Geoff Perrett Beats Every Other 70-Year-Old – Plus Cancer – To Become Champion Of Wales

Action from the Welsh Masters Squash Championships. Pic: Squash Wales.

Wales squash champion Geoff Perrett is the pride of Porthcawl – at the age of 70. Remarkably, Perrett lifted the national over-70s title trophy after being ruled out for more than a year because of a serious illness that required surgery. There were 12 entries in the recent Welsh men’s over-70 event and third seed Perrett lifted the trophy after three wins including a 15-9, 15-0, 13-15, 17-16 triumph against second seed Leighton Jenkins.

By Terry Phillips

Wales squash champion Geoff Perrett is the pride of Porthcawl – at the age of 70.

Remarkably, Perrett lifted the national over-70s title trophy after being ruled out for more than a year because of a serious illness that required surgery.

There were 12 entries in the recent Welsh men’s over-70 event and third seed Perrett lifted the trophy after three wins including a 15-9, 15-0, 13-15, 17-16 triumph against second seed Leighton Jenkins.

Perrett’s success means he will return to the Welsh Masters international team and he said: “Becoming Welsh champion means everything to me after more than a year out through illness.

“I was diagnosed with bowel cancer in November 2019 had the operation at the Princess of Wales Hospital, Bridgend during December.

“That was followed by eight months of chemo at Velindre. I missed playing squash, the people, training, matches and more.

“One of the driving forces for me to get back, along with my family, was to play again. That was the top target outside my family.”

World class squash referee Roy Gingell, from Maesteg SRC, described Perrett’s achievement as “remarkable”, adding: “We had the highest ever entry for the age group and he won the Welsh title. He’s amazing.

“Geoff has only just started playing again after his bowel cancer operation kept him out for a year.”

Welsh Over-70s squash champion Geoff Perrett (standing).

Perrett has been playing squash for 44 years. He won his first Welsh international caps at the age of 57, playing for the Wales over-55s team in the Home International Championship matches against Ireland, England and Scotland in Dublin.

Darren Thomas, a club-mate of Perrett’s at Porthcawl SRC, also won a Welsh title by lifting the men’s over-40s crown.

Thomas earned wins against Matthew Lloyd-Lewis – 11-8, 11-9, 10-7 (retired) and Gary Fry 13-11, 2-11, 11-7, 11-4.

Cowbridge businessman Joel Preece was top seed in the over-35s Welsh title, and beat Jonny Leigh 11-5, 11-2, 6-11, 11-4 and James Powell 11-8, 11-2, 11-13, 9-11, 11-4 on his way to success.

Dallas Hayvice made it a Cowbridge title double by winning the men’s over-45s championship. He earned wins against Justin Nemeth 11-4, 11-9, 11-6, David Robertson 11-3, 11-1, 12-10 plus David Rees-Godfrey 12-10, 11-6, 11-7.

Former Welsh Squash director of coaching and development Mike Workman, who retired earlier this year after 21 years with the national body, is the Wales over-60s champion.

Top seed Workman, who lives in Miskin, earned wins against Richard Barrett 12-15, 15-11, 15-11, 15-12, Paul Brennan 15-8, 15-11, 15-10 and Kingsley Rees 15-5, 15-11, 15-8.

Action from the Welsh Masters Squash Championships. Pic: Squash Wales.

James Walters, who plays out of Meads SRC, Milford Haven, won the men’s over-50s event, while Rhiwbina Squash Club chairman Richard Murphy is men’s over-55 champion.

Bridgend’s Tony Bevan came out on top at over-65s level and in the oldest age group – men’s over-75s – Tony Carroll won thanks to a 15-9, 15-7, 15-5 win against Jim Ingles.

Cardiff’s Sian Johnson lifted the Welsh women’s over-55s title, while Rhian Davies is the new women’s over-40s champion.

The Welsh Masters were played at Swansea Tennis & Squash Club

Men’s champions:

Over-35: Joel Preece

Over-40: Darren Thomas

Over-45: Dallas Hayvice

Over-50: James Walters

Over-55: Richard Murphy

Over-60: Mike Workman

Over-65: Tony Bevan

Over-70: Geoff Perrett

Over-75: Tony Carroll