2 September 2010

Cashback helps serve up racketball in Tayside and Fife

Money from the Scottish Government’s ‘CashBack for Communities’ programme is being used to help fund the provision of sport at the University of Dundee.

Scottish Squash and Racketball will launch racketball, one of the UK’s fastest growing sports, at the Institute of Sport and Exercise (ISE) at the University on Saturday, September 4th, from 11am to 4pm.

Racketball is played on regulation sized squash courts and is ideal for players of all ages and abilities, male and female alike. Skills are acquired quickly and players can rapidly gain confidence in their game.

Saturday sees the official event take place to introduce racketball to people in Tayside and Fife. A further five launch events will take place in other parts of Scotland over the next month. Thanks to the funding from ‘CashBack for Communities’, Scottish Squash and Racketball will be working with a number of organisations to introduce a new generation to the world of rebound racket sports.

The University of Dundee’s Squash Club has a growing membership and both the men’s and women’s teams played in the top tier of the Scottish Universities league last year as well as competing in local squash leagues. It is hoped that the introduction of racketball at the University will encourage more people to take up sport.

Paul McPate, Assistant Director at ISE said, 'This exciting launch by Scottish Squash and Racketball in collaboration with ISE is a positive example of how we are working with local and national sports organisations in developing sport at all levels within the university and wider community.

'We are pleased to increase the provision of sports at the University, as here at ISE, we are passionately committed to increasing the number of students, staff and members of the local community who regularly take part in physical activity which is both fun and hugely beneficial in terms of their health.'

Ron Pearman, Chairman Scottish Squash and Racketball, added, 'These are very exciting times for us and we are delighted to be working with the ISE and Dundee University to introduce racketball to the people in Tayside and Fife.'

Those interested in trying their hand at racketball can simply turn up at ISE on Saturday between 11am and 4pm and have a go at this exciting and enjoyable sport. Notes to Editors: Scottish Squash and Racketball was formerly Scottish Squash. Formed in 1931 it has been the governing body for Squash in Scotland ever since. Squash is one of 17 sports in the Delhi 2010 and Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. Scottish Squash and Racketball are one of five new sports to be included in the ‘CashBack for Communities’ project.

CashBackfor Communities is a programme of diversionary activities for young people to increase the opportunities they have to develop their interests and skills in an enjoyable, fulfilling and supported way, using funds recovered from criminals. It includes a range of partnerships with Scottish sporting, arts and business associations to provide diversionary activities for young people in Scottish communities.

For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07854 953277