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Draws
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Men's Draw
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Women's Draw
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Previews
Reports
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Finals
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Semi Finals
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Quarter Finals (2)
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Quarter Finals (1)
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2nd Round
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1st Round
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Previews
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Nick Matthew
beats Adrian Grant 3-0 to take his second National title
Jenny Duncalf beats England team mate and
holder Alison Waters 3-1 to regain her title Click Pics
for Larger View
Nick Matthew
forces his way past James Willstrop to reach the final
Pictures
Courtesy Of
Steve Line
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Final
THRILLING NATIONAL SQUASH
CHAMPIONSHIPS FINALS SEE MATTHEW AND DUNCALF TAKE PREMIER DOMESTIC
TITLE
A terrific finals day at Manchester’s
National Squash Centre saw Nick Matthew and Jenny Duncalf
(Yorkshire) crowned Champion in the pinnacle domestic event of the
squash calendar.
Fourth seed Nick Matthew
(Yorkshire) lined up against Adrian Grant (Kent) for what
turned out to be a well executed and professional victory. Third
seeded Grant had few answers to Matthew’s high energy game
and unable to stamp his authority on the match, lost 11/4, 11/3,
11/9 in 38 minutes.
Matthew
said, ‘I know Adrian [Grant] well so I knew
I couldn’t expect an easy time. I think perhaps he was slightly
nervous going into his first final as we have had some far closer
games in the past.’
‘I’m sure he will be back competing
at the next National’s and will fully expect him to be in the hunt
for the title once again.’
In
the women’s competition, reigning National Champion Alison Waters
was unable to defend her title as top seed, Jenny
Duncalf, won a close women’s final. Second seed
Waters (Middlesex) took an early lead before ultimately falling
11/13, 11/8, 11/6, 11/6. Duncalf said
‘It’s been a great week and a pleasure to be back
here. The event always runs smoothly and all the players really
enjoy playing her at the National Squash Centre. Al [Alison Waters]
was the deserving winner of this competition last year and I’m
really happy to have added to the Nationals title I won in 2007.
Hopefully we will have a few more finals together in the next few
years.’
‘Despite the fact we are close
friends, it isn’t hard to get ourselves fired up for these matches.
We have to play everyone on the tour whether we like them or not!’
‘I just hope everyone enjoyed our
final as much as I did!’
Elsewhere on finals day, local Manchester hero Yawar Abbas
stormed to victory in the Men’s Over 40 Finals, beating his opponent
Rick Weatherall (Berkshire), 9/4, 9/3, 9/5 to record back to
back victories. Abbas said, ‘I
always felt on top and whilst the score line might suggest it was
comfortable I knew that one lapse in concentration and it could turn
the other way.
‘It was good out there because I have
been playing loads recently and stepped off the gas slightly in the
preparation for the Nationals to stay fresh. I’ve got a couple more
years in the category and I’ll be happy just to manage to get back
out there next year to defend the title.’
In the women’s equivalent, Donna
Vardy (Nottinghamshire) was crowned champion after
comprehensively defeating Merseyside’s Christine Smylie.
Smylie, who struggled to compete with Vardy throughout
the game, only managed to pick up two points in a brief 18 minute
match. The Men’s Over 35 title was eventually taken by Simon
Parke who had a grueling finals match up against Nick Taylor,
winning 5/9, 2/9, 9/5, 9/1, 9/2 in 79 minutes.
The event goes from strength to
strength and we are already looking forward to next yeat
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Nick Matthew
battles past Tom Richards to reach the semis |
In his last
ever tournament an emotional Lee Beachill bows out of the National
Championships, losing 3-1 to Tom Richards |
British Nationals 2009
Men's Draw
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First Round
10th |
Second Round
11th |
Quarters
12th/13th |
Semis
14th |
Final
15th |
[1] James Willstrop (Yorks)
11/5, 11/8, 11/8 (34m)
Robbie Temple (Gloucs) |
James Willstrop
11/4, 11/9, 11/5 (31m)
Olivier Pett |
James Willstrop
5/11, 11/5, 11/8, 11/4 (56m)
Daryl Selby |
James Willstrop
11/8, 12/10, 11/5 (70m)
Nick Matthew |
Nick Matthew
11/4,
11/3, 11/9 (38m)
Adrian Grant |
[12] Tim Vail (Sussex)
12/10, 11/1, 11/4 (29m)
[Q] Olivier Pett |
[8] Daryl Selby (Essex)
11/9, 11/7, 11/6 (43m)
Alan Clyne (Scotland) |
Daryl Selby
11/2, 11/6, 11/8 (38m)
Ben Ford |
[14] Ben Ford (Kent)
11/9, 11/4, 11/9 (36m)
[Q] Peter Creed |
[4] Nick Matthew (Yorks)
11/4, 11/8, 11/4 (24m)
Joe Lee (Surrey) |
Nick Matthew
8/11, 11/5, 13/11, 11/7 (67m)
Jonathan Kemp |
Nick Matthew
12/10, 11/6, 11/6 (39m)
Tom Richards |
[10] Jonathan Kemp (Shrops)
11/5, 11/7, 11/4 (26m)
[Q] Lewis Walters |
[6] Lee Beachill (Yorks)
11/8, 7/11, 11/3, 11/9 (40m)
[Q] Steve Siveter |
Lee Beachill
10/12, 11/6, 11/7, 11/6 (45m)
Tom Richards |
[11] Tom Richards (Surrey)
8/11, 11/2, 11/4, 11/2 (44m)
[Q] Neil Cordell |
[Q] Jaymie Haycocks
5/11, 11/4, 11/5, 12/10 (52m)
[15] Chris Simpson (Hants) |
Chris Simpson
11/9, 9/11, 11/7, 12/10 (72m)
Alister Walker |
Alister Walker
11/6, 14/12, 11/7 (78m)
Adrian Grant |
Adrian Grant
w/o
Peter Barker |
[Q] David Barnett
11/5, 12/10, 11/6 (35m)
[5] Alister Walker (Gloucs) |
Nick Taylor (Lancs)
11/7, 12/10, 11/13, 5/11, 11/6 (82m)
[16]
Steve Meads (Berks) |
Steve Meads
11/9, 11/5, 11/9 (44m)
Adrian Grant |
Alex Stait (Gloucs)
11/8, 11/3 rtd (19m)
[3] Adrian Grant (Kent) |
[Q] Joel Hinds
13/11, 14/12, 11/13, 11/7 (55m)
[9] Chris Ryder (Herts) |
Chris Ryder
13/11, 8/11, 11/3, 11/6 (61m)
Joey Barrington |
Joey Barrington
11/5, 11/6, 15/13 (67m)
Peter Barker |
Peter Billson (Lancs)
11/4, 11/7, 11/5 (26m)
[7] Joey Barrington (Somerset) |
Hadrian Stiff (Devon)
11/9, 11/9, 15/13 (44m)
[13] Andy Whipp (Cheshire) |
Andy Whipp
11/7, 11/9, 11/3 (32m)
Peter Barker |
Scott Handley (Oxon)
11/1, 11/3, 11/4 (26m)
[2] Peter Barker (Essex) |
Qualifying
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British Nationals
Women's Draw
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Round One
11th |
Quarters
12/13th |
Semis
14th |
Final
15th |
[1] Jenny Duncalf (Yorks)
11/5, 11/3, 11/6 (20m)
[Q] Fiona Moverley |
Jenny Duncalf
11/7, 11/4, 11/3 (25m)
Sarah Kippax |
Jenny Duncalf
10/12, 11/4, 11/3, 12/10 (49m)
Madeline Perry
|
Jenny Duncalf
11/13, 11/8, 11/6, 11/6 (50m)
Alison Waters |
[8] Dominique Lloyd-Walter (Middx)
11/4, 11/5, 6/11, 11/5 (37m)
Sarah Kippax (Cheshire) |
[4] Madeline Perry (Ireland)
11/7, 11/7, 11/3 (26m)
Lauren Siddall (Yorks) |
Madeline Perry
7/11, 15/13, 8/11, 11/5, 14/12
(68m)
Vicky Botwright |
[5] Vicky Botwright (Lancs)
11/8, 12/10, 11/8 (28m)
Suzie Pierrepont (Sussex) |
[Q] Sarah-Jane Perry
11/9, 11/7, 12/10 (21m)
[LL] Lucy Townley
[7] Lauren Briggs (Essex) |
Sarah-Jane Perry
11/7, 11/4, 11/3
(25m)
Laura Lengthorn-Massaro
|
Laura Lengthorn-Massaro
13/11, 11/2, 3/11, 11/9 (48m)
Alison Waters |
[Q] Becky Botwright
11/1, 11/9, 11/5 (23m)
[3] Laura Lengthorn-Massaro (Lancs) |
Emma Beddoes (Warks)
19.00
[6] Tania Bailey (Lincs) |
Tania Bailey
7/11, 15/13, 8/11, 11/5, 14/12 (68m)
Alison Waters |
[Q] Victoria Lust
20.00
[2] Alison Waters (Middx) |
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Reports
Semi Finals
REIGNING NATIONAL
CHAMPION ALISON WATERS LINES UP FOR NATIONAL SQUASH CHAMPIONSHIPS SHOWPIECE
National
Champion Alison Waters will step out at the British National Squash
Championships tomorrow in a bid to defend her domestic title. Playing
against top seed Jenny Duncalf, fans watching at the National Squash
Championships can expect some thrilling final’s action.
Second seed Waters
(Middlesex) took on third seed Laura Lengthorn-Massaro (Lancashire)
in the penultimate match of the ladies competition, Waters taking
victory 13/11, 11/2, 3/11, 11/9 in 48 minutes. Waters said,
‘It was a tough match and after going 4/0 down in the
fourth game I did start to worry that it might go to a fifth; she never
gives up! Playing such important matches [semi’s and final’s] back to back
is challenging but it’s something that you get used to. I’m glad we didn’t
go to a fifth game as hopefully that will have left me with a bit of extra
energy for tomorrow!’
‘This is an
event that all the English players want to do well in and everyone wants to
be able to say that they’re National Champion so it’s really competitive.
You know that there are going to be two or three really tough games along
the way as the competition is so strong. I will be looking forward to the
final.’
Yorkshire’s
Jenny Duncalf came through a closely fought semi final tie against
Madeline Perry (Ireland). Duncalf managed to hang on in a match
that could easily have gone the distance, winning 10/12, 11/4, 11/3, 12/10
and confirming her place in the final of the top domestic event of the
season. Duncalf said, ‘The last game was a
bit hit and miss for me and having felt really good at the start and I’m
happy I was able to close it out. I haven’t played in competition since
before Christmas so it is difficult to tell exactly how well you are
playing.’
‘It was
always going to be a hard match, we have had close ones in the past. I’m
just really happy to be in the finals as I lost at the semi final stage last
year.’
In the men’s
competition reigning Champion, James Willstrop, lined up against
fellow Yorkshireman and fourth seed, Nick Matthew. Matthew
eventually prevailed in a thrilling match which ended 11/8, 12/10, 11/5
(70m). Matthew said, ‘It felt like a very
long 3-0 – I didn’t want to give anything away. I knew that James [Willstrop]
was strong enough to come back from 2-0 down as he has before, so I just
kept going and tried to nail the door shut. Not being disrespectful to the
other athletes but I have been preparing for this match all week.’
‘I’m really
looking forward to the finals now. I was in the juniors with Adrian [Grant]
and I’d say we are probably about 50/50 in wins so he will definitely
believe he can win it.’
Adrian Grant
(Kent) will proceed to the men’s final after his semi final opponent, second
seed Peter Barker (Yorkshire), withdrew due to illness.
SECOND
SEED PETER BARKER WITHDRAWS FROM NATIONAL SQUASH CHAMPIONSHIPS SEMI FINAL
Essex player, Peter Barker, has been forced
to withdraw after having progressed through to the National Squash
Championships semi final, taking place at the National Squash Centre.
Barker, who is suffering from a virus, came through a late Thursday quarter
final against Joey Barrington to book his place in today’s semi finals.
Barker,
who had been due to play third seed Adrian Grant (Kent) in the 14.00
match, has struggled with the onset of illness since the start of the
tournament and has eventually decided to withdraw following medical advice.
Adrian Grant
will now play an exhibition match against Chris Fuller before
progressing through to the event finals tomorrow (Sunday 15th) at
17.00.
Today’s other men’s semi final features
Yorkshiremen, first seed James Willstrop and fourth seed Nick
Matthew. The match will commence at 19.00.
2nd Quarter Finals
FOURTH SEED MATTHEW TO FACE
REIGNING CHAMPION WILLSTROP IN NATIONAL SQUASH CHAMPIONSHIPS SEMI
FINAL
The second
quarter final session of the National Squash Championships took
place this evening at Manchester’s National Squash Centre with men’s
top seed, James Willstrop, staking a claim for his third back to
back Nationals victory. Willstrop will face fellow Yorkshireman Nick
Matthew in tomorrow’s semi final, the winning player going on to
challenge for the final on Sunday 15th February.
Sheffield
born Nick Matthew beat Surrey player Tom Richards,
12/10, 11/6, 11/6, to book his place in the semi finals. Matthew
Said, ‘It is nice to win 3-0 but it would
have been nicer if it was a bit quicker! Tom has really improved a
lot recently and all credit to him, he mixed it up and made it hard
for me to settle down. It felt a bit like a first round match, not
being able to get into a rhythm.’
‘I’m happy with
my form so far and having moved around the courts until now, will
feel more comfortable playing again on the glass tomorrow. It takes
a game to get used to a court so I’m expecting things to go well in
the semi’s.’
‘Playing
matches in quick succession isn’t really a problem for me, we get
used to the schedules. I had a massage yesterday which isn’t ideal
for today’s match but was necessary with such a packed week.
Hopefully it will pay off tomorrow.’
In the
ladies competition third seed Laura Lengthorn-Massaro
(Lancashire) progressed after a brief encounter with the last
remaining unseeded player, Sarah-Jane Perry (Warwickshire).
Lengthorn-Massaro, who took three straight games 11/5, 11/7,
11/5, said, ‘I’m feeling great and have
been playing really well recently. I’ve had some good results in the
last couple of months and got in some good preparation over
Christmas.’
‘I like playing
in Manchester as it means I can get back to Preston really easily
and don’t need to stay over when I train. The National Squash Centre
is practically my home club I have played on the glass court so many
times!’
In the next
round I’ll be up against Alison [Waters] or Tania [Bailey] who are
both top players. Recently I had a 3-2 win against Tania but lost by
the same to Alison so either way I’m sure it will be a tight game.
Defending Champion
and second seed Alison Waters (Middlesex) took on
Lincolnshire’s Tania Bailey in the other ladies quarter
final. Waters ultimately getting the better of her opponent in a
grueling 11/9, 6/11, 11/8, 5/11, 11/8 65 minute match.
Rugby
League’s Andy Lynch (Bradford Bulls), a keen squash
player and Pontefract Squash Club member, was down at the National
Squash Centre to follow the pinnacle domestic event of the season.
He said, ‘It’s quite amazing to see the
game being played at the top level and having never been to an elite
squash event, I hadn’t expected the speed and accuracy that they
play at.’
‘I would have
loved to see Lee Beachill playing in his last World Tour event
earlier in the week but at least I will get a chance to see James [Willstrop]
later on tonight. Just watching him warm up is unbelievable.’
James
Willstrop lined
up against eighth seed Daryl Selby (Essex) in the day’s late
game, Willstrop ultimately taking the victory 3-1 in 56
minutes.
1st Quarter Finals
NATIONAL SQUASH CHAMPIONSHIPS
QUARTER FINALS GET UNDERWAY
In the first of
two National Squash Championships quarter final days, an exciting
evening session saw women’s favorite Jenny Duncalf proceed to the
semi finals. The event, which runs until February 15th,
is the pinnacle domestic event in the squash calendar and fans
watching from Manchester’s National Squash Centre will be hoping for
more of the same tomorrow.
In the first match
of the evening glass court sessions, Jenny Duncalf
(Yorkshire) swept aside Cheshire opponent Sarah Kippax in
three straight games 11/7, 11/4, 11/3. Duncalf said, ‘I
feel in good form despite not having played competitively since
before Christmas. All the girls seem to be doing well at the moment
so there are going to be some tough games.’
‘There are some
top players in this tournament, Alison [Waters] is number six in the
world as well as being defending champion. We haven’t played in a
while but last time out I won. We’re best friends and are very used
to playing over the years so any potential match up would be fine.’
In the other
ladies quarter final match local hero Vicky Botwright
(Lancashire) took on Ireland’s top female player, Madeline Perry.
A tightly fought tie in which both players gave everything,
eventually went the way of Perry 7/11, 15/13, 8/11, 11/5, 14/12 in
68 minutes.
Perry
said, ‘I enjoyed the match. We haven’t
played for a couple of years and have always had some good, long
matches in the past.’
‘After the
first game I was getting a bit down and I wasn’t able to relax. It
was only at the end of the second when I started to play my own game
and felt a lot better.’
‘Thankfully I
have a day off before my semi final against Jenny [Duncalf]! After
that match it will be nice to have some time to prepare.’
In the men’s
competition Adrian Grant (Kent) came through a potentially
tricky tie against fifth seed Alister Walker
(Gloucestershire) 11/6, 14/12, 11/7 in 78 Minutes. Third seeded
Grant was in control for large periods of the match and ultimately
took victory following a close second game which was briefly stopped
for blood injury.
Grant
said, ‘I have prepared well for this
tournament and feel good on court. The Nationals is one of my top
goals and I’d love to win it. I think it will be all about who
prepares best and then with a little bit of luck out there we will
have the champion.’
‘You can’t
choose who you draw but they are all top, top players so any match
is going to be tough. I don’t think there is another country with
such strength in depth, it’s really like an international tournament
with the quality we have.’
The last match of
the evening sees Somerset’s number seven seed, Joey Barrington,
take on second seed Peter Barker (Essex).
2nd Round
ACTION PACKED SECOND DAY OF NATIONAL SQUASH CHAMPIONSHIPS SEES
FORMER WORLD NUMBER ONE LEE BEACHILL BOW OUT
With both men’s
and women’s competition now working through their main draw, the
National Squash Championships saw some first class action in
Manchester today. In what will be a memorable match for many
attending squash fans, former World Number 1, Lee Beachill, played
his last game following his retirement from the World Squash Tour.
Beachill
(Yorkshire), who was seeded sixth in the event, ultimately was
unable to answer the questions asked by Surrey’s eleventh seeded
Tom Richards, falling
10/12, 11/6, 11/7, 11/6 in 45 minutes. Richards,
gracious in victory, said, ‘You can see why
he was world number one. He would step the pace up for one or two
rallies and it was just awesome, and his deception on some of those
drops had me going every way but the right way.’
In the ladies
competition top seed Jenny Duncalf comfortably saw off her
first challenger in fellow Yorkshire player Fiona Moverley,
11/5, 11/3, 11/6 (20m). Reigning Champion Alison Waters
(Middlesex) will be in action tonight against Bedfordshire qualifier
Victoria Lust and will hope to stake her claim for back to back
titles with a dominant performance.
In one of the
upsets of the tournament so far, Becky Botwright pulled off a
remarkable victory, downing fellow Lancaster player, Laura
Lenthorn-Massaro 11/1, 11/9, 11/5 (23m). Becky’s victory against
the tournament third seed sees both of the Botwright sisters
progress to the second round, a potential clash not possible until
the event final.
1st Round
MEN’S
SEEDS PROGRESS AS NATIONAL SQUASH CHAMPIONSHIPS FIRST ROUND DRAWS TO
A CLOSE
After day one in the men’s main
draw, 15 of the 16 seeded players progress through to the second
round at Manchester’s National Squash Centre. Reigning National
Champion James Willstrop, saw off early competition whilst former
World Number 1, Lee Beachill, started his final tournament with a
win having recently announced his retirement from the World Squash
Tour.
The National Championships, which
run between February 10th – 15th, have so far
gone the way of the rankings with just Tim Vail (Sussex) of
the 16 ranked men not progressing through his first round tie. Top
seed, James Willstrop (Yorkshire), overcame Gloucestershire’s
Robbie Temple to secure himself a second round tie against
qualifier Olivier Pett of Sussex.
Willstrop
said, ‘Coming in as the current Champion
isn’t something I really think about, I have had the pressure of
playing as top seed before and I think it is part and parcel of the
game. Squash is pressure in itself and in every match you want to
push yourself whatever the expectations.’
‘Being in the same half of the
draw as my local players Nick [Matthew] and Lee [Beachill] isn’t a
huge surprise. They are top players and we always have to push
ourselves and each other when we play. No match is easy and the
rivalry on court is the same throughout the game, whether it be
amongst the Egyptian players, the French players or the British
players that know each other very well. We have a job to do on court
and when the match is over it’s totally different.’
‘I think the record entry this
year is great for the event, great for the sport and is testament to
the event’s prestige. I don’t think it will make the tournament any
more competitive as every player gives their all at the National’s.’
Fellow Yorkshireman and Sixth seed
Lee Beachill, who plays his last World Tour event due to a
chronic knee injury, showed great composure against qualifier
Stepher Siveter (Merseyside). Recording his victory in 4 games.
Beachill
said, ‘The Nationals have always been a
particularly special event throughout my career, it’s where it all
started for me.’
‘Being in a position where I
wasn’t comfortable with the level I was competing at meant I
eventually had to make a decision as to when and where to finish.
Just playing now is quite emotional for me and it isn’t the perfect
situation as I am unable to train with my injury.’
‘It would be great to line up
against Nick Matthew on the show court in the quarter
finals but I have a tough match against Tom Richards to come through
before that tomorrow. With the lack of preparation I have been able
to put in for the event, unfortunately it is unknown territory for
me and I’m just hoping that I can play to a standard I am happy
with.’
Fourth seed
Nick Matthew started his campaign with a powerful victory
against Surrey’s Joe Lee. Lee was brushed aside in three
games as Matthew stated his intentions to the rest of the field
recording scores 11/4, 11/8, 11/4 in just 24 minutes.
Matthew
said, ‘I don’t want to get ahead of myself
and obviously I need to take each game as it comes but there are a
few players who could win here and I’d like to think that I’m one of
them.’
‘I’ve come here
in good form after beating [World Number 1] Ramy Ashour in New York
recently but I have a tough tie in Jonathan Kemp who is capable of
beating any of the top 10. I’ll focus on that match and hope to
progress through to the final stages.’
‘I like playing
in Manchester and am used to training here so it is comfortable for
me. I’m based in Sheffield so it’s not too far from home.’
In the ladies
competition, four players joined the tournament main draw as the
hotly contested qualifying finals were decided. Lancashire’s Becky
Botwright joined her sister, Vicky, in the first round after
recording an impressive
11/8, 11/7, 11/8 (27m) win over Somerset’s Emma
Chorley.
The other ladies lining up as
successful qualifiers are Victoria Lust, Sarah-Jane Perry and Lucy
Townley.
RECORD ENTRY ANNOUNCED AS MANCHESTER PREPARES TO HOST
NATIONAL SQUASH CHAMPIONSHIPS
The British National Squash Championships have
had a record breaking year for player entries resulting in one of
the most competitive draws in the events history. The championships,
which will take place at Sportcity’s state of the art National
Squash Centre in Manchester from February 8th to 15th,
has attracted 398 entries, including defending champions
James Willstrop and Alison Waters who will compete
alongside the largest entries in the Masters championships,
comprising 13 age-group events from O35 to O70.
Manchester City Council Events Manager and reigning National Over 40
Men’s champion
Yawar Abbas,
said, “It is great to be defending the title here in Manchester and
hopefully the local crowd will give me a real boost. Obviously
coming back this year as champion will be a slightly different
experience but I will look forward to this great event and hope to
put in another good performance.”
|
Previews
NICK MATTHEW HEADS TO NATIONAL SQUASH CHAMPIONSHIPS IN HIGH
CONFIDENCE AFTER VICTORY OVER REIGNING WORLD CHAMPION
Nick Matthew
will head into next month’s British National Squash Championships,
to be staged at the National Squash Centre at
Sportcity, Manchester, England from the 8th to 15th February,
full of
confidence after beating reigning World Champion Ramy Ashour and
Nationals No.1 seed James Willstrop on his way to the final of the
JP Morgan Tournament of Champions in New York this week.
Victory over Ashour, who was crowned
World Champion last October in Manchester, was Matthew’s biggest
success since making his come back late last year from a serious
shoulder injury. The 28 year-old overcame his Egyptian rival with a
stunning 3-1 semi-final victory in just 61 minutes, having defeated
compatriot James Willstrop in four games in the quarter-finals.
The wins sent Matthew through to the
first major World Tour final of the year where he faced France’s
Gregory Gaultier who eventually won a tight and thrilling final
62-minute four game final. Progress through to his second Tournament
of Champions final will have given the Englishman a timely
confidence booster as he looks to regain his National title.
Since winning the
National crown three year’s ago Matthew has not been able to compete
in the event due to an unfortunate run of injuries but is now
relishing the chance to head to Manchester and can be
guaranteed to make a tough-minded challenge for the men’s title.
Matthew said, “I’m delighted to have
reached the final of such a prestigious tournament and played such
good squash this week. There was a time after the surgery that my
shoulder was so weak that I wondered if I’d even get back on a
squash court.
“I’ve worked extremely hard to get my
fitness back and I'm pleased with the progress that I have made as
well as my form. It’s a great achievement to have reached the final
and a real confidence booster to do it against such a high class
field and beat players like Ramy and James.
“The Nationals is one of my favourite
tournaments and it’s been incredibly frustrating having to sit it
out for the last few years, but I now can’t wait to get to
Manchester. We’ve got a great group of players in Britain at the
moment so it’s going to be very tough trying to win back the title
and I will give it my best shot.”
Matthew has been seeded 4 and faces a
potential quarter-final clash against three-time former champion Lee
Beachill. No.1 seed James Willstrop in his half of the draw and
could potentially meet the Matthew, the 2006 champion, in the
semi-finals.
The
pinnacle of the domestic season, The British National Squash
Championships will be staged at the National Squash Centre, starting
at noon on Sunday 8th Feb running through to Sunday 15th. Entry is
free for the first two days, and tickets are on sale for Tuesday
through to the finals on Sunday.
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