Excellent squash was played throughout the competition, with many games being decided on the last point of the match.

After two days of hard work on the courts for finalists Colin Paterson and Jimmy Cassidy, it was fitting that their showdown should go all the way to the very last point of the last set.

Cassidy was frustrated by the more controlled play of Paterson, using the front of the court on a high percentage of the winning points. Jimmy battled and produced a three-set match but may well have lost sleep thinking that he should have finished the contest in the second set, if not the third, as he had a considerable lead in each.

However, Colin held his nerve to secure victory.

The plate final was between Martyn Cook and last year's plate winner, Chris Ambrose. Ambrose fought tirelessly but Cook had the more decisive shots and pulled back the deficit to lift the trophy.

Meanwhile, Alan Scott won the Thurso Mortgage Shop League after producing the goods throughout a full 12-month spell. The new winner had secured the title with a couple of months to spare, leaving the rest of the pack to battle for the other places.

Finalists are pictured with club chairman Ian Adamson after the Taylor Trophy handicap tournament at Thurso. Back row (from left): Jimmy Cassidy, main runner-up; Ian Adamson; Colin Paterson, main winner; Martyn Cook, plate winner; and Chris Ambrose, plate runner-up. At the front are sponsors' daughters Rebecca and Eilidh Paterson, on the right, and their friend Yasemin Turanli.

Andy Smith pulled away with one month left to take second spot, but the battle for third position went to the last day of the league season.

Unfortunately, Dougie Wright and Donald Buchanan, who had been prime candidates for third, both suffered rugby injuries and were unable to play any games in the final month. It was particularly frustrating for Buchanan, in his debut year at the club, as he required only two points to clinch this final placing.

It was a case of "if only" for Carole Mowat, who was unaware of her points total and decided not to play her final league match. If she had, two points would have given her third spot.

Chris Ambrose proved to be the "tortoise" by accumulating just enough points in the early months and finishing the last few strongly. He gained two points in his last outing of the season and, although he lost the game, the points proved vital to secure third place.

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