Annual Club Tournament

2026 – A Festival of Finals

Reigate Squash Club came together last Saturday evening for one of its true showpiece highlights of the year: the annual tournament finals. With the balcony packed and the atmosphere electric, the evening showcased the very best of RSC’s competitive spirit across every generation.

Junior and Ladies’ Success The evening commenced with the Junior finals. In the Girls’ U19, Ruth Lewis defeated Amelie Briggs in straight games. This victory doubled as the Ladies’ Final, earning Ruth a well-deserved brace of trophies for her dominant performance. Meanwhile, marking his final appearance in the category, Ollie Dredge signed off his U19 Boys’ career in style with a straight-games victory over Nate Gordon.

Tactical Masters and Defending Champions The Racketball Open final saw Tom Broekman deploy his full arsenal of racket skills to dethrone last year’s champion, Graham Gordon, in straight games. On the squash court, the Veterans’ Final proved to be a characteristically feisty encounter; Wayne Beglan maintained his vice-like grip on the title, defeating Stuart Hibbert in straight games to secure his fourth consecutive championship.

The Showcase Matches In the evening’s centrepiece match, played under the enthralled gaze of a capacity crowd, Alan Taffinder retained his Men’s Open crown. In a high-quality display, he defeated Rory Campbell in three games. Simultaneously, in the atmospheric “backwaters” of Court D, Steve Perrin emerged victorious in the Squash Handicap Final. Overcoming both a four-point deficit and a hamstrung opponent in Jonny Ellis, Perrin took the title in three straight games.

The Drama of the “Ding-Dong” Tussle The Vintage Final provided the most dramatic narrative of the night as Simon Fredericks faced Dave Martell. Despite rolling his ankle early in the first, Simon clawed his way to a two-game lead. He held match ball in the third, but a denied stroke appeal allowed Dave to snatch the game 17-15. The drama intensified as Simon missed further match points in the fourth, with Dave again prevailing 17-15 to level the match. In a heroic final stand, a hobbling Simon scraped his way to the title in the fifth, spending the rest of the evening celebrating on one leg.

Marathons and Miracles Court C hosted a marathon Racketball Doubles encounter. Graham Gordon and Steve Kelly, resplendent in their signature pink, faced Chris Harris and Tom Broekman. After the “Pink Empire” took the first, Chris—moving with the agility of a man with far younger knees—and the skillful Tom levelled the score. Despite a rolled ankle for Steve in the third, the match went the distance. Chris and Tom “girded their loins,” taking the final two games to win a five-set epic.

Plate Success and Triple Crowns The evergreen Roger Crabb defeated Andy Catford in straight games to claim the Racketball Plate. In the Ladies’ Squash Handicap, Ruth Lewis powered through a significant points deficit to secure her third title of the day, though not before Antoinette Bunyan took a delighted game off the champion.

In the Squash Plate, Clyde Beaty eventually triumphed, but only after his opponent Stuart Axson took him all the way in a grueling encounter. At nearly 64 years old, Stuart proved that age is just a number, putting in a mammoth shift and testing Clyde’s resolve until the final point.

The Grand Finale Proceedings were rounded off by the Men’s Squash Doubles. The pink brigade of Kelly and Gordon returned to face specialists Dave Martell and Martin Wallbank. After the men in pink drew first blood, Martell and Wallbank fought back to lead 2-1. A monumental effort saw Kelly and Gordon level it in a tense fourth, but the guile of Martin and the dazzling shot-making of Dave eventually secured the title.

Special mention must go to Graham Gordon; having competed in three grueling finals, he earned the inaugural (if unofficial) title of “Best Loser.” A gargantuan effort from a true club stalwart.

Well done to all that took part!