A Bolton sports club’s initiative to attract more women and girls into sport is winning national praise. Markland Hill Racquets Club in Victoria Road, Heaton, has six tennis courts, four badminton/ Pickleball courts, two squash courts and table tennis facilities. As one of the region’s oldest, the 97 years-old sports club has long attracted families and sports’ enthusiasts of all ages but is now widening its brief.
One of the new initiatives has been twice weekly female-only introduction to badminton sessions. Around 25 women and girls attended the 10-week course with the club’s Director of Badminton Graham Holt leading the coaching. Badminton England , the sport’s over-arching body which boosted the sessions with a £1,000 grant, was so impressed with the course results that they invested in a professionally made video.
Now that three and a half minute video has won praise from national charity Women in Sport. They commented: “This is a wonderful video and what a fabulous club you are building. We know the power sport has to transform lives for the better.
” Graham Holt is delighted with the response. “We wanted to provide a safe space for women and girls to be introduced to badminton properly while having a fun time,” he explained. “A large number of those who attended came from rounders and so were used to team play and socializing with others.
This helped to provide a great atmosphere.” One of them, local businesswoman Mandy Foster, described the cour.
