British U23 2009

BBC News report

Chris Simpson and Fiona Moverley win the British U23 Squash Championships 2009

[1] Fiona Moverley bt [3/4] Deon Saffery 12/10, 11/6, 2/11, 11/4
[2] Chris Simpson bt [3/4] Joel Hinds 5/11, 11/2, 11/7, 11/3

Top seed Richards crashes out

The first semi final of the day saw a very competitive match between Fiona Moverley and Emma Chorley. After three extremely close games it looked like we were in for a great finale but Moverley had other ideas and stepped up the pace to run out a 3-1 winner and move into the final.

Joel Hinds set the British Under 23 Championships alight at Hunts County with a fantastic victory over hot favourite Tom Richards. Richards seemed a little flat in the opening game and Hinds duly took his opportunity and got off to a flier. The second was to-and-fro and either player could have nicked it but again the honours went to Hinds. The third saw Richards seize the initiative and quickly got himself back into it, taking the next two to square things up. It looked like Richards was back in control but Hinds now looked refreshed and kept inching ahead only for Richards to peg him back. At 9-9 it was anyone's but it was Hinds who kept his nerve and to take the next two points and claim a memorable result and a place in tomorrows final. Great game .

Victoria Lust was the next to fall. The No2 seed from Bedfordshire was beaten 3-1 by Deon Saffery. After taking the first 12/10 Lust always looked like she was struggling and Saffery took control to seal a well deserved 3-1 victory.

Chris Simpson wrapped up the semis with a professional display against Joe Lee. It was a ruthless performance that saw Simpson completely shut out Lee and secured him his first British final appearance since his illustrious junior days.

Top seeds move into semi-finals

The Women's Quarter Finals started in impressive fashion for the seeds in the top of the draw. No1 seed Fiona Moverley (Yorkshire) continued her steady progress with a 11/4 11/8 11/2 win over Leonie Holt (Warks) in 19 minutes to set up a semi against Emma Chorley (Somerset) who dispatched Jenna Gates (Sussex) 11/5 11/3 11/4 in 23.

The lower half of the draw saw No2 seed Victoria Lust progress to the semi final after her opponent Kimberley Hay (N'bria) withdrew with foot blisters sustained yesterday. Lust now faces Deon Saffery (Wales) who defeated Millie Tomlinson (Derbyshire). Deon looked like she was going to win comfortably but at two up Millie started to fight back and and took the game all the way to a fifth. In a tense final game it was Deon who kept her nerve and won through 11/7 11/3 7/11 7/11 7/11 in 50 minutes.

In the men's draw the top 4 seeds all won impressively to set up the expected semi finals. Tom Richards (Surrey) defeated Adrian Waller (Herts) 11/4 11/5 11/4 (46m) and Joel Hinds (Derbyshire) fought back after losing the first to James Snell (Devon) to take control and win 7/11 11/4 11/9 11/5 in 46 minutes.

Joe Lee (Surrey) also started slowing and surrendered the first to Neil Cordell (Yorkshire). However he soon regained the initiative in the second and went on to take the match 5/11 11/5 11/3 11/3 (37m). No2 seed Chris Simpson (Hampshire) showed his class with a comprehensive victory over Eddie Charlton (Notts) 11/4 11/3 11/5 in 35 minutes.

Down to the quarters at Hunts County

The main draws of the British Under 23 Squash Championships got underway in the idyllic sunny village setting of Hunts County Squash Club in Hemingford Grey in Cambridgeshire this afternoon.

The men's top seeds eased through round one but 9/16 seeds Olivier Pett (Sussex) and Lewys Hurst (Wales) both fell to unseeded opposition. Pett looked to be carrying an injury as he fell to Ray Nevin (Lancs) in three while Hurst was beaten by Nathan Lake (Glos) 11/9 in the fifth.

There were also scares for 5/8 seeded players Adrian Waller (Herts) and Adam Murrills (Cheshire) who both had to grind out hard fought 3-2 wins over Andrew Birks (Shrops) and Ben Jones (Cheshire) respectively.

The women's first round saw all 8 seeds move into Saturday's Quarter Finals.

Expected finalists and top seeds Fiona Moverley (Yorkshire) and Victoria Lust (Beds) recorded comfortable victories as did the 3/4 seeds Emma Chorley (Somerset) and Deon Saffery (Wales).

Leonie Holt, the 5/8 seed from Warwickshire, had her work cut out in her round one match against Victoria Bell (Cumbria). Bell has not been seen on the circuit for about a year and came into this event as a bit of an 'unknown quantity' and probably a player most were looking to avoid. The former British Under 19 Champion twice came back to level at 1-1 and 2-2 before finally surrendering 11/2 in the fifth game. However she will no doubt take comfort from her performance which shows that with a bit of competition she can still compete at a national level.

Kimberley Hay (N'bria), another 5/8 seed also had problems in overcoming the improving Harriet Ingham (Surrey) but took the final game 13/11 to book her quarter final spot against Victoria Lust.

The final session of the day saw the men complete the quarter final line up.

The top half of the draw was fairly straightforward with the expected outcomes. The tournaments hot favourite Tom Richards (Surrey) quickly dispatched Ray Nevin who had earlier caused an upset by defeating Oliver Pett. Richards now meets Adrian Waller (Herts) who didn't quite seem on top form today dropping four games in his two rounds.

Joel Hinds (Derbyshire) encountered spirited resistance from the European U19 Champion Anthony Graham (Gloucs) but went on to win 3-1 to secure his quarter final with James Snell (Devon) who defeated Adam Murrills (Cheshire) in straight games.

The second half of the draw saw Chris Simpson (Hampshire) and Joe Lee (Surrey), the No2 + 3/4 seeds, take the easy route to the quarters. Simpson will face Eddie Charlton (Notts) after he overcame Alex Ingham (Surrey) in straight games. Lee now faces Neil Cordell (Yorkshire) who caused the only upset in round two by taking out 5/8 seed Lewis Walters in a tight five setter.