December ITL – We Three ITL Kings of Reigate Squash Club are!!!

It was the bleak mid-winter, and a plague had spread across the land, knocking out the hapless ITL organiser. A lone mournful bell tolled from the tower of St Mary’s across the crisp, cold town (enough, Andy!). A bright light shone down upon two figures struggling through the deep snow to gather winter fuel; the elderly Mike Pinggera, and shivering early bird barman Paul McKay, and a voice said unto them that they had been chosen to run the ITL, and they were sore afraid.

But no (or Lo!). This is the famous Saturnalia festive edition of Reigate Squash Club’s ITL, where Sarah, Lisa and Roger are waiting in front of blazing Yule logs, with tables groaning under the weight of cheeses of all imaginable types, mountains of salads piled up in barrels, bubbling cauldrons of Giggling Squid curry, their delicious smell permeating throughout the whole club, tankards of Pilgrim’s Ale filled to the brim, their frothy heads always on the verge of, but never quite, spilling over. Come on in, and know us better, Reigate!

A host of heavenly members descended upon the club, keen to build up a festive appetite by taking to the courts in the third round of this year’s competition. Trevor the Ladd was on hand to persuade people in the most gentle way possible to partake in the charity raffle; on offer, a hamper with all proceeds going to our charity partner Stripey Stork. Congratulations to John Dredge whose ticket was drawn from Santa's festive hat. On the playing side, current Christmas no. 1’s the Mellow Yellows were taking on the grumpy Grinch that is the Green Machine, whilst last year’s champions Rhythm & Blues were keen to fill their festive stockings to the brim with points, at the expense of the Rediculous 5 – surely the Red suits have to turn up to this Christmas party?

Well, they certainly got off to a sleighride flyer, with Steve Cobby defeating sage Chris Lucas in straight games, and Paul McKay taking advantage of a handicap to beat Ian Drummond 3-1. Darren Mackay had festive cheer elsewhere on his mind, as he raced to a two game lead against Red’s Richard Allum, but the latter slowly hauled him down, like a cat under a Christmas tree, and claimed a fairy tale 3-2 victory, testament perhaps to the new improved handicap system. In a battle of the Holly and the Ivy (when they are both full grown), young Harry Peters and Ruth Lewis contested some tight rallies, but it was Harry who finally decked the Yellow halls with a straight games win.

Paul McKay had the bit between his teeth, as he secured another three points for the Reds in the first racketball match of the evening, defeating Sue Denman 3-2. Ian Drummond took out immediate revenge on Green’s Stephen Lewis, winning a tight handicap game in five. In another tight handicap match, Morgan Stannard won against corporate ringer (the second) Neil Chapman. Charlotte Fish faced the ‘dashing through the court’ Freddie Jenkins, but she managed the match superbly, overcoming the handicap and securing the tie for the Greens in straight games.

Father of the Jenkins, Tom, ho ho ho’ed heartily in the face of his handicap, taking Green’s Callum Carmichael out in straight games. Paul McCallum secured some festive cheer for the Blues in defeating Jim May at racketball. Never mind the cavalry, battle-hardened veterans Godfrey Jordan and Richard English faced off, neither giving an inch, but Godfrey eventually took the tie 3-2. Stuart Hibbert, welcomed back to play his first ITL match for some time, was now representing the Reds. He offered some stiff resistance to former teammate, and talisman of the Blues Wayne Beglan, the latter eventually coming out a 3-1 winner in a match of many merry rallies.

Andy Catford in an all red rematch from earlier in the season, defeated Maggie May in five games. In a Battle of the Colins, number one corporate ringer Woods defeated Blues’ Waite in straight games. Coleen Cloherty and Jon O’ Smith (that well known Irish barfly) put on an entertaining display, rocking around court C, with Coleen making good use of his handicap to record a convincing 3-0 win for the Reds. John Miles showed no festive cheer in defeating Martin Howe in three straight racketball games. Matt Jones, relieved for once not to be headlining the Yellow team, used his handicap to overcome the impressive wingspan of Olly Dredge, driving the ball home for Christmas. Alan Ellerbeck took down the returning Greensman Chris Cable 3-1, but then immediately had the stuffing knocked out of him by Connell Grogan, who turned the table in a 3-2 win for the Greens. Meanwhile, Andy Catford was garnering more Red points, this time at racketball, in defeating Thomas Dalton 3-0.

In the showcase match of the evening, the Green Man that is Alan Taffinder took on returning hero of the Yellows, Rory Campbell – monarch and page, forth they went. They delivered a clash worthy of recent club finalists, and although Alan secured a 3-0 win, the scoreline scarcely reflected the quality and intensity of this match. Another ‘new’ recruit to the Red cause, Olly Smith, playing his first ITL match for several years, came up against a Scrooge like performance from Cliff Enslin, who won 3-1. Roger Crabb teamed up with Paul McCullum to share some racketball doubles points against Thomas Dalton and Martin Howe.

Peter Knee and Iain Briggs once again treated spectators to a five set merry ding dong, with Peter edging it for the Yellows 3-2. Red’s Paul Phillips was involved in one of the longest matches of this holy night, eventually coming through 3-2 against Jonathan Hart. And in the final match of the evening, another Reds debutant Tom Hart showed just how far and fast his star has risen, taking Joe Ales all the way, before the latter edged an enthralling tight match 3-2.

So there was a narrow victory for the Greens over the Yellows, but the most surprising package found under the Christmas tree was the new found form of Rediculous 5, who finally launched their sleigh skywards, overcoming the challenge of the Rhythm and Blues. Truth be told, there wasn’t much between all four teams on the night, and a quick look at the table shows that we hit the festive mid-point of the season with three teams all tied on points, and Reds closing the gap on them. It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!