Rich pickings as Fallows wins a Classic

WORLD No 57 Richie Fallows took an established professional squash tournament to another level in lifting the 2018 Lowes Financial Gosforth Classic.

The London-born England international triumphed 3-2 in an engrossing final at Gosforth’s Northern Squash Club - wrenching the prized title from the tightfisted grip of reigning champion Mark Fuller.

Fellow players and spectators were treated to a pre-Christmas extravaganza of professional sport in this $2500 Professional Squash Association licensed event supported for the second year by Newcastle-based Lowes Financial Management.

Professional players from around the world and the UK mixed with the best of the North East in a talent-packed A event - and the competition was so fierce none of the region’s finest could force their way into the quarter-finals.

Fallows was the highest-ranked player ever to enter a Northern tournament which, in its third year under its current guise, has fast become a firm favourite on the UK squash calendar - with players and spectators alike.

He certainly lived up to his top billing with a blistering array of attacking shots in the final’s opening game, fans - and opponent Fuller - taken aback by the speed and power of his game.

Fuller, though, won many friends through his patience, determination and sporting approach in winning the 2017 event - and they came back to support him in his hour of need.

The 33-year-old worked hard in every corner and took his rare chances with aplomb to clinch a topsy-turvy second -round game 12-10.

Fallows - a former British U23 champion - turned on the afterburners in the third, getting on to the ball early and dominating the T to clinch it 11-3 and re-establish his 2-1 lead.

Fuller, though, found the nick a few times to bring home the fourth 11-4.

Fallows then found his top level of pace and intensity to burn off his opponent in a blistering fifth and emerge as a deserved winner.

He said: “This is my first Gosforth Classic and I will be back.

“The crowd has been fantastic and I hope to be back to defend this next year.”

Fulller said: “The way he started I thought I might be blown away but I like to think I put up a good fight to try and keep the trophy.”