A FORMER leading Malvern Squash Club player has won a world title at the tender age of 71.

Dr John Cox, who was the top player at the club during the 70s and up until the mid 80s, won the men's 70-74 age category at the World Masters Games Squash Championships held at Melbourne, Australia.

Cox, twice a British Open Over-55 champion, extended his medal tally with a 3-0 final victory over Nino Sydney from Australia, winning 9-0, 9-1 and 9-6.

Hereford-based Cox was the top player for the Malvern club, he won the club championship in 1973, 1976 and 1977 and led the team to the Worcestershire Squash League Division One championship when the game was at its most popular.

The oldest squash competitor at the Games was Vic Hunt, who at 87 competed in the Men's 70+ combined category and was still able to win two out of three matches played. Father of Australia's legendary seven-times British Open champion Geoff Hunt, Vic also entered the 80+ category and was awarded the Gold Medal.

"The truth is that he was the only entrant - obviously he had scared off all opposition," quipped organiser Paul Vear.