Steve Evans Crowned British O55 National Champion

After finishing runner-up in 2025, member and coach Steve Evans entered the 2026 British National Championships as the number two seed – determined to go one better. This year, he did exactly that!

Steve opened his campaign against Rob Vivian, a familiar face from the Cambridgeshire leagues. Despite Vivian’s talent and experience, Steve looked sharp from the outset, securing a confident 3–0 victory to settle any early nerves.

The quarter final, however, proved far more dramatic. Drawn against the dangerous shot‑maker Jason Fletcher, Steve found himself 2–0 down and under real pressure. Fletcher’s early accuracy caused him all kinds of problems, but Steve called on his trademark grit and match intelligence to turn the contest around, edging a tight and nervy battle 3–2.

The semi-final told a different story altogether. This time Steve raced into a 2–0 lead against Steve McLoughlin, only for the match to swing back to 2–2. Once again though, Steve held his composure at the crucial moments in the 5th game and booked his place in the final. Sweet revenge for his defeat against the same opponent in the final last year! On the other side of the draw, the top seed Stuart Hargreaves suffered a surprise 3–0 defeat to the in‑form Sam Hanbury, setting up an intriguing championship showdown.

Despite back‑to‑back five‑setters, Steve rose to the occasion in the final. Hanbury, renowned for his court coverage and refusal to give away cheap points, pushed Steve all the way. At 2–1 up, Steve had to save multiple game balls to avoid another gruelling decider. But with typical steely determination, he clinched the fourth game 15–13, securing the title in impressive fashion.

Huge congratulations to Steve on an outstanding and thoroughly deserved national triumph!