Artemis Edinburgh Open Squash Championships 26-29 January 2012

World no.11 and current British National Champion Daryl Selby tops the seeding in this years Artemis Squash Championships held at Edinburgh Sports Club form 26^th – 29^th January. No. 2 seed Joel Hinds from Derbyshire took Selby to 5 sets in the quarter finals of last years competition and last years finalist Andy Whipp and ex world no.4 Simon Parke will also be challenging Selby for his title.

The Artemis Edinburgh Open is the biggest event on the BSPA circuit and after taking the title last year Selby went on to beat World Champion Nick Matthew to take the British National title in Manchester.

 Scottish interest comes from 2014 Commonwealth Games hopefuls, Kevin Moran, Chris Ferguson, Greg Lobban and Scottish Junior Champion recently turned professional, Douglas Kempsell. Scottish assistant National Coach Stuart Crawford is also competing as is Edinburgh Sports Club coach Simon Boughton. 

The ladies event is the only WSA event in the country and world no. 35 Lauren Briggs tops the seedings in a strong international field.

Local interest comes from Edinburgh Sports Club’s National Champion Senga Macfie, Frania Gillen-Buchert and up and coming young players Rosie Allan, Mhairi Charlton and Morgan McGuire.

Artemis, the Edinburgh based investment management company, are sponsoring the event for the eleventh consecutive year. The event remains the richest on the BSPA Grand Prix with a total prize fund of £11,000.

Mark Tyndall, Senior Partner of  Artemis, says “Artemis is delighted to continue to support the Edinburgh Open Squash Championships. Since its inaugural event in 2001 the championship has become a firm fixture on the international squash calendar. It is also a great opportunity to showcase local talent permitting young players, perhaps for the first time, to gain invaluable experience by competing at the top level”.

Jonathan Tait, Manager at Edinburgh Sports Club, is delighted with this year’s entry: “This event continues to attract some of the world’s highest ranked professional players to give spectators a wonderful opportunity to watch squash of the highest quality being played over a four-day period. We remain hugely grateful to Artemis for their sponsorship of this tournament now in the 12^th year and firmly cementing its prestigious status”.

The Championships begin on Thursday 26^th January, concluding with the finals on Sunday 29^th January.

The WSA Artemis Edinburgh Open began on Friday night at the Edinburgh Sports Club to commence a busy weekend for those involved.   

Local hope Frania-Gillen Buchert had a good run in the event, upsetting No7 seed Sally Skaarenborg of Denmark after coming back from 2-0 down to win an epic 5-setter. 

Afterwards Gillen-Buchert said: “I made it really difficult for myself, it took me a while to implement my game plan. She had a good volley and was really quick. She got more back than I expected.”

The Scot went on to play No2 seed Orla Noom of the Netherlands, who recorded a comprehensive first round win over Danish Bine Malund Lind. 

Scottish hopes were buoyed early on, as Gillen-Burchet took a first-game lead over Noom, but was gradually forced further and further into the back of the court as the No2 seed began assert herself on the match. 

Noom held firm throughout periods of pressure from her opponent, and a couple of untimely errors by the Scot gave the Dutchwoman the opportunities she needed to take the game.

Afterwards Noom said: “It took me a game to figure her out.  I was panicking a bit, but I was happy to pull through the third.”

Gillen-Buchert was happy with her performance despite the loss: “I’m sore and stiff, but pleased. After time out you forget the basics of competition. This has been a good indicator of what I need to work on.”

Dominika Witowska of Poland fell foul of her unseeded opponent Julia Lecoq in round one, losing in four games 11/2, 11/8, 11/13, 11/2.  Lecoq went on to play Austrian Birgit Coufal, who had seen off qualifier Victoria Bell in her first round match, also in four games. 

No3 seed Coufal played a patient and careful tactic against Lecoq, using the lob to good effect and was only really troubled by her opponent when the game sped up in the third game.  Winning in three, Coufal explained afterwards: “I slowed the first and second games down with lots of lobs, which you can do [with the high ceiling] on court five.  In the third she attacked and I was slow to react. Eventually I straightened the ball and it was ok.”

No1 seed Lauren Briggs dispatched Egyptian Nada Elkalaawy in the first round, before dealing with young Frenchwoman Laura Pomportes in much the same fashion.  Pomportes had overcome her national compatriot Melissa Alves in five games to make it to the quarters. 

English Zephanie Curgenven beat Poland’s Anna Jurken in three games, before progressing to beat higher seed Maud Duplomb in a 30-minute contest.  Curgenven was delighted with her performance: “I made the second game very physical, and I think it broke her for the third. The fourth was a bit of a battle but I came through.”  Duplomb had beaten Cignay Sillevis 3-1 before exiting the competition at the hand of Curgenven.