British National Squash Championships

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

Men's final:
[1] Lee Beachill (Yorks) bt [3] James Willstrop (Yorks) 11-3, 11-6, 11-3 (45m)

Women's final:
[1] Linda Elriani (Sussex) bt Alison Waters (Middx) 9-2, 9-4, 9-3 (30m)

Beachill Bags Third National Title In Manchester

Yorkshire's world No2 Lee Beachill beat his Pontefract club team-mate James Willstrop in straight games in today's (Sunday) final of the British National Squash Championships at the National Squash Centre at Sportcity in Manchester to become only the third player in the event's history to win the men's title three times.

The 27-year-old top seed celebrated his fifth successive appearance in the final by playing at the very top of his game.  It took just 45 minutes for the former world number one to claim an 11-3 11-6 11-3 victory over Willstrop, his closest friend in the game.

"We know each other's game inside out," said the new three-times champion.  "We practise together every day, we travel together to events and room together when we're away.  So it's difficult when we have to play against each other like today.

"But I played very well, my length was good and I kept the ball tight and got it past him -  and I think he was a bit drained from his tough battles over the previous two days," Beachill added.

When it was pointed out that he made only five errors over the whole match, the Yorkshireman quickly responded:  "If there were only five errors against a player of James's quality, then I'm more than happy with that.

"I think I'm one of the only players in the world top ten that James hasn't beaten - but he's getting better by the day and my advantage isn't going to last."

Willstrop, the 21-year-old from Pontefract who catapulted to five in the world rankings at the beginning of the year, was utterly downcast by his performance.  "I am desperately disappointed - I am very unhappy at the way I played.  It was a massive match and I just didn't perform.

"Lee was just too good tonight - he was giving me absolutely nothing," added the former world junior champion.  "I hit the nick in the left corner, and that was probably the only good shot of the match."

Fifth Time Lucky For Linda

It was fifth time lucky for Sussex's Linda Elriani in the other final on the all-glass court at Sportcity.  The top seed from Eastbourne, ranked five in the world, beat London's unseeded Alison Waters in straight games to win the women's title for the first time in her fifth final appearance since 1995.

The 33-year-old former Miss Charman was celebrating her 17th appearance in the event since 1987, but her first since marrying French international Laurent Elriani last summer.  It took just 30 minutes for the favourite to overcome her unexpected opponent 9-2 9-4 9-3 in 30 minutes.

"People kept saying to me it was my year," said the jubilant champion afterwards.  "I'm completely thrilled that that I've finally done it - I'm almost lost for words, which is unusual for me.

"Alison has played so well all week, there was no way I was going to take her lightly," added Elriani of 20-year-old Waters, the first unseeded player to reach the women's final in the event's 30-year history.

"I played her in the Greenwich Open at the beginning of the year, and beat her 3/1 in a harder game than today.  I think she was a bit nervous today, which is not surprising in her first final."

The new champion recalled that she had calculated that her opponent must have been around three years old when she first made her debut in the event!  "Alison's got lots of potential, and has obviously got a great mental approach," added the new champion.

Waters, who was recently voted the most improved player on the WISPA World Tour, admitted that she had been nervous:  "It's been a great week and I've learned that I can beat seeded players.  I hope I can get through to the final again next year," said Waters.