Australia's Natalie Grinham became the indisputable squash star of the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne today after winning gold in the Mixed Doubles and Women's Doubles events - bring her total haul to a record three gold medals at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre after clinching the Women's Singles crown last week.

The 28-year-old from Toowoomba in Queensland became the first squash player to win three medals of any kind in a single Games - a feat which was later mirrored by fellow Aussies Rachael Grinham and David Palmer. Rachael was runner-up to her younger sister in the singles event, then shared gold with Natalie in the Women's Doubles and bronze with Palmer in the Mixed - Palmer also taking a bronze in the Men's Doubles to complement his silver in the singles.

Another Games record was achieved today by England's Lee Beachill & Peter Nicol, who became the first players to successfully defend a Commonwealth title after beating Australian favourites Stewart Boswell & Anthony Ricketts in a marathon 142-minute Men's Doubles final - the last, and longest, match of the Melbourne Games.

Furthermore, England's Vicky Botwright became the only player to win two doubles medals after missing out in the singles - picking up silver in the Mixed and bronze in the Women's.

Natalie Grinham began her hat-trick haul in the Mixed final when she and Joseph Kneipp, the third seeds, recovered from a game down to beat England's fourth seeds Vicky Botwright & James Willstrop 6-9, 9-6, 9-5, 9-6 in 65 minutes.

In the bronze medal play-off, sister Rachael & David Palmer beat second-seeded New Zealanders Shelley Kitchen & Glen Wilson 9-4, 9-6, 9-6 in what was expected to be the final.

After a short break, Natalie was back in action on the unique all-glass court at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre with Rachael - eager to prove the seeding committee correct in the women's final against second seeds Shelley Kitchen & Tamsyn Leevey, the New Zealand pair that won the World Doubles title on the same court in January.

The kiwis took the first game for the loss of just a single point, but the home pair struck back to clinch the title 1-9, 9-4, 9-3, 9-3 after 56 minutes.

"It's unbelievable, I have no words," said Natalie afterwards. "After a shower and a break, it will sink in and I'll probably be screaming from the rooftops."

Rachael added: "We know each other so well. We have an advantage over most teams as our communication is always there. It's really great for us."

In the bronze medal play-off, England's Tania Bailey & Vicky Botwright defeated New Zealand's Louise Crome & Lara Petera 10-8, 4-9, 9-4, 9-6 in 81 minutes.

The men's final provided the most dramatic doubles battle of all - contained within four games, but spread over more than two hours, with the final game alone lasting just a minute less than an hour!

The top-seeded Australians Stewart Boswell & Anthony Ricketts opened up a one-game lead - but determined Englishmen Nicol and Beachill fought back to clinch an impressive 7-9, 9-7, 9-1, 10-8 triumph in 142 minutes!

"It was a hard brutal game," said double gold medallist Nicol. "The final point was incredibly nerve-wracking. It's just a game of attrition in doubles.

"This means everything to me. The singles final was the best game of my life, and this was the hardest."

In the bronze medal play-off, Australians Dan Jenson & David Palmer beat New Zealanders Campbell Grayson & Martin Knight 9-2, 9-4, 6-9, 9-6.

Palmer said afterwards: "I'm really pleased with the effort, given that I had the worst preparation ever. Three medals given that I almost pulled out is a good result. Shame I came up against Peter Nicol who played unbelievably all tournament."

Hosts Australia top the final squash medals table, with eight medals in total (3 gold, 3 silver, 2 bronze), followed by England with five (2 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze) and New Zealand with two (1 silver, 1 bronze).

Men's Doubles final:
[2] Lee Beachill & Peter Nicol (ENG) bt [1] Stewart Boswell & Anthony Ricketts (AUS)
7-9, 9-7, 9-1, 10-8 (142m)
Bronze medal play-off:
[3] Dan Jenson & David Palmer (AUS) bt [5] Campbell Grayson & Martin Knight (NZL)
9-2, 9-4, 6-9, 9-6 (89m)

Women's Doubles final:
[1] Natalie Grinham & Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt [2] Shelley Kitchen & Tamsyn Leevey (NZL)
1-9, 9-4, 9-3, 9-3 (56m)
Bronze medal play-off:
[3] Tania Bailey & Vicky Botwright (ENG) bt [4] Louise Crome & Lara Petera (NZL)
10-8, 4-9, 9-4, 9-6 (81m)

Mixed Doubles Final:
[3] Natalie Grinham & Joseph Kneipp (AUS) bt [4] Vicky Botwright & James Willstrop (ENG)
6-9, 9-6, 9-5, 9-6 (65m)
Bronze medal play-off:
[1] Rachael Grinham & David Palmer (AUS) bt [2] Shelley Kitchen & Glen Wilson (NZL)
9-4, 9-6, 9-6 (32m)