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While Yorkshireman James Willstrop successfully defended his men's title in the British National Squash Championships in Manchester, it was third time lucky for Londoner Alison Waters who upset her higher-seeded England team-mate Laura Lengthorn-Massaro to win the women's crown at the National Squash Centre.

After a highly successful year on the world tour since winning this title 12 months ago, Willstrop arrived in Manchester as firm favourite to retain his title. 

But his Pontefract club-mate Lee Beachill - a three times champion who underwent hernia surgery at the beginning of the New Year - had battled through to a record seventh final appearance against the odds.

Willstrop edged ahead after a finely-balanced first game - then turned the screw as Beachill's lack of match fitness began to show.  The 24-year-old world No6 raised his arms in delight as he celebrated his 11-9, 11-8, 11-4 triumph in 39 minutes - becoming only the second person in history to win back-to-back men's titles.

"I didn't know what to expect - and maybe I was just too cautious to start with," said Willstrop, the England number one.  "I couldn't dwell on his shortcomings - I had to constantly keep my focus.

"I was pleased to have closed it out - I couldn't afford to give him a sniff.

"The Nationals is a tough event - it's a big tournament and a very important one to me."

Willstrop's next major target is the Hi-Tec World Championship - which will be staged at the National Squash Centre in Manchester, for the first time, in October. 

"The World Open is my biggest focus this year - and, being here in Manchester, it will clearly be a massive event," added the new champion.

Beachill was not happy with his performance: "I went onto the court expecting to be further away from him than I was - then I was disappointed that I wasn't able to capitalise on that," explained the 30-year-old former world number one afterwards.

"I was more disappointed with the way I was mentally than physically," said Beachill, who survived a hard-fought 91-minute semi-final less than 24 hours earlier.

"If that's the top standard in the world, then I'm not that far away.

"On reflection, I can't be too unhappy:  I've not got a lot more to prove in this tournament."

In the women's final, local favourite Lengthorn-Massaro, from Preston, took control of the first game, but Waters came back to take the next two.

At 4-8 down in the fourth, Waters mounted a final charge to record her impressive 6-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-9 win in 49 minutes.

"I really wanted it this year after missing out twice before," said the 23-year-old world No11 who became the first unseeded player to reach the final in 2005 and last year lost out after squandered a two-game lead.  "It's been my focus since the beginning of the year.

"It's a nice title to have - my first senior title - and at least I get to hold onto it for a year!

"It'll give me a lot of extra confidence on the WISPA World Tour - where my ambition is to get into the world's top eight.

"My next event is the Malaysian Open - where I meet Vicky Botwright in the first round," concluded the new champion.
  

Just six weeks after undergoing hernia surgery, Yorkshireman Lee Beachill survived a marathon encounter against England team-mate Adrian Grant in today's semi-finals of the British National Squash Championships in Manchester to become the first player in history to reach the men's final seven times.

Second seed Beachill, a three-time winner of the title, will play top seed and defending champion James Willstrop - his England team and Pontefract club-mate - in Sunday's men's final at the National Squash Centre at Sportcity. 

The surprise women's final will produce a new champion when Lancashire's Laura Lengthorn-Massaro takes on Londoner Alison Waters after the pair achieved semi-final upsets over the first and second seeds, respectively.

"To win, I thought I'd have to do it in three games," said 30-year-old Beachill, who was appearing in his first UK tournament since the operation.

But after dropping the third game, he saved five game balls in the fourth, then clinched his fourth match-ball to win 11-8, 11-7, 8-11, 19-17 in 91 minutes to make the seventh final in his last eight appearances in the event.

"I knew I was hitting the ball well - but once the game went over 30 or 40 minutes, I started to break down.  After the third game was gone, I thought I'd be up against it - but he didn't push away," explained Beachill, from Pontefract.

"But, even though I was tired in the fourth, the adrenaline took over and I began to move more freely.  I'm delighted to be in the final - but more delighted to be playing that well!"

On his historic seventh final appearance, Beachill admitted that he was "thrilled".

"But I amaze myself when I look back at the history and see what I achieved - including things like beating Peter Nicol when he was world number one.  It's a huge tournament to win.

"I was desperate to win tonight's match - but the fact that he seemed more desperate gave me a bit of a lift."

In what he described as "a very strange game", Willstrop beat Gloucestershire's Alister Walker, the eighth seed appearing in his maiden semi-final, 11-5, 6-11, 11-9, 11-5.

Willstrop, the England number one who boasts a 3-0 head-to-head record over Walker, led 7-3 in the third game - but Walker, playing inspired squash, fought back to draw level at eight-all. 

In the fourth, Willstrop romped to an 8-1 lead before closing out the match after 60 minutes.

"I don't normally have trouble getting round players, but I did tonight," conceded the 24-year-old world No6.  "And there were so many lets - I can't think anyone wanted to see those!  It just wasn't a very satisfactory match.

"But I don't think I've played against him when he's played so well - he was so relaxed and he grew in confidence when he got the lead."

When asked if he can recover from his disappointing performance for the final - especially against his close friend and Pontefract training partner Lee Beachill - Willstrop said:  "I very often play poor matches in tournaments and go on to win.

"It teaches me that you can go from a match like yesterday, when I played brilliant and fluent squash, to a day like today - yet still put in a good performance 24 hours later."

Walker was understandably downcast afterwards:  "But if anybody had told me a week ago that I would end up in the semi-finals, I would have been delighted.

"The most important thing for me was to show that I can make some inroads against people like James," added the 25-year-old world No32 from Leeds.

Third seed Laura Lengthorn-Massaro claimed a place in the women's final for the first time after favourite Tania Bailey, from Lincolnshire, retired injured after two games.  Former champion Bailey arrived in Manchester having not been on court for two weeks after sustaining a ham-string injury in New York.

The Lancashire lass from Preston took the first game convincingly against her higher-ranked England team-mate, and came back from 4-6 down in the second to secure the second. 

"I was feeling good and really up for the third when Tania decided to stop," said the 24-year-old world No12.  "But it's fantastic to be in the final."

The pair's previous meeting took place last October in the World Open in Madrid where Bailey, despite suffering with breathing difficulties, beat her English rival in four games.

"I'm not expected to beat Tania, yet when we played in Madrid suddenly everybody assumed I'd win - and I felt really tense on court and threw the match away," explained Lengthorn-Massaro.  "I was determined not to let that happen again."

Tania Bailey was distraught at not being able to complete the match:  "I felt it a bit in the first game - then a couple of lunges in the second made me realise that there was a problem," explained the world No5 from Stamford.

"Even though I could have played through the pain, it's the worry of what that might do to me long-term which was of greater concern.  It's really disappointing, I hate stopping in the middle of a match.

"I wouldn't necessarily have been able to beat Laura, but I'd just like to have given her a game."

Later, Londoner Alison Waters avenged her defeat in last year's final by dethroning Yorkshire's reigning champion Jenny Duncalf 10-12, 11-8, 12-10, 11-5 in 48 minutes. 

Duncalf, the second seed from Harrogate, romped to a 7-0 lead in the opening game before her opponent, the fourth seed, replied - moving ahead to claim the first game-ball at 10-9.  However, Duncalf came back to clinch the game.

Waters won the two close games that followed - and it was one-way traffic for the lower-ranked player as Waters went on to take the match and earn a place in the final for the third time in four years.

"A final in the Nationals?  It can't get much better than that!" said the 23-year-old world No11 who squandered a two-love lead to lose to Duncalf in a 74-minute marathon final last year.

"In the first game it was 7-0 before I knew it!  But I like to attack so I like the new scoring. 

"At the beginning of the second game, I said to myself 'don't give her a 7-0 start again'."
  

15-Feb, Quarters part two:
Walker Beats School Pal Stait To Earn Maiden Semi In Manchester

In a surprise clash between two Gloucestershire school friends in today's quarter-finals of the British National Squash Championships, it was the younger Alister Walker that prevailed to reach his maiden semi-final on the all-glass court at the National Squash Centre in Manchester.

"I'm dead chuffed," was the 25-year-old number eight seed's comment immediately after his 11-8, 11-7, 11-2 victory over Alex Stait, the 15th seed who reached the last eight after a shock win over third-seeded England international Peter Barker.

"We met at Wycliffe College in Gloucester when I was 14 and Alex was about two years older - he used to give me a few lessons!

"We're very good friends - but when I heard that he'd won his earlier match, and that we'd be meeting in the quarters, I suddenly felt under a lot of pressure.

"It's a good job I had the day off yesterday to refocus myself - it would have been very easy for us to have chatted about the match.  But I had to be professional and get the job done," explained the world No32, a full-time professional who is now based in Leeds.

One of the highest-ranked English players who does not play the international Tour, Manchester-based Stait is highly regarded by his peers.

"His front court game is really exceptional - I had to keep the pace high," said Walker.

Walker will now meet defending champion James Willstrop in the semi-finals.  The 24-year-old top seed from Leeds put in a devastating performance to beat Jonathan Kemp, the sixth seed from Shropshire, 11-4, 11-4, 11-2 in 24 minutes.

"I was fully aware of Kemp's ability - I played him in Qatar (last November) and had to be really focussed," said the England number one, ranked six in the world.  "If you let him attack, he can cause problems.

"I think I played well, but I've got to keep it up.  I desperately want to click tomorrow - and I'll need to if I'm going to win this title again.

"I feel I know this court as well as anyone," continued Willstrop.  "I feel very comfortable here, and I like being comfortable. 

"I'm in love with what I'm doing."

In the women's quarter-finals, Yorkshire's defending champion Jenny Duncalf, the No2 seed, recovered from a game down to beat Irish champion Madeline Perry, the fifth seed, 8-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-8 to set up a semi-final against Alison Waters - a repeat of last year's final.

Waters, the No4 seed from London, overwhelmed Essex's first-time quarter-finalist Lauren Briggs 11-3, 11-4, 11-2.

"I feel I'm into the tournament now," said Duncalf after the win over Perry which reduces the Irish star's head-to-head lead over her to 4-3.  "She was putting me under a lot of pressure - and I lost my concentration at the end of the first game - so it's nice to come out with a win."

Like all competitors in the women's event, Duncalf is coming to terms with the new 'point-a-rally' scoring system (to 11 points per game) which is being trialled at the British Nationals at the request of WISPA.

"You really realise how big the points are - it makes it really intense.  You don't really know what it's like until you've played it," explained the world No8 from Harrogate.

"I was 9-0 up in the third game and thought I was concentrating quite well - and suddenly the score was 9-5!  There's no safety net in this new scoring."

Alison Waters needed just 21 minutes to overcome Lauren Briggs and claim her fourth successive berth in the semi-finals. 

"I thought I played quite well - the ball was quite bouncy at first, but if you get it into the corners, it dies," explained the 23-year-old world No11.

"I think she was a bit edgy - it was her first time in the quarters and she doesn't play too much on the glass court, whereas I'm quite used to it now."
  

14-Feb, Quarters part one:
Grant Stems Selby Comeback
In Manchester

Londoner Adrian Grant booked the first place in the men's semi-finals after stemming a comeback by Essex's ninth seed Daryl Selby in today's quarter-finals of the British National Squash Championships on the first day's play on the all-glass court at the National Squash Centre in Manchester.

The Leeds-based left-hander led all the way through the first two games, but Selby put more pressure on the fourth seed in the third, before reaching his first game-ball at 10-8.

However, the experienced Grant raised his game to reclaim the advantage, before clinching an 11-5, 11-9, 13-11 victory in 49 minutes - and his third appearance in the event's last four.

"It was tight in the third game, but as I was 2/0 up in games I thought I should just go for it - and played some risky shots which worked," explained Grant, the first black player ever to play for England. 

"Even though Daryl had had two marathon matches in the previous rounds, he still kept going - I definitely didn't take him lightly.

"I've been working on a few things on my game recently - and now have much more confidence to play winners from the centre of the court."

When asked about the importance he places on the National Championships, Grant was quick to reply:  "All the top English guys want to win this one.  With an arena like that, everybody wants to do well.

"It's a lot more open this year.  I'm playing well - and if I stick to what I know, I could go all the way," added the 27-year-old. 

Grant will meet second seed Lee Beachill in Saturday's semi-finals after the Yorkshireman beat experienced Welshman Alex Gough, the fifth seed, 11-7, 11-4, 11-5 in 31 minutes.

Beachill, appearing in his 11th successive quarter-final, is appearing in his first event on home soil since undergoing hernia surgery at the beginning of the year.

"I'm pretty delighted with the way I'm playing - I keep having to remind myself that it was only six weeks ago that I was having surgery!  If you'd said then that I would be on court now, in this form, I would have said you were mad," said the 30-year-old three-time winner of the title.

Beachill was full of praise for Gough, the 37-year-old who is also competing in the Over-35 championship.  "I think the squash he's played over the last 18 months or so has been his best ever.  We've played loads of times - and the last few have been great matches - he's so tough."

Beachill sustained a freak neck injury midway through last year's event - causing him to withdraw on the eve of the semi-finals.  "That was a real low point in my life last year - it took a while to get over it.

"But I always seem to fulfil my aim here and love playing in the event," added Beachill, who has notched up a record six successive final appearances.

"I don't feel under any pressure this year as I have no expectations.  But I'm hitting the ball so well - and I know that when I walk on court, I'm tough to beat.

"I don't think I've got anything to prove here," concluded the former world number one.

In the women's event, Lancashire's Laura Lengthorn-Massaro beat her long-time rival Dominique Lloyd-Walter in straight games to claim a semi-final berth for the second successive year.

"It's good to be back in the semi-finals again - but there's more pressure this year as I am seeded to do so," said the 24-year-old third seed from Preston after her 11-9, 11-7, 11-5 victory in 34 minutes.

"We've had some battles over the years - in juniors she was a couple of years older and always beat me then.  So I know how to play her."

But there has also been a new Manchester influence in her game since Laura started working with local star Nick Taylor, head coach at the National Centre.

"I started working with Nick just before Christmas - he's been helping me with my technique," explained the England international.

"I feel good here - I definitely like playing here," added the world No12 who now meets England team-mate Tania Bailey for a place in her first final.

Bailey, the 2006 champion from Lincolnshire, beat Cheshire's Sarah Kippax 11-7, 11-7, 11-7.

"That's definitely the best she's ever played against me," said Bailey of her opponent, the No8 seed who is now based in Halifax. 

"I feel as strong as I've ever been," added Bailey, who sustained a ham-string injury two weeks ago which hampered her Nationals' preparation.  "My match practice is a little bit lacking - but I'm just so glad I'm playing."
    

13-Feb:
Stait Celebrates Home Win
In Manchester

Manchester-based Alex Stait pulled off "easily my best result ever" when he upset England international Peter Barker, the third seed, in today's second round of the British National Squash Championships in Manchester.

The 28-year-old from Stroud in Gloucestershire, who moved to Alderley Edge more than three years ago, was celebrating his ninth appearance in the event since 2000.  However, his shock 11-6, 11-4, 14-12 victory over Barker, the world No12, takes Stait into the quarter-finals for the first time.

"I just played out of my skin," summed up Stait after his breakthrough 33-minute win.  "I know that on my day I can really play well - and this was my day.

"I moved to Manchester more than three years ago with my fiancée Karen - and since then I've been coaching at the club in Alderley Edge.

"It was great to get so much support from local friends and club-mates tonight - they gave me a real lift.  This tournament has always had the feel of a local tournament to me - which is why it's so good to do well in it."

Barker admitted afterwards that he had been suffering with a fractured toe.  "My physio assured me that I wouldn't do any further damage to it if I played - and I didn't want to pull out of the tournament.  But it did restrict my movement.  I will now rest it and give it a chance to heal before playing in the Canary Wharf Classic in London next month."

The surprise win takes Stait into an all-Gloucestershire quarter-final - against school-mate Alister Walker!  Originally from Gloucester, Walker has also moved north - to Leeds.  "We've played loads of times before - it'll be a great match," added Stait.

Top-seeded Yorkshiremen James Willstrop and Lee Beachill claimed their anticipated places in the quarter-finals after straight games second round wins.  Favourite Willstrop, the defending champion from Leeds, beat 16th seed Ben Ford, from Kent, 11-8, 11-7, 11-5 in 26 minutes while second seed Beachill, from Pontefract, defeated county colleague Simon Parke 11-6, 11-5, 11-2 in 33 minutes.

Essex's No9 seed Daryl Selby pulled off a minor upset when he overcame Somerset's Joey Barrington, the seventh seed, 11-4, 11-7, 7-11, 11-6 in an 89-minute marathon.

Less than 24 hours after considering withdrawing from the women's event, top seed Tania Bailey coasted to a straight games first round victory over Irish international Laura Mylotte.

The world No5 from Lincolnshire had not been able to train or compete for almost two weeks, since picking up a ham-string injury during a quarter-final match against the Australian world No2 Natalie Grinham in the Apawamis Open in New York.

"Even up to yesterday, I wasn't sure I was going to be able to play," said the 28-year-old England No1 after her 11-4, 11-6, 11-5 win in 24 minutes.  "But thanks to the brilliant efforts my fantastic physio Jim Webb (the Head Physiotherapist at the English Institute of Sport, North West) - including a two-hour session I had with him yesterday - I felt absolutely fine during my first match for nearly two weeks.

"I was a little bit nervous when I went on court - but my body felt fine.  Hopefully, I'll get stronger with every match - and I'm looking forward to playing my next match on the all-glass court.  I love that glass court," added the 2006 champion from Stamford.

The women's event is being played using 'Point-A-Rally' scoring for the first time - falling in line with PAR scoring to 11 points a game that has considerably enhanced the spectator appeal of the men's game.

"I like it - it makes the games much more exciting for the crowd," said Bailey after her first round match.  "We'll need to get used to it - but it puts pressure on the higher-seeded players as their opponents can just let rip.  But it's worked so well for men's squash."

In the longest women's match of the day, sixth seed Dominique Lloyd-Walter, from Harrow in Middlesex, battled for 44  minutes to overcome Yorkshire qualifier Lauren Siddall 11-8, 6-11, 11-6, 12-10.

"Before I knew it, we got to five-all in our first game, when the score would still have been love-all under the old system," explained Siddall, the 23-year-old world No42 from Pontefract.  "I definitely prefer it - but you've got to come out ready.  It keeps you on your toes!"

There was local disappointment in the women's event when Manchester's Rebecca Botwright - the younger sister of No2 seed Vicky Botwright, who was forced to withdraw from the event with a viral infection - went down 11-8, 11-2, 11-4 to No7 seed Lauren Briggs.

"She played well and I made too many errors," said the 26-year-old who is now a Special Educational Needs teacher's assistant at Walkden High School in Swinton.

In the last match of the day, defending champion Jenny Duncalf eased to an 13-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-4 win over Birmi