About Us
Welcome to City Houses Squash and Racquets Association (CHSRA).
This page contains:
President's report
Hello City Houses Club Members and Competition Participants
I am pleased to provide a short note about the City Houses Squash Racquets Association’s (C.H.S.R.A) operations for 2022.
2022 was a wonderful year for the City Tattersalls - City Houses Squash Competition with 17 organisations entering a total of 56 teams totalling 335 players. An excellent result coming out of COVID and when a large number of CBD workers are still working from home.
Highlights from the competition itself included
- A significant strengthening of A grade in both number of players and the quality of the grade. Most of the no.1 players in A grade a within the top players in the state.
- A best on record turnout of the beginner ladies grade – a total of 44 players across 7 teams. The numbers were significantly boosted by a successful rollout of our “Squash Girls Can” program which we received a government grant to run at Sydney Uni, UTS and UNSW.
Congratulations to all the winners from the 2022 City Tattersalls - City Houses Competition and in particular University & Schools who took out the top 3 grades (A, B & C1) and the Opal Trophy for the best performing Club.
The City Tattersalls City Houses Comp goes from strength to strength. The 2022 edition was the 70th consecutive competition and it is at present the largest sporting competition in the CBD by participation numbers.
C.H.S.R.A (via our subsidiary Sydney CBD Squash Club) organise other events including a morning Competition, Lunch Round Robin and school kids training at the Castlereagh Club. Numbers in all these events have been steadily increasing again post COVID, particularly with the schoolkids (primarily St. Andrews school where the number of kids choosing squash as a sport has just reached over the 100 mark).
2022 also marked the return of the old Commonwealth Bank Squash Club squash court at 175 Pitt Street (operated by Dexus) into the fold. Dexus has kindly agreed to allow C.H.S.R.A access for the yearly competition and limited access to social booking time slots. Negotiations are underway to increase the amount of social timeslots we are allocated at the court.
Outside of the main comp, C.H.S.R.A has been taking on an increasing role in other tournaments. C.H.S.R.A was invited to host the 2022 Australian Open (again sponsored by City Tattersalls). With a total prizemoney purse of $100,000 it was the largest tournament in Australia in 10 years. 48 professionals and just under 250 amateurs completed approximately 600 matches over 4 days of competition. Such was the scale or the event, it was held over 5 venues. Congratulations go to the open winners Miguel Rodriguez (Columbia) and Nelle Gillis (Belgium) and the winners of all the graded events.
C.H.S.R.A also hosted the Sydney Open ($10,000 in prizemoney) primarily at the Castlereagh Club and Sydney University. Approx. 100 entered the event and was well received by the participants (particularly the social side of proceedings with events held on both Friday and Saturday nights).
Of course none of this would be possible or in fact C.H.S.R.A simply would not exist without the dedication of a committee who love the game and want to see it flourish. So my heartfelt gratitude goes out to all the members of the committee who donate their time free of charge. There are too many to thank individually but a specific call out to Julie Searant (C.H.S.R.A treasurer) and Aaron Frankcomb from East Coast Squash Academy. Without Julie and Aaron C.H.S.R.A would not be the success it is today.
Also a big thankyou to our sponsors – City Tattersalls and the Castlereagh Club. Without their ongoing support squash in the CBD would not have the same footprint as it currently enjoys.
Finally thankyou to all players, administrators and court providers who are involved City Houses and with your continued support, I am hoping for an even bigger and better 2023.
Happy Squashing
George Deubler
President C.H.S.R.A
June 2022
Competition overview
Refer to CHSRA Competition page.
