Campion is crowned over-65s champion

BIX squash player Jill Campion won the over 65s British National Squash Championships held at Colets Club in Thames Ditton.

Campion, a member of Henley Squash Club who plays for Wales, was seeded one in the competition and received a bye into the quarter-finals where she faced English international Sue Pynegar.

Campion dominated the first game barely conceding a point, but Pynegar got into her stride and took the second. Campion upped the pace and grew in confidence, pulling through to win 3-1.

In the semi-final against another English international in Tammy Bennet, who has just come into this age group, Campion ran out 3-2 winner.

The first and second games were both tight, with Bennet inching ahead but Campion was focused at critical points and managed to sneak home in both. Bennet won the next two games to level the score at 2-2. Campion won the decisive match 11-8.

In the final Campion played long-time rival Karen Hume who was returning from nearly a year off due to injury.

The first two games were neck and neck with Campion upping her game when required to go ahead 2-0. Hume got off to a fast start in the third and Campion couldn’t quite manage to catch up. With the game score 2-1 to Campion dominated the fourth game, putting Hume under physical pressure, and won it 11/4, giving her her sixth British National Masters title.

Speaking after the final Campion said: “This was a very competitive tournament. I needed to be playing my best and luckily I did.

“I am delighted to have won this title again, after not being able to compete last year due to knee problems. I am now looking forward to the Masters Home Internationals being held in April and May, and hopefully helping Wales at least maintain their 2025 achievements in this competition.”