BSPA Millfield Partnerships
British U23 Championships
10-12 September, NSC, Manchester

Walker & Pierrepont Take U23 Titles

Alistair Walker of Gloucestershire and Suzie Pierrepont of Sussex claimed their first national titles at the National Squash Centre in Manchester today when they won the Millfield Partnership British Under 23 Championships.

Number one seed Walker found it far from easy against Essex's Phil Barker, and lost the first game 10/11 (4-6) in 25 minutes. However, from then on Alistair moved up a gear and won the next three games comfortably playing some wonderful squash to take the title.

In the women’s final Yorkshire’s number one seed and former British Under 17 Champion Lauren Siddall started well and took the first game 10/8. Suzie Pierrepont, the 2003 European Under 19 Champion then suddenly found her rhythm and ran out a 3/1 winner.

The finals were watched by the country's top Under 15 players who were present to participate in an England Squash Grand Prix. Both finals were played in great spirit and included a standard of squash that the Under 15 players must look to aspire to.

RESULTS

Finals Sun 12th:
[1] Alister Walker (Gloucs) bt [2] Phil Barker (Essex)  10/11(4-6), 11/2, 11/3, 11/4 (54m)
[2] Suzie Pierrepont (Sussex) bt [1] Lauren Siddall (Yorks)  8/10, 9/7, 9/1, 9/1 (42m)

MEN'S SEMI-FINALS (Sat):
[1] Alister Walker (Gloucs) bt [3/4] Daryl Selby (Essex)  11/5, 11/4, 11/9 (36m)
[2] Phil Barker (Essex) bt [3/4] Ashley Flathers  11/6, 11/2, 11/9 (29m)

WOMEN'S SEMI-FINALS (Sat):
[1] Lauren Siddall (Yorks) bt [5/8] Rachel Willmott (Sussex)  9/2, 9/4, 8/10, 9/3 (45m)
[2] Suzie Pierrepont (Sussex) bt [3/4] Georgina Stoker (Merseys)  9/5, 9/3, 9/3 (30m)

MEN'S QUARTER-FINALS (Sat):
[1] Alister Walker (Gloucs) bt [5/8] James Wright (Leics)  11/7, 11/7, 11/5 (39m)
[3/4] Daryl Selby (Essex) bt Harry Leitch (Scot) 11/8, 11/4, 11/6 (31m)
[3/4] Ashley Flathers (Yorks) bt [9/16] Martin Gibson (Lincs) 11/7, 11/7, 11/10 (3-1) (24m)
[2] Phil Barker (Essex) bt [9/16] Shaun Le Roux (Yorks) 11/6, 11/5, 11/5, (24m)

WOMEN'S QUARTER-FINALS (Sat):
[1] Lauren Siddall (Yorks) bt Jenna Gates (Sussex)  9/5, 10/8, 9/7 (40m)
[5/8] Rachel Willmott (Sussex) bt [3/4] Emma Beddoes (Warks)  w/o
[3/4] Georgina Stoker (Merseys) bt [5/8] Jenny Knibbs (Derbys)  9/6, 9/3, 9/7 (29m)
[2] Suzie Pierrepont (Sussex) bt [5/8] Kirsty McPhee (Yorks)  9/3, 9/3, 9/2 (30m)

MEN'S ROUND 2 (Fri):
[1] Alistair Walker (Gloucs) bt [9/16] George Bannister (Yorks)  11/2, 11/5, 11/5 (23m)
[5/8] James Wright (Leics) bt [9/16] Jethro Binns (Wales)  9/11, 10/11(1-3), 11/6, 11/5,
         11/7(55m)
[3/4] Daryl Selby (Essex) bt [9/16] Chris Hall (Surrey)  11/10(2-0), 11/4, 11/8 (29m)
Harry Leitch (Scot) bt [9/16] Rob Sutherland (Wales)  7/11, 8/11, 11/5, 11/9, 11/8 (65m)
[9/16] Martin Gibson (Lincs) bt [5/8] Jamie Haycocks (Shrops) W/O
[3/4] Ashley Flathers (Yorks) bt [9/16] Joel Hinds (Derbys) 8/11, 11/4, 11/6, 6/11, 11/6 (40m)
[9/16] Shaun Le Roux (Yorks) bt [5/8] Rickie Davies (Wales) 11/10(2-0), 8/11, 11/4, 9/11, 
          11/10(2-0) (60m)
[2] Phil Barker (Essex) bt [9/16] Tom Richards (Surrey)  11/4, 11/8, 11/10(2-0) (27m)

MEN'S ROUND ONE (Fri):
[9/16] George Bannister (Yorks) bt David Harris (Kent) 10/11(0-2) 11/10(2-0) 11/5 11/5 (38m)
[9/16] Jethro Binns (Wales) bt Craig Chappell (Staffs)  11/5, 11/3, 11/6 (24m)
Harry Leitch (Scot) bt [5/8] Chris Simpson (Hants) W/O
[9/16] Rob Sutherland (Wales) bt Paul Barratt (Staffs)  11/3, 11/4, 11/3 (17m)
[9/16] Martin Gibson (Lincs) bt Chris Truswell (Staffs)  11/6, 11/5, 11/8 (24m)
[9/16] Joel Hinds (Derbys) bt Tom Pashley (Sussex)  11/8, 11/9, 11/8 (27m)
[9/16] Shaun Le Roux (Yorks) bt Oliver Clay (Leics)  11/3, 11/10 (4-2), 11/3 (30m)

WOMEN'S ROUND 1 (Fri):
[1] Lauren Siddall (Yorks)  bye
Jenna Gates (Sussex) bt [5/8] Jenny Wright (Wales)  9/5, 9/3, 9/1 (22m)
[3/4] Emma Beddoes (Warks) bt Claire Kidd (Scot)  9/7, 9/0, 9/2 (19m)
[5/8] Rachel Willmott (Sussex) bt Louise Clark (Hants)  9/0, 9/4, 9/0 (18m)
[5/8] Jennifer Knibbs (Derbys) bt Amie Cronin (Cumb)  2/9, 10/9, 10/8, 10/8 (50m)
[3/4] Georgina Stoker (Merseys) bt Leonie Holt (Warks)  9/4, 9/3, 9/2 (27m)
[5/8] Kirsty McPhee (Yorks) bt Gemma Hall (Gloucs)  9/1, 9/3, 9/3 (20m)
[2] Suzie Pierrepont (Sussex)  bye
 

With reigning champions James Willstrop and Jenny Duncalf competing in the European Individual Championships in Bratislava and the new WISPA Gold Event in Bahrain, respectively, the door is open for new British Under 23 champions to be crowned in Manchester.

Alister Walker (World No51) and Phil Barker (World No73) head the men’s seedings and Lauren Siddall (former British Under 17 Champion and current English No18) and Suzie Pierrepont (English No19) lead the women’s event.

The event is run by England Squash and BSPA and is once again sponsored by the Millfield Partnership, a leading national independent financial advisory firm.

The championships are being held at the National Squash Centre in Manchester between 10-12 September and are being run alongside an England Squash U15 Grand Prix which sees 16 of the best English under 15 boys and girls compete.

There is free admission for spectators throughout the event with the finals scheduled to start at 1.00pm on Sunday 12 September.
 

The BSPA is pleased to announce the Millfield Partnership's continued support of Under 23 squash with the return of the Millfield Partnership British Under 23 Closed Championships. The event that was resurrected under the same sponsorship last year will take place between 10-12 September at the National Squash Centre in Manchester and will comprise a 32 Men's Draw and a 16 Women's Draw run by England Squash.

Last year, James Willstrop beat Nick Matthew in high quality final to win the championship that was last played for in 1995. Jenny Duncalf demonstrated that she was ready to move in to the game's elite with a straight games demolition of Dominique Lloyd-Walter in the women's final, definitely a great stepping stone with the previous winner having been current World no.1 Cassie Jackman! With both players still eligible to defend their titles this year's event is bound to attract a strong field.

Tim Garner, BSPA Board Member commented that 'The British Squash Professionals Association is pleased to be working in tandem with England Squash to maintain the presence of this prestigious event. We are delighted that Millfield Partnership have signed up again and are sure the Millfield Partnership British Under 23 Closed will form a fitting pinnacle to this important age-group.'

Steve Cave of the Millfield Partnership added 'Millfield Partnership is an innovative and progressive company and we recognise the challenges faced by today's young professional squash players. We have been working on a number of products for the BSPA and are pleased to continue the association with this event. We are sure that the Millfield Partnership British Under 23 Closed will once again provide the younger professional players the opportunity to showcase their talents and assist in their development as professional players.'

Nick Rider, Chief Executive of England Squash, concurred. 'I very much welcome the fact that this event is once again becoming an annual fixture - it's a great opportunity for the sport to show what talents we have coming through the professional ranks. It highlights in particular what can be delivered by effective partnerships, and I'm delighted that we're working so closely with BSPA on this project. It also demonstrates how fortunate we are to have such a great facility as the National Squash Centre at our disposal for such important events.'

ENTRY FORM & INFORMATION:    word   pdf

millfield-partnership.co.uk

Full details from 2003

Men's final:
James Willstrop bt Nick Matthew 15-12, 11-15, 8-15, 15-12, 17-15

Women's Final:
Jenny Duncalf bt Dominique Lloyd-Walter  9-3, 9-2, 9-2

WILLSTROP & DUNCALF
IN YORKSHIRE DOUBLE
In a thrilling climax to the first staging of the event since 1995, second seed James Willstrop fought back from 2-1 down to beat favourite Nick Matthew 15-12 11-15 8-15 15-12 17-15 in the all-Yorkshire men's final of the Millfield Partnership British U23 National Championships at the National Squash Centre in Manchester, England.

The women's title was also claimed by Yorkshire when top seed Jenny Duncalf, the world No25 from Harrogate, beat No2 seed Dominique Lloyd-Walter, from Harrow in Middlesex, 9-3 9-2 9-2 in the other final.

Matthew, 22, a former British Junior Open champion from Sheffield, is ranked 26 in the world - whilst Willstrop, the 19-year-old reigning World Junior Champion from Pontefract who has only been playing full-time since leaving school last year, is ranked 11 places lower.

But, though the result would appear to be an upset, Willstrop had already been selected ahead of Matthew to make his senior debut for England in next month's European Team Championships in Nottingham.

It was a match of the highest quality, Matthew having reached the final after twice being forced to come from behind to overcome third-seeded Adrian Grant in a 90-minute marathon, while Willstrop dismissed fourth seed Jonathan Kemp in just 32 minutes in the other semi-final, despite dropping his first game of the tournament.

Heading for victory at 2-1 up, Matthew went 4-12 down in the fourth game - but pulled back to 12-12 before Willstrop regained the advantage to level the match, then clinch the fifth 17-15 to win the title.

"It's a great honour to win this prestigious national title and follow in the footsteps of great former winners like Chris Walker and Del Harris," said new champion. "It's excellent
to have this title back on the calendar and Nick made it a fantastic final. It was good too to be back at the National Squash Centre in Manchester, on the all-glass court where I enjoyed a good run in the National Championships and played Peter Nicol for the first time in the semi-finals."

• U23 championship revived
   

• Men's Draw      

• Women's Draw

Action from the final

James Willstrop

15-5, 15-9, 15-9
 (38m)

Andy Whipp

10-15, 15-7, 12-15,
15-10, 15-10
 (90m)

 Adrian Grant

15-12, 11-15, 8-15,
15-12, 17-15 (99m)

James Willstrop

15-8, 15-11, 15-7
 (49m)

Peter Barker

15-6, 17-15, 15-10
 (53m)

Jonathon Kemp

Jonathon Kemp

15-10, 15-1,
13-15, 15-7
 (32m)

James Willstrop

15-6, 15-12, 15-10
 (31m)

James Willstrop

9-3, 9-1, 5-9, 9-5
 (47m)

Laura Lengthorn

Jenny Duncalf

9-3, 9-2, 9-2
(30m)

Dominique Lloyd-Walter

9-0, 9-1, 9-3
(32m)

Dominique Lloyd-Walter

England Squash and BSPA are pleased to announce the re-launch of the British Under 23 Closed Championships. The event will take place between 11-13 April at the National Squash Centre in Manchester and will comprise a 32 Men's Draw and a 16 Women's Draw.

The championships have not been held since 1995 when Marcus Berrett and Cassie Jackman lifted the titles. This year's event is bound to attract a strong field with the likes of Nick Matthew, Adrian Grant and James Willstrop eligible to enter the men's event and Dominique Lloyd Walter, Jenny Duncalf and Vicky Lankester possible entrants into the women's event.

Tim Garner, BSPA Board Member commented that 'The British Squash Professionals Association is delighted to work with England Squash to rejuvenate this prestigious event. The association was formed a decade ago to look after the interests of the British professional squash player. As the Prince Grand Prix has gone from strength to strength the Board have been increasingly aware of the need to provide a platform to help bring on the nation's emerging talents. We were delighted that the Millfield Partnership signed up to sponsor an Under 23 tour and feel that the Millfield Partnership British Under 23 Closed will form a fitting pinnacle to this.'

Steve Cave of the Millfield Partnership added that 'The Millfield Partnership is an innovative and progressive company and we recognise the challenges faced by today's young professional squash players. We have been working on a number of products for the BSPA and are pleased to extend this association to sponsorship of the Millfield Partnership Under 23 Tour. We are sure that the Millfield Partnership Under 23 Closed will provide the younger professional players the opportunity to showcase their talents and assist in their development as professional players.'

Nick Rider, Chief Executive of England Squash, concurred. 'I very much welcome the reintroduction of this event - it's a great opportunity for the sport to show what talents we have coming through the professional ranks. It highlights in particular what can be delivered by effective partnerships, and I'm delighted that we're working so closely with BSPA on this project.

It also demonstrates how fortunate we are to have such a great  facility as the National Squash Centre at our disposal for such important events.'