SQUASH star Paul Clark has reclaimed his title as Wiltshire champion more than a quarter of a century after last winning the prize.

Clark, 43, from Bratton, clinched a 3-1 victory over defending champion James Powley in front of a big crowd in the final of the Wiltshire Closed Championships at Swindon's Wessex Squash Club on Sunday.

He said: "It was a very emotional moment when I won because a gap of 26 years since last winning is a very long time.

"For the past few years I've kept saying to myself I'll have one more go and although I perhaps wasn't expecting to win I've always believed I could do it again.

"I knew it was going to be hard work and it was, with the amount of games I had to play.

"Although I've missed the event a couple of times since I last won it I've generally played every year."

On five occasions he has lost in the final and been to numerous semi-finals.

Clark is the squash development officer for Team Bath at the University of Bath and is ranked number six in England at over 40 level.

He plays regularly in a range of competitions and represents Team Bath in the Avon League and Marlborough in the Wiltshire Premier Division.

A former Wiltshire junior champion, Clark began playing squash competitively at the age of nine and has been hooked ever since.

His triumph at this year's event was especially difficult, as he had to play five matches in two days.

On Saturday he took to the court three times and then had to cope with the semi-final and final on Sunday.

Seeded fourth, he defeated 2000 champion Tim Slaney in the last four to set up a final with Powley, which ended 9-6, 9-6, 2-9, 9-7.

He said: "When I was a teenager I really didn't think I'd still be taking part at the age I am now because in other sports like football you see people retiring when they get to the age of 30.

"The win probably means more to me now than it did when I was 18 because I know now more about what it takes to become good and you are not protected and supported in the same way as you are when you're younger."

The weekend was rated as one of the most keenly contested championships in years by players and spectators alike.

Tournament organiser Dean Watkins said the final proved a fitting end to some high quality squash.

He said: "It was an absolutely superb weekend, there were some fantastic games and it was very competitive.

"Paul was one of the top seeds, but I was surprised he came out on top.

"Basically it was his shot making against James' retrieval and he just proved too strong.

"All the players said it was the best competition that has been held for many a year and praised the Wessex for producing such a well-run tournament."

All eight of Wiltshire's top players took part.

Said Clark: "You never know what can happen, but I will try and defend my title again next year.

"I'd certainly like to try and play for at least a few more years."