Mens Qualifying & Round 1

The usual beautiful sunshine and BBQ stand were out this morning to signal the start of the third British Under 23 Championships to be staged at Hunts County Squash Club.

Local interest in the men's event rested with Cambridgeshire duo Robert Dadds and Daniel McGinn.  Dadds safely came through last nights qualifying to face 9/16 seed Nathan Lake (Gloucestershire) in Round 1.  It was a great first game that went to 9, 10 and 11 all before Lake finally took it 13-11.  That seemed to drain Dadds and his challenge quickly faded - Lake taking the following 2 games comfortably 11-3 11-5 to move into Round 2.

It was then down to Daniel McGinn, but he was up against 19 year old rising star and 5/8 seed Charles Sharpes (Surrey).  This was always going to be a tough encounter for McGinn who went down to the British Under 19 champion 11-0 11-1 11-7.

It was an uneventful first round with all the seeds progressing with good 3-0 victories:

Men's Qualification

Robert Dadds {Cambridgeshire} beat Alexander Williams {Norfolk}  11-6, 11-5, 11-4 {25m}  ;Jordan Creed {Norfolk} beat Peter Dickinson {Cambridgeshire}  15-13, 8-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-9 {55m}

Men's Round 1

1* Adrian Waller (Hertfordshire) beat Jordan Creed (Norfolk)  11-1, 11-4, 11-2 (14m)

9/16* Nathan Lake (Gloucestershire) beat Robert Dadds (Cambridgeshire)  13-11, 11-3, 11-5 (24m)  5/8* Ben Coleman (Essex) beat Niall Engerer (Essex)  11-3, 11-6, 11-8 (32m)

9/16* Alistair Mutch (Wales) beat Lyell Fuller (Devon)  11-5, 11-3, 11-4 (21m)

3/4* Tom Pashley (Sussex) beat Charlie Johnson (Hertfordshire)  11-1, 11-4, 11-4 (24m)

9/16* Robert Downer (Hampshire) beat George Parker (Leicestershire)  11-7, 11-4, 11-3 (23m)

5/8* Charles Sharpes (Surrey) beat Daniel McGinn (Cambridgeshire)  11-0, 11-1, 11-7 (25m)

9/16* Declan James (Nottinghamshire) beat Matthew Hardy (Northumbria)  11-8, 11-1, 11-7 (19m)  9/16* Tom Ford (Gloucestershire) beat David Allman (Herefordshire)  11-3, 11-2, 11-5 (28m)

5/8* Chris Fuller (Northamptonshire) beat Tristan Eysele (Hampshire)  12-10, 11-3, 11-7 (29m)  9/16* James Earles (Yorkshire) beat Thomas Allman (Herefordshire)  11-5, 11-7, 11-6 (22m)

3/4* Oliver Pett (Sussex) beat Richie Fallows (Essex)  11-5, 11-2, 11-3 (23m)

9/16* Adam Murrills (Cheshire) beat Eric Garson (Berkshire)  11-3, 11-3, 11-3 (19m)

5/8* Anthony Graham (Gloucestershire) beat Liam Gutcher (Northumbria)  11-7, 11-6, 11-6 (27m)  9/16* Adam Auckland (Lincolnshire) beat Jon Brown (Nottinghamshire)  11-1, 11-3, 11-3 (13m)

2* Eddie Charlton (Nottinghamshire) beat Nicholas Mulvey (Hertfordshire)  11-7, 11-5, 11-3 (21m)

The session also signalled the return of Nottinghamshire's Jon Brown who was a legend (not always for his squash it must be added) around the junior circuit for many years.  No2 seed and close friend Eddie Charlton (Nottingham) persuaded Jon to pick up his racket again after a few years away from the game and try his luck in the U23's.  His 2 training sessions in recent weeks weren't quite enough to get him back up to match fitness and he struggled from about the fourth point as he fell to Adam Auckland (Lincolnshire) 11/1 11/3 11/3.

Round 2 sees a rematch of the recent BSPA Wimbledon Cup tussle between 5/8 seed Ben Coleman (Essex) and 9/16 seed Alistair Mutch (Wales).  Coleman will be looking to justify his higher seeding and gain revenge for his 3-0 loss to Mutch two weeks ago.

Adam Murrills (Cheshire) will be hoping to keep his good run going.  Back in Februarys National Championships Murrills beat Former World No3 Simon Parke and just last week he took out Stephen Meads in the PSL semi final but still finished on the losing side as Chapel Allerton lost to St Georges Hill.  Murrills faces friend and training partner Anthony Graham (Gloucestershire).

The Women's draw begins this evening with No1 seed Victoria Lust (Bedfordshire) looking to put the disappointment of missing last year's championship through injury behind her and claim her first British title since the juniors.

Mens Round 2 and Ladies Round 1

The British Under 23's at the fantastic facilities at Hunts County Squash Club came alive this evening with some excellent squash and some great matches.

Top seed Adrian Waller (Hertfordshire) set the session off with a professional and clinical 11-4 11-7 11-4 victory over Nation Lake (Gloucestershire).  Waller looks to be in good form and is going to take some beating this weekend as he aims to add this title to the four British titles he amassed as a junior.

Alistair Mutch (Wales) became the first player to take out a higher seed when he defeated 5/8 seed Ben Coleman (Essex) in a tough second round encounter.  The 9/16 seed took control late on in the first game and then fought back from 10-8 down in the second to take a two games to nil lead.  Coleman continued to fight and took the third and then raced into a 5-0 lead in the fourth.  However something awoke Mutch and back he came to take the game 11-8 and the match 3-1.  It was always a close call as which of these two should be the higher seed and Mutch made his point - we got it wrong!

3/4 seed Tom Pashley (Sussex) struggled in his match with Rob Downer (Hampshire).  It was a scrappy affair and a real shock looked on the cards when Downer took an unlikely 2-0 lead.  Although Pashley looked out of sorts and sluggish he managed to find his length and back he came to square it at 2 all.  The decider remained untidy with nether player really taking control - Downer was ahead for most of it but seemed to lose his focus and discipline every time he lost a point and was getting frustrated with himself.  Pashley remained calm even at 6-8 down and managed to edge it 11-8.  A win but only just and Pashley knows he is going to have to do better if he is to progress through the draw tomorrow.

Charles Sharpes (Surrey) and Declan James (Nottinghamshire) entertained the show court crowd with some wonderful squash, played in the true spirit of the game.  Although Sharpes took it 3-0 James fought back from 7-1 down in the third before eventually losing out 16-14.

No2 seed Eddie Charlton (Nottinghamshire) and 5/8 seed Chris Fuller (Northamptonshire) enjoyed fairly comfortable 3-0 wins over Adam Auckland (Lincolnshire) and Tom Ford (Gloucestershire) respectively.  Ollie Pett (Sussex) is a man in form and looked good as he put James Earles (Yorkshire) to the sword - an impressive performance and he moves on to meet Chris Fuller in the quarters.

Last match on - 5/8* Anthony Graham (Gloucestershire) against 9/16* Adam Murrills (Cheshire) and as predictable it was never going to be easy.  A close first game ensued that Graham probably shaded but Murrills took the spoils for.  Graham then withstood an injury break and took the second 11/4 and also took the third….just 12-10.  Graham then went on to wrap it up in the fourth as Murrills lost his composure and allowed unforced errors to keep in far too often.

The women's draw also got underway but the top seeds were able to rest until tomorrow.  The pick of the Round 1 matches was Katherine Quarterman (Oxfordshire) who had to dig deep to overcome 15 year old Eleanor Lake (Gloucestershire).  Quarterman was twice pegged back before eventually taking it 11-9 7-11 11-7 7-11 11-9.  Quarterman's reward is a Round 2 match against Rachel Willmott (Sussex) who overcame Brogan Lane (Hertfordshire) in three.

Men's Round 2 Results

1* Adrian Waller (Hertfordshire) beat 9/16* Nathan Lake (Gloucestershire)  11-4, 11-4, 11-3 (14m)  9/16* Alistair Mutch (Wales) beat 5/8* Ben Coleman (Essex)  11-7, 12-10, 7-11, 11-8 (56m)

3/4* Tom Pashley (Sussex) beat 9/16* Robert Downer (Hampshire)  9-11, 8-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-8 (54m)

5/8* Charles Sharpes (Surrey) beat 9/16* Declan James (Nottinghamshire)  11-6, 11-8, 16-14 (39m)  5/8* Chris Fuller (Northamptonshire) beat 9/16* Tom Ford (Gloucestershire)  11-7, 11-5, 11-9 (38m)  3/4* Oliver Pett (Sussex) beat 9/16* James Earles (Yorkshire)  11-4, 11-7, 11-9 (28m)

5/8* Anthony Graham (Gloucestreshire) bt 9/16* Adam Murrills (Cheshire) 11-13 11-4 12-10 11-5 (61m)

2* Eddie Charlton (Nottinghamshire) beat 9/16* Adam Auckland (Lincolnshire)  11-3, 11-5, 11-5 (25m)

Women's Round 1 Results

5/8* Kirsty West (Cheshire) beat Lucy Pallett (Warwickshire)  11-4, 11-5, 11-9 (16m)

;3/4* Rachel Willmott (Sussex) beat Brogan Lane (Hertfordshire)  11-4, 11-7, 11-4 (23m)

5/8* Katherine Quarterman (Oxfordshire) beat Eleanor Lake (Gloucestershire)  11-9, 7-11, 11-7, 7-11, 11-9 (41m)

5/8* Victoria Bell (Cumbria) beat Lauren Tamilla (Lancashire)  11-9, 11-3, 11-4 (17m)

Quarter Final Line Up

1* Victoria Lust (Bedfordshire) v 5/8* Kirst West (Cheshire)

3/4* Rachel Willmott (Sussex) v 5/8* Katherine Quarterman (Oxfordshire)

3/4* Sarah-Jane Perry (Warwickshire) v 5/8* Victoria Bell (Cumbria)

2* Carrie Ramsey (Yorkshire) v5/8* Julianne Courtice (Gloucestershire)

1* Adrian Waller (Hertfordshire) v 9/16* Alistair Mutch (Wales)

3/4*Tom Pashley (Sussex) v 5/8* Charles Sharpes (Surrey)

3/4* Oliver Pett (Sussex) v 5/8* Chris Fuller (Northamptonshire)

2* Eddie Charlton (Nottinghamshire) v 5/8* Anthony Graham (Gloucestershire)