Old Patesians Squash Club are returning home today after a four-day tour to Bordeaux.

And they had plenty to celebrate while they were in the south west of France because their A team were confirmed as champions of the Gloucestershire Squash League just before they flew out.

They’d actually finished their Spring campaign at the end of April with a 15-8 win at title rivals East Glos B which left them on top of the table.

It was their 10^th victory in 12 matches but they then had an anxious seven-day wait to see if East Glos could overhaul them in their final game.

And it was tight because East Glos won 15-8 at Monmouth A, but it wasn’t enough to take them past the Pats, who finished four points clear at the top of the seven-team division.

“It’s a massive achievement,” said Pats captain Dan Heaton. “It’s something we’ve been wanting to win for some time.

“We’ve been close a couple of times, so to manage to win it is great. It’s not something we’ve done for quite a while since the days when Nathan Lake was playing for us.”

Lake is a professional squash player who reached a career high ranking of 22 in the world just over two years ago.

The now 32-year-old came through the junior set-up at Old Pats under the expert eye of long-term coach Gary Powell.

Heaton, who is 42 and has been captain of the Pats for more than a decade, also came through the club’s junior ranks and he said: “It’s really nice, there are quite a few of us in the team who were at the club as youngsters – Joel Payne, Owain Fullerton, James Hession, Sam Terrell and Joe Price.”

Old Pats B team finished third in the division, a division that also included East Glos A, Stroud A and Cotswold B.

The Pats also have a C team that compete in Division One of the Gloucestershire Squash League and Heaton said: “Anyone of any standard who’d like to play squash at Old Patesians is always welcome.”

For more information, call Heaton on 07932 878501.