YOU are never too old to be a world champion and squash player Lance Kinder is determined to prove this.

The Overton resident turns 81 at the end of September and just before his birthday he will travel to Johannesburg for the World Championships.

Kinder will hope to add world honours to the British title he won last month at the Colletts Squash Club in Surrey.

The super fit octogenarian won both his quarter-final and semi-final in straight sets to set up a final against John Woodliffe.

Kinder came out on top again winning 3-1 in a match which lasted 51 minutes and the veteran squash player said: “I think we amazed so many people that two players that old could play for that long.”

Kinder is now training hard for the World Championship at the Beechdown club in Basingstoke.

He spends three days a week on the courts playing and then three days off court training.

The 80-year-old often plays players around half his age, but admits this is a great way to build up fitness as well as being tested to the full.

Kinder took up the game in his 40s and was last a world champion when he was 70 and is really looking forward to his trip to South Africa.

Kinder said: “I will be going out early to get used to the altitude as it effects the way the ball bounces.

“Of course I am going out there with the aim of winning as the last time I was world champion was when I was 70.”

He has played for England at over-55, over-60, over-65, over-70 and over-75.