IT might say Queensland on the scoresheet, but the local fans can chalk up Danny Woolbank’s victory as one of their own. 

“I was born in Bathurst and left when I was eight-years-old and moved to the Gold Coast,” Woolbank said.

“So, when I heard it was going to be played in Bathurst I was pretty excited, all my cousins and that came down to watch. It was good fun.” 

He was in great form to take out the over 35’s title,   accomplishing the feat without dropping a game. 

This was the second time in four years he has taken out the title, a great start to day one of competition.

His roots to squash in Bathurst run deeper than just a title at his homecoming party; his mother was also a former champion in Bathurst.

“My mother (Wendy Woolbank) was a former champion here and she won the Ladies A Grade title for the Bathurst Squash Club in 1982,” he said.

With a former champion as a mother, squash became a big part of his life from an early age.

“I’ve been playing squash since I was eight, so it’s been 30 years and I’ve played in the Masters tournament for four years now – since you can only start when you’re 35,” Woolbank said.

Now with the 35’s done and dusted, he’s set his sights on the over 40’s where he will compete for the remainder of the week.

“A lot of those guys are a pretty good standard, so I’m going to have to play really well if I want to win that as well,” he said.

“Regardless of that result, though, I’ll leave here happy.”