GARY Hales, the new professional squash coach at Beechdown Club, won his fourth national title in the over-40 final of the Welsh Championships.

He defeated Neil Gallagher from Cardiff for his second over-40 crown after beating Mark Thomas (North Wales) in 2003.

Hales had previously won two over-35 championships - in 2000 and 2001.

The tournament this year was held in Swansea.

Hales was seeded number one and did not drop a game during the entire Championship.

The final promised to be a close affair. Gallagher, a shot-making left-hander, had just moved up an age group and last year had a successful season playing at number three in the Wales over-35s Team.

Hales, however, had a psychological advantage as he had previously defeated Gallagher in the over-35 final back in 2001.

Gallagher struggled to settle from the start and Hales played a simple game of taking the ball early and keeping the ball deep.

Mistakes flowed from Gallagher's racket as Hales won the first game 9-0.

Gallagher pulled his game together in the second and third games, but never managed to dominate and Hales ran out a comfortable 9-0, 9-1, 9-2 winner.

Hales will now go on to captain the Welsh over-40 national team, which will play in the home internationals against England, Scotland and Ireland at the end of April in Dublin.