Competing in the event for the 41st time since 1975, and making their
15th appearance in the final, France finally won the men's
European Team Squash Championship for the first time after beating
favourites and defending champions England in a dramatic final in
Herning, Denmark.
Despite the absence of world No.2 Nick Matthew due to injury,
England reached the final for the 23rd year in a row and were on course
to win their 40th title.
However, French number one Gregory Gaultier, the world No.3
making his 15th appearance in the event, put the second seeds into the
lead with a four-game win over Peter Barker - and team-mate
Mathieu Castagnet extended the lead after surviving a 112-minute
marathon over England's second string Daryl Selby.
England stalwart James Willstrop reduced the deficit after
fighting back from 2/1 down to see off Gregoire Marche in 90
minutes - leaving England needing to win the fourth match 3/0 to have
the chance of retaining the title.
England debutante Chris Simpson duly took the opener, but when
Lucas Serme clinched the second 11-7, the match was abandoned and
France's historic and long-awaited title breakthrough was achieved!
England
won the women's trophy for the 37th time after beating France 2/1
in the final.
After
reaching the finals in Division 2, Finland and Ireland
gained promotion to the men's top division for 2016, while
Netherlands and Germany earned promotion to the women's elite
group.
RESULTS: European Team Squash Championships, Herning, Denmark
Men's
final:
[2] FRANCE bt [1] ENGLAND 9-6 on games
countback Gregory Gaultier bt Peter Barker 12-10, 11-8, 10-12, 11-3
(64m) Mathieu Castagnet bt Daryl Selby 6-11, 11-9, 11-4, 14-12
(112m) Gregoire Marche lost to James Willstrop 5-11, 11-7, 11-6,
8-11, 8-11 (90m) Lucas Serme v Chris Simpson 5-11, 11-7 (match unfinished)
3rd
place play-off:
[3] GERMANY bt [4] SCOTLAND 9-6 on games
countback Simon Rösner bt Alan Clyne 3-11, 11-3, 11-4, 11-9 (59m) Raphael Kandra lost to Greg Lobban 5-11, 7-11, 11-5, 7-11
(57m) Jens Schoor v Douglas Kempsell 12-10, 9-11, 11-6 (match
unfinished) Rudi Rohrmuller bt Kevin Moran 11-4, 11-8, 10-12, 11-8
(57m)
Division 2, Men's final:
[2] FINLAND bt [5] IRELAND 3/1 Henrik Mustonen bt Arthur Gaskin 11-7, 11-7, 11-5 Matias Tuomi bt Brian O'Brion 11-7, 11-3, 3-11, 11-7 Jaakko Vahamaa bt Michael Craig 9-11, 5-11, 11-9 ret. Kristian Rautiainen lost to Sean Conroy 5-11, 11-5, 9-11,
6-11
