29-Apr England Dominant

England's men won their 25th title in 28 years, beating France 4-0, while the women scored their 23rd successive title, beating Germany 3-0.

The women's final was the 5th successive meeting between England and Germany, and England's women maintained their record of not dropping a game in the entire tournament. World Champion Cassie Campion started the final off with a 3-0 win over Sabine Schoene, a feat quickly repeated by Stephanie Brind and wrapped up by Linda Charman. 

England's men were facing a French team in their first European final, and although they were pushed harder than the women, the result was never really in doubt. Mark Chaloner met Gregory Gaultier for the second time in the event, this time winning 3-0. Del Harris followed up with another 3-0 win, and although Simon Parke dropped a game to Thierry Lincou at #1 the title was England's yet again. Paul Johnson won the dead rubber 2-0 as the celebrations started.

28-Apr England's Women power into final

Title-holders England, the top seeds, will meet second seeds Germany in the women's final of the European Team Squash Championships after crushing Netherlands 3-0 in today's (Friday) semi-finals in Vienna, Austria.

Norfolk's world champion and world No1 Cassie Campion led the assault, beating Newcastle-upon-Tyne-born Dutch champion Vanessa Atkinson, ranked 11 in the world, 9-0 9-7 9-0.  Sussex's world No3 Linda Charman defeated Daphne Jelgersma 9-6 9-1 9-0 before Lincolnshire's former world junior champion Tania Bailey wrapped up England's fifth successive 3-0 Viennese victory, conceding just one point to Netherlands' Bea Dreu-Spitse. 

Women's semi-finals:
[1] ENGLAND bt [3] NETHERLANDS  3-0
    Cassie Campion bt Vanessa Atkinson  9-0 9-7 9-0
    Linda Charman bt Daphne Jelgersma   9-6 9-1 9-0
    Tania Bailey bt Bea Dreu-Spitse 9-0 9-1 9-0
[2] GERMANY bt [4] SCOTLAND 2-1
    Sabine Schoene bt Pamela Nimmo  9-4 9-2 9-4
    Sabine Baum lost to Senga Macfie    7-9 0-9
    Daniela Grzenia bt Claire Waddell   0-9 9-5 9-1 5-9 9-6

Men's final qualifying round, Friday 28 April

Top seeds and defending champions England became the only team to come through the men's qualifiers unbeaten when they defeated Germany 4-0 in today's (Friday) final pool matches in the European Team Squash Championships in Vienna, Austria.  Fourth seeds France, beaten by England in Pool A, finished in second place after a 4-0 victory over hosts Austria.

Third seeds Finland triumphed in Pool B despite losing 2-2 (8-6 in games countback) today to Switzerland - while second seeds Wales trounced Sweden 4-0, but finished in second place in the group after losing earlier to Finland.

England face Wales in the semi-finals - and will be eager to make amends for the first ever loss to their British rivals at the same stage of last year's world team championships in Egypt.  France face Finland in the other men's semi-final.

The women's semi-final line-up features England v Netherlands and Scotland v Germany.

Pool A:
[1] ENGLAND bt [5] GERMANY  4-0
    Simon Parke bt Oliver Kowalski  9-3 9-0 9-6
    Paul Johnson bt Simon Frenz 9-0 4-9 9-0 9-0
    Del Harris bt Oliver Post   9-0 9-5 9-2
    Mark Chaloner bt Stefan Oppolzer    9-1 9-6 9-4
[4] FRANCE bt [8] AUSTRIA   4-0
    Thierry Lincou bt Gerhard Schedlbauer   9-1 9-1 9-6
    Renan Lavigne bt Leopold Czaska 8-9 9-0 9-0 9-2
    Jean-Michel Arcucci bt Markus Rossler   9-2 10-8 9-7
    Romain Tenant bt Andreas Fuchs  9-5 9-0 10-9

Pool B:
[2] WALES bt [6] SWEDEN 4-0
    David Evans bt Daniel Forslund  9-6 9-2 9-2
    Alex Gough bt Christian Drakenberg  0-9 9-0 9-3 10-9
    Greg Tippings bt Johan Jungling 9-2 9-7 10-8
    Gavin Jones bt Pieter Sjosten   9-4 4-9 3-9 9-7 9-1
[7] SWITZERLAND bt [3] FINLAND  2-2 (8-6 in games)
    Lars Harms bt Olli Tuominen 9-4 9-1 9-4
    Reto Donatsch bt Timo Tuominen  9-3 9-4 9-0
    Andre Holderegger lost to Janne Kyttanen    7-9 9-3 1-9 5-9
    Dany Oeschger lost to Olle Poutiainen   7-9 9-5 1-9 1-9

Pool C: [14] Denmark bt [18] Israel 4-0, [15] Greece bt [19] Slovakia 4-0 
Pool D: [13] Italy bt [17] Czech Republic 4-0, [20] Slovenia bt [16] Hungary 3-1



27-Apr England maintain the pace
ENGLAND MAINTAIN UNBEATEN EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS RUN

England's men and women have comfortably overcome their opposition in the first session the second qualifying rounds of the European Team Squash Championships in Vienna, Austria.

Kent's world No5 Paul Johnson fought back from a game down to beat world No28 Stefan Casteleyn 7-9 9-3 9-0 4-9 9-0 as defending champions England defeated Belgium 4-0. Johnson, leading the attack while England No1 Simon Parke was rested, was supported by Del Harris, Peter Marshall, and Mark Chaloner, all of whom secured straight games victories. The top seeds face 5th seeds France, who are also unbeaten in Pool A, in tonight's third qualifying encounter.

England's women added a third Viennese victory to their tally when they crushed 9th seeds Wales 3-0 after beating Denmark on Wednesday evening. Norfolk's Halifax-based world champion and world No1 Cassie Campion, returning to action after being rested against Denmark, beat Karen Hogan 9-1 9-4 10-8 while team-mates Stephanie Brind and Tania Bailey conceded just two points between them in their wins over Hannah Davies and Louise Griffiths, respectively.

Men's 2nd qualifying rounds - Pool A:
[1] ENGLAND bt [9] BELGIUM 4-0
Paul Johnson bt Stefan Casteleyn 7-9 9-3 9-0 4-9 9-0
Del Harris bt Peter Pastijn 9-5 9-1 9-2
Peter Marshall bt Nicolas van Caesbroeck 9-0 9-2 9-0
Mark Chaloner bt Fabrice Fievet 9-2 9-0 9-3

Women's 2nd qualifying rounds - Pool A:
[1] ENGLAND bt [9] WALES 3-0
Cassie Campion bt Karen Hogan 9-1 9-4 10-8
Stephanie Brind bt Hannah Davies 9-1 9-0 9-0
Tania Bailey bt Louise Griffiths 9-1 9-0 9-0

Men's 1st qualifying rounds - Pool A:
[1] ENGLAND bt [9] AUSTRIA 4-0
Simon Parke bt Clemens Wallishauser 9-4 9-2 9-0
Del Harris bt Gerhard Schedlbauer 9-1 9-6 9-0
Peter Marshall bt Markus Rossler 9-3 9-2 9-0
Mark Chaloner bt Andreas Fuchs 9-1 9-5 9-0
[4] FRANCE bt [9] BELGIUM 4-0
Thierry Lincou bt Stefan Casteleyn 9-3 9-3 3-9 7-9 9-0
Renan Lavigne bt Marc Christie 9-3 9-1 9-1
Jean-Michel Arcucci bt Nicolas van Caesbroeck 9-2 9-1 9-2
Gregory Gaultier bt Fabrice Fievet 9-1 9-2 9-3
[8] AUSTRIA bt [9] BELGIUM 3-1
Clemens Wallishauser lost to Stefan Casteleyn 6-9 9-1 0-9 2-9
Gerhard Schedlbauer bt Peter Pastijn 9-6 9-4 9-6
Leopold Czaska bt Marc Christie 9-0 9-2 9-4
Wolfgang Rothbacher bt Nicolas van Caesbroeck 9-2 9-6 9-2
[4] FRANCE bt [5] GERMANY 4-0
Thierry Lincou bt Oliver Kowalski 9-6 9-5 9-0
Renan Lavigne bt Simon Frenz 9-10 9-4 9-1 9-1
Jean-Michel Arcucci bt Florian Poessl 9-5 9-0 9-8
Gregory Gaultier bt Stefan Oppolzer 9-0 9-1 6-9 9-0
Pool B:
[3] FINLAND bt [10] NETHERLANDS 4-0
Olli Tuominen bt Lucas Buit 9-2 9-5 9-7
Juha Raumolin bt Tommy Berden 5-9 9-7 9-1 9-4
Timo Tuominen bt Ronald Cune 9-4 9-4 9-1
Janne Kyttanen bt Laurens-Jan Anjema 9-2 10-9 9-0
[2] WALES bt [7] SWITZERLAND 3-1
David Evans bt Lars Harms 9-7 9-1 9-0
Alex Gough lost to Reto Donatsch 3-9 2-9 0-9
Greg Tippings bt Andre Holderegger 9-3 9-1 9-1
Gareth Davies bt Dany Oeschger 9-1 9-0 9-1

Pool C: [14] Denmark bt [19] Slovakia 4-0, [11] Spain bt [18] Israel 4-0, 
[15] Greece bt [18] Israel 3-1, [11] Spain bt [14] Denmark 3-1

Pool D: [12] Ireland bt [17] Czech Republic 4-0, [13] Italy bt [20] 
Slovenia 4-0, [16] Hungary bt [17] Czech Republic 3-1, [13] Italy bt [12] 
Ireland 3-1

Women's 1st qualifying rounds - Pool A:
[1] ENGLAND bt [8] SWITZERLAND 3-0
Cassie Campion bt Agnes Mueller 9-2 9-7 9-0
Linda Charman bt Manuela Zehnder 9-6 9-1 9-0
Stephanie Brind bt Gaby Schmohl 9-3 9-0 9-0
[4] SCOTLAND bt [5] DENMARK 3-0
Pamela Nimmo bt Ellen Petersen 4-9 9-7 9-0 2-9 9-3
Senga Macfie bt Julia Dorn-Jensen 9-1 9-0 9-3
Claire Waddell bt Line Hansen 9-2 9-0 9-0
[4] SCOTLAND bt [9] WALES 3-0
Senga Macfie bt Katrina Hogan 9-0 9-3 9-4
Claire Waddell bt Hannah Davies 9-1 9-0 9-0
Lisa McKenna bt Louise Griffiths 9-0 9-4 9-2
[1] ENGLAND bt [5] DENMARK 3-0
Linda Charman bt Ellen Petersen 9-4 9-1 9-3
Stephanie Brind bt Julia Dorn-Jensen 9-1 9-1 9-1
Tania Bailey bt Mette Jorgensen 9-3 9-2 9-3
[8] SWITZERLAND bt [9] WALES 2-1
Agnes Mueller bt Karen Hargreaves 3-9 9-7 3-9 9-2 9-1
Gaby Schmohl lost to Katrina Hogan 8-10 2-9 0-9
Olivia Hauser bt Hannah Davies 9-3 9-2 9-2
Pool B:
[3] NETHERLANDS bt [6] SPAIN 3-0
Vanessa Atkinson bt Natalia Meneu 9-2 9-5 9-4
Daphne Jelgersma bt Elisabeth Sado 9-7 9-0 9-7
Denise Sommers bt Laia Sans 10-9 9-2 9-6
[2] GERMANY bt [7] BELGIUM 3-0
Sabine Schoene bt Kim Hannes 9-1 9-5 9-1
Sabine Baum bt Katline Cauwels 9-1 9-4 9-1
Karin Beriere bt Loreline Pira 9-5 9-1 9-3
[2] GERMANY bt [6] SPAIN 3-0
Sabine Schoene bt Elisabeth Sado 9-3 9-2 9-0
Karin Beriere bt Laia Sans 9-5 10-8 9-2
Daniela Grzenia bt Olga Puigdemont 9-5 9-0 9-5
[3] NETHERLANDS bt [10] FRANCE 2-1
Vanessa Atkinson bt Isabelle Stoehr 10-8 9-2 9-7
Daphne Jelgersma lost to Corinne Castets 9-3 4-9 9-2 4-9 1-9
Denise Sommers bt Mylene Demuylder 9-2 9-5 9-2
[10] FRANCE bt [7] BELGIUM 2-1
Isabelle Stoehr bt Kim Hannes 9-1 10-8 9-5
Corinne Castets bt Katline Cauwels 9-7 9-1 9-7
Noellie Boden lost to Sil Schryvers 4-9 0-9 2-9

Pool C: [18] Israel bt [11] Austria 2-1, [14] Italy bt [15] Norway 2-1, 
[15] Norway bt [11] Austria 2-1, [14] Italy bt [15] Slovakia 3-0, [18] Israel 
bt [15] Slovakia 3-0

Pool D: [12] Ireland bt [17] Slovenia 3-0, [13] Finland bt [16] Hungary 
3-0, [12] Ireland bt [16] Hungary 3-0, [13] Finland bt [17] Slovenia 3-0

26-Apr Easy for England on day one

England's men and women cruised to maximum points victories in today's (Wednesday) opening qualifying rounds of the European Team Squash Championships in defence of their titles in Vienna, Austria.

England No1 Simon Parke, the Nottingham-based world No4 from Yorkshire, led by example - beating Clemens Wallishauser 9-4 9-2 9-0 as the championship top seeds beat Austria 4-0. Parke's team-mates Del Harris, the Colchester 30-year-old making his England comeback after a two-year absence, Peter Marshall, from Nottingham, and Mark Chaloner, from Lincolnshire, all also claimed 3-0 wins.

Norfolk's Halifax-based world champion and world No1 Cassie Campion was also in top form as she overcame Agnes Mueller 9-2 9-7 9-0 to lead England's women to a 3-0 win over Switzerland. Again team-mates Linda Charman (Sussex) and Stephanie Brind (Kent) also registered 3-0 victories against their Swiss opponents.

England's men face both Belgium and France, 11th and 5th seeds, respectively, on Thursday, whilst the women's team take on Denmark later today (Wednesday) before meeting 9th seeds Wales tomorrow.

RESULTS:
1st Men's qualifying round - Pool A:
[1] ENGLAND bt [9] AUSTRIA 4-0
Simon Parke bt Clemens Wallishauser 9-4 9-2 9-0
Del Harris bt Gerhard Schedlbauer 9-1 9-6 9-0
Peter Marshall bt Markus Rossier 9-3 9-2 9-0
Mark Chaloner bt Andreas Fuchs 9-1 9-5 9-0

1st Women's qualifying round - Pool A:
[1] ENGLAND bt [8] SWITZERLAND 3-0
Cassie Campion bt Agnes Mueller 9-2 9-7 9-0
Linda Charman bt Manuela Zehnder 9-6 9-1 9-0
Stephanie Brind bt Gaby Schmohl 9-3 9-0 9-0

WOMEN 
Pool A
England 3 Switzerland 0 , England 3 Denmark 0 
Scotland 3 Denmark 0 , Scotland 3 Wales 0 , Switzerland 2 Wales 1 
Pool B
Netherlands 3 Spain 0 ,Germany 3 Belgium 0
Germany 3 Spain 0 , Netherlands 2 France 1 , France 2 Belgium 1
Pool C
Israel 2 Austria 1 ,Italy 2 Norway 1
Norway 2 Austria 1 ,Italy 3 Slovakia 0, Israel 3 Slovakia 0
Pool D
Ireland 3 Slovenia 0 , Finland 3 Hungary 0
Ireland 3 Hungary 0 , Finland 3 Slovenia 0

MEN
Pool A
England 4 Austria 0 , France 4 Belgium 0
France 4 Germany 0 , Austria 3 Belgium 1
Pool B
Finland 4 Netherlands 0 , Wales 3 Switzerland 1 
Netherlands 4 Switzerland 0 , Finland 4 Sweden 0
Pool C
Spain 4 Israel 0 , Denmark 4 Slovakia 0
Greece 3 Israel 1 , Spain 3 Denmark 1
Pool D
Ireland 4 Czech Republic 0 , Italy 4 Slovakia 0
Italy 3 Czech republic 1 , Italy 3 Ireland 1 

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25-Apr SCOTLAND DECLINE 'GREATEST EVENT OF THE YEAR'

The 28th Men's European Team Squash Championships, which get underway in Austria tomorrow (Wednesday 26 April), will boast representation from 20 countries - but, for the first time since 1990, the event will take place without Scotland.

With three players in the world's top fifteen, led by world champion and world No1 Peter Nicol, Scotland would have been a major force in the event described by European Squash Federation President Philip van der Ven as "the greatest squash event of the year".

"Last year's men's final between Scotland and England was widely felt to be one of the most exciting matches in the championship's history," said the ESF President. "It is a major disappointment that Scotland are not competing in the men's championships in Vienna - we did our utmost to try and persuade them to reconsider their position."

Norman Brydon, Administration Manager of Scottish Squash, explained: "We understood we would be without our leading male players and would therefore be likely to emulate our position in the recent Men's Worlds where we finished in 16th place. We are also desperately short of cash to fulfil all the parts of our comprehensive 4-year development plan, and therefore had to question our priorities - and a potentially very poor finishing place in the Men's Euros seemed to be worth less than other things we could do with the cash it would cost.

"This is a one-off decision and will be reviewed in the light of future circumstances. We are, of course, entering a women's team, which has presented no difficulty over the availability of a full team, and therefore has an adequate level of probability of producing a good return on the investment, in terms of results," Brydon added.

England are seeded to retain both the men's and women's European team titles.

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20-Apr ENGLAND RECALL HARRIS FOR EUROPEAN TITLE DEFENCE

Del Harris, the 30-year-old former world No5 from Colchester, has been recalled for the England squad which will defend the European Team Squash Championships title in Vienna from 26-29 April.

Harris, currently ranked 10 in the world after a significant career revival, will be joined in Austria by Yorkshire's Nottingham-based England No1 and world No4 Simon Parke; British champion Peter Marshall, the world No11 and new England No2, also from Nottingham; Kent's world No5 Paul Johnson; and Lincolnshire's Hertford-based world No15 Mark Chaloner.

Norfolk's Halifax-based world champion and world No1 Cassie Campion leads the women's England squad, with Sussex's world No3 Linda Charman; Kent's world No9 Stephanie Brind; and Lincolnshire's former world junior champion Tania Bailey, ranked 12 in the world. England No2 Sue Wright will not be available due to a mild recurrence of her viral pneumonia.

Del Harris made his England debut in January 1988, aged 18, and earned his 50th cap in his last appearance for his country in the European Championships in Finland in April 1998. He was a member of the England squad that claimed the world team title for the first time in 1995 in Egypt, and successfully defended it two years later in Malaysia. After a variety of injuries, Harris has recently rediscovered his former form - winning his first PSA Tour title for over three years last August in Peru, and later reaching the semi-finals of the Pakistan Open and finals of both the Apawamis and Greenwich Opens in the USA.

Victory for the men in Vienna would mark England's 25th European title success since the inaugural competition in 1973, with only Sweden (twice) and Scotland interrupting England's unbroken reign. In the women's event, however, England are unbeaten since the championship's debut in 1978.

England National Coach David Pearson, commented: "The growth of squash throughout the continent means that the European Championship are becoming increasingly competitive and we will have to be fully focussed to bring back both trophies. Del's current form, together with the disappointing progress of the younger players otherwise in contention for the national squad, leaves us in no doubt that he thoroughly deserves his recall and will make a significant contribution for England in Vienna."

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Results

Men's final:
[1] ENGLAND bt [4] FRANCE 4-0
Simon Parke bt Thierry Lincou 9-6 9-1 3-9 9-3
Paul Johnson bt Renan Lavigne 9-2 9-0
Del Harris bt Jean-Michel Arcucci 9-6 9-7 9-1
Mark Chaloner bt Gregory Gaultier 9-6 9-6 9-5
3rd place play-off:
[3] FINLAND bt [2] WALES 3-1
Olli Tuominen bt David Evans 9-3 9-3 9-4
Juha Raumolin bt Alex Gough 9-4 9-7 9-0
Timo Tuominen lost to Greg Tippings 9-7 2-9 4-9 4-9
Janne Kyttanen bt Gavin Jones 7-9 9-6 9-3 9-3
5th place play-off:
[5] GERMANY bt [10] NETHERLANDS 3-1
Oliver Kowalski lost to Lucas Buit 9-1 4-9 1-9 6-9
Simon Frenz bt Tommy Berden 9-1 9-0 9-0
Edgar Schneider bt Ronald Cune 9-2 6-9 9-0 9-3
Stefan Oppolzer bt Laurens-Jan Anjema 9-3 9-5 9-0
7th place play-off: 
[7] SWITZERLAND bt [8] AUSTRIA 2-2 (7-6 in games)
Lars Harms bt Clemens Wallishauser 9-1 9-7 9-4
Reto Donatsch bt Gerhard Schedlbauer 9-6 9-3 10-8
Dany Oeschger lost to Leopold Czaska 4-9 5-9 0-9
Marco Eggenberger lost to Markus Rossler 9-3 4-9 0-9 4-9

9th place play-off: [6] Sweden bt [13] Italy 3-1
11th place play-off: [9] Belgium bt [11] Spain 3-1
13th place play-off: [12] Ireland bt [14] Denmark 4-0
15th place play-off: [15] Greece bt [20] Slovenia 2-2 (8-6 in games)
17th place play-off: [16] Hungary bt [18] Israel 3-1
19th place play-off: [17] Czech Republic bt [19] Slovakia 4-0


Women's final:
[1] ENGLAND bt [2] GERMANY 3-0
Cassie Campion bt Sabine Schoene 9-1 9-4 9-3
Linda Charman bt Sabine Baum 9-3 9-0 9-1
Stephanie Brind bt Daniela Grzenia 9-4 9-6 9-2
3rd place play-off:
[4] SCOTLAND bt [3] NETHERLANDS 2-1
Pamela Nimmo lost to Vanessa Atkinson 5-9 5-9 3-9
Senga Macfie bt Daphne Jelgersma 9-4 9-2 9-0
Claire Waddell bt Bea Dreu-Spitse 9-0 9-0 9-1
5th place play-off:
[5] DENMARK bt [6] SPAIN 2-1
Ellen Petersen bt Natalia Meneu 9-2 9-1 9-5
Julia Dorn-Jensen bt Elisabeth Sado 9-5 9-1 9-2
Line Hansen lost to Laia Sans 4-9 8-10 6-9
7th place play-off:
[8] SWITZERLAND bt [10] FRANCE 3-0
Agnes Mueller bt Corinne Castets 9-6 9-4 9-7
Manuela Zehnder bt Mylene Demuylder 9-1 9-2 9-1
Olivia Hauser bt Boden Noellie 9-1 9-6 9-7

9th place play-off: [12] Ireland bt [7] Belgium 2-1
11th place play-off: [14] Italy bt [9] Wales 2-1
13th place play-off: [13] Finland bt [18] Israel 3-0
15th place play-off: [15] Norway bt [16] Hungary 3-0
17th place: [11] Austria, 18th place: [15] Slovakia, 19th place: [17] Slovenia.