British National Squash Championships

RESULTS: British National Squash Championships, National Squash Centre, Manchester

Men's quarter-finals:
[5] John White (Scotland) bt [10] Marcus Berrett (Yorks) 11-10 (2-0), 11-6, 11-6 (32m)
[3] James Willstrop (Yorks) bt [7] Simon Parke (Yorks) 7-11, 11-10 (4-2), 11-6, 6-11, 11-6 (70m)

Women's quarter-finals:
Alison Waters (Middx) bt [4] Vicky Botwright (Lancs) 9-3, 6-9, 0-9, 9-3, 9-7 (70m)
[2] Rebecca Macree (Essex) bt [Q] Rebecca Botwright (Lancs) 9-1, 9-4, 9-2 (30m)

White Hot Champion Into Nationals Semi-finals

Back on the all-glass court for the first time since winning the title last year, champion John White took just 32 minutes to reserve his place in the last four of the British National Squash Championships in Manchester today (Friday) after defeating Yorkshire's Marcus Berrett in the quarter-finals.

It was a noticeably different performance from the former world No1 from Scotland who struggled to victories in the earlier rounds on the conventional plaster courts at the National Squash Centre at Sportcity.

"I love playing on this all-glass court - and as soon as I had a practice hit on it this afternoon, it felt good," said the 31-year-old from Nottingham after his 11-10 11-6 11-6 victory over Halifax-based Berrett.

"I was moving freely and playing well - the best I've played all week.  And if you're playing well, you can produce good rallies," explained the title-holder, the game's hardest-hitter of the ball.

"I'm very pleased with the way it went - especially to do it 3-0."

The packed Sportcity crowd was treated to a sensational display of squash artistry and athleticism when third seed James Willstrop took on former champion Simon Parke, the No7 seed, in the final game of the day. 

Since Parke, 32, won the title in 1998, his younger Yorkshire county team-mate has increasingly had the upper hand.  But 21-year-old Willstrop dropped the first game as Parke went on the offensive - and despite pulling 2/1 ahead, Willstrop was again cut back by his more experienced opponent as Parke forced the match into a fifth game.

As Parke became more exhausted in the decider, Pontefract-based Willstrop piled on the pressure to claim a 7-11 11-10 11-6 6-11 11-6 victory in 70 minutes.

"I rate Simon a lot, and knew it would be a tough game," said Willstrop, the world No8, afterwards.  "I got a really good start in the fifth game which I needed.  I was happy to win the match."

Nottingham-based Parke admitted that he had approached this match a bit differently:  "I tried to be a bit more attacking - but a lot more sensible, by avoiding going 'headless'," explained the former world No3.  "I was a bit stronger on the ball.

"But at least it will be good training for New York," added Parke, whose next outing on the PSA Tour will be at the Tournament of Champions at the US city's Grand Central Station later this month.

Earlier, Manchester star Vicky Botwright, the fourth seed in the women's event, suffered her fourth defeat in the quarter-finals since 2001 when she was beaten in five games by Middlesex's unseeded Alison Waters. 

The world No10 led after the third game - but Waters, the 20-year-old world No23 from London, fought back to clinch a significant upset 9-3 6-9 0-9 9-3 9-7 in 70 minutes. 

"I was a bit nervous at the start and there were a few cheap shots at times," said Waters, who reached the last eight after an 84-minute marathon victory over eighth seed Tania Bailey.  "This will be my first semi-final, but tonight's win has given me more confidence."

Botwright was downhearted to have failed in front of her home crowd:  "It looks as if I'm going to be permanently stuck in the quarter-finals here! 

"It was a bit of a strange game - I had a bit of a run, then she did.  But Alison played really well.

"I just hope I can do better than this soon - before they decide to move the event somewhere else," added the local squash star.

There was double disappointment for the Botwright family when Vicky's younger sister Rebecca Botwright lost in straight games to second seed Rebecca Macree in the other women's quarter-final.

"I felt confident," said the 33-year-old from Essex after her 9-1 9-4 9-2 win.  "I played the right shot at the right time, and that's what it's all about," added Macree.

"Alison and I play each other a lot at my club - but I'm looking forward to playing her in tomorrow's semi-finals."