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16/02/2020
British National Championships 2020
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British National Championships 2020
Men's Draw
11 - 16 Feb
Nottingham, England |
ROUND
ONE
13 FEB |
QUARTERS
14 FEB |
SEMIS
15 FEB |
FINAL
16 FEB |
|
[1] Joel Makin (WAL)
11-4, 11-8, 9-11, 11-2 (41m)
[Q] Sam Todd (ENG) |
Joel Makin
11-4, 8-11, 11-7, 11-5 (53m)Alan Clyne |
Joel Makin
11-7, 10-12, 11-7, 11-2 (62m)
Adrian Waller |
Joel Makin
12-10, 0-11, 12-10, 14-12 (76m)
James Willstrop
|
[5/8] Alan Clyne (SCO)
11-5, 11-7, 11-4 (33m)
[Q] Nick Wall (ENG) |
Richie Fallows (ENG)
12-10, 11-6, 11-3 (42m)
[5/8] Tom Richards (ENG) |
Richie Fallows
11-8, 12-10, 10-12, 11-6 (66m)
Adrian Waller |
[3/4] Adrian Waller (ENG)
11-6, 11-7, 13-11 (41m)
Nathan Lake (ENG) |
[3/4] Daryl Selby (ENG)
1-2 ret.
[Q] Oliver Pett (ENG) |
Daryl Selby
11-6, 11-9, 11-5 (41m)
George Parker |
George Parker
11-6, 11-7, 9-11, 11-7 (48m)
James Willstrop |
George Parker (ENG)
6-11, 11-6, 11-4, 1-11, 11-8 (58m)
[5/8] Greg Lobban (SCO) |
[5/8] Declan James (ENG)
13-11, 11-8, 11-5 (40m)
Patrick Rooney (ENG) |
Declan James
11-7, 11-8, 11-5 (43m)
James Willstrop |
[Q] Charlie Lee (ENG)
11-4, 11-8, 11-5 (26m)
[2] James Willstrop (ENG) |
Qualifying finals:
Nick Wall (ENG) bt Tom Walsh (ENG) w/o
Oliver Pett (ENG) bt James Peach (ENG) 11-8, 11-9, 10-12, 11-5 (50m)
Sam Todd (ENG) bt Simon Herbert (ENG) 7-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-9 (40m)
Charlie Lee (ENG) bt Joshua Masters (ENG) 16-14, 13-11, 11-6 (50m)
2nd qualifying round:
Nick Wall (ENG) bt Matthew Gregory (ENG) 11-7, 11-3, 11-3
Josh Owen (ENG) bt Ben Hetherington (ENG) 11-5, 11-7, 11-8
Ben Smith (ENG) bt Jon Matthews (ENG) 11-8, 11-7, 11-7
Samuel Hay (ENG) bt Tom Walsh (ENG) 11-4, 11-4, 11-2
Oliver Pett (ENG) bt Matthew Bolt (ENG) 11-7, 12-10, 11-3
Lewis Anderson (ENG) bt Muhammed Azhan Khan (ENG) 11-1, 11-5, 11-3
James Peach (ENG) bt Josh Hall (ENG) 11-1, 11-3, 11-5
Connor Sheen (ENG) bt David Allman (ENG) 11-3, 11-8, 11-9
Sam Todd (ENG) bt Finnlay Withington (ENG) 11-6, 11-8, 11-5
Owain Taylor (WAL) bt Robert Thirst (ENG) 11-5, 13-11, 11-1
Simon Herbert (ENG) bt Oscar Khoo (ENG) 11-8, 11-7, 11-6
Harry Falconer (ENG) bt Benjamin Boardman (ENG) 11-1, 11-1, 11-1
Charlie Lee (ENG) bt Gbenga Adeyi (ENG) 11-4, 11-6, 11-6
Adam Turner (ENG) bt Ben Sockett (ENG) 11-5, 10-12, 6-11, 11-5, 11-8
(55m)
Mark Fuller (ENG) bt Marcus Connor (ENG) 17-15, 11-6, 11-4
Joshua Masters (ENG) bt Oscar Hill (IOM) 11-3, 11-2, 11-4
1st qualifying round:
Matthew Bolt (ENG) bt Sam Evans (ENG) 11-6, 11-5, 12-10
Ben Sockett (ENG) bt Noah Duckworth (ENG) 11-3, 11-2, 11-8 |
|
British National Championships 2020
Women's Draw
11 - 16 Feb
Nottingham, England |
ROUND ONE
13 FEB |
QUARTERS
14 FEB |
SEMIS
15 FEB |
FINAL
16 FEB |
|
[1] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG)
11-4, 11-3, 11-3 (19m)
[Q] Kiera Marshall (ENG) |
Sarah-Jane Perry
6-11, 11-9, 6-11, 11-6, 11-4 (47m)
Julianne Courtice |
Sarah-Jane Perry
11-9, 9-11, 11-6, 6-11, 11-7 (60m)
Millie Tomlinson |
Sarah-Jane Perry
11-9, 11-9, 11-9 (35m)
Jasmine Hutton |
[5/8] Julianne Courtice (ENG)
12-10, 11-9, 11-13, 11-7 (42m)
Rachael Chadwick (ENG) |
[5/8] Lucy Turmel (ENG)
14-12, 11-6, 11-7 (34m)
[Q] Alicia Mead (ENG) |
Lucy Turmel
11-6, 4-11, 11-9, 6-11, 12-10 (70m)
Millie Tomlinson |
[3/4] Millie Tomlinson (ENG)
11-6, 11-4, 11-8 (28m)
Kace Bartley (ENG) |
[3/4] Victoria Lust (ENG)
11-5, 8-11, 11-5, 11-7 (35m)
Alison Thomson (SCO) |
Victoria Lust
11-5, 11-1, 13-15, 11-7 (46m)
Emily Whitlock |
Emily Whitlock
w/o
Jasmine Hutton |
[5/8] Emily Whitlock (ENG)
11-6, 11-7, 11-2 (30m)
Anna Kimberley (ENG) |
[5/8] Jasmine Hutton (ENG)
11-8, 9-11, 11-9, 11-6 (33m)
[Q] Alice Green (ENG) |
Jasmine Hutton
w/o
Alison Waters |
[Q] Lily Taylor (ENG)
11-1, 9-11, 11-4, 11-4 (27m)
[2] Alison Waters (ENG) |
|
Qualifying finals:
Kiera Marshall (ENG) bt Charlotte Jagger (ENG) 10-12, 11-2, 11-9,
7-11, 11-5 (49m)
Alicia Mead (ENG) bt Katie Cox (ENG) 11-5, 11-3, 11-3 (17m)
Alice Green (ENG) bt Tayla Mounter (ENG) 11-1, 11-9, 11-1 (14m)
Lily Taylor (ENG) bt Polly Clark (ENG) 11-8, 11-6, 11-6 (22m)
1st qualifying round:
Charlotte Jagger (ENG) bt Peggy Crawford (ENG) 11-4, 11-4, 11-2
Kiera Marshall (ENG) bt Saran Nghiem (ENG) 11-7, 3-11, 11-8, 11-4
Katie Cox (ENG) bt Katie Wells (ENG) 11-6, 14-12, 8-11, 6-11, 11-3
Alicia Mead (ENG) bt Catherine Holland (SCO) 11-6, 11-4, 11-2
Tayla Mounter (ENG) bye
Alice Green (ENG) bye
Polly Clark (ENG) bye
Lily Taylor (ENG) bt Grace Clark (ENG) 11-5, 11-4, 11-7 |
Willstrop and Perry crowned British National champions
England’s James Willstrop and Sarah-Jane Perry captured the AJ Bell
British National titles at the University of Nottingham today following
two tightly contested finals.
 Defending
champion Willstrop saved eight game balls to defend his crown in style
by stunning favourite Joel Makin to claim a fourth title.
Meanwhile, women’s top seed Sarah-Jane Perry secured her second trophy
after squeezing past England’s Jasmine Hutton in straight games.
Second seed Willstrop’s defence was peerless throughout a gripping
encounter as he beat Welshman Makin 3-1: 12-10, 0-11, 12-10, 14-12 in 76
minutes.
The World No.18, despite a losing 3-2 head-to-head record against
first-time finalist Makin, showed no signs of fatigue at 36 but it was
the 25-year-old Welshman who started the brighter of the two.
Makin flew into a 10-4 lead for six game balls, yet somehow in his 11th
final, Willstrop reeled off eight straight points to clinch the
tie-break in 19 minutes.
 Makin
then won 11 consecutive points to level and showed his class in the
third, coming back from 6-1 down to 8-8 .
However, energy spent in conversation with the officials gave Willstrop
some crucial thinking time as he saved a game ball with his signature
backhand drop shot before winning another tie-break in 22 minutes.
The heat turned up in the fourth, and a despairing Makin dive at 9-9,
prevented a first championship ball for Willstrop only adding to the
drama.
Whilst Makin twice extended the match – forcing Willstrop into saving a
game ball of his own – the Englishman proved too clinical third time
around.
“To sneak in there at the end against one of the top players in world,
I’m not sure how I was able to do it really,” said Willstrop.
“The British Nationals has prestige and history. Some of the greats have
played it and to play and compete with someone like Joel who’s one of
the top players at the moment is great.
“He’s incredibly hard to break down. The bagel in the second sums it up.
That’s how hard it is to win a rally. He goes for everything and once I
got 6-nil behind it seemed impossible.
“I came back though and it’s great to be able to compete at that level
and win. It’s special anytime to win the Nationals but especially
against a field like this!”
 2015
champion and World No.7 Perry had experience, a higher ranking and a
superior head to head over finalist Hutton, ranked 48th in the world who
made the final after two straight withdrawals.
Perry’s imposing court presence and calm head on the tight points proved
too much for the 2019 British U23 Open winner.
Hutton had a chance at 9-9 to earn a game ball, instead trying too much
with a simple shot as Perry took the gift and promptly wrapped up the
first game.
Hutton overcame a patchy start to the second to bring it back to 8-8 but
Perry bagged two more game balls, the 29-year-old all over the second
opportunity for another 11-minute game.
 Hutton
benefitted from two overrules in her favour in the third to lead 7-6 but
three straight points from Perry, swiftly followed by some stunning
Hutton winners and then costly errors, summed up the athletic
youngster’s final as Perry prevailed in 35 minutes, winning 11-9, 11-9,
11-9.
“I’m really pleased to win a second National title because I’ve been
stuck on one for a little while.
“Jasmine played fantastic. She came out with no signs of nerves and
played some really fearless squash. She has improved so much in the past
six, 12, 18 months.
“She is definitely pushing in that crop of young players trying to
challenge the slightly older guard like myself. I am sure she will have
many more finals.”
AJ Bell British National Championships 2020 final: results
[2] James Willstrop bt. [1] Joel Makin 12-10, 0-11, 12-10, 14-12
(76m)
[1] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) bt [5/8] Jasmine Hutton (ENG) 3-0: 11-9,
11-9, 11-9
England Squash Website Including Masters Results |
Willstrop and Makin tee up dream AJ Bell British National
final as Perry survives scrape
Defending champion James Willstrop set up a thrilling finale to the AJ
Bell British National Championships against favourite Joel Makin as
women’s top seed Sarah-Jane Perry escaped another five-game tussle in
Nottingham on Saturday.
 Second
seed Willstrop, who is appearing in his 14th Nationals semi-final, put a
stop to unseeded George Parker’s giant-killing run 3-1 (11-6, 11-7,
9-11, 11-7) in 48 minutes after Perry took an hour to beat [3/4] Millie
Tomlinson 3-2 (11-9, 9-11, 11-6, 6-11, 11-7).
Makin made his first final with a 3-1 defeat of [3/4] Adrian Waller
(11-7, 10-12, 11-7, 11-2) while 5/8 seed Jasmine Hutton advanced without
hitting a shot for the second consecutive day after Emily Whitlock
withdrew following a foot injury.
Willstrop went on a five-point run at 6-6 in the first game then
finished off the second with three unanswered points as his 23-year-old
opponent let the crowd know his frustrations.
Parker closed out the third having trailed 7-5 but couldn’t capitalise
on a fast start to the fourth as the guile of Willstrop took the
36-year-old into an 11th Nationals final.
“He’s an immense athlete and I enjoyed the match with him today. I love
playing in big matches, I’m addicted to the buzz of these matches,” said
the former World No.1 after increasing his winning record over Parker to
4-0.
“I hope to put on a good match tomorrow. Joel will be tough to beat at
this tournament no question. He’s the form player that’s here,” added
the three-time champion, who lost to Makin at the Tournament of
Champions last month.
 Despite
a 3-1 losing record against Waller, Welshman Makin made a rapid start,
and a change of strings at 9-7 in front, had no effect on the top seed’s
masterful play as he promptly won a thrilling point then closed out the
first game 11-7.
A good-natured affair turned tighter and more tense in the second,
Waller expertly saving a game ball then pulling through with some
exquisite finishes.
Yet it wasn’t to be a first final for Waller as World no.11 Makin
cruised home in the third and fourth games.
“James has got through the draw unbelievably well and he’s so accurate
as everyone knows. He knows how to win these tournaments and I’m excited
to see how I can get on against him,” said Makin, who will try to become
the first Welsh male winner against Willstrop.
“It’d be the biggest title I’ve won so far.”
 Earlier
in the day, Perry built first-game leads of 4-1 and 8-3 before
eventually taking it but first-time semi-finalist Tomlinson levelled.
Perry’s anger sparked her into life in the third as she stormed to an
8-1 lead yet the unfancied Tomlinson upped the ante in the fourth to set
up a decider.
A more measured and cautious fifth game followed and, locked at
five-all, Perry’s fortuitous winner off her frame helped the 29-year-old
grab a timely advantage to gain three match balls, a classy winner on
her second enough for the victory and a third final berth.
“I was really pleased to stay strong at the end of the fifth. I’ve been
there lots of times but even at the end Millie was playing some amazing
shots,” said Perry.
Perry extended her head-to-head record against Tomlinson to 11-0 with
the win, having previously beaten her Derbyshire opponent at the 2015
Nationals when she went on to claim her sole British title.
“I hope I can raise my level a bit in the final. I’ve had extra build up
because I didn’t get to play last year because I was still injured so I
haven’t played it for a couple of years.
“You want to look back on your career and be able to say ‘I won a few
National titles’. I’ve been stuck on one for quite a few years now so
I’ll be gunning for whoever I’ve got to play.”
Women’s 5/8 duo Whitlock and Hutton were deprived of a first meeting
after the former went to hospital for an x-ray on her foot, handing the
20-year-old Hutton another walkover victory after second seed Alison
Waters withdrew yesterday.
Watch live action from the quarter-finals from 12pm on
englandsquash.tv (requires free England Squash website
account). For tickets visit
iSQUASHstore.com. Follow the coverage on the
official website and
Twitter
|
Giant-killer
Parker stuns Selby
to advance to semi-finals
 Unseeded
Englishman George Parker continued his giant-killing run as he followed
up a first round upset with a quarter-final victory over former champion
[3/4] Daryl Selby in straight games to advance to his first semi-final
at the AJ Bell British National Championships in Nottingham.
Essex’s Selby, 37, returned to the court following an eye injury he
sustained during round one but proved no match for Parker, the World
Number 53 from Leicester, who claimed his first win over Selby after
five defeats winning 11-6, 11-9, 11-5.
“I'm just enjoying the tournament, no pressure, no ranking points so I
can relax my head and let my arm go which is what I did today,” said
23-year-old Parker.
Commenting on Parker’s performance, Selby said; “I wasn't good enough
today irrelevant of what happened yesterday. George played too well. I'm
not disappointed with that. I gave everything and chased everything down
but I just wasn't good enough.”
 Meanwhile,
in the women’s draw, 2019 runner-up Emily Whitlock, seeded 5/8, got the
better of 3/4 seed Victoria Lust 3-1 in a gripping clash.
Whitlock raced to a 2-0 start before Lust fought back to claim a tight
third 15-13, saving two match balls before Whitlock bounced back to take
the fourth, requiring only one match ball to reach her third semi-final,
winning 11-5, 11-1, 13-15, 11-7.
"Vicky's a good player, she gets physical and makes it difficult the
whole time. I'm delighted to get through,” said Whitlock.
 Defending
champion James Willstrop, who is appearing in his 22nd consecutive
British Nationals, outclassed Nottingham’s [5/8] Declan James in
straight games, winning 11-7, 11-8, 11-5 in 43 minutes.
"If you've seen Declan's performances at the World Teams, you'll know
they were inspiring, so I knew what I was likely to be up against
today,” said Willstrop, the former World No.1 from Yorkshire.
"I didn't know what was in store, but I'm happy to have played well and
really pleased to be playing in the semi-finals tomorrow."
Meanwhile, World No. 20 and 3/4 seed Adrian Waller remained composed
against giant-killer Richie Fallows to seal a 3-1 victory and tee up a
meeting with top seed Joel Makin who saw off nine-time Scottish champion
and 5/8 seed Alan Clyne 3-1: 11-4, 8-11, 11-7, 11-5.
Fallows saved two match balls in the third game, and despite an
energetic start to the fourth as he threatened to run away with the
game, Waller used all of his experience to take the last nine points of
the match to reach his fourth semi-final winning: 11-8, 12-10, 10-12,
11-6.
 Women’s
top seed Sarah-Jane Perry required 47 minutes and five games to dispatch
5/8 seed Julianne Courtice. Perry’s clean winning record against
Courtice looked to be under threat after she trailed 2-1 but in a
high-quality affair with neither player making many errors, the World
No.7 came through 6-11, 11-9, 6-11, 11-6, 11-4.
Women’s 3/4 seed Millie Tomlinson advanced to her first semi-final by
edging [5/8] Lucy Turmel in a gripping 70-minute encounter that went the
distance.
The Derbyshire player prevailed 11-6, 4-11, 11-9, 6-11, 12-10 to go one
better than her last-eight finishes from the previous two years, the
27-year-old battling back from 5-2 down in the decider to seal it on her
fifth match ball.
"Relieved is the right word! Playing at home in Nottingham should be an
advantage, even though I'm not keen on glass courts, but it's great
having friends and family here,” said Tomlinson.
"I'm playing SJ next who also had a tough five-setter - I hope she's as
tired and stressed out from it as I am!"
5/8 seed Jasmine Hutton moved into her first semi-final after second
seed Alison Waters withdrew due to an ankle injury she sustained on
Thursday.
Watch live action from the quarter-finals from 12pm on
englandsquash.tv (requires free England Squash website
account). For tickets visit
iSQUASHstore.com. Follow the coverage on the
official website and
Twitter
|
Top seeds advance to AJ Bell British National
quarter-finals in Nottingham
The opening day of action at the AJ Bell British National Championships
in Nottingham saw top seeds Joel Makin and Sarah-Jane Perry book their
place in the men’s and women’s quarter-finals whilst Scotland No.1 Greg
Lobban fell to defeat at the hands of Englishman George Parker.
 In
the first upset of the day, Parker took nearly an hour to stun [5/8]
Greg Lobban 3-2 (6-11, 11-6, 11-4, 1-11, 11-8) to set up a date with
Daryl Selby on Valentine’s Day.
Then in the evening session, England’s Richie Fallows got the better of
compatriot and 5/8 seed Tom Richards 3-0: 12-10, 11-6, 11-3 in 42
minutes.
His prize is a last-eight clash with World No.20 Adrian Waller, a 3-0
victor over fellow Englishman Nathan Lake.
Elsewhere at Nottingham Squash Rackets Club, World No.25 and 3/4 seed
Selby was awarded a 3-0 victory against qualifier Olli Pett, whose
trickshot caught Selby in the eye at 2-1 in the first game, resulting in
Selby being ushered off for medical attention.
Women’s top seed Perry made light work of qualifier Kiera Marshall - who
was making her Nationals debut - racing to a straight games victory in
just 19 minutes.
 “I
knew she'd be nervous, I remember my first Nationals,” said Perry after
her 11-4, 11-3, 11-3 victory.
“She played well, but I haven't played on this court and we have a tough
schedule coming up so I need to get as sharp and as efficient as
possible.”
Men’s top seed Joel Makin – the sole Welsh player in either draw after
defending women’s champion Tesni Evans withdrew – brought his savvy best
to the court as he overcame a third game scare to beat 16-year-old
English talent Sam Todd 3-1: 11-4, 11-8, 9-11, 11-2.
“Sam was attacking freely and hitting some good winners, so I’m happy to
get through that one,” said Makin, the World No.11.
 “If
I play like I can, I should get through the rounds, so I don't really
think about being top seed.”
Makin’s Friday opponent will be Scottish 5/8 seed Alan Clyne, who kept
his country’s flag flying with a comfortable 3-0 defeat of qualifier
Nick Wall.
Second seed and four-time champion Alison Waters survived a second-game
blip against qualifier Lily Taylor to win 3-1 (11-1, 9-11, 11-4, 11-4)
while men’s second seed, defending champion James Willstrop, set up a
quarter-final with World No.21 Declan James after his 3-0 defeat of
qualifier Charlie Lee.
 “I
felt good on there, I may need to step it up against the big guns but
I'm pleased to be winning and healthy,” said Willstrop, a three-time
British National champion.
Nottingham 5/8 seed Declan James raced out the blocks against Patrick
Rooney but had to face two opening game balls en route to a 3-0 triumph
(13-11, 11-8, 11-5).
Women’s 5/8 seed Julianne Courtice survived a gripping first encounter
of the day against fellow Englishwoman Rachael Chadwick 3-1 (12-10,
11-9, 11-13, 11-7) to face Perry on Friday.
In the first match of the evening session - another all-English duel -
[5/8] Jasmine Hutton lost the second game to qualifier Alice Green but
prevailed 3-1 (11-8, 9-11, 11-9, 11-6) to set up a battle with Waters.
Elsewhere [3/4] Millie Tomlinson saw off Kace Bartley 11-6, 11-4, 11-8
in 28 minutes to set up a quarter-final clash with [5/8] Lucy Turmel,
who beat qualifier Alicia Mead 3-0, while [3/4] Victoria Lust was a late
3-1 winner over Scotland’s Alison Thomson to next face [5/8] Emily
Whitlock, a 3-0 victor over Anna Kimberley.
Watch live action from the quarter-finals from 12pm on
englandsquash.tv (requires free England Squash website
account). For tickets visit
iSQUASHstore.com. Follow the coverage on the
official website and
Twitter |
|
UNSQUASHABLE is
delighted to advise that the AJ Bell British National Squash
Championships will be streamed live on
www.unsquashable.tv from the
13th to 16th February – no subscription required.
Defending Champion James Willstrop & British
No.1 Joel Makin head a stellar men’s line-up at this year’s
championships which will also include fellow UNSQUASHABLE players
George Parker, Josh Masters, Patrick Rooney &
Connor Sheen.
Thursday 13th February: Men’s & Women’s 1st
Round
View online from 12:00 (GMT):
www.unsquashable.tv
Friday 14th February: Men’s & Women’s
Quarter-Finals
View online from 12:00 (GMT):
www.unsquashable.tv
Saturday 15th February: Men’s & Women’s
Semi-Finals
View online from 13:00 (GMT):
www.unsquashable.tv
Sunday 16th February: Men’s & Women’s Finals
View online from 15:00 (GMT):
www.unsquashable.tv |
Defending champion Evans pulls out of British Nationals
 Defending
champion and second seed Tesni Evans has withdrawn from the AJ Bell
British National Championships in Nottingham next week due to injury.
The two-time British National champion who hails from Wales sustained an
ankle injury at the Tournament of Champions in New York last month and
had hoped to defend her British National crown for the second
consecutive year at the University of Nottingham Sport.
The World No.9 said: “I’m really gutted to have to pull out of the
Nationals and not be able to defend my title this year.
“The Nationals is always one of my favourite events to play in so I’m
really disappointed but I’m working hard to be back as soon as
possible!”
Her withdrawal means that four-time champion Alison Waters moves to
number two seed, Millie Tomlinson to 3/4 seed, Jasmine Hutton to 5/8 and
that Kace Bartley is granted a main draw berth.
Follow live action from the tournament from 13-16 February via
englandsquash.tv (requires free England
Squash website account). For tickets visit
iSQUASHstore.com
Revised main draw - AJ Bell British National Championships 2020:
Women’s Round One
[1] Sarah-Jane Perry (Eng) v Qualifier
[5/8] Julianne Courtice (Eng) v Rachael Chadwick (Eng)
[5/8] Lucy Turmel (Eng) v Qualifier
[3/4] Millie Tomlinson (Eng) v Kace Bartley (Eng)
[3/4] Victoria Lust (Eng) v Alison Thomson (Sco)
[5/8] Emily Whitlock (Eng) v Anna Kimberley (Eng)
[5/8] Jasmine Hutton (Eng) v Qualifier
[2] Alison Waters (Eng) v Qualifier
|
Nottingham’s James targets maiden AJ Bell British
National title
By Daniel Rees
 Nottingham-based
squash star Declan James says he’s relishing the opportunity to contest
the AJ Bell British National Championships in his hometown next week
following a two-year absence from the competition.
Next week sees the UK’s finest squash players descend on the University
of Nottingham Sport and Nottingham Squash Rackets Club to compete for
the British National crown, one of the most prestigious titles on the
British circuit.
James, who trains at Nottingham Squash Rackets Club, is seeded to reach
the last eight and has the capability to go all the way having reached
the last four in 2017 when he was also a 5/8 seed.
“Hopefully the crowd will be on my side and we’ll have lots of people
down there supporting me. That can be enough to win these matches
especially if it starts getting close,” he says.
The 27-year-old who currently sits 21st in the world rankings believes
this year’s competition is as open as it’s ever been.
“It’s going to be the most competitive Nationals for a long time.
There’s a whole host of players that can state their case for winning.”
The England No.4 faces a tough opening encounter against Merseyside's
Patrick Rooney, with the winner likely to face defending champion James
Willstop in the quarter-finals.
Despite enduring a troublesome start to the season, James heads into the
competition high on confidence, having helped England take silver at the
WSF Men's World Team Championships in December and surpassing his
seeding at the Tournament of Champions, where he reached the third
round.
Coincidentally, his first PSA World Tour title came in Nottingham and he
has highlighted the British Nationals as a huge opportunity to add to
his medal collection.
“The Nationals are one of those tournaments that you aspire to win in
your career. It’s one of those career goals that if you’re able to tick
off, it’s something you’re going to remember for a long time. That’s
definitely what I’m aiming for.”
With the championships relocating to the East Midlands last year, James
sees it as the perfect chance for the city to revive its rich history in
the sport.
“Going back, you’ve had players like Peter Marshall, Simon Parke and
John White all basing themselves in Nottingham. It’s always been a bit
of a hub for the professional players, and in terms of the University of
Nottingham, it’s one of the best in the country and has a strong sports
pedigree.
“The university has invested so much into the new facility and
apportioned a lot of it to squash courts which shows that Nottingham has
that character in terms of its sporting history and background.”
James, who will often take a walk in the nearby Wallaton Park to
mentally reset on rest days, comes into these championships with the
intention of following in the footsteps of his illustrious predecessors.
“I’ve turned my bad form around,” he says. “It’s all about momentum.”
Follow live action from the tournament from 13-16 February via
englandsquash.tv (requires free England
Squash website account). For tickets visit
iSQUASHstore.com
|
Makin and Willstrop predicted to contest blockbuster
British Nationals final
Top seed Joel Makin and defending champion James Willstrop are seeded to
meet in the final of the AJ Bell British National Championships in
Nottingham from 13-16th February after the men’s draw was released
yesterday.
Welsh No.1 Makin and former World No.1 Willstrop met just two weeks ago
at the Tournament of Champions in New York, where Makin prevailed in a
match lasting over an hour.
Three-time champion Willstrop, 36, will be appearing in his 22nd
consecutive championships, while this year marks the third time
25-year-old Makin will compete.
In the top half of the draw, Makin is seeded to face World No.19 Adrian
Waller in the semis. Should that transpire, Makin is set for a stern
test with Waller prevailing in three of their previous four encounters,
most recently at the WSF Men’s World Team Championships in December.
World No.18 Willstrop, seeded two, is predicted to face 3/4 seed Daryl
Selby in the semi-finals in what would be a repeat of last year's final
in which Willstrop triumphed.
To view the draw, visit the official website at
www.nationalsquashchampionships.com Follow live action from
the tournament from 13-16 February via
englandsquash.tv
(requires free England Squash website account) |
Perry and Evans seeded to meet in AJ Bell British
National final in Nottingham
Top seed Sarah-Jane Perry and defending champion Tesni Evans are seeded
to contest the final of the AJ Bell British National Squash
Championships in Nottingham next month after the women’s draw was
released today.
The tournament, which take places at the University of Nottingham Sport
and Nottingham Squash Rackets Club between 11th and 16th February
features a strong female line-up battling for the prestigious title,
including four-time champion Alison Waters and last year’s runner-up
Emily Whitlock.
Perry and Evans, the World No.8 and 9 respectively have never met in the
British Nationals before, with second seed Evans of Wales having a
strong record against the England No.1 on the PSA World Tour, prevailing
in four out of their last five encounters.
Perry, the 2015 champion, is seeded to meet former World No.3 Waters, a
ten-time finalist in the semi-finals.
On the opposite of the draw is two-time defending champion Evans who is
scheduled to meet 3/4 seed Victoria Lust in the last four.
Meanwhile, a quartet of English stars, Emily Whitlock, Millie Tomlinson,
Julianne Courtice and Lucy Turmel are seeded to reach the
quarter-finals.
Qualifying will see 18 players compete for the four qualifier spots on
11th and 12th Feb at Nottingham Squash Rackets Club.
AJ Bell British National Championships 2020: Women’s Round 1
[1] Sarah-Jane Perry (Eng) v Qualifier
[5/8] Julianne Courtice (Eng) v Rachael Chadwick (Eng)
[5/8] Lucy Turmel (Eng) v Qualifier
[3/4] Alison Waters (Eng) v Jasmine Hutton (Eng)
[3/4] Victoria Lust (Eng) v Alison Thomson (Sco)
[5/8] Emily Whitlock (Eng) v Anna Kimberley (Eng)
[5/8] Millie Tomlinson (Eng) v Qualifier
[2] Tesni Evans (Wal) v Qualifier
To view the draw, visit the official website at
www.nationalsquashchampionships.com Follow live action from
the tournament from 13-16 February via
englandsquash.tv
(requires free England Squash website account) |
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