Long-serving club member John Baker is still Cromer Squash Club’s Veterans Champion. Appearing in his eighth veterans final in the past ten years the four times former club champion won a pulsating final against the former champion and No.1 Seed, Henri Paul, (13-15, 13-11, 13-10, 6-13, 13-6) on Thursday evening last week to win an unprecedented sixth title in front of a large and appreciative crowd.

Played under the point-a-rally scoring system, the match was hugely entertaining and featured some excellent squash from both players.

The hard-hitting Paul, who won the title in 2010 and 2011, seemed determined to dominate the match from the start and opened up an 8-2 lead in the first game before Baker, who still hits the ball as cleanly and crisply as anybody in the club, gradually clawed his way into the game to lead 11-10 and then had game ball at 12-11 before Paul recovered to just edge the game 15-13.

The second game was equally as close.

The players traded point for point until with the score at 8-8 Baker won the next three points to lead 11-8 only for Paul to draw level at 11-11 before Baker won the next two points to take the game 13-11 and level the match at 1-1.

With both players having won 26 of the 52 rallies played a close third game was in prospect and so it proved.

Paul had a narrow lead at 8-6 and 10-9 but again it was Baker who won points at the vital time, winning the next four rallies to take the game 13-10 and open up a 2-1 lead.

Paul was not to be beaten however as he stormed into a 6-2 and 10-5 lead in the fourth game before winning it 13-6 as Baker seemed to be saving his energies for a deciding fifth game.

In this game it was Baker’s turn to lead from the off as he dominated the game from the start leading 7-1 and 11-4 and then going on to take the game 13-6 and the match 3-2.

As always the final attracted a good crowd to the Norwich Road balcony.

Technical director Barry Starling, who himself was runner up in the tournament way back in 1996, but who, because of injury was again not able to take part, said: “Time and time again John has proved that when it comes to competitive tournament play he is unbeatable." 

Paul, who earlier this year was also beaten in both the finals of the club handicap and Over-35a tournaments, was gracious in defeat, writing on social media: "Well done John. I was outclassed tonight."

Since winning his first handicap tournament in 1984 Baker has, over the past 38 years, now won no fewer than 19 titles at the club – four club championships, five Over-35s titles, six veterans’ titles and four handicap tournaments – and no other player is remotely near that record.