Becoming National Champion: “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try again!”

It can take several years of hard work and training to become a national champion – look no further for evidence and inspiration than Norman Paterson, who battled his way to the MO65s title in Edinburgh in 2024 by defeating both the number 1 and 2 seeds, a triumphant victory that came almost three decades after picking up a racket. Norman spoke to Scottish Squash this week and reflected on the journey to success through Masters squash:

“Whilst serving in the Royal Navy and at the age of 38, I had to stop playing hockey due to a recurring back injury. I was good at hockey. At this point I desperately wanted to find a sport that would fill the void and I started playing squash at the Barrow-in-Furness Squash Club. I wasn’t good at squash, but I really enjoyed the adrenaline rush I got from the close quarter one-to-one challenge.

“After leaving the Royal Navy I continued playing squash and eventually scraped my way into the number five slot in the now defunct Wishaw Squash team that played in the West Squash leagues at the time. Even at this time I had set myself the goal of representing Scotland at least once during my days. In my view representing your country is the ultimate accolade, and in 2014 I gained my first selection for Scotland in the Over 55 event. It was a very proud moment for me; I was elated to say the least.

“My wife was extremely happy for me as she had witnessed all my earlier trials, tribulations and disappointments. The weekend in Cardiff was a wonderful experience. The intense competition against England, Ireland & Wales was physically and mentally demanding in a way I had not experienced before. At the same time, I made many new friends with these people and left the event feeling motivated to experience it again and again.”

Representing Scotland is a fine achievement in its own right, but as Norman says, “The National Championship is the one we all want to win in Masters squash. For as long as I am able to play Masters squash, I will try my utmost to win it.”

“I am a competitive beast by nature,” Norman reflected. “I have always been this way. I think that my 18 years in the armed forces has much to do with this. I like physical targets and trying to achieve them, and squash is by nature a gladiatorial sport. This fulfils the competitive requirement in me, but I’m also a social animal, and squash also provides a wonderfully broad spectrum of people for me to interact with. People with the same mindset.”

Norman met Paul Harris in the final at Edinburgh Sports and remembers it as a poignant moment. “Paul and I have both had to have a heart procedure carried out on us. I’ve had it done twice. Many other Masters players have similar stories about the health problems they are currently dealing with or have fought in the past. It provides me with unlimited inspiration to be amongst them. Good for the body and great for the soul!

“I have played in Masters events for several years now and have won just one event up until this year’s Scottish National Championship. I’ve won plenty of plates over the years — enough to fill the biggest drawer in the kitchen! — but I have never stopped trying. NEVER STOP TRYING. The late great John Rae once sat me down for a chat at one of the events and told me that he believed that I was made of the right stuff and if I persevered, I could achieve whatever I put my mind to. Well in winning this event I achieved. Thank you, John.

“If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try again!”