Titles in the popular Masters events in the British National Squash Championships at the National Squash Centre in Manchester were spread throughout England, Scotland and Ireland - with English successes from Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Gloucestershire, Suffolk, Durham & Cleveland, Sussex, Nottinghamshire, Cheshire and the host county Lancashire.
But the star performer was Sussex's Philip Ayton who beat Middlesex's Chris Goodbourn 9-3, 9-7, 9-2 in the final of the Men's Over-65 championship. Ayton led England to success in the inaugural European Team Championships in 1973 and went on to win the British National title two years later. But the Brighton-based veteran's success in Manchester marks his eighth National Masters crown after winning the Over-50 title in 1998 followed by three Over-55 and Over-60 titles between 2003 and 2009.
Lancashire's Jersey-based Nick Taylor successfully defended his Men's Over-35 crown, beating Kent's Ben Ford 9-11, 11-4, 11-9, 11-9 to win the trophy for the third year in a row.
There were first time Masters successes in the Men's Over-40 and Men's Over-45 events - Yorkshireman Nick Wall wining the former after beating Glen Ragou (Lancs) 11-0, 11-2, 9-11, 11-2 in the final, and Derbyshire's Murray Scott upsetting Manchester-based top seed Yawar Abbas, from Durham & Cleveland, 3-9, 9-10, 9-5, 9-4, 9-5 in a marathon 87-minutes Over-45 final.
Gloucestershire's Mark Woodliffe mounted a successful defence of his Men's Over-50 title, defeating Middlesex's Alan Thomson 9-0, 9-1, 9-5 to add these titles to his collection which includes one Over-45 and one Over-40 trophy.
Suffolk's Peter Alexander also brought his tally of Nationals Masters titles to four when he beat Middlesex's top seed Mark Cowley 9-4, 9-4, 3-0 (ret.) in the Men's Over-55 final. Alexander's previous successes include Over-40 titles in 1997 and 1998.
Nottinghamshire's Adrian Wright and David Lumsden, from Durham & Cleveland, both marked their fifth Masters title successes in Manchester. Lumsden, despatched Lancashire's Moussa Helal 9-3, 9-1, 9-1 in just 20 minutes in the Men's Over-60 final to win his first trophy in this age-group after three triumphs at Over-50 and a later one at Over-55.
Derbyshire-based Wright was also celebrating his first success in the Men's Over-70 championship, where he beat Cheshire opponent Geoff Coe 9-1, 9-5, 9-5 in the final. Wright's trophy cabinet also bears the fruit of three successes at Over-65 and one at Over-60.
In only the second ever Men's Over-75 event, Gloucestershire's John Woodliffe beat Hampshire's defending champion Lance Kinder 9-5, 9-1, 10-8 in the final. The win completes a neat hat-trick for the 75-year-old from Camberley in Surrey who won his first domestic Masters title at Over-65 and his second at Over-70.
Ireland's Cheshire-based Laura Mylotte retained her Women's Over-35 crown after beating Surrey's Alexa Prior 9-2, 9-2, 4-9, 9-7 in the final.
Nikki Fowler celebrated her third successive appearance in the final of the Women's Over-40 championship. But after failing to retain her title last year, the top seed from Cheshire made amends by beating Buckinghamshire's Sam Mueller 9-7, 9-2, 9-7 in this year's final to win the title for a second time.
There were first time successes in the Women's Over-45 and Women's Over-50 events. Yorkshire's Nicola Horn triumphed in the former, beating Kent's Mandy Akin 9-0, 9-7, 9-7 in the final. County colleague Paula Arrowsmith also scored a maiden triumph in the Over-50 final where she defeated Durham & Cleveland's Jacky Gardner 9-6, 9-6, 9-0.
It was also a Yorkshire triumph in the Women's Over-55 championship - but in this case Julie Field was notching up her fifth Masters success. An Over-40 champion back in 1997, Field struck back with three titles in the Over-50 age-group before celebrating her maiden Over-55 title after beating Scotland's Eunice Bond 9-2, 9-7, 9-7 in the final.
But there was Scottish success in the first staging of the Women's Over-60 event. Faith Sinclair, with previous success at Over-45, battled for five games and 44 minutes to overcome Rebecca Czuczman from Kent 9-6, 9-10, 3-9, 9-4, 9-1 in the final to become the first name on this new trophy.
RESULTS: British National Masters Squash Championships, Manchester, England
Men's Over-35 quarter-finals:
[1] Nick Taylor (Lancs) bt [5/8] Mat Lowery (Cheshire) 11-5, 11-1, 11-2 (25m)
[3/4] Mike Gregory (Devon) bt [5/8] Barny Elworthy (Avon) 11-5, 9-11, 4-11, 11-5, 11-7 (42m)
[3/4] Daniel Massaro (Lancs) bt Ben Hutton (Sussex) 11-7, 11-7, 9-11, 11-7 (46m)
[2] Ben Ford (Kent) bt [5/8] Ian Cox (Norfolk) 11-9, 11-7, 11-4 (18m)
Semi-finals:
[1] Nick Taylor (Lancs) bt [3/4] Mike Gregory (Devon) 11-7, 11-6, 12-10 (29m)
[2] Ben Ford (Kent) bt [3/4] Daniel Massaro (Lancs) 5-11, 11-3, 11-5, 11-9 (39m)
Final:
[1] Nick Taylor (Lancs) bt [2] Ben Ford (Kent) 9-11, 11-4, 11-9, 11-9 (56m)
Men's Over-40 quarter-finals:
[1] Nick Wall (Yorks) bt [9/16] Nick Lavery (Beds) 11-4, 11-5, 11-2 (20m)
[3/4] Stephen McLoughlin (Hants) bt [5/8] John Hanson (Yorks) 13-11, 8-11, 11-1, 11-9 (45m)
[5/8] Glen Ragou (Lancs) bt [3/4] Jamie Goodrich (Norfolk) 4-11, 6-6 ret. (16m)
[2] Andrew Cross (D & C) bt [5/8] Andrew Murray (Warwicks) 11-8, 10-12, 8-11, 11-9, 11-6 (49m)
Semi-finals:
[1] Nick Wall (Yorks) bt [3/4] Stephen McLoughlin (Hants) 11-4, 11-3, 11-0 (27m)
[5/8] Glen Ragou (Lancs) bt [2] Andrew Cross (D & C) 11-2, 8-11, 11-8, 11-8 (36m)
Final:
[1] Nick Wall (Yorks) bt [5/8] Glen Ragou (Lancs) 11-0, 11-2, 9-11, 11-2 (35m)
Men's Over-45 quarter-finals:
[1] Yawar Abbas (D & C) bt [5/8] Marc Aldridge (Surrey) 9-3, 7-9, 9-2, 9-3 (52m)
[3/4] Frank Ellis (Avon) bt [5/8] Steven Calvert (Northumbria) 9-2, 9-0, 9-3 (31m)
[3/4] Murray Scott (Derbyshire) bt [9/16] Martin Geear (Leics) 9-5, 9-1, 9-7 (50m)
[5/8] Nigel Willis (Lancs) bt [9/16] Rob Watkins (Avon) 9-4, 9-1, 4-9, 9-2 (37m)
Semi-finals:
[1] Yawar Abbas (D & C) bt [3/4] Frank Ellis (Avon) 9-1, 9-3, 9-5 (36m)
[3/4] Murray Scott (Derbyshire) bt [5/8] Nigel Willis (Lancs) 9-5, 9-6, 9-7 (51m)
Final:
[3/4] Murray Scott (Derbyshire) bt [1] Yawar Abbas (D & C) 3-9, 9-10, 9-5, 9-4, 9-5 (87m)
Men's Over-50 quarter-finals:
[1] Mark Woodliffe (Glos) bt [5/8] Dermot Hurford (Surrey) 9-4, 9-0, 9-3 (22m)
[3/4] Ian Bradburn (Lancs) bt [5/8] Ged Martin (Yorks) 3-9, 9-3, 9-4, 9-5 (33m)
[3/4] Greg Pearman (Surrey) bt [5/8] James Ockwell (Middx) 9-1, 9-1, 9-3 (20m)
[2] Alan Thomson (Middx) bt [5/8] Chris Harland (Surrey) 9-5, 9-2, 9-2 (28m)
Semi-finals:
[1] Mark Woodliffe (Glos) bt [3/4] Ian Bradburn (Lancs) 9-3, 9-3, 9-2 (19m)
[2] Alan Thomson (Middx) bt [3/4] Greg Pearman (Surrey) 4-9, 9-5, 10-8, 9-7 (60m)
Final:
[1] Mark Woodliffe (Glos) bt [2] Alan Thomson (Middx) 9-0, 9-1, 9-5 (23m)
Men's Over-55 quarter-finals:
[1] Mark Cowley (Middx) bt [5/8] David Clarke (Surrey) 1-9, 9-6, 5-9, 9-2, 9-3 (49m)
[9/16] Ian Holmes (Northants) bt [5/8] Robin Ridley (Scotland) 9-2, 9-6, 9-2 (30m)
[3/4] Duleep Adhihetty (Middx) bt [5/8] Stuart Hardy (Wilts) 9-7, 9-0, 9-3 (26m)
[2] Peter Alexander (Suffolk) bt [5/8] Rustom Bativala (Warwicks) 9-7, 9-0, 9-1 (30m)
Semi-finals:
[1] Mark Cowley (Middx) bt [9/16] Ian Holmes (Northants) 9-7, 7-9, 9-6, 10-8 (47m)
[2] Peter Alexander (Suffolk) bt [3/4] Duleep Adhihetty (Middx) 2-9, 9-6, 4-9, 9-5, 9-4 (53m)
Final:
[2] Peter Alexander (Suffolk) bt [1] Mark Cowley (Middx) 9-4, 9-4, 3-0 ret. (35m)
Men's Over-60 quarter-finals:
[1] David Lumsden (D & C) bt [5/8] Howard Cherlin (Middx) 9-7, 9-2, 6-9, 5-9, 9-5 (46m)
[5/8] Mick Broomhall (Cheshire) bt Mark Ian Thompson (Yorks) 9-0, 8-10, 9-4, 9-3 (37m)
Terry Belshaw (Cumbria) bt [5/8] Jim Dougal (Scotland) 10-8, 6-9, 9-6, 4-9, 10-9 (43m)
[2] Moussa Helal (Lancs) bt [5/8] David Cooper (Herts) 9-4, 9-1, 9-0 (24m)
Semi-finals:
[1] David Lumsden (D & C) bt [5/8] Mick Broomhall (Cheshire) 9-2, 9-2, 9-6 (23m)
[2] Moussa Helal (Lancs) bt Terry Belshaw (Cumbria) 4-9, 9-1, 9-3, 9-0 (23m)
Final:
[1] David Lumsden (D & C) bt [2] Moussa Helal (Lancs) 9-3, 9-1, 9-1 (20m)
Men's Over-65 quarter-finals:
[1] Philip Ayton (Sussex) bt Guy Davies (Devon) 9-7, 9-2, 9-0 (21m)
[5/8] John Oliver Smith (Northumbria) bt William Wilson (Cheshire) 9-7, 9-2, 9-4 (24m)
[3/4] Chris Goodbourn (Middx) bt [5/8] David Hardern (Notts) 9-6, 9-0, 9-5 (19m)
[2] Rodney Boswell (Cheshire) bt [5/8] Graham Fisher (Sussex) 9-4, 9-1, 9-2 (22m)
Semi-finals:
[1] Philip Ayton (Sussex) bt [5/8] John Oliver Smith (Northumbria) 9-1, 9-6, 9-3 (23m)
[3/4] Chris Goodbourn (Middx) bt [2] Rodney Boswell (Cheshire) 9-1, 9-5, 3-9, 8-10, 10-9 (49m)
Final:
[1] Philip Ayton (Sussex) bt [3/4] Chris Goodbourn (Middx) 9-3, 9-7, 9-2 (25m)
Men's Over-70 quarter-finals:
[1] Adrian Wright (Notts) bt Dudley Bostock (Cheshire) 9-2, 9-1, 9-3 (18m)
[3/4] Brian Phillips (Wales) bt Roger Middleton (Cambs) 9-0, 9-4, 9-4 (16m)
Geoff Coe (Cheshire) bt [3/4] Vincent Taylor (Scotland) 9-7, 5-9, 8-10, 9-4, 9-6 (44m)
[2] Andrew Beeston (Merseyside) bt John Shaw (D & C) 9-6, 9-0, 9-2 (26m)
Semi-finals:
[1] Adrian Wright (Notts) bt [3/4] Brian Phillips (Wales) 9-6, 9-1, 9-2 (20m)
Geoff Coe (Cheshire) bt [2] Andrew Beeston (Merseyside) 10-8, 7-9, 7-9, 10-9, 9-0 (50m)
Final:
[1] Adrian Wright (Notts) bt Geoff Coe (Cheshire) 9-1, 9-5, 9-5 (22m)
Men's Over-75 quarter-finals:
Malcolm Gilham (Suffolk) bt Mike Parr (Lancs) 9-0, 9-1, 9-4 (13m)
Semi-finals:
Lance Kinder (Hants) bt [1] Patrick Kirton (Surrey) 9-5, 9-10, 6-9, 4-7 ret. (43m)
[2] John Woodliffe (Glos) bt Malcolm Gilham (Suffolk) 9-7, 2-9, 9-2, 9-2 (31m)
Final:
[2] John Woodliffe (Glos) bt Lance Kinder (Hants) 9-5, 9-1, 10-8 (28m)
Women's Over-35 quarter-finals:
[1] Laura Mylotte (Ireland) bye
[3/4] Keeley Seamon (ENG) bt Zoe Owens (Suffolk) 9-0, 9-2, 9-0 (20m)
[3/4] Lisa May (Middx) bt Katie Lawrence (Suffolk) 9-1, 9-4, 9-6 (27m)
[2] Alexa Prior (Surrey) bt Rachel Calver (Leics) 9-6, 9-5, 9-3 (25m)
Semi-finals:
[1] Laura Mylotte (Ireland) bt [3/4] Keeley Seamon (ENG) 9-7, 9-2, 9-2 (31m)
[2] Alexa Prior (Surrey) bt [3/4] Lisa May (Middx) 9-4, 10-9, 9-6 (27m)
Final:
[1] Laura Mylotte (Ireland) bt [2] Alexa Prior (Surrey) 9-2, 9-2, 4-9, 9-7 (34m)
Women's Over-40 quarter-finals:
Isabelle Tweedle (Surrey) bt Sue Smith (Derbyshire) 9-5, 9-1, 9-3 (21m)
Semi-finals:
[1] Nikki Fowler (Cheshire) bt Alison Goy (Notts) 9-5, 9-5, 9-6 (22m)
[2] Sam Mueller (Bucks) bt Isabelle Tweedle (Surrey) 9-6, 9-6, 9-2 (34m)
Final:
[1] Nikki Fowler (Cheshire) bt [2] Sam Mueller (Bucks) 9-7, 9-2, 9-7 (35m)
Women's Over-45 quarter-finals:
[1] Nicola Horn (Yorks) bt Michaela Fallows (ENG) 9-1, 10-8, 6-9, 9-5 (35m)
[3/4] Rina Einy (Middx) bt Hilary Kenyon (ENG) 9-2, 9-4, 9-1 (23m)
[3/4] Fran Wallis (Lincs) bt Julia Dolman (Cambs) 9-1, 9-1, 9-2 (16m)
[2] Mandy Akin (Kent) bt Linda Winder (Cumbria) 9-5, 9-5, 9-5 (30m)
Semi-finals:
[1] Nicola Horn (Yorks) bt [3/4] Rina Einy (Middx) 9-2, 5-9, 9-4, 9-4 (30m)
[2] Mandy Akin (Kent) bt [3/4] Fran Wallis (Lincs) 3-9, 9-6, 9-1, 8-10, 9-3 (44m)
Final:
[1] Nicola Horn (Yorks) bt [2] Mandy Akin (Kent) 9-0, 9-7, 9-7 (29m)
Women's Over-50 quarter-finals:
[1] Paula Arrowsmith (Yorks) bt [5/8] Pam Eagles (Oxon) 9-1, 9-0, 9-4 (13m)
[3/4] Tamsin Bennett (Surrey) bt [5/8] Sally Jee (Leics) 9-3, 9-2, 9-3 (26m)
[3/4] Jacky Gardner (D & C) bt [5/8] Jill Campion (Middx) 4-9, 9-7, 0-9, 9-6, 9-4 (41m)
[5/8] Lesley Sturgess (Derbyshire) bt [2] Helen Gould (Avon) 9-7, 9-7, 5-9, 9-7 (33m)
Semi-finals:
[1] Paula Arrowsmith (Yorks) bt [3/4] Tamsin Bennett (Surrey) 9-4, 9-0, 7-9, 10-8 (28m)
[3/4] Jacky Gardner (D & C) bt [5/8] Lesley Sturgess (Derbyshire) 9-3, 9-1, 5-9, 9-1 (29m)
Final:
[1] Paula Arrowsmith (Yorks) bt [3/4] Jacky Gardner (D & C) 9-6, 9-6, 9-0 (25m)
Women's Over-55 quarter-finals:
[1] Julie Field (Yorks) bt Susan Meadows (Lancs) 9-2, 9-6, 9-0 (22m)
[3/4] Lynne Davies (Wales) bt Carolyn Roylance (Lincs) 10-8, 9-3, 9-5 (25m)
[3/4] Jane Law (Cheshire) bt Pat Harris (Wales) 9-5, 9-2, 9-2 (16m)
[2] Eunice Bond (Scotland) bt Jane Hill (Derbyshire) 9-1, 9-1, 9-0 (20m)
Semi-finals:
[1] Julie Field (Yorks) bt [3/4] Lynne Davies (Wales) 9-7, 9-4, 6-9, 9-6 (34m)
[2] Eunice Bond (Scotland) bt [3/4] Jane Law (Cheshire) 9-2, 9-4, 9-5 (31m)
Final:
[1] Julie Field (Yorks) bt [2] Eunice Bond (Scotland) 9-2, 9-7, 9-7 (30m)
Women's Over-60 semi-finals:
[1] Faith Sinclair (Scotland) bt Maggie Lipscombe (Suffolk) 9-0, 9-2, 9-2 (20m)
[2] Rebecca Czuczman (Kent) bt Bett Dryhurst (Worcs) 9-4, 9-7, 9-5 (21m)
Final:
[1] Faith Sinclair (Scotland) bt [2] Rebecca Czuczman (Kent) 9-6, 9-10, 3-9, 9-4, 9-1 (44m)
For full coverage of the 2012 National Championships, please visit the official website: www.nationalsquashchamps.co.uk