Squash master wins more trophies on his travels

Have racquet will travel Ian Ross is proving age need be no barrier to acquiring a remarkable array of squash trophies after lockdown.

Ian, a retired engineer from Portobello, has just added the British Open Masters over-75s title to a national (closed) crown gained in February, again at the expense of England’s Barry Featherstone in the final.

The previous year, aged 74, he overcame a number of “youngsters” to take the over-70s title as well.

Ian has developed a keen rivalry with Australia’s Brian Cook who beat him 12-10 in the deciding game of the World Masters (over-70) in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2019.

Ian said: “Last year I met up again with Brian in Wroclaw, Poland, before the World Masters there and casually asked him by how much he qualified, age-wise?

“I couldn’t believe it on discovering we were born on the same day – and just before the entry deadline.

“This time Brian beat me 3-1 in the final.

.“I first competed at age group level in the over-45s section when a World Masters was held in Edinburgh 30 years ago but work kind of got in the way.

“I was content playing league squash until my daughter-in-law, Holly (wife of former Scotland rugby stand-off Gordon Ross) entered me in a seniors British Open and I reached the semi-final.

“That fired my enthusiasm helped by the fact I have always kept myself pretty fit including attending pilates and yoga classes as well as playing a bit of golf with younger son, David.

“The thing about Masters squash is also the sociability and I have enjoyed a fair bit of travel including the USA, Austria and Poland.”

Next month Ian, who turns out at local level for the Grange Club 3^rd team, will be looking out his passport again for a trip to the European Masters in Hamburg hoping to go one better than in 2022 when he finished runner-up.

He said: “Basically there is no upper limit to age-group squash – as long as you can stand up there will be a category for you!”

Ian is pictured left receiving his latest award from a representative of tournament sponsor, Karakal, the squash equipment manufacturer.