Club Tournament - Results and Write Up!

Reigate Squash Club came together last Friday evening for one of its showpiece highlights of the year, the finals of the annual tournament.

First up were the junior finals. In the Girls U19, Ruth Lewis beat Amelie Briggs in straight games; this doubled up as the women's final, so Ruth walked away with two trophies for her efforts. In his last ever appearance in the U19’s Boys, Ollie Dredge beat Nate Gordon, also in straight games.

In the racketball open final, Tom Broekman brought all his racket skills to bear, as he beat last year’s title holder Graham Gordon in straight games. In the squash vets final, Wayne Beglan made it four years in a row as he beat Stuart Hibbert, also in straight games, in a typically feisty encounter.

In the showcase match of the evening, under the enthralled gaze of a packed balcony, Alan Taffinder retained his men's open title, defeating Rory Campbell in three games. In the backwaters of court D, Steve Perrin came through victorious in the mixed hanidcap final, overcoming his four point deficit and his hamstrung opponent Jonny Ellis, in three straight games.

Meanwhile Simon Fredericks found himself in a ding dong tussle against Dave Martell in the vintage final. Despite having rolled his ankle early in the first, Simon was able to take the first two games. He had match ball in the third but was denied a contentious stroke appeal, which Dave took advantage of in taking the third 17-15. Simon’s eventful evening continued, as he was then unable to secure another match point in the fourth and Dave brought things back to all square, again 17-15. Simon scrapped his way to the title in the last game and was left to hobble around the building on one leg for the rest of the evening.

There was a marathon racketball doubles match going on (and on!) on court C, as Graham Gordon and Steve Kelly, resplendent in pink, were up against Chris Harris and Tom Broekman. Graham and Steve took the first game but Chris speeding around court like a man with functional knees and Tom with his skilful shot play, brought the score back to all square in the second. The Pink Empire struck back, taking the third but not before another rolled ankle hampered Steve somewhat. Chris and Tom girded their loins, tightened their sinews and took the last two games and the title, in five sets.

The evergreen Roger Crabb defeated Andy Catford in straight games in the racketball plate. In the wome'ns handicap Ruth overcame a sizeable points deficit, powering her way and securing her third title of the day but not before Antoinette Bunyan delightedly took one game off her. Clyde Beaty won the men's plate but not before his opponent Stuart Axson took him all the way in a tight encounter.

Then it was left to the squash doubles to round off proceedings, with the pink brigade of Steve Kelly and Graham Gordon swapping rackets and opponents, coming up against the squash doubles specialists Dave Martell & Martin Wallbank. Steve and Graham drew first blood, before being hauled back in the second by Martin and Dave, who then stretched their lead by taking the third also. One last effort from the men in pink, as they drew level in a tight fourth game, before the guile of Martin and the dazzling shot play of Dave, saw them to the title. Exhausting to play and a lot of fun to watch! Graham had the dubious honour of playing in three finals, yet was ultimately unable to make it onto the boards this year, so he wins the inaugural title of ‘best loser’ but what a gargantuan effort on his part.

Big thanks to Brandon, Lisa, Sarah, Davie, markers, helpers plus all the bar staff for making it happen and to Giggling Squid for keeping everyone fuelled.

More pictures will soon be available on the website - https://reigatesquash.co.uk/clubtournament/

Category	Winner	Runner Up
BU19	Ollie Dredge	Nate Gordon
GU19	Ruth Lewis	Amelie Briggs
Men's Open	Alan Taffinder	Rory Campbell
Women's Open	Ruth Lewis	Amelie Briggs
Racketball Open	Tom Broekman	Graham Gordon
Mixed Handicap	Steven Perrin	Jonny Ellis
Women's Handicap	Ruth Lewis	Antoinette Bunyan
Vets	Wayne Beglan	Stuart Hibbert
Vintage	Simon Fredericks	Dave Martell
Squash Doubles	Martell/Wallbank	Gordon/Kelly
Racketball Doubles	Broekman/Harris	Gordon/Kelly
Men's Plate	Clyde Beaty	Stuart Axson
Racketball Plate	Roger Crabb	Andy Catford