Last week in Cologne the world squash championships took place for people aged over 35. Eight hundred competitors from countries such as Japan, Croatia, Mexico and even Scotland took part.

But North London possesses a rich vein of squash stars. Barnet is of course home to Alison “Murky” Waters, perhaps England’s finest female athlete on any world sporting stage today. She is ranked 4 globally and is our national champion. You may have seen her picture as you travel to work. Alison has been noticed by Vitabiotics, the UK’s largest nutrient technology company, and is presently featured in a robust tube train advertising campaign. I have been privileged to play with her many times but since March 11th 2006 I have been unable to beat her (thank goodness for my detailed diary notes).

The leading local male player, from Enfield, is Adrian Waller. He is moving smoothly up the professional world tour hierarchy. Alison and Adrian are of course too young to compete in age category events, but what a message the Cologne championships have sent out to anyone interested in promoting the health benefits of sport.

Let me broach the delicate subject of appearances. As a heterosexual man I profess no expertise in identifying good-looking men. But I can distinguish healthy looking men from the unfit and obese. I modestly profess considerable skills in identifying good-looking women.

Let’s talk about the girls first. Last week in Cologne I was struck by the natural health and beauty of the entire German over 35 and 40 contingent. They could all have been models. Sabine the Beautiful (this is her actual name), Inga, Nina, Fee, Sonja, Jutta, Melanie, and Petra to name but eight. There were also great looking East Europeans, Greeks, Scandinavians and Japanese. The common link is that they are all in great shape because they play squash.

One pleasant memory for me was chilling out at the tournament’s main sauna with Alan Thomson (a phenomenal Scottish athlete aged 50) when a teutonic German 6 footer walked in and started performing her warm down leg stretching exercises. Alan and I took our cold showers slightly earlier than planned.

Alan had trained for the event by sprinting up and down a squash court 320 times in about 16 minutes three times a week. I wonder if Wayne Rooney could do that? Having watched the Algeria game in July I harbour my doubts. For Alan, who knocked me out of the GB over 45’s tournament 2 years ago, is a supreme athlete and a very talented squash player. He plays for Middlesex and reached last Saturday’s World final. En route, he defeated on home territory in an atmospheric contest the highly talented German number one, Felix Paal.

Look at the picture, 18 years ago, of my friend Peter Gunter of Winchmore Hill (sending me flying into the back corner of the court). Compare that with the colour photo taken last Thursday. Would you think he has aged 18 years and is now 45 years old? If you think he is wearing well then consider the benefits of playing the ultimate athletic sport, squash.

Peter Gunter reached the final of the World over 45 event, playing at a level that many young pros would find very testing indeed. Other outstanding players in the same event were bronze medalist Eamonn Price, a former team-mate from Lambs Club in Islington, and Greg Pearman, head pro at the RAC in Pall Mall. I've lost to both in the last year or so.

Also in Cologne from my Lambs days was Dermot Hurford a seriously fit Australian who plays for England over 50s. He was rooming with Alan and Dave “Dark Destroyer” Clarke, an England top 30 player in his prime. Dermot kindly found time to play me last Saturday before the finals. He won 3 – 1.

But Lambs is now no more, replaced by housing under the jurisdiction of the same local Council that tried so hard recently to demolish its largest municipal sports centre - Sobell - a stone’s throw from Arsenal’s new Emirates Stadium. Thankfully that threat has now gone after the electorate threw out their previous rulers in May.

Then there is Mark Cowley from Finchley. I accept that there is a marked drop in standard from the 50s age category to the 55s. Nevertheless Mark, whom I have never beaten in four club finals, won the World title last week. A tremendous achievement.

So why does Barnet Council place so little priority on sports facilities that they still seek to build flats all over the football pitch once home to Hendon FC? Why do they fail to recognise the overwhelming need for a Barnet Sports Centre to nurture the next generation of sporting talent and to provide a social and community hub? Such a facility would be a perfect use of one of the sites in New Barnet presently the subject of the Supermarket Wars? Please lobby your Councillors.

If any of you are looking to try squash then contact your local club. Mine is Oakleigh Park in Whetstone.