Ben Betters Brother Tim To Qualify For British Open
Since turning professional four years ago after graduating from Oxford University, Englishman Ben Garner has been trying to emulate his older brother's successes on the world squash tour. In today's (Monday) men's qualifying finals of the Dunlop British Open Squash Championships at the National Squash Centre in Manchester, the 25-year-old Surrey champion surpassed sibling Tim Garner's achievement by claiming a place in the main draw of the world's most famous event for the first time in four attempts.
"I remember being a ball-boy at the British Open when it was held at Wembley, wondering whether I would ever be able to play in this world-renowned event, with all its tradition," said Ben Garner after his 11-7 10-11 11-5 11-5 dismissal of 15-year-old Pakistani Aamir Atlas Khan, the Asian Junior Champion.
"Tim did once get into the first round of the British Open, as a lucky loser, but I guess I am proud to have now achieved something he hasn't done – but I still have to try and improve on his top thirty world ranking," admitted Ben, who reached 40 in the world two months ago – and now faces another Pakistani,14th seed Shahid Zaman in the first round.
In a bumper day for the hosts, Garner was one of four Englishmen who survived the men's qualifying finals: Essex's Phillip Barker, from Upminster, twice came from behind to beat Pakistan's Farhan Mehboob 7-11 11-6 9-11 11-9 11-10 in 64 minutes, while Gloucestershire's Alister Walker defeated Farrukh Zaman 11-8 11-6 11-10 in 43 minutes.
Another Surrey player Stacey Ross was giving 14 years to his younger opponent Yasir Butt. But 31-year-old Ross proved that experience ultimately counts as he beat 17-year-old Butt 11-3 11-3 11-4 in the fourth Anglo/Pakistan clash of the day which went the hosts' way. Ross was later handed the toughest first round opponent: France's world No1 Thierry Lincou.
There was continuing North West success in the second day of qualifying in the women's event: Preston's Laura-Jane Lengthorn, ranked 19 in the world, defeated Cheshire's Sarah Kippax 9-5 9-4 10-8 in 38 minutes to earn a place in Tuesday's qualifying finals against English compatriot Dominique Lloyd-Walter.
But Manchester's own Rebecca Botwright caused the biggest upset at the Sportcity venue when she ousted the Pakistan No1 Carla Khan. Rebecca, the younger sister of Worsley-based sixth seed Vicky Botwright, battled for 69 minutes to overcome Khan, ranked 24 in the world, 9-4 4-9 9-3 10-9.
The 23-year-old world No32 now faces another English opponent Alison Waters for a place in Thursday's first round. Waters, the world No16 from London, recovered from a game down to beat Sussex's Suzie Pierrepont 9-10 9-5 9-2 9-4 48 minutes.
RESULTS: Dunlop British Open Squash Championships, National Squash Centre, Manchester, England
Men's qualifying finals:
Rodney Durbach (RSA) bt Shamsul Islam Khan (PAK) 11-8, 11-4, 11-9 (33m)
Phillip Barker (ENG) bt Farhan Mehboob (PAK) 7-11, 11-6, 9-11, 11-9, 11-10 (2-0) (64m)
Saurav Ghosal (IND) bt Hisham Mohd Ashour (EGY) 11-8, 11-7, 2-11, 11-9 (37m)
Ben Garner (ENG) bt Aamir Atlas Khan (PAK) 11-7, 10-11 (1-3), 11-5, 11-5 (46m)
Alister Walker (ENG) bt Farrukh Zaman (PAK) 11-8, 11-6, 11-10 (2-0) (43m)
Stewart Boswell (AUS) bt Alex Stait (ENG) 11-8, 11-2, 11-5 (38m)
Stacey Ross (ENG) bt Yasir Butt (PAK) 11-3, 11-3, 11-4 (32m)
Davide Bianchetti (ITA) bt Chris Simpson (ENG) 11-8, 10-11 (0-2), 3-11, 11-5, 11-4 (70m)
Women's 2nd qualifying round:
Isabelle Stoehr (FRA) bt Aisling Blake (IRL) 9-6, 9-1, 9-0 (26m)
Tegwen Malik (WAL) bt Orla Noom (NED) 9-1, 9-0, 9-4 (29m)
Pamela Nimmo (SCO) bt Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) 9-5, 9-0, 9-4 (29m)
Karen Kronemeyer (NED) bt Amanda Hopps (AUS) 9-4, 9-10, 9-5, 2-9, 9-3 (68m)
Dominique Lloyd-Walter (ENG) bt Lauren Briggs (ENG) 9-4, 9-2, 9-4 (57m)
Laura-Jane Lengthorn (ENG) bt Sarah Kippax (ENG) 9-5, 9-4, 10-8 (38m)
Rebecca Botwright (ENG) bt Carla Khan (PAK) 9-4, 4-9, 9-3, 10-9 (69m)
Alison Waters (ENG) bt Suzie Pierrepont (ENG) 9-10, 9-5, 9-2, 9-4 (48m)
Updated men's 1st round draw:
[1] Thierry Lincou (FRA) v [Q] Stacey Ross (ENG)
[12] Joseph Kneipp (AUS) v Alex Gough (WAL)
[5] Peter Nicol (ENG) v Laurence Delasaux (ENG)
[14] Shahid Zaman (PAK) v [Q] Ben Garner (ENG)
[3] David Palmer (AUS) v Joey Barrington (ENG)
[15] Ong Beng Hee (MAS) v Simon Parke (ENG)
[6] Anthony Ricketts (AUS) v [Q] Rodney Durbach (RSA)
[10] Graham Ryding (CAN) v Peter Barker (ENG)
[13] Olli Tuominen (FIN) v [Q] Alister Walker (ENG)
[8] John White (SCO) v [Q] Saurav Ghosal (IND)
[9] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v Mark Chaloner (ENG)
[4] Jonathon Power (CAN) v Cameron Pilley (AUS)
[11] Adrian Grant (ENG) v [Q] Davide Bianchetti (ITA)
[7] James Willstrop (ENG) v Laurens Jan Anjema (NED)
[16] Mansoor Zaman (PAK) v [Q] Stewart Boswell (AUS)
[2] Lee Beachill (ENG) v [Q] Phillip Barker (ENG)