Anyone for night tennis – or badminton? MAXINE GORDON attends York’s first UV racquet sport night and discovers it’s all white on the night. Pictures: Anna Gowthorpe.

BONKERS by Dizzee Rascal blares out across the sound system as I squint in the pitch black to pick out my opponent on the other side of the net.

The song seems apt given the fact we’re playing in the dark, with only some yellow fluorescent lines on the floor to mark out the court and a strip across the net guiding us how high to hit the shuttlecock, which has been hand-sprayed a day-glow orange for the proceedings.

Where the umpire might sit, a DJ tends his decks. The courts are flooded under UV-light; a beautiful, eerie grey-purple close up that renders everyone in its wake invisible unless they are wearing white or those glow-bands more commonly seen in an Ibizan nightclub.

Across the net, one opponent has painted a moustache and star shapes on his face using fluorescent crayons. The other hasn’t really entered into the spirit of things. She is wearing all black and moves back and forth like a stealth bomber, firing the shuttlecock into orbit.

I can’t see her but know it’s a she because she has quietly asked our photographer not to be in any pictures. Our photographer is too polite to tell her that – as far as the camera goes – she is a non-person, a no-show, one of the disappeared.

Happily, most people are easier to spot and I quickly hook up with tennis coach Adam Harvey, who along with colleague Jonny Mumby, has organised York’s first "racquets rave” at the University of York Sports Centre off Heslington Lane.

It's thought this is the first time that "UV tennis" has been staged in the UK although Badminton England has already some "Ravemintons" under its belt, where people play under UV lights to dance music.

The event in York, which took place on Monday evening, is a sell-out despite a last-minute hitch. Originally, organisers had wanted to stage night tennis on full-sized outdoor courts. But the severe winds a fortnight ago ripped and deflated their protective “bubble” so UV tennis was switched to the indoor squash courts in the sports centre.

It’s here that Adam challenges me to a game of touch tennis. Or was it paddle tennis? Or squash tennis? Whatever, armed with smaller, 21-inch racquets and a large sponge ball (the equipment used to coach tots) we face each other across the net and begin rallying.

York Press:

The rules allow you to hit the ball off the wall, but it can only bounce off the floor once before you must smack it over the net.

Dressed in white, with some bright bracelets, Adam is a lot easier to spot than my badminton foe – which is great because he has told me another rule: you can fire the ball at your opponent too. The game is fast-paced and it isn’t long before my heart rate begins to climb.

However, fitness isn’t the foremost objective of the evening, says Adam. It’s more about having fun and a way to promote the racquets programme at the centre, where he and and Jonny are co-ordinators.

The notion of playing night tennis is relatively new and the interest is niche. For now.

York Press:

Google "UV tennis" and you won’t find much. But what you will find is dynamite: a demo video featuring tennis aces Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal, Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova playing mixed doubles under an ultra-violet glow (search for “Nike Fluorescent Tennis").

It’s like that part of the pantomime where the actors leave the stage, everything goes pitch black, and the brightly coloured puppets appear for a highly entertaining choreographed jig-athon.

Such was the success of the “racquets rave” that Adam and Jonny are already making plans for a re-run next year.

“The squash players are demanding to take part, so next year, we’ll be offering squash as well,” says Adam.

Whether you are a seasoned player or just fancy having a go for fun, a UV racquets night is not to be missed.

Just remember to bring something white – and your sense of humour.

York Press:

York Sport, at the University of York, runs an extensive racquets programme open to the public. For more information, visit york-sport.co.uk or call the racquets team on 01904 323855 or email tennis@york-sport.com.