BURY squash player Finn Withington is celebrating individual and team glory in European competition in the Netherlands.
The 18-year-old won became the European Individual Under-19s boys’ champion last week - and then helped drive England to gold in the three-person team event in Eindhoven as Team England scooped three golds overall.
In the junior individual event, top seed Withington - who represents Cheetham Hill Squash Club - was made to work hard for the title against home favourite, Rowan Damming.
At 12-10 down after the first set, Withington soon found his rhythm hitting spaces nicely to win the second 11-9.
He opened up a lead in the fourth, before being pegged back for a tense finish which he eventually got over the line, winning 10-12, 11-9, 11-6, 13-11.
He said: “I’m gassed to win. I’ve come a long way since lockdown.”
England and Withington faced France in the team final and the pressure was on after Sam Osbourne-Wylde lost a close encounter against his passionate French counterpart Brice Nicolas, 3-2.
Withington was next up and struggled to establish a large lead against Maceo Levy, in the points in the first two games but calmly dealt with a high pressure situation closing out the first two games.
He then took the third 3-0 and to make it 3-0 and level the tie.
Cheetham Hill club mate, Saran Nghiem, of Trafford, then closed out a more one-sided match to seal the team title.
Cheetham Hill coach, Josh Taylor, said: “It’s a delight to see Finn picking up the title and playing to his potential. It’s a prestigious title and I hope it can be a spring board to future senior success for him.”
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