19-Apr-07:
Lengthorn to make debut as England aim for ETC repeats
 Lancashire's
Laura Lengthorn has
been selected to make her senior England
debut in next month's European Team Squash Championships in Italy.
Yorkshire's world No7 James Willstrop and Lincolnshire's world No4
Tania Bailey will lead the men's and women's teams, respectively, in
defence of their titles in Riccione, from 2-5 May.
ENGLAND MEN:
James Willstrop (Yorkshire),
23, from Pontefract
Nick Matthew (Yorkshire), 26, world No8, Sheffield
Lee Beachill (Yorkshire), 29, world No12, Pontefract
Adrian Grant (Kent), 26, world No15, Halifax
Peter Barker (Essex), 23, world No18, Upminster
ENGLAND WOMEN:
Tania Bailey (Lincs), 27,
world No4, Stamford
Vicky Botwright (Lancs), 29, world No5, Manchester
Alison Waters (Middx), 23, world No9, London
Jenny Duncalf (Yorks), 24, world No11, Harrogate
Laura Lengthorn (Lancs), 23, world No12, Preston
While England's men have held the
European Team title for the last 14 years successively - and all but
three years since the inaugural men's event in 1973 - England's
women are looking to win their 30th successive title, having never
been beaten in the history of the women's championships since 1978.
National Coach David Pearson will be accompanying the
players, with Assistant National Coach Paul Carter, in
Riccione.
 "We
have two strong squads and are confident that we can retain our
titles in Italy.
"If they field their top line-up, we would expect to meet France
again in the men's final - for the eighth year in a row. Undoubtedly
they are a strong squad, but we feel our strength in depth will
continue to give us the edge."
"The fact that we've never lost the championship puts extra pressure
on our women's team - but, again, we feel confident with the squad
we have. We are particularly pleased to be welcoming Laura to the
team for the first time after the great year she's had."
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France's
hopes of reaching their eighth successive men's final and taking
their first Euro Teams title were dealt a blow today when world
number four Thierry Lincou was forced to withdraw, having
failed to recover from the calf injury that kept him out of Kuwait
and Qatar.
