TAVISTOCK Squash Club has proved that age is no barrier when it comes to winning matches!

Following a comment from one of its team members, Tavistock put up the oldest team they could to play Plymouth Universities’ third team in their Plymouth Company Squash League match and notched up an impressive victory.

Playing at home, Tavistock’s team was due to include players of 64, two of 65, 66 and 75 but following a last minute injury Tavistock had to rope in a much younger player of 62! The team took on the students whose ages were two of 20, 21 and two of 22.

The match proved an entertaining battle of youth versus experience.

The first game involved Tavistock team’s oldest player Peter Strongitharm who, at 75, is still playing regular squash. He was up against Aiden Turnball from the university, who is 21.

Peter played a determined match and used all his experience to keep Aiden where he was least happy, and played some great shots. Aiden’s speed helped him take the first game but with Peter starting to use his experience the final result was 3-1 to Peter.

Tavistock’s ‘spring chicken’ Steve Byrne at almost 62 was next, playing Matt Hatfield, aged 22. This was another determined display from the Tavistock player and after losing the first game 14-16, Steve’s experience showed and he went on to win 3-1 to put Tavistock 2-0 up.

Tavistock’s Paul Dew, at 64, took on Callum Leaky, who is 20. This proved a great battle with both players looking for the advantage, but with a 20-18 win in the fourth game, the universities pulled one back, winning 3-1.

Tavistock’s Joe Kuipers, at 66, took on the universities’ Will Artingshall, aged 20. This proved a one-sided match with Joe, who was suffering from flu, and Will being just too good a player, to leave the match at 2-2.

The decider was played between Tavistock’s Colin Grice, who is 65, and Dean Lobley, aged 22. This proved a fitting finale to the match with both players playing some great squash. Dean took the early advantage, taking the first game, but Colin used all his experience to take the next two to go 2-1 up.

Dean came back strongly in the fourth with a determined effort but he was up against a very fit 65-year-old and in the deciding game Dean did not have the energy to keep up with Colin’s excellent squash and Colin went on to win 3-2, with Tavistock winning the match 3-2.

Simon Powell from Tavistock Squash Club said the whole match was played in a great spirit.

‘One of the main aims behind Tavistock choosing such an old team was to show that squash is a game for life and you can still compete when you are in your 60s or even your 70s as Peter showed,’ said Simon.

‘Squash is probably unusual in that your tactics are as important as your skill level, where you can use a large variety of shots. It has been described as a cross between boxing and chess so you need to be sharp minded as well as fit to play your best.

‘Squash is a game you can take up at any time. The Tavistock players took it up for different reasons and at different times in their lives.

‘It is also a sport where strength is not such a factor and both men and women play for their clubs teams, with the result usually being down to skill as opposed to how hard you can hit the ball.

‘Keeping fit is a major part of modern life with the increasing issues over obesity and health problems resulting from inactivity.

‘Having fun whilst keeping fit is very important if a lot of people are to keep active and squash or indeed racketball (now known as Squash 57) which is played on the same courts, is an extremely fun game to play at whatever level you happen to be.’