THE Dorset County Squash Championships were held at Dorchester Tennis and Squash Club and were a huge success.

Many doubted that a three-court club would be able to hold such a prestigious competition but Dorchester proved more than capable.

The event saw 65 good quality matches totalling 231 games played over the weekend ranging over four categories Main, B, Over-55s and Ladies.

Dorchester themselves had 10 players entered with four of them picking up awards.

Ben Lever was runner-up in the men;s B, Oliver Moffat finished second in the B Plate, while Gary Biles won the over-55s and Giles Watts was runner-up in the same category.

Clive Ewins and Tony Webb put on an amazing final in the men's Main competition but the former as always was too strong winning 11-6, 11-6, 11-8 to make it his 20th win in the Dorset County Closed.

The plate winner of the men's Main was junior turning senior Adam Aldridge who beat Andy Budgen 11-8, 11-7, 11-3.

The men;s B category was a hard-fought game between Two Riversmeet's Paul Cooper and Dorchester's Ben Lever taking the full five games to get a result for Cooper 11-5, 8-11, 11-7, 5-11, 11/8.

The plate final was another contest that could have had a Dorchester player winning but unfortunately Oliver Moffat lost to Matt Cullimore 11-9, 12-10, 14-12.

Sunday saw the ladies arrive at the club with the Over-55s.

In the ladies, Sharnine Coleman from Canford who is known for her perfect lobs and a deadly serve lost to the more agile Gemma Barber from Bournemouth Sports 7-11,11-2,12-10, 11-6.

Barber last won the competition in 2009.

The Over-55s was an all-Dorchester final with Biles winning but having to work very hard for it and being taken all the way by Giles Watts 9-11, 11-7, 5-11, 11-4, 11-4.

As it was the club's 40th anniversary this year they invited some of the local 'old boys and ladies' down to witness how the club was still thriving and how the game had advanced since they last played.

Event organisers Annabel Whalley and Janet Biles were thrilled with the success of the competition and said: "Nationally squash is struggling but somehow Dorchester is one of the clubs that still has a high membership number and we are very proud of that.

"We are a members-only club and we all work very hard at maintaining the club and working together.

"We were very fortunate to have Taste Brasserie sponsor the event and we know we have proved that we are strong and a small three-court club can pull it out the bag."

If anyone is interested in playing tennis or squash, have a look at our very welcoming club or contact 01305 268103.