British National Squash Championships News
Ford Gets Wish Granted In National Championships In Manchester
Kent No2 Ben Ford cruised through two qualifying rounds in the British National Squash Championships at Sportcity today (Monday), then had his wish granted.
The 30-year-old from Welling had earlier told the event's official website that if he qualified, he hoped he'd play Peter Nicol, the double Commonwealth Games gold medallist who is the event's second seed.
Ford beat Surrey's British Junior U17 Open runner-up Joe Lee 11-5 11-9 11-5, and Welshman Jethro Binns 11-9 11-7 11-6 in the qualifying finals – and was then drawn to meet Nicol in today's first round match at the National Squash Centre.
Peter Nicol is seeded to reach the final for the fourth time since winning the first of his two titles ten years ago. The 32-year-old from London is expected to face Manchester favourite James Willstrop in Sunday's final. Willstrop, top seed for the first time, begins his campaign against Oxfordshire's Scott Handley.
RESULTS: British National Squash Championships, National Squash Centre, Manchester
Men's 2nd qualifying round:
David Barnett (Northumbria) bt Thomas Phipps (Bucks) 11-8, 11-4, 11-7 (29m)
Jaymie Haycocks (Shropshire) bt Kris Meadows (Suffolk) 11-6, 11-7, 11-7 (22m)
Nick Wall (Yorks) bt Stephen Siviter (Merseyside) 11-5, 11-8, 10-11 (1-3), 11-8 (37m)
Kristen Johnson (Scotland) bt Philip Nightingale (Surrey) 10-11 (0-2), 11-6, 11-8, 11-6 (49m)
Chris Simpson (Hants) bt James Snell (Devon) 11-6, 4-11, 11-3, 11-4 (40m)
Tom Pashley (Sussex) bt Asa Morris (Cambs) 11-3, 11-2, 11-3 (27m)
Phil Rushworth (Yorks) bt Nick Douglas (Notts) w/o
Joel Hinds (Derbyshire) bt Nicholas Bradley (Warwicks) 11-10 (2-0), 11-9, 11-4 (28m)
Jonathan Tate (Northumbria) bt Adrian Waller (Herts) 7-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-9 (77m)
Tom Richards (Surrey) bt Michael Waight (Cheshire) 11-10 (4-2), 11-3, 11-3 (21m)
Jethro Binns (Wales) bt Michael Pearson (Lancs) 11-5, 11-6, 11-8 (29m)
Ben Ford (Kent) bt Joe Lee (Surrey) 11-5, 11-9, 11-5 (40m)
Martin Gibson (Lincs) bt Oliver Clay (Leics) 11-7, 7-11, 11-7, 11-9 (39m)
Jonathan Harford (Glos) bt Christopher Hall (Surrey) 11-7, 11-6, 3-11, 6-11, 11-7 (69m)
Shaun le Roux (Yorks) bt Will Newnham (Sussex) 11-9, 11-9, 11-7 (27m)
Sam Miller (Warwicks) bt Lewis Walters (Notts) 11-7, 11-2, 11-5 (29m)
Qualifying finals:
David Barnett (Northumbria) bt Jaymie Haycocks (Shropshire) 10-11 (3-5), 11-9, 6-11, 11-4, 11-4 (57m)
Kristen Johnson (Scotland) bt Nick Wall (Yorks) 11-3, 11-3, 11-4 (27m)
Chris Simpson (Hants) bt Tom Pashley (Sussex) 11-3, 11-7, 11-8 (36m)
Joel Hinds (Derbyshire) bt Phil Rushworth (Yorks) 11-7, 11-10 (2-0), 11-10 (5-3) (53m)
Tom Richards (Surrey) bt Jonathan Tate (Northumbria) 11-4, 11-5, 6-11, 11-8 (39m)
Ben Ford (Kent) bt Jethro Binns (Wales) 11-9, 11-7, 11-6 (38m)
Martin Gibson (Lincs) bt Jonathan Harford (Glos) 11-8, 11-5, 11-7 (32m)
Shaun le Roux (Yorks) bt Sam Miller (Warwicks) 11-4, 11-9, 8-11, 10-5 ret. (52m)
Updated men's first round draw:
[1] James Willstrop (Yorks) v Scott Handley (Oxon)
[14] Phillip Barker (Essex) v [Q] David Barnett (Northumbria)
[8] Joey Barrington (Somerset) v [Q] Shaun le Roux (Yorks)
[16] Daryl Selby (Essex) v [Q] Chris Simpson (Hants)
[3] Lee Beachill (Yorks) v Hadrian Stiff (Devon)
[11] Nick Taylor (Lancs) v Andrew Whipp (Cheshire)
[7] Adrian Grant (Kent) v Alex Stait (Glos)
[12] Stephen Meads (Berks) v Jaymie Haycocks (Shrops)
Phil Rushworth (Yorks) v Peter Billson (Lancs)
[5] Alex Gough (Wales) v [Q] Joel Hinds (Derbyshire)
[10] Simon Parke (Yorks) v [Q] Tom Richards (Surrey)
[4] Nick Matthew (Yorks) v [Q] Martin Gibson (Lincs)
[13] Ben Garner (Surrey) v Tim Vail (Sussex)
[6] Peter Barker (Essex) v Laurence Delasaux (Yorks)
[15] Peter Genever (Sussex) v [Q] Kristen Johnson (Scotland)
[2] Peter Nicol (Yorks) v [Q] Ben Ford (Kent)
Official website: www.nationalsquashchamps.co.uk