Rye Lawn Tennis and Squash Club, under the leadership of head coach Tanya McCulley from HotshotZ, hosted the schools festival day on Monday, April 29, bringing together eager young pupils from local primary schools for an afternoon full of tennis, teamwork, and fun.
The event saw participation from several primary schools in the local area, including Winchelsea, Peasmarsh and Battle, each competing in various tennis mini-games designed to challenge their skills and foster sportsmanship. The friendly but fierce competition culminated with “Battle Ballers” clinching first place, followed closely by the spirited team of the “Peasmarsh-ians” as runners-up.
“Seeing the joy and enthusiasm in the kids as they hit the court is incredibly fulfilling,” said Tanya McCulley. “Days like this not only strengthen community ties but also ignite a lifelong passion for sports among pupils.”
The festival is part of the club’s ongoing commitment to promoting health and fitness through sports. It serves as a precursor to an even more exciting event – a free open day scheduled for June 29. This upcoming event promises a day full of free coaching, demonstrations, and a variety of activities across all sports offered at the club, including tennis, padel, squash, table tennis and croquet, suitable for both kids and adults. It’s a perfect opportunity for families to get a taste of what Rye Lawn Tennis and Squash Club has to offer.
For more information about the open day and other club activities, please visit ryetennisandsquashclub.org.uk.
Image Credits: Olli Hopkins .
Tennis is a great sport for kids and adults alike. Rye tennis club charges an annual fee (tennis only) of £70 for members under the age of 18, which I think is good value. However, adult membership for tennis is a rather hefty £421 and £235 for padel. The private club offers excellent facilities but I would certainly like to see one or two public tennis courts made available in Rye — perhaps at the sports centre or the school — so that local people could have access to tennis casually for a lower cost. As far as I recall, the school has one or two tennis courts and these could no doubt be made available to the public at weekends and during school holidays. The only thing needed would be to install mesh fencing at either end of the courts to allow balls to be gathered quickly. I’m sure funding for this improvement could be found if it’s not already been done. I’d urge the town council to look into this suggestion and liaise with the school to make it happen. It would provide an asset for the townspeople at minimum cost.