RESULTS: British National Squash Championships, National Squash Centre,
Sportcity, Manchester
Men's quarter-finals (2nd day):
[3] Lee Beachill (Yorks) bt [9] David Evans (Wales) 15-11, 9-15, 15-10, 15-11
(80m)
[6] Alex Gough (Wales) bt [2] John White (Scotland) 12-15, 15-11, 15-7,
4-15, 15-11 (93m)
Women's quarter-finals (2nd day):
[3] Cassie Jackman (Norfolk) bt [6] Stephanie Brind (Kent) 9-4, 9-1, 9-5
(31m)
[2] Tania Bailey (Lincs) bt [7] Suzanne Horner (Yorks) 9-3, 9-2, 9-0 (27m)
CHAMPIONS CHARGE THROUGH TO NATIONALS SEMI-FINALS
While defending champions Lee Beachill and Cassie Jackman remain on course to
retain their titles in the British National Squash Championships, Scotland's
second seed John White became the biggest casualty in today's (Friday)
quarter-finals after losing in five games to sixth-seeded Welshman Alex Gough
at the National Squash Centre in Manchester.
Gough, the 32-year-old world No17 and former world No5 who has recently moved
from Nottingham to Crowthorne in Berkshire, is making his first appearance in
the semi-finals since reaching the Nationals final in 1997. In the longest
match of the tournament, Gough upset the Nottingham-based world No4 12-15
15-11 15-7 4-15 15-11 in 93 minutes after coming back from 4-6 down in the
fifth.
"It's great when you have a perfect game and that's what it felt like in the
third," said the jubilant Newport-born Welshman afterwards. "John's had a
tough week after reaching the final of the Swedish Open, so I knew it would
be possible to take him - and in the end I think I was just more hungry for
it than he was," added Gough. "In the final points of the game, I was also
mindful of my six-year-old son Jayden telling me today that I had to come
home with a trophy!"
Gough will face Lee Beachill in the semi-finals. The third seed from
Pontefract in Yorkshire, beat Welshman David Evans 15-11 9-15 15-10 15-11 in
80 minutes to keep alive his bid to win a record third successive men's
title. "He's such a dangerous player when he's relaxed and that's the way
David seems to be in this tournament," said the 25-year-old Yorkshireman on
his personal website www.LeeBeachill.com
"I played well in the first game to close it out, then was disappointed with
myself in the second when David took control. My coach Malcolm Willstrop
pointed out between games that I was playing too much down the back-hand side
- where David is strong. I managed to switch the play around a bit after
that, and as I controlled the length more, so my confidence grew," said the
world No8.
It was the pair's first meeting since Beachill beat the tall Welshman, ranked
22 in the world, on the same court in the Commonwealth Games in July - though
Evans was also the last player to record a victory over Beachill in the
Nationals, in February 2000.
Norfolk's Cassie Jackman is one match away from her sixth successive final
appearance after a 9-4 9-1 9-5 victory over England team-mate and sixth seed
Stephanie Brind. The former world No1 and world champion from Norwich, who
is making her comeback after a second career-threatening back operation last
September, was in control throughout the 31-minute match.
"You see things in a new light after the low I went through last year just
after the surgery - in absolute agony and having to have everything done for
me, even being dressed," said the clearly rejuvenated 30-year-old. "I just
love squash and it's just great to back in the swing of things after such a
long time away - you appreciate things more. I was pretty pleased with the
way I played tonight, but I know I've still got a lot of work to do -
particularly on my fitness," Jackman, the third seed, added.
Jackman now faces Tania Bailey, the second seed from Stamford in Lincolnshire
- six days after beating her England No1 successor in the final of the
Grantham Open. Bailey, in only her second ever National Championships win
after four successive first round defeats since 1997, beat Yorkshire veteran
Suzanne Horner 9-3 9-2 9-0 in 27 minutes. The remarkable world No15 from
Wakefield, who will celebrate her 40th birthday in little more than a week,
was competing in her 13th successive Nationals quarter-final and making her
23rd appearance in the event since 1978 - the year before Bailey was born.
"I always play well on this court," said the Lincolnshire lass of the
all-glass showcourt on which she claimed a Commonwealth Games silver medal in
the Women's Doubles last August, and a final place in the British Open four
months earlier. "I felt very comfortable tonight - and am glad to be winning
matches at last in this event after doing so miserably over the past few
years."
For the latest results, visit the official website:
www.nationalsquashchamps.co.uk