CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP 2021 FINAL
Reigning Club Champion Tony Elliot was aiming for 4 titles in a row against a rejuvenated Iain Laing. Laing previously won the championship in 1999 and 2002 and after a 14 year absence from squash was back to the top of his game.
Tony’s path to the final had been fairly straight forward with comprehensive 2-0 victories over Callum McRoberts and Brian Magowan before a tougher tussle with Jordan Reid in the Semi-Finals but made the final without dropping a game.
Iain Laing started with a 2-0 victory over old adversary Amir Hosny followed by 2-0 against Piers Wilkinson. In Laing’s Semi-Final it was a tighter match with a 3-1 victory over Graeme Gillie, Gillie was on the recovery from a back injury and wasn’t moving quite as freely as he could.
In the Final both Elliot and Laing started slowly with placement of shots being key over hard and fast hits and the points were tit for tat till 5-5; Elliot got the hand at 5-5 and really started speeding the game up and varying the shots which meant Laing had to think just as quick as he could move to keep up with the play; this took Elliot to an 11-5 lead when Laing managed to put a drive past Elliot to get the hand back, but despite Laing trying to find the back corners, Elliot would pounce on the shot and volley everything that looked like going past him to take it 15-6. The Second game seen Laing regain focus and leading the rallies and although Laing kept pace with Elliot for most of the game, a few tinned shots from Laing let Elliot sneak it 15-12. The squash in the third game was top drawer and Laing seemed to have an answer for Elliot’s deft shots. Laing was serving at 13-13 and after a 20+ shot rally a series of front court drop shots seen Tony put one just out of Iain’s reach for 14-13 and Tony got the hand and control of the rally and took the third for a 3-0 victory.
After the match Elliot described the match as “Proper Squash” and Iain Laing just rued the fact he was the Older and not as Fit as the younger Elliot.
Tony Elliot becomes only the 2nd player to win 4 titles in a row along side Club Legend Iain Hogg, and will be looking to be the Only player to win 5 in a row next year. Tony Elliot 3-0 Iain Laing (15-6, 15-12, 15-13)