Peter Rivers wins final of Handicap Tournament Final in a 5-game thriller

The final of the 2025 club Handicap Tournament produced a 5-game thriller between Peter Rivers (+1) and Richard Little (-1). The first two games were shared with the same score, 15-13, before Peter edged ahead with a comfortable 15-7 win in the third. Both players have a reputation for never-say-die squash and so it proved when Richard took the fourth game 16-14 to level things up and take things into a fifth, and deciding game. In the end, Peter’s power hitting overcame Richards heroic retrieving and he took the deciding game 15-6.

Club Chairman, Steve Dance, was on hand to be marker and he also conducted the after-match interviews (look out Sky Sports!). Club Honorary President, Roger Booker, resplendent in his England Masters shirt, presented the Club Championship trophy to Peter. Both players also received a copy of coach Tony Griffins squash book, The G-Spot. Tournament organiser, Duncan Nightingale, was on duty as cameraman.

All the categories in the tournament are now complete. The full list of winners is:

Championship winner (only unbeaten player) – Peter Rivers

Plate winner (player with the LOWEST SquashLevel who has lost only one match – Ron Marsh

2nd Plate winner (player with the LOWEST SquashLevel who has lost only two matches – James Mortimer

3rd Plate winner (player with the LOWEST SquashLevel who has lost only three matches – Alistair Robbie

The Henley Squash Club Handicap Tournament uses handicaps generated by the SquashLevels system, designed to make every match as close as possible, giving every player an equal (in theory) chance of winning the whole tournament and allowing players of all abilities to play each other – players who may never come across each other in regular League matches or in the inter-club teams. The draw is completely random, with one round being drawn at a time with approximately one month between rounds – sort of F.A. Cup fashion!