BUS driver Graham Draper has proved just the ticket at Leigh's Classic World of Fitness.

Playing way beyond his form, he won the club's prestigious pre-season squash handicap tournament.

In a thrilling final, Graham quickly established a two-set lead against highly-rated Mark Taylor, who clawed one back in the third.

But he was unable to sustain his challenge and Graham won 3-1 in a fast, hard-hitting match.

Some 32 players of every standard competed over an exhausting two-week period which saw some exciting and classic encounters.

Great performances from Howard Thornley, who was narrowly defeated by Graham, and semi-finalist Linda Gregory, beaten by Mike Carter in an gruelling three-setter.

A Plate Competition for first round losers was also staged, Ian Standing recovering from a first set loss to beat Brian Lockett 3-1.

Leigh RL prop Tim Street presented the trophies.

The competition itself was a boost for organisers, who were delighted at the number of novice and intermediate players who featured.

A lot of interest is now expected in a new squash league to be promoted by the club.

Players interested in squash membership should call 01942-677154.

Tournament Results - First round: M Carter bt B Morgan, S Blenkinship bt D Haines, C Bennett bt M Ashcroft, L Gregory bt C Davy, J Secombe bt T Bulmer, H Thornley bt B Lockett, G Draper bt G Benson, J Webster bt I Standing, P Smith bt G Dodd, D Serventi bt G Prescott, J Ellis bt K Dodd, G Melling bt S Albinson, V Moses bt A Rothwell, D Hollinworth bt J Goodland, M Taylor bt A Clare, J McGrath bt S Hook; Second round: Carter bt Blenkinship, Gregory bt Bennett, Thornley bt Secombe, Draper bt Webster, Serventi bt Smith, Ellis bt Melling, Moses bt Hollingworth, Taylor bt McGrath; Third round: Gregory bt Carter, Draper bt Thornley, Ellis bt Serventi, Taylor bt Moses; Semi-finals: Draper bt Gregory, Taylor bt Ellis; Final: Draper bt Taylor.

Plate Results - First round: Standing bt K Dodd, Prescott bt G Dodd, Albinson bt Benson, Morgan bt Haines, Davy bt Ashcroft, Lockett bt Bulmer, Goodland bt Rothwell, Clare bt Hook; Second round: Standing bt Prescott, Morgan bt Albinson, Lockett bt Davy, Goodland bt Clare; Semi-finals: Standing bt Morgan, Lockett bt Goodland; Final: Standing bt Lockett.

Pictured (left to right) are Graham Draper, Mark Taylor, Brian Lockett, Ian Standing, Leigh Rugby League prop and Classic's Jason Donohue, a former Leigh star, now with Hull Kingston Rovers.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.