Squash supremo Paul Bell celebrated a decade on top of Cumbria’s squash ranks by winning his 10th county championship title last weekend.

The 29-year-old took home the championship trophy once again after fending off tough competition from Whitehaven-based player Michael Lowrey.

Bell, who left Carlisle Squash Club last year to take up a role as Scotland’s national coach, won the match 3-0.

It was an impressive win as Lowrey, 24, has been improving rapidly over recent years and has started competing in tournaments on the PSA Tour.

The tournament returned to the city club in Warwick Road this year after being held at Windscale Squash Club, Egremont, last time around because the Carlisle club was out of action following Storm Desmond.

Bell said: “I was really pleased to get my 10th Cumbria Squash title this weekend. I managed to pull it all together when it really counted.”

There was double delight for Carlisle as Paul’s sister Victoria retained her women’s championship.

Victoria, a former professional on the women’s world tour, beat promising Carlisle youngster Eve Driver in Sunday night’s final.

As well as the county’s top players being on show, the county championships offered a “graded” competition, giving all standards of players the chance to compete.

This year, players competed in A, B, C and D grades with the tournament attracting a total entry of 36 players.

Carlisle’s rising star Keane Appleton, the current under-19 county champion, won the B section in a thrilling final against fellow club-mate Adam Goad.

Appleton, 16, currently sits in the country’s top 10 players at under-17 level and Goad, 14, is ranked number two at under-15s.

Youth was also the theme in the C final, with Wigton’s Adam Gill being narrowly pipped by Sam Nichol from Windscale.

Carlisle member Dave Miller beat Michael Glarvey in the D final.

Competitors representing Carlisle, Wigton, Penrith, Whitehaven and Windscale and Kendal entered the event.