Squash star Laura Massaro claimed the biggest success of her career yesterday when she beat Yorkshire favourite Jenny Duncalf to become Women’s British National Squash Champion in Manchester.

The delighted 27-year-old, who is expected to return to action for Blackburn’s East Lancashire club on Tuesday in the North West Counties League, became the first Lancashire winner of the title in the event’s history.

The England number three arrived at Manchester National Squash Centre fresh from international success in the USA where she upset three higher-ranked players, including the 14-month-unbeaten world number one Nicol David, to win the biggest Tour title of her career in Cleveland.

Massaro reached the final after battling to victory over second-seeded Irish opponent Madeline Perry.

But after taking the opening game in the final, the world No9 slipped behind as England team-mate Duncalf, ranked two in the world, began to dominate.

Despite going into the match 3-11 down on their career head-to-head tally, Massaro beat Duncalf last week in Cleveland – and picked up her game to draw level, before dominating the decider to come through 11-7, 9-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-2 after 62 energy sapping minutes.

“It sounds pretty good, doesn’t it – British National champion,” said the jubilant Massaro, after her first-time success in her second final since 2008.

“I just kept thinking in that last game ‘keep calm, keep calm, and keep volleying’.

“Jenny played so well in that third game – and the fourth was quite tight.

“But I just got on top of it in the fifth, and that made all the difference.”