The 2025 Galashiels Squash Club, (sponsored by Safe Services) Handicap Finals eventually got under way last Monday night. The Handicap Quaich 2025 attracted 22 entrants from across the Borders and the Final was contested between 2024 Champion Jerry Cooke from Lauder and Galashiels Own Richard Taylor.
The Early round losers fell into the Plate tournament and that Final pitted Selkirks Iain Gorman ‘The Waiter’ against Mark Lister, who recently moved to St Boswells.
In the Plate tournament Iain Gorman was ceding an 8-point advantage to Mark Lister, but ths didn’t faze him and it didn’t take long for Gorman to cut the deficit.
Lister, who was nursing an injury and just wasn’t at the races, found the Gorman Serve too hot to handle, as Gorman had an accurate Full length serve that was difficult to return and Lister found he was forced to return the serve straight back to Gorman and Gorman would capitalize and win quick points. This was the story throughout the match, a war of attrition won by ‘The Waiter’ Iain Gorman 3-0 (15-11, 15-8, 15-11).
The Handicap Quaiche Final commenced with Taylor (-2) serving to Cooke (+2) and this match proved a classic as the squash was top drawer and the rallies long. Taylor was relentless with his cross court drives which sent Cooke scrambling from one corner to the other as Taylor tried to control the Game from the T-Line. Cooke’s deft boasts and accurate reverse shots kept Taylor on his toes and ensured the Galashiels man wasn’t getting it all his own way.
Taylor stuck to his game though as used the Percentage shots rather than trying anything spectacular and ground Cooke down. The match was to and fro as Taylor took the first 16-14, then Cooke fought bravely to take the next two 15-12, 15-11. Taylor forced the fecider by taking the fourth 15-10. The Deciding game also went the distance, although Taylor served for Match Ball at 14-10, a great drop shot kill from Cooke eked the game out a bit longer and after a lengthy rally a low drive by Taylot clinched it 15-13 and 3-2 for the title.
Club Captain Del Sharratt presented the winners Iain ‘The Waiter’ Gorman and Richard Taylor with their respective trophies as the players have now settled back into the East of Scotland Squash League where Galashiels boast two teams, sponsored by Safe Services Security in Galashiels, and are hoping for a successful season. Next up in the CLub are the Annual Club Championships which start in February.
