Rhythm & Blues reclaim the ITL crown, whilst three other teams fight for the places
Last Friday night saw the culmination of Reigate Squash Club’s 2024/25 ITL tournament, and after six months of intense battle, involving no less than 81 club players, we ended up with a clear winner. Rhythm & Blues put clear water between themselves and the other three teams, thereby regaining the title and becoming the first team to win the virtual trophy on two occasions (out of a total of four seasons that this competition has been run).
Blue’s opponents in this final instalment were Rediculous 5, last year’s champions, whilst Mellow Yellows tried to consolidate their second place position against the Green Machine, who were at the foot of the table. The first round of matches entertained the early bird audience, with Steve Cobby offering early hope for the Reds by taking out ‘Father of the Blues’ Chris Lucas in three tight games, even having the audacity to come back from 7-14 down in the third! Meanwhile, Chris’s daughter Caroline Linton was redressing the Blue’s familial balance by beating Mark Wilmshurst in three further tight games. The outrageously fast improving Freddie Jenkins, a key player in Yellow’s investment in youth, scared the living bejeezus out of Mike Pinggera, before the old warhorse came out a 3-1 winner for the Machine – you’ll feel sorry for that in the morning, Mike!
Kevin Uphill was proving a tricky opponent for Mark Peters, making light of several league’s difference, before Mark secured a precious Yellow win 3-1. Greens now decided to field their veteran crack unit, with Godfrey Jordan overcoming another improving Yellow player, Alfie Champion, in straight games. Conversely, in a rematch of an earlier tie of the season, club Royalty Danny Lee was unable to reverse his fortunes against Richard English, who once again came out the 3-1 victor. Paul McKay showed Julian Griffiths all corners of the court in taking the tie 3-0 for the Reds, but Julian girded his Blue loins and reversed that result, in a subsequent match with Maggie May.
It’s racketball time! In the first of three doubles matches, Sue Denman and Colin Waite shared the points for the Blues and Reds respectively as they beat Andy Catford and Thomas Dalton in straight games. Sue then carried on, changed her partner, but unfortunately also her fortunes, as she and Paul McKay were powerless to prevent Yellows’ Alan Ellerbeck and Thomas Dalton from taking the next round, also in straight games.
Red’s loan shark Tom Jenkins, hoping for a quick muellering at the hands of youth, and a quiet retreat in preparation for his Vet’s match the next day, instead found himself in a long drawn out tussle with Blue’s Fred Taylor, and just couldn’t curb those competitive instincts as he took the tie 3-2 – good luck tomorrow Tom! Joe Ales took out Red’s middle order stalwart Richard Allum in straight games, and then had the sheer audacity to do the same to tournament organiser Brandon Bratton – there should be a law….. Chris Cable was extremely pleased to overcome Guy Huddleston in straight games, thereby securing his first win for the Greens, at the ahem attempt – well done Chris! Guy, obviously piqued at this slight, took it out on Ed Chapman, winning his second tie with a tight 3-2.
Back at the racketball, Greens got serious, as Roger Crabb entered the fray, and in cohorts with Andy Catford, defeated Colin Waite and Thomas Dalton in a close match 3-2. Roger then proceeded to further stamp his mark on the proceedings by taking out Yellow’s Alan Ellerbeck in straight games in a racketball singles match. A second sporting career beckons, Roger!
At the business end of proceedings, England’s O50’s squash captain Wayne Beglan (oh, we have a Scottish version, Richard Campbell, at the club as well – how good to write is that!), belied his ancient years in showing young whippersnapper Ollie Dredge how the game is played, taking him out in three close games; youth can get knackered – there’s hope for us all! And then, lucky us, we were privy to an even more incredible squash match, as The Green Icon Alan Taffinder took on his ITL nemesis, the only man to ever beat him in this tournament, Jack Martell. Breathtaking squash of incredible skill, which Jack took 3-1 for the Reds.
We then entered the graveyard shift, which proved to be very productive for the Greens at Yellow’s expense, as Gus Garcia beat Guy Stedman 3-1. It was left to Callum Carmichael and James Mace to draw this year’s competition to a close, in the early small hours, as Callum secured Green’s second spot in the table with another 3-1 victory.
So Blues are the clear and deserved winners of this year’s tournament, having won five of their six matches. But look at the table, only five points separate the other three teams, a testament to just how competitive this ITL has been.
| Team | Matches Won | Ties Won | Points |
| Rhythm & Blues | 5 | 39.5 | 134.0 |
| Green Machine | 3 | 32.0 | 122.0 |
| Mellow Yellows | 3 | 33.0 | 120.0 |
| Rediculous 5 | 2 | 27.5 | 117.5 |
Many many thanks to Sarah Marrington and Lisa Pinggera, hard working catering supremos (festoon them with a cascade of flowers!), and to esteemed barmen Clive Raynsford Smith, Paul McKay and Roger Crabb (and honorary bar lady Petra Crabb). Without you, there simply would be no ITL.
The biggest thanks go to Brandon for his efficient organisation of the ITL – what a superstar!
And not forgetting Giggling Squid, for sponsoring this tournament and providing the most delicious food imaginable. Roll on next season!
