Levin squash champion Peter Murphy's decade-long reign comes to an end

Former Levin squash champion Peter Murphy had previousley held the title for 10 consecutive seasons before losing a semi-final to Darren Bryant at the weekend.

The honours board at Levin Squash Club for the past decade reads Peter Murphy, Peter Murphy, Peter Murphy, Peter Murphy, Peter Murphy, Peter Murphy, Peter Murphy, Peter Murphy, Peter Murphy, Peter Murphy.

But the person engraving the 2021 winner's trophy will have to etch a new name after the 53-year-old's remarkable reign as the open men's champion came to an end at the weekend.

The irrepressible Murphy was knocked out in the semifinals 3-1 by a younger player in Darren Bryant, who at 24 was more than half his age.

Peter Murphy and Darren Bryant battle it out in the men's open semifinals at Levin Squash Club. Bryant won 3-1, setting up a final with Keith Lowen next week.

It was a marathon schedule. Both men had to play five games in one afternoon, almost back to back, possibly favouring the younger legs of Bryant.

"No excuses, though. I was up for it," Murphy said.

With the sun down and a late tea being served upstairs near the bar, the whacks and squeaks could still be heard as Murphy and Bryant played on.

Ultimately, youth won out, setting up a final against former All Black Keith Lowen, the other semifinal winner, which would be played next weekend.

Ian Wharton and Keith Lowen met in pool play at the Levin Squash finals.

"I came up against someone who was young and fit. I think I just ran out of steam," he said.

Murphy had taken on the ambitious task of competing in all three grades before. He also contested the B-grade and masters grade competitions, too.

After finally hitting the showers, he would have played an estimated four and a half hours of high-intensity sport.

Peter Murphy gets a rest between games at the Levin Squash Open Championships.

Murphy was a natural sportsman who played almost any sport going - bowls, golf, rugby, touch rugby, cricket, hockey and soccer.

Although he rated squash as the most intense, he said he rarely got injured playing it and most of his injuries came playing sports where you had to maintain a sprint over a long distance.

"It's funny, but I rarely get injured playing squash. It's just short little sprints," he said.

"It's a great sport for fitness and there's a good bunch of guys down there too."

Sharon Sayer and Amy Fulton at the end of their match at Levin Squash Club.

The women's open final was played on the weekend and won by Heather MacGregor.