It is relatively quiet in mid-April, before the busy summer ahead for my Whistle Stop Tour of Sports with Danny Sitton, Director of Sports. Danny is responsible for around 44 permanent staff and 20 casual Sports team members as well as 50 self-employed instructors. Since he came to the Club eight years ago, he has overseen the explosion of padel and now pickleball, the Gym expansion and updating of equipment, the introduction of many new sports and fitness activities, as well as further development of our more traditional ones. There are now so many opportunities to encourage sports participation for members of all ages, and there is a lot of ground to cover. However, the only exercise I will be doing is taking my steps to get to the various locations. 

We start at the Racquet Centre, home to the squash and indoor tennis courts and MUGA (Multi Use Games Area). On duty today are John Abbott, Sports Receptionist Training Manager, and Sports Receptionist, Luciano Dominguez Cabello. The receptionists assist members, as well as prepare the MUGA for the various activities that take place.

Furial Ben Dharir, Hugh Impey, Staci Novorolsky, Hanna Repetii

Next onto the Fitness Centre, to meet Receptionists Ashleigh Gigg and Sam Denton. They are the first point of call for members using the facilities, whether in person or on the phone. During term time, 59 group swimming sessions, 33 group exercise classes and 25 group reformer classes take place here each week. Upstairs, in the large studio, staff are practising out of water life-saving techniques at their monthly Royal National Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) Lifeguard Training Sessions. Instructing them, with the regular RLSS UK instructor, is Pool Operations Manager, Chris Kelly, who became accredited after completing the two-year training course. Lara Bunting, Head of Swimming & Fitness, takes a break to show me her office, from where she keeps a watchful eye on everything. 

Danny with Katja Harju, Tania Cunha, at the Computer John Abbott

We then cross over to the Gym and meet Hannah O’Flynn, Gym Assistant and Gym Instructor, Cal Attuah-Ansu, in the office, but I don’t want to interrupt Senior Gym Instructor, Igor Doncila, and Gym Instructor, Weronika Kaminska, as they put members through their paces. 

Swimming and Fitness staff practice their life-saving techniques

In the Tennis Pavilion, Sports Receptionists Phoebe Mount and Karol Cyan are at the racquet sports Reception. In the back office, Staci Novorolsky, Sports Administrator, and Sports Duty Supervisors Furial Ben Dharir and Hanna Repetii, take time away from their computers and phones as Racquets Manager, Hugh Impey, examines a newly strung tennis racquet.

At the Outdoor Pool, Senior Pool Attendants Amit Shaw, and Alfie Morrison, are on duty. Both are long-serving staff members and are familiar faces to regular early bird, fair weather and cold-water swimmers. They ensure that the Pool is ready and safe for all of them from the early morning opening until it closes.

Finally it’s back to the first floor in the Clubhouse, where Danny has his own office, and our last stop, the hub of Sports, the administrative office of Katja Harju, Head of Sports Administration and Tania Cunha, Sports Administrator. 

I’ve seen smiling faces and enthusiasm everywhere and dedication to provide the best of sport and fitness, and Danny is clearly a popular leader and mentor. I’ve only been able to meet some of his large Sports team and realise how lucky we are to have them here, keeping us fit at Hurlingham.  

JENNY MONTEFIORE