts Week of September 16th, 2024
  • Fun Round Robin & AGM:
    Tuesday, September 24th, 2024 at 6:00 PM
  • T&D and OSDL Leagues Registration Deadline:
    Approaching Soon
  • Junior Squash Clinic:
    Weekly on Tuesdays and Saturdays
  • Friday Morning Drop-in Doubles Round Robin:
    Fridays, 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM
  • Instructional Clinics:
    Various Dates – Contact for Details

See below for more details.

Provincial Singles Championships and Harvest Hit Tournament combined!!

Oct. 25th-27th 2024

Yes, you read this right!  We will be hosting the Ontario Singles Closed Championships (Oct. 25-27th) which will include Men’s and Women’s Open, A, B, C, D, E draws.  This means everyone can play! 

At the same time, we’ll also be running our annual Harvest Hit doubles tournament, including Men’s and Women’s B and C draws, plus a Mixed B draw. Women can participate in both the women’s and mixed doubles events, subject to court availability.

Be sure to find yourself a partner for the doubles event. 

How to Register:

Sign up for both tournaments (listed separately) on the Squash Ontario website here. Don’t forget—register early to secure your spot and take advantage of the early bird discount for the Provincials!

Looking for sponsors and volunteers

We would like to make the Provincial Championships a huge success and we need sponsors!  Your sponsorship will go towards mandatory prize money for the open players, a doubles pro exhibition match (if we raise enough money), and providing pizza for all the players on Friday night.  

Any donation amount would be really appreciated.  Tax receipts are available for all sponsorships. Sponsorships over $1,000 will get your company logo on the tournament shirts.

We also need volunteers to help with Saturday’s lunch service. If you can assist, please reach out!

Monday Night Singles House League

Starting Sept. 16th

Our Monday night singles house league kicks off on September 16th. Sign-up sheets are on the board across from Court 4. If you can’t make it in to sign up, email Nicole, and she’ll add you to the list. Please note, all players must have a Chestnut Hill Developments squash membership and be a member of the Pickering Squash Club ($40 fee—see our membership form).  

Doubles House League

Starting week of Sept. 16th

We’ve posted the sign-up sheet for the doubles house league (all levels) in the doubles court area. Depending on your level, you’ll play on Monday (Div. 1), Tuesday (Div. 2), or Wednesday nights (Div. 3). You’ll need to find your own partner, or if you sign up solo, we’ll place you on the sub list so you can still get plenty of playing time.

Fun Round Robin and AGM

Tuesday Sept. 24th 6:00pm

Join us for a fun round-robin on both singles and doubles courts on September 24th at 6:00 PM. This is a great opportunity to meet other players, sharpen your competitive edge, and have some fun! We’ll start with a short AGM in the doubles court area to update everyone on club events and gather input on future plans.

We encourage everyone at all levels to come out for a fun evening of squash followed by a fun social. 

Join Our Executive Team:

If you’re interested in joining the executive team, please let us know. We’re always looking for passionate members to help shape the future of the club.

Bring Non-Perishable Food Items

We will also be collecting non-perishable food items for the Pickering Food Bank that same evening.  

T&D and OSDL Leagues – For competitive players

The T&D/OSDL league registration deadline is coming up soon. Nicole needs to submit our teams in the next couple of weeks, so please let her know if you’d like to be on a team this season.

Junior Squash Clinic

Our junior clinics are a great way for kids to learn and improve their squash skills in a fun environment!

The beginner players will learn the basics of squash including proper technique, footwork, rules, scoring and how much fun this sport can be!  Intermediate players will learn more advanced techniques to continue improving their skills through drills, fitness, and strategic play.  

  • Beginners/Intermediate (Ages 7-12): Tuesdays, 5:30-6:30 PM
  • Teen Beginners (Ages 12-16): Tuesdays, 4:30-5:30 PM
  • Lil Ones/Novice (Ages 4-8): Saturdays, 11:30 AM-12:30 PM

Contact Nicole for more info or to register.

Friday Morning Drop-in Doubles Round Robin (F55)

Join us Friday mornings- 8:30am – 10:30am

Contact Nicole for more details.

Instructional Clinics

We offer a variety of clinics for adults:

  • Beginner Clinics (Wednesdays)
  • Women’s Daytime Clinics (Thursdays)
  • Competitive Group Lessons (Book a 4-week group clinic with Nicole and/or Sameer—first come, first served)

Contact Nicole for upcoming dates and to secure your spot.

Membership Form

To participate in any club activities, you must be a member of the Pickering Squash Club and have a squash membership at the recreation complex. The PSC membership form is available on our website and is easy to submit. After completing the form, you can e-transfer your $40 fee. Contact Nicole or anyone on the executive team for the email address to send it to.

🏆🥇 A Week Packed with Squash Excitement!🥇🏆

Get ready for an action-packed week ahead at the squash club, with a lineup of events that’s sure to keep you on your toes! It’s all about doubles this week as we dive into the heart of the playoffs and celebrate the incredible contributions of one of our own.

Here’s what’s in store:

  • Monday, April 22nd: Division 1 Squash Doubles House League Semi-Finals kick off the week with intense matches and fierce competition. Don’t miss the showdown as our top teams battle it out for a spot in the finals! Teams will be playing at 6pm and 7pm.
  • Tuesday, April 25th, the top two teams in our Division 2 doubles house league will battle it out for first place. Dayan and Shan will play against Mark and Winston.
  • Wednesday, April 24th – Saturday, April 27th: The highly anticipated super-fun Shin-dig Doubles Squash Tournament takes center stage, promising four days of thrilling matches and friendly competition. Matches begin Wednesday at 5:30 and will continue to about 9pm.
  • Saturday, April 27th: It’s a day filled with festivities as we honor the legacy of Ian Parsons with the naming ceremony of the Ian Parsons Doubles Squash Courts at noon. Later in the evening, join us for the annual banquet at Drums ‘n Flats for dinner, drinks, and celebrations with our fellow squash enthusiasts and friends.

But wait, there’s more:

  • Monday, April 29th: Division 1 Squash Doubles House League Finals mark the culmination of an exciting season of competition, where the top teams will battle it out for the championship title.
  • Wednesday, May 1st: The excitement continues for Division 3 Squash Doubles House League as they play their Finals, rounding off our week of squash celebrations.

And don’t forget:

  • Mondays: If you’re into singles squash, come join us for the drop-in round-robin matches every Monday night. It’s a great way to stay active and connect with fellow players.

With such a busy and exciting week ahead, there’s something for everyone at the squash club. We can’t wait to see you on the courts and celebrate the spirit of squash together!

🏆🥇 Division 1 Squash Doubles House League Semi-Finals – Monday, April 22nd 🥇🏆

As some of you know, our Division one teams are made up of some of the clubs best doubles players. With the stakes higher than ever, our top teams are poised to battle it out on the courts for a shot at the house league championship title.

Here are the matchups for the semi-finals:

Court 1 – 6:00 PM:

  • First Place vs Fourth Place:
    • Raj and Sameer vs Steve and Rick

Court 2 – 6:00 PM:

  • Second Place vs Third Place:
    • Jonathan and Savio vs Kevin and Eric

Court 1 – 7:00 PM:

  • Fifth Place vs Eighth Place:
    • Mike and Eric vs Fred and Mark

Court 2 – 7:00 PM:

  • Sixth Place vs Seventh Place:
    • Roger and Devon vs Trevor and Dom

It’s sure to be an evening filled with intense matches, nail-biting rallies, and fierce competition as our teams vie for a spot in the finals. Don’t miss out on the excitement!

And mark your calendars for the finals on Monday, April 29th, where the top contenders will face off for the ultimate title.

Follow the Pickering Squash Club on Instagram and Facebook for more content!

Upcoming events at the PSC for the 2024 winter season

Happy New Year! We hope you have enjoyed the holidays! It’s been great to see so many of the “regulars” on court throughout the holiday season. If you’ve taken time off away from the club, we know you are itching to get back on court. So here is what we have got coming up.

Monday Night Singles House League

Starting Monday Jan. 15th.

All levels are welcome and the house league is a fun way to meet other players and get a great work out.

Nicole has included everyone from the final round in December is automatically included, so if you were playing in the final weeks before the break, no need to sign up.

If you are new to the league and would like to participate, there are two ways to join.

  • Sign up on the sheet across from single court 4 , or
  • Contact Nicole Pirko via email and say “I’m in”. She will add you to the list!

If you aren’t sure if you are included, just send Nicole and email and she will confirm.

Doubles House League

Starting the week of Jan. 15th.

Our doubles coordinator, Jim D, is working hard on the doubles house league and plans to send out the schedules early in the new year. Stay tuned!

Friday Morning F55 Drop-in Doubles

Starting January 5th, 8:30am to 10am

We’ve got a great group of people that come out to play Friday mornings for a fun round robin style. It’s a good format for any singles player who want to see what doubles is all about, or anyone wanting to work on some aspect of their game or simply for anyone who loves doubles and up for some fun and friendly games with a mix of people.

Come play!

Our annual Lee Hanebury Memorial Tournament

Tournament dates: Feb. 2-4, 2024

Deadline is Wed. Jan. 24th, (assuming draws still have space!)

We would like to invite you all to participate in the Pickering Squash Club’s annual Lee Hanebury Memorial Tournament on the weekend of Feb. 2-4th. This is a tournament weekend you do not want to miss!

Tournament events include:

  • Men’s and Women’s singles events levels A, B, C, D, E (This means everyone at every level can play!)
  • Doubles Men’s and Women’s B and C draws (you will need to register with a partner).

Women may play both singles and doubles (only required to pay one entry fee) but due to limited court time, men may only play one event.

Your entry fee includes a great tournament souvenir, licensed bar, Saturday breakfast and lunch, Saturday night doubles Calcutta (if court time permits) followed by a social night at our local restaurant and lots of squash.

You must register on the Squash Ontario website at: www.squashontario.com. The sign up deadline is Wed. Jan. 24th but please sign up early to avoid disappointment as some draws may fill up fast!

Please feel free to contact Nicole Pirko if you have any questions or concerns.

Junior Programs

Starting Tuesday Jan. 16th & January 20th

Nicole’s junior program runs on Tuesday evenings with a beginner group from 5:30-6:30 and an advanced group from 4:30-5:30 for kids ages 7-15 years old. We will be starting this program on Tues. Jan. 16th. Sameer will also be running a junior program on Saturday’s from 1:00-2:00 starting on Jan. 20th.

At this time our programs are full but we would be happy to put your child on a waiting list and contact you if any spots open up. We are always looking for volunteers to help out with our programs so we can include more kids. If you are interested in volunteering your time to help out, please feel free to reach out.

Adult Beginner Clinics

Adult Clinic starting the Wednesday Jan. 10th.

Women’s Only starting Wednesday Jan. 17th.

Nicole will be running two 4 week adult beginner clinics starting Wednesday Jan. 10th. The first clinic is for adults that are new to the game and interested in learning the basics of squash.

The second clinic is for women only want to learn how much fun this sport can be (Jan. 17 start date). Please contact Nicole if you are interested in signing up or would like more information. Absolutely no experience is needed. All equipment is provided.

Looking forward to seeing everyone on the courts!

2023 Lee Hanebury Tournament is now in the Record Books

Over the weekend of January 27th to 29th, the Chestnut Hills Development Recreation Complex (formally known as the Pickering Recreation Complex) was jumping with over 160 participants partaking in both Singles and Doubles Tournaments.

A good time was had by all. The viewing stands were packed all weekend. The participants particularly liked the complementary meals that were provided and kept their energy levels in top form.

The results can be views at: https://clublocker.com/tournaments/14418/draws

Pictures of the event can be seen HERE.

2023 Lee HANEBURY TOURNAMENT

Poster by Savio Dias

Lee Hanebury Memorial Tournament – Jan. 27-29, 2023.
I would like to invite you all to participate in The Pickering Squash Club’s annual Lee Hanebury Memorial Tournament on the weekend of Jan. 27-29.  This is a tournament weekend you do not want to miss!  Tournament events include Men’s and Women’s singles events levels A-E (This means everyone at every level should play), as well as Doubles Men’s and Women’s B and C draws (you will need to register with a partner).  Women may play both singles and doubles (only required to pay one entry fee) but due to limited court time, men may only play one event.  Your entry fee includes a great tournament souvenir, licensed bar, Saturday breakfast and lunch, Saturday night doubles Calcutta followed by a social night at our local restaurant and lots of squash.  You must register on the Squash Ontario website at: www.squashontario.com.  The sign up deadline is Wed. Jan. 18th but please sign up early to avoid disappointment as some draws may fill up fast!  Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.  

Nicole
Squash Professional-
Chestnut Hills Development Recreation Complex, Pickering ON.

Monday Night House League Round 3!

Hi Everyone,

Here is the schedule for our final round of House League before the league will start up again in January.  The next three weeks will be a scheduled round robin within your level groups and the final week (Dec. 5th) we will combine similar level groups and run a fun round robin.  This will give you a chance to play some other players that you may not have had a chance to play with.  I will be sure to let everyone know when we will be starting up again in the new year.  Be sure to check your new scheduled time for the next three weeks as well as your time for the final week.  I look forward to seeing everyone on Monday!

CLICK HERE for more…..

Retro Squash Event NOV 19th Has Been Cancelled

Hello Pickering Squash Players:

The Retro Squash Fun event originally scheduled for Friday November 19th has been CANCELLED due to low sign-up.

Unfortunately we had a very low response to the sign up for this event.  We are attributing this low response to our membership being cautious with regard to close contact while we are still in the COVID-19  pandemic.  We are sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused our membership but fully support your caution in this difficult time. 

The PSC Executive have made the decision to cancel the event with the idea of possibly rescheduling sometime in the New Year.    When the pandemic is declared over, we will then again be scheduling events such as tournaments and fun nights. 

Please stay safe.