The Chronicle

Court ace Max seals a Dale Trophy double

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NEWCASTLE squash hotshot Max Forster has completed an historic double - becoming the first player to lift the coveted John Dale Trophy twice.

The 17-year-old first lifted the award three years ago as a 14-year-old.

However, with another season of incredible achievemen­ts at home at abroad under his belt in 2019, the Northumber­land club favourite was again a deserved winner.

Awarded his trophy after winning the Northumbri­a boys’ under-19 county title, Forster collected a trophy which is handed to the best performing junior in the county each season - on and off the court.

Now in its 10th year, the trophy is named in honour of the late John Dale of Kingston Park and Tynemouth Squash Clubs, a former top-100 profession­al who lost his fight against cancer in 2010 aged just 33.

Forster’s award comes after a superb year in which he made his debut on the PSA tour, won the English under-19 title in March and also became men’s county champion for the second time.

The teenager was also selected for England for the European Championsh­ips and World Junior Championsh­ips and made the final of the Dutch Under-19 Open.

He also helped the Northumbri­a men’s team to promotion to the Premier League for the first time.

County chairman Dave Barnett (left) said: “Max always shows great enthusiasm and is going from strength to strength.

“He is a superb ambassador for North East squash and a deserved winner of this special award.”

JOHN DALE TROPHY ROLL OF HONOUR: 2010 - Lucy Beecroft (Tynemouth). 2011 - Chris Wiggins (Northumber­land Club). 2012 - Michael Mattimore (Northern). 2013 - Cai Younger (Northern). 2014 - Dan Wareing (Northumber­land Club). 2015 - Josie Barker (Northern). 2016 - Max Forster (Northumber­land Club). 2017 - Andrew Shipley (Northern). 2018 - Lowri Waugh (Northumber­land Club). 2019 - Max Forster (Northumber­land Club).

 ??  ?? Max Forster pictured with his Northumber­land County Junior Closed Championsh­ip trophy and the John Dale Trophy
Max Forster pictured with his Northumber­land County Junior Closed Championsh­ip trophy and the John Dale Trophy
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