Saint-Pierre holds third “3 Raquettes” challenge for club members

Thirty-five to forty participants gathered across six courts at the Centre Culturel et Sportif and the Roger-Hayes tennis center in Saint-Pierre for the third edition of the “3 Raquettes” challenge on Sunday, October 4. The multi-sport event brings together members from local tennis, badminton, and table tennis clubs for an unranked day of rotation across the three disciplines.

Three Sports and Six Courts Shape Saint-Pierre Challenge

The event is organized jointly by three local sports structures: Saint-Pierre Tennis Action, ASSP, and SPM Bad 975. During the Sunday gathering, players rotate through tennis, badminton, and table tennis matches without tracking scores or standings. Alexandre Hublart, president of SPM Bad 975, outlined the philosophy behind the format. “There is no rule, no winner, no loser,” Hublart said. “It’s about discovery and a way to mix the three associations.”

While the event operates strictly on a recreational basis, participation is currently limited to active members of the three organizing clubs. Hublart noted that opening the challenge to external participants remains a possibility for future editions, though such an expansion would require substantial logistical planning.

Participants Test Skills Across Familiar and New Disciplines

The format pairs players of varying ages, skill levels, and genders together on the same court in a relaxed environment. Ten-year-old Lise, a regular badminton player participating in the challenge, described the adjustment required when switching equipment. “I’m used to the racquet, so table tennis is easy for me, but it’s still complicated,” she said.

While multi-sport racquet events remain relatively unique to this regional gathering, structured club environments for individual racquet sports operate with distinct setups elsewhere. For comparison, the Raquettes Club Portets maintains four outdoor tennis courts alongside an indoor facility to support year-round play, offering programs for children starting at age three alongside competitive league teams.

Local Clubs Coordinate Sports Facilities in Saint-Pierre

Sunday’s gathering utilized both indoor and outdoor municipal facilities in Saint-Pierre to accommodate the rapid transitions between sports. Organizers from Saint-Pierre Tennis Action, ASSP, and SPM Bad 975 managed equipment setups across the six designated playing areas to keep participants moving between the tennis nets, badminton courts, and table tennis tables throughout the day.

Reporting on the event was handled by Aldric Lahiton and Jérôme Anger, highlighting the collaboration between the racquet sport communities.