[2] England 3-0 [5] Scotland
Declan James 3-1 Greg Lobban 9-11, 14-12, 11-6, 11-8 (57)
Tom Richards 3-0 Angus Gillams 11-7, 11-6, 11-6 (30m)
Daryl Selby 2-0 Rory Stewart 11-8, 13-11 (40m)
James Willstrop v Alan Clyne
Qualifying rounds - Pool A:
[5] SCOTLAND bt [4] GERMANY 3/1
Alan Clyne bt Valentin Rapp 11-6, 11-5, 11-9
Greg Lobban lost to Simon Rösner 11-8, 9-11, 5-11, 9-11
Rory Stewart bt Rudi Rohrmuller 11-6, 10-12, 12-10, 15-13
Angus Gillams bt Yannik Omlor 11-9, 11-9, 9-11, 7-11, 11-4 (54m)
[1] FRANCE bt [8] HUNGARY 4/0
Lucas Serme bt Benedek Sebök 11-3, 11-5, 11-1 (18m)
Gregoire Marche bt Farkas Balazs 11-4, 11-8, 11-6 (33m)
Benjamin Aubert bt Daniel Cseffalvay 11-5, 11-3, 11-4 (14m)
Baptiste Masotti bt Dávid Boros 11-3, 11-6, 11-7 (21m)
[1] FRANCE drew with [5] SCOTLAND 2/2
Lucas Serme lost to Alan Clyne 7-11, 11-13, 4-11 (49m)
Gregoire Marche bt Greg Lobban 11-4, 11-8, 11-8 (39m)
Benjamin Aubert bt Stuart George 11-5, 11-5, 13-11 (41m)
Baptiste Masotti lost to Rory Stewart 14-12, 11-4, 9-11, 6-11, 6-11
(56m)
[4] GERMANY bt [8] HUNGARY 3/1
Valentin Rapp lost to Mark Krajcsak 5-11, 11-8, 11-7, 3-11, 11-13
(61m)
Simon Rösner bt Farkas Balazs 11-8, 8-11, 11-7, 11-7 (44m)
Lucas Wirths bt Peter Hoffman 11-9, 11-3, 11-3 (25m)
Rudi Rohrmuller bt Benedek Sebök 11-4, 11-5, 11-0 (20m)
[1] FRANCE v [4] GERMANY
[5] SCOTLAND v [8] HUNGARY
Pool B:
[2] ENGLAND bt [7] SWITZERLAND 4/0
Tom Richards bt Robin Gadola 11-6, 11-9, 11-5 (26m)
James Willstrop bt Dimitri Steinmann 11-6, 11-8, 12-10 (23m)
Adrian Waller bt Yannick Wilhelmi 11-4, 11-5, 11-6 (26m)
Daryl Selby bt Cédric Kuchen 11-7, 11-4, 12-10 (31m)
[3] SPAIN bt [6] WALES 3/1
Iker Pajares Bernabeu bt Peter Creed 11-7, 11-5, 11-8 (36m)
Borja Golan lost to Joel Makin 4-11, 5-11, 5-11 (26m)
Bernat Jaume bt Elliott Morris Devred 11-6, 11-6, 11-6 (35m)
Edmon Lopez bt Emyr Evans 11-4, 14-12, 13-11 (41m)
[2] ENGLAND bt [6] WALES 3/1
James Willstrop bt Emyr Evans 11-5, 11-6, 11-5 (21m)
Declan James lost to Joel Makin 7-11, 4-11, 6-11 (38m)
Adrian Waller bt Elliott Morris Devred 11-5, 11-6, 11-4 (24m)
Tom Richards bt Owain Taylor 11-6, 11-2, 11-6 (26m)
Qualifying rounds - Pool A:
[1] ENGLAND bt [8] SCOTLAND 3/0
Laura Massaro bt Alison Thomson 11-8, 11-9, 11-8 (28m)
Millie Tomlinson bt Katriona Allen 11-2, 11-5, 11-1 (17m)
Victoria Lust bt Georgia Adderley 11-5, 11-5, 11-4
[4] NETHERLANDS bt [5] WALES 2/1
Milou van der Heijden lost to Tesni Evans 7-11, 4-11, 6-11 (26m)
Tessa ter Sluis bt Stacey Gooding 3-11, 7-11, 11-6, 11-3, 11-6 (31m)
Natalie Grinham bt Elin Harlow 11-5, 11-8, 11-5 (24m)
[1] ENGLAND bt [5] WALES 2/1
Sarah-Jane Perry lost to Tesni Evans 9-11, 2-11, 10-12 (30m)
Millie Tomlinson bt Lowri Roberts 11-6, 11-3, 11-6 (19m)
Victoria Lust bt Elin Harlow 11-1, 11-6, 11-9 (18m)
[8] SCOTLAND bt [4] NETHERLANDS 2/1
Lisa Aitken bt Milou van der Heijden 9-11, 14-12, 9-11, 11-8, 11-9
(63m)
Georgia Adderley bt Tessa ter Sluis 11-8, 13-11, 10-12, 11-9 (37m)
Alison Thomson lost to Natalie Grinham 8-11, 5-11, 11-7, 7-11 (41m)
[1] ENGLAND v [4] NETHERLANDS
[5] WALES v [8] SCOTLAND
A
dramatic final day of the European Team Championships at Edgbaston
Priory Club in Birmingham witnessed a remarkable victory by France's
women's team while England regained the men's trophy.
England were hot favourites for the women's title, having beaten France
in the last five finals and won the title on all but one occasion in the
event's 41-year history. Their sole defeat came in the 2010 semi-final
to - and in - France, where the Netherlands went on to win the final.
Camille Serme put France ahead as she beat Sarah-Jane Perry in four
games but Laura Massaro also won in four against Coline Aumard to take
the match to a decider. Melissa Alves came flying out of the block,
taking the first two games 11-1, 11-3 against England's much higher
ranked Victoria Lust.
Lust fought back to take the third, and again from 1-7 down in the
fourth to level at 8-all. But it was Alves who took the next two points,
and on her second match ball the impossible happened, a front court
winner from Alves, a no let for Lust, and to French disbelief and
delight they had finally become women's European Team Champions.
"We thought it was possible," said a delighted French manager, Philippe
Signoret.
“Melissa can play very well and she was on fire in the first two games.
This squad has a great history, I've known them since they were seven,
so to see them do this is fantastic for them, and for France. And in
England, too!"
Camille Serme was ecstatic: "We've been trying to win this for so long
now, it feels great. Thanks to England for pushing us over the years,
we're delighted to finally win one."
In the men's final England faced third seed Spain, who had beaten
defending champions France in the semis. England had beaten Spain 4-0 in
the pool stages, but Spanish number one Borja Golan missed that match
and immediately made amends as he beat Declan James in the opening
match, James unable to properly compete in the fifth after an injury,
James Willstrop put England level with a straight-games win over
yesterday's Spanish hero Iker Pajares. Daryl Selby put England ahead
with a five-game win over Bernat Jaume, which left England needing one
game from the final match and Spain needing a three-nil win and points
countback.
Tom Richards was always ahead against Edmon Lopez, and finished the
match as he took the game 11-9, Lopez diving in vain into the back
corner.
"I'm really proud to have been able to captain this team to the title,"
said Captain Selby. "It's been a long time since the event was held at
home, so to do it here with the support of the crowd makes it even more
special.
"It's been a great event, superbly organised, and we're all grateful for
that and the support of the referees, volunteers, ESF, Edgbaston Priory
Club and all the England Squash support staff."
The day started with the women's 3rd/4th match which saw Belgium's Nele
and Tinne Gilis take them to victory over Scotland for a second Bronze
medal in a row.
"Very happy," said Belgian manager Ronnie Vlassacks. "Not only with the
Bronze medal, but to see how we're closing the gap to England and
France. With Nele and Tinne still so young and having a few years to
improve, we hope what they're doing will help us get some more young
players to strengthen the depth of the team."
The Scottish men went one better as they beat France in the men's
3rd/4th, after narrowly losing to the former champions in the pool
stages.
Elsewhere:
Across the four days over 700 local schoolchildren attended coaching
clinics at the glass court venue, and enjoyed watching some of the
matches.
Finland's Men return to Division One after a three year absence, led by
Olli Tuominen playing in his 22nd ETC in a row. Also promoted were the
Czech Republic who beat Finland in the final.
The Finnish women beat Czech Rep to go back to Division One for first
time since 2010, before losing to also promoted Germany in the final.
The
Spanish men's team created history on semi-finals day of the European
Team Championships at Edgbaston Priory Club in Birmingham, as they
sensationally beat defending champions France in a long and dramatic
match to reach the final for the first time.
In tomorrow's final they'll play many-time champions England, who beat
Spain 4-0 in their pool match and tonight ousted local rivals Scotland
in a late-night encounter.
The women's final will be between top seeds England and France, for the
sixth year in a row, as they beat Belgium and Scotland in contrasting
style.
England's women have only lost once in the 41-year history of the event
and extended their winning run against third seeded Belgium as Victoria
Lust and Sarah-Jane Perry won the opening two matches. Lust was tested
in the first two games by Yara Delagrance before easing through the
third, while Perry was taken to four by Nele Gilis - who led 9-7 in two
of the games she lost. Laura Massaro won the dead rubber, coming from a
game and 8-3 down to beat Tinne Gilis.
France had to come from behind after Scotland's Georgia Adderley battled
her way to a 3-2 win over Melissa Alves, recovering from losing the
fourth 11-2 to take the decider 13-11 on her fourth match ball.
Camille Serme and Coline Aumard repaired the damage for France with
three-nil wins to take them through to a sixth successive final against
England.
Spain's astonishing win came after Gregoire Marche had put the French
ahead with a tough four-game win against Borja Golan, the 16-time
Spanish champion playing his 21st European Team Championships. The rest
of the Spanish team are more youthful, and they needed all their energy
and determination to complete a stunning comeback.
Current national champion Edmon Lopez fought back from one-two down to
beat Victor Crouin, blitzing the decider 11-1, and Bernat Jaume put
Spain 2-1 up with a three-nil win over Benjamin Aubert.
This left France's Lucas Serme needing a 3-0 win, while Spain's Iker
Pajares needed to take two games. Serme took the lead, Pajares levelled
and then had an effective match ball before Serme regained the lead
12-10.
The Spaniard now needed just 6 points in the fourth game to give Spain
the win but he did better than that, taking the game 12-10 to put Spain
through on games countback after 104 minutes.
"It's unbelievable," said Golan. "In an individual sport, to play for a
team in events like this is the best squash has given me. This is a
great event every year, but to make the final after so many years, with
a group of players like this, I'm so proud."
Spanish manager Jonas Gonerup, who won the European Team Championships
title with Sweden in 1982, said:
"Not bad, but they need to go one better to equal me! Seriously, they're
such a good team. After losing the first match and Edmon being 1-2 down
in the second they fought back so well. After Edmon won, Bernat knew he
needed a 3-0 to put us in the driving seat and he did just that. We knew
Iker could win, but Lucas played so well but so did Iker.
"It's a great team effort, they were all very strong physically and
mentally when it came to the crunch and I'm very proud of what they've
achieved tonight."
England won through to their 27th consecutive final with an assured win
over Scotland, who were back in the semi-finals after missing out last
year. Greg Lobban took the first game against Declan James, but
thereafter it was all England as James took the next three, Tom Richards
beat Angus Gillams in three - coming from 0-6 in the third - and Daryl
Selby took the two games that England needed against Rory Stewart to end
a long day at Edgbaston Priory Club.
Finals are at 11.00 and 13.30 tomorrow with the women’s 3rd/4th
play-offs at 9am on the glass court.
The second day's play of the 2019 European Team Championships at
Edgbaston Priory Club in Birmingham saw all the Division One teams
playing their third and final pool matches, with the outcomes
determining the line-up of tomorrow's semi-finals.
While Women's and Men's top seeds England and France confirmed their
places in the last fours, it was Scotland who stole the show with wins
to back up yesterday's upsets to also book both teams into the
semi-finals. They'll be joined by third seeds Spain (men) and Belgium
(women).
The day opened with England's men taking on Spain. In the opening match
Iker Pajares took the game to Declan James, who fought back from losing
the opening game and took the third and fourth on extra points. England
took the next three matches more comfortably to record their third win
and top Pool B at Spain's expense.
In Pool A, Scotland, who had upset Germany then snatched a dramatic draw
with top seeds France last night, despatched Hungary 4-0 to confirm
their place in the semis.
Meanwhile France fell behind to the Germans as Simon Roesner fought back
from a game down to win. Baptiste Masotti, as he did last night against
the Scots, let a two game lead slip but this time recovered to take the
fifth and put France back on track as they eased through the final two
matches to top the group on games countback ahead of Scotland.
"We knew the pool stages would be tough without our top players, so we
were ready for that," said French manager Renan Lavigne. "We made it
harder for ourselves with yesterday's draw with Scotland but I'm proud
of how the boys came back in today's match to finish top of the group."
The semi-final line-up is : 14.00 [1] France v [3] Spain, 17.00 [2]
England v [5] Scotland
England's women won their third straight Pool A match, beating the
Netherlands three-nil, although Sarah-Jane Perry was taken to four games
by Milou van der Heijden in the top string.
Second place would be taken by the winner of Wales and Scotland, and
after the first two matches were shared a tense decider ensued. It was
Scotland's Georgia Adderley who prevailed, coming from a game down to
beat Stacey Gooding for a second successive Scottish seeding upset and a
semi-final spot.
"I
feel privileged to be able to lead this team out for the semi-finals
tomorrow," said Scotland's number one and captain Lisa Aitken, "they all
inspire me in different ways. "It's a pity I couldn't win the second
match so it went to a decider, but the team did great.
"We're all ecstatic at the moment but we need to just try to hold it
in so we can perform tomorrow."
Second seeds France, who have met - and lost to - England in the last
five women's finals - also won for a third time, but Belgium came so
close to creating a massive upset.
Tinne Gilis - who won the decider in their first two matches - put
Belgium ahead, and then elder sister Nele took world #4 Camille Serme to
the brink of defeat. Nele had game balls in the first, won the second
then had game balls in the third before Camille took that 15-13 before
taking the fourth. Melissa Alves wrapped up the match for the French.
The semi-final line-up is: 10.00 [1] England v [3] Belgium, 12.00 [2]
France v [8] Scotland
With Scotland creating double upsets on Day 2, the last word goes to
Scottish National Coach Paul Bell:
"This is what we're aspiring to do, challenging at the major events and
this is the first step. We've come with two young teams and for them
both to reach the semis is a tremendous achievement. Hopefully we're
setting our stall out for the future.”
It was a great day for Scotland as the
2019 European Team Championships got under way at the Edgbaston Priory
Club in Birmingham with their men's and women's teams both causing
upsets that put them within reach of unexpected semi-final places.
In Division One, comprising eight teams in two pools with the top two
going through to the semis, all the teams played twice today with
women's top seeds England and France and men's top seeds France and
England both notching up two wins to all but seal their semi-final
places - but defending champions France needed to rely on points
countback after Scotland's Rory Stewart fought back from two-nil down to
force a 2-2 draw.
Top seeds and defending champions France eased to an opening Men's Pool
A win 4-0 over Hungary and then had that thrilling draw with the Scots
in the second match to secure their last four place. Scotland played 8th
seeded Hungary seeking a win that would put them through.
Fifth seeds Scotland first met fourth seeds Germany - missing their
injured number two Raphael Kandra - in a crucial opening encounter on
the glass court, and emerged 3-1 winners thanks to victories from Alan
Clyne, Rory Stewart and Angus Gillams who took the decisive final match
in five games, then came that thrilling fightback to thwart France.
Men's Pool B went the way of the top seeds as England beat first
Switzerland and then Wales - although Joel Makin made the second seeds
work for it as he despatched Declan James in the top string match - and
third seeds Spain also won twice setting up a pool decider with England
tomorrow.
Women's Pool B followed a similar pattern, with second and third seeds
France and Belgium both notching up wins over Spain and Switzerland -
Tinne Gilis the Belgian heroine as she won the deciding match in both
encounters - and they'll meet tomorrow, effectively to see who avoids
hot favourites England in the semis.
The English women didn't have it all their own way in Pool A though,
after a 3-0 win over Scotland they found themselves one-nil down to
Wales after Tesni Evans beat Sarah-Jane Perry in straight games. They
recovered to win, with Millie Tomlinson, late replacement for the
injured Alison Waters, winning twice on her European debut.
Scotland went on to shock fourth seeds Netherlands - who had beaten
Wales in the opening match - as Lisa Aitken beat Milou van der Heijden
11-9 in the fifth and youngster Georgia Adderley of the better of Tessa
ter Sluis in a tense four games.
With England to play the Netherlands and Wales meeting Scotland
tomorrow, the semi-final places are still very much up for grabs.
Over
200 players representing 22 countries assembled in the arena for the
opening ceremony of the 2019 European Team Championships this evening.
Edgbaston Priory Club’s Chairman, David Tucker, extended a warm welcome
to the players:
“On behalf of the members and staff AT Edgbaston Priory Club, we look
forward to your company in the clubhouse over the next four days and to
seeing some close and exciting matches on court.”
Players from each country then carried their flags on to the court to a
soundtrack of legends of the Birmingham music scene before the President
of the European Squash Federation, Zena Wooldridge, declared the
Championships officially open.
Addressing the players, Zena Wooldridge said:
“On behalf of the European Squash Federation, we welcome you to
Birmingham and the Edgbaston Priory Club for this the 47th Men’s and the
42nd women’s championships. England last hosted the European Team
Championships in 2003 and I am delighted that England Squash backed
Edgbaston Priory Club to host this event in 2019.
This Club is one of the most prestigious in the country and as well as
having a reputation for delivering excellent tournaments has a fine
pedigree in winning titles. The Club hosted the National Club
Championships at the weekend with the Club lifting both the women’s and
men’s titles.”
Zena went on to extend her thanks to all the Club’s staff, especially
Mike Edwards and Mike Harris, volunteers and sponsors for their hard
work and support in bringing the event to fruition.
For more images from the opening ceremony click
HERE
Birmingham will welcome the world’s top squash players from 1st-4th
May as Edgbaston Priory Club hosts the prestigious European Team
Championships.
WHAT? In what promises to be an exciting foretaste of the world-class
sport on offer at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, 200 players, representing
22 nations will battle it out for the coveted titles on Edgbaston Priory
Club’s world-standard courts, including an all-glass show court,
custom-built for the event.
The event attracts some of the highest-ranking squash players including
World #5 Simon Rösner, World #4 Camille Serme, World #6 Sarah-Jane
Perry, World #6Laura Massaro and World #19 James Willstrop.
England’s men’s and women’s teams are tipped for glory with the squad
sharing 16 Commonwealth medals between them.
Opening Ceremony, with all countries taking part, will take place at
7.15pm to 8pm on the all glass court.
WHO? Sarah Jane-Perry – Warwickshire based England No1 and World No 6,
Sarah-Jane is looking to lead her team to their ninth consecutive
victory.
James Willstrop – Former World No 1 and Commonwealth Games Gold
Medallist James has been representing his country in this event since
2003.
Simon Rösner– German No.1 and World No.4, a quarter-finalist at the most
recent PSA event El Gouna in Egypt.
Camille Serme – French No1 and World No4 and currently in semi-final of
the most recent PSA event El Gouna in Egypt.
Joel Makin – Edgbaston Priory Club member, representing Wales. Joel is
currently World No15 and recently beat current World No 2, Mohamed
Elshorbagy.
WHEN? 1st- 4th May 2019
WHY? England men’s and women’s teams are tipped for glory with the squad
sharing 16 Commonwealth medals between them.
Team England’s men includes Commonwealth Games 2018 Gold medallist James
Willstrop.
Team England’s women’s features four players inside the World’s Top 15
including former World No.1 Laura Massaro.
The Championships will be played on an all-glass court at the Edgbaston
Priory Club in an exciting foretaste of what the city will offer at the
Commonwealth Games in 2022
Overlooked by the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in favour of break dancing,
surfing, climbing and skateboarding, it is the perfect opportunity to
ask the world’s top players how they feel about their sport being
omitted from the Olympics again.
WHERE? Edgbaston Priory Club, home of the British Junior Open (Squash) and
the Nature Valley Classic (Tennis)