Jean Grainger and Craig van der Wath
At the recent World Masters Squash Championships held in Hong Kong, Van der Wath and Grainger both successfully won the world masters titles in their respective age groups.
Van der Wath a 48-year-old former world player, won his 5th consecutive World title after first competing in 2001. He successfully defended his Over-45 crown by beating fellow countryman Michael Tootill, the No2 seed, 13-11, 11-4, 11-5 in the 32-minutes final. He did not drop a game througout his 2014 campaign.
Mother and daughter Grainger (now residing in USA) pulled off their anticipated family double when World Masters’ debutante Natalie Grainger clinched the Women’s Over-35 title. In true veteran style Jean Grainger, the distinguished 71-year-old South African, picked up her fourth World title with victory in the Women’s Over-70 championship. Jean was taken the full distance in her final before prevailing 13-11, 9-11, 11-9, 7-11, 11-5 over compatriot Sheena Worwood.