Bannister goes extra mile in squash title

Squash PHOTO/FILE

Wanganui squash player Rod Bannister became the first New Zealander to win a Masters title in the 45-49 age group at the Australian Masters National Champs in Canberra on Friday.

Bannister was smarting from his tough five-set loss to Australian Tony Whackett in the second transtasman Masters test, coming into the individual Aussie champs at the start of last week.

But he had his revenge on Whackett by winning the final 3-0, including taking the last set comprehensively, 9-0.

Bannister was delighted that at crunch time he had produced a "complete performance" executing his attacking playing style and aggressive mentality "to perfection" against the Australian Masters 2012 champion.

It made up for the disappointment of New Zealand losing the Vic Belsham Trophy in the test series when they were beaten seven matches to five.

Bannister said his New Zealand team mates had their best-ever winning performance at the individual Australian Masters championships winning five titles to add to the seven which Kiwis have previously won on their tours across the Ditch.

In the 45-49 age group tournament, he defeated Greg Murphy (3-0), Kevin Healy (injury withdrawal) and Mick Bayley (3-0) on his way to the final with Whackett.

Bannister returns home this week to contest the Wanganui Squash Club Champs, and the finals of the Central Premier Protecta Series inter-club.

He then heads to Auckland on September 20 to compete in the NZ National Masters championships, when he hopes to reach his goal of becoming only the second Kiwi to win the Australian and New Zealand Masters titles back-to-back.

Bannister will also represent Central in the National Masters Teams event.

After that, he is planning a well-earned two month break before thinking about the 2014 season.