Full Men's
Qualifying Results
updated main draw
 
Full Women's
Qualifying Results

Eddie Charlton bt Lewis Walters
  11/8, 6/11, 14/12, 12/10 (66m)

GOOD FRIENDS…
Framboise reports

I didn’t see all the match, far from it, I arrived at the end of the third, as they were one game all and 9/9, but I guess I arrived at the crucial point of the match actually. The atmosphere was very focused, you could feel how much importance those two were placing on this game, but in the spirit intended, two perfect gentlemen on court. Several game balls to each later, Eddie Charlton was clinching what would become the decisive game against training partner Lewis Walters.

They both had a pretty heavy weekend, as 18 year old Eddie had two short games yesterday and one relatively short today against Chris Hall, 35 minutes, but I guess we can safely say that Lewis, also 18, had the short straw, only one short game yesterday, but the performance of his short life I guess, an unexpected and gutsy victory over Joel Hinds in 71 minutes at the start of the afternoon.



So, I guess that the loss of the third was just enough to make Lewis’ legs feel very heavy indeed in the fourth, but it didn’t stop him from fighting all the way through to the last ball, saved two match balls at 10/8 to force a tie break, but just couldn’t save the third… Peter Marshall, pretty much Eddie’s mentor, as he calls him, will be proud of his player…
   

We just cannot surprise each other, we know each other’s games too well, normally I like to delay my shots and play a bit of deception, but with him, I can’t do that, he just knows where the ball is going to go, it’s so frustrating…

Physically, you can play two heavy matches, but mentally, when it gets tight, the match you played earlier starts preying on your mind. So thanks to Joel for tiring him out for me this morning…

Tom Pashley bt Robbie Temple
   11/7, 11/5, 3/11, 11/6 (41m)

"My aim when I went on court was to control him and the pace as much as possible, because he’s got pretty good shots if you play loose.

"I was very happy first the first two, I played like I wanted to, but in the third, he took a very good start and I lost my way a bit. In the fourth, I had to go back to what I did well in the first games.

"We both like to play short, and at some point, it was a bit of a battle to whom would get in front…

"I got lucky on match ball, I know that, but I’m very happy to be in the main, it’s my first time in the Nationals, very happy indeed."



"I played the wrong game today, he likes to get into a rhythm, and I played his game instead of playing mine, which is a more attacking, fast pace squash.

"I feel that I played within myself a bit today, but then again, he made me do it… And his length was much better than mine …"

Jonathan Harford bt Joe Lee
  11/2, 8/11, 11/1, 11/4 (51m)

If ever there was a 'the scoreline doesn't reflect the match' match then this was it. Joe was getting frustrated in the first, but hit back well in the second. Although Jonny went 5-0 up in the third all the rallies were long and well-contested, and the same was true of the fourth ...



"He chopped me up in the first game, and maybe because that one was so easy it shocked him when I started to find my rhythm in the second.

"The last two were long games, and I was in every rally it was just that he was winning them! I was pretty pleased with how I played there, it was a good match.

"There's a lot of squash coming up, we're off to Marseille for the French Junior Open, we're going as a squad this year, then it's the junior nationals then next weekend."



"The score really doesn't reflect that match, I was just on the right side of some great rallies.

"I thought he was getting tired at the end of the third and fourth, just scraping balls back, which was probably the difference.

"Anyway, I've qualified, now I can take that place in the main draw."

Chris Tasker-Grindley bt Darren Lewis
   5/11, 14/12, 11/5, 8/11, 11/9 (74m)

Another match featuring brutal rallies on the attritional plaster courts, Chris edged ahead at the end of an oh-so-close fifth to claim a coveted place in the main draw, finishing with one of those lucky nicks in the back corner ...

"I had 3 or 4 game balls in the second, he hit two consecutive nicks at the back to win it, then he did the same in the fifth!

"I didn't push the pace enough, I just sat back and hacked, didn't have the confidence to vgo for my shots.

"He played well though, didn't make many mistakes. I thought he looked worse than I felt at the end but he managed to stay in there ..."



"It was hard work, but I like battles like that. I played pretty well, but on another day it could have gone the other way, I got a few lucky shots at the right times. Enjoyed it though, and really pleased to qualify for the first time ..."

Shaun Le Roux bt Jonathan Tate  11/9,11/9, 11/6 (42m)

SHAUN HAS MATURED…
Framboise reports

It’s strange to see these players change from tournament to tournament. I hadn’t seen Shaun Le Roux play for quite a while, and he seems to have his feet more on the ground than he used to. He is calmer, he is also physically stronger, his game is more composed and more “refined” if you pardon the expression… precise, heavy on the ball, and well thought through…

The game was very close and Jonathan Tate looked good in both first and second games. But what an awful start in the 3rd, 5/0 down, and then a stupid incident, Jonathan slips going for a backhand long drive in the corner, and twists his ankle, not badly enough to stop right away, but he’ll have problems moving tomorrow, trust me…

And that was that really. A few more points from 6/3, but when one opponent cannot move the way he wants, the points never last that long… A short end to what was a pretty good and close enough match…

I enjoyed it, the first two games were pretty close, I had my chances in them, I was up in both but then I had a lapse in concentration and let him in. I was quite comfortable, but then just played silly shots, he didn’t have to do anything really, I just played loose balls, and let him back in quite cheaply…

He deserves this victory, he was a bit more steady than I was, and I now wish him luck for the rest of the tournament…

I was sort of expecting to win as we’ve played several times, 4/5 times this season, we had a couple of 3/2, last time I won 3/0, but we always have good matches, so I was not taking this lightly.

I was up in the second, but let him back in, I guess I was lacking a bit of confidence on that court, I don’t feel that confident to go for my shots…

I took a very good start in the third, and then he hurt his ankle, and that was it really…

I’ve been training with David Campion for about 18 months and we are working a lot on my movement, on high intensity, and I feel it’s paying off, I’m really enjoying my squash…

Jethro Binns bt Phil Rushworth
   11/5, 8/11, 11/8, 11/9 (45m)

"I won the first quite easily, but he started picking up more in the second and started chopping in his backhand really well. I was getting tired and I was drained mentally, I was lucky to scrape through in the end.

"Still, that's another day off from doing my dissertation, it's due in March so I haven't been playing too much recently.

"I said to someone earlier that I'd like to play James, I've played a few of those guys and it's always good fun. Now it's happened, I'm not so sure ..."


 

Jaymie Haycocks bt Adrian Waller
      11/9, 11/9, 11/5 (39m)

"That was good, the first was quite tight but then I started moving him around more. He's good up and down the walls, but when I got in front of him I was able to dictate it more, and he started making mistakes.

"I made it on own merits this time ...  hi to Celina and Jason !"

Stephen Siveter bt James Snell  11/8, 11/7, 11/6 (33m)

SIVETER, TOO SOLID
Framboise reports

What do you do when you play against a player who doesn’t give you anything, who plays a solid, all around, tight game? You start to go for too much, don’t you? Well that’s exactly what young James Snell did today against 31 year old Stephen Siveter from Prestbury.

After being dominated territorially in the first game, unable to take the control of the middle, James seized the few opportunities that Stephen was giving him and tried too much, ending up clipping the tin time and time again, which frustrated him, which led to more tins. Logical.

Stephen just kept his head throughout the match, played a perfect all around match, with to crown it all, a lethal backhand drop shot that won him many points (he missed only one in the whole match) and did a lot of mental damage, adding to the young man’s frustration, and get a very well deserved victory in three…

I was a bit too impatient I think. Every time I thought I had a chance to play an attacking shot, I was play it and decided to play it in the tin for a change…

Stephen plays quite a slow game, and I was not sure how to play him, I tried and rally him but was getting nowhere, so I tried to force things a bit, but his basic game was just too good…

I never played James, but I saw him play a few weeks ago in Ikley against Peter Billson, so I knew he was a good player, but I didn’t engineer a game plan, I can’t get that complicated!

What do you mean, at my age, I do not intend to have a squash career??? I could still give up work for a year and play only squash until I’m 32, couldn’t I??? No, my aim is to beat the best players as possible really..

I’m not sure how James plays normally, but today he seemed to make a bit too many unforced errors for no real reason, I didn’t have the impression I was putting him under any kind of pressure sometimes… I didn’t make too many mistakes, so maybe he tried and do something different…

[2] Kirsty McPhee bt Katherine Quarterman
         9/1, 9/5, 9/1 (19m)

"She volleyed well after the first game and I dropped off the pace a bit. I need to find a better length if I'm going to go on in this tournament.

"I qualified last year, so I'm hoping to do at least the same this time, but with two rounds to go tomorrow we'll just take it one match at a time ..."

Stacey Stepthon bt Kerri Shields
   9/2, 9/3, 4/9, 9/6 (35m)

Kerri Shields, the former Miss Northern Ireland now resident in London, came up against a hard-hitting newcomer who, as it turned out, travelled farther than most to appear in these Nationals ...

"No, you haven't seen my name around much, I moved over here from Australia three months ago. I was top of the New South Wales rankings, but haven't played internationally.

"I have an English grandfather, and I'm planning to stay over here working for a few years. I don't know any of the other girls, which makes it quite hard to prepare for the next match, we'll just see how it goes ...



"I suppose I was expecting a junior, so it came as a bit of a shock, but It was a good game, I enjoyed it."

Lewis Walters bt Joel Hinds
11/9, 9/11, 14/12, 2/11, 11/8 (71m)

UNEXPECTED LEWIS…
Framboise reports

I’m not sure I ever saw Lewis Walters play before, but if I had, he never made a big impression on me… before today that is…

The only way I can describe his game is “weird”. Lewis, who used to train with Simon Parke and now works with Peter Marshall, still in Nottingham, comes up with shots that are in the book I’m sure of that, he plays all his shots with a straight back that gives him a funny look, he plays like in slow motion, he’s got a backhand cross court that comes out of nowhere which wrong footed Joel so many times, he topspins the ball at will, plays ridiculous drop shots from so far back you think he’ll never dare, and to crown the cake, he runs like a lunatic and retrieves all…

A new Alex Gough is born, God help us.

Joel Hinds just couldn’t adapt enough, and got sucked into a style of game he is totally uncomfortable with. Today he seemed to just run out of ideas in the fifth, was crosscourting as if it was the only shot available in his racquet, didn’t use his power to hit his opponent away like he normally does, and was far too passive to get Lewis out of his comfort zone and force him to make the error.

Having all the time in the world to adjust his funny itsy bitsy shots, Lewis thrived in the fifth, 7/3 then 8/4, started to feel the pressure, let Joel come back close, very close, 8/9. But on a winning return of serve and a forehand low drive that surprised his opponent, a delighted Walters walked off court, all ready to play a very good mate of his Eddie Charlton in the next round, as in, in a few minutes really…

The first game was very close, and in the second, my concentration just went to come back in the third, where I was far down, which I did a hell of a lot of running to come back and take, which costs me the 4th, as I was exhausted…

I’m not sure why I play the way I do, I’m just weird! I do play very slow, my coaches tell me to play faster, but I’m not good at that….

I’m finishing my last year of college, and hopefully I’ll be going full time next year…

Lewis Walters

Not happy.

I didn’t do anything, it was a load of … that was not squash, that was hacking, and that’s not how you win a match…

Recently, I’ve been playing well, I got to the semi-final of the BSPA Manchester, that was two days ago, and I come today and I do something like that.

Not happy.

Joel Hinds

Phil Rushworth bt
Issa Kamara
11/6, 11/3, 11/1 (26m)

"That was better than yesterday, I got off to a good start and was pretty solid all the way through.

"I was a lucky loser last year, I'm going to try to do it properly this time."

Tom Pashley bt James Earles
11/7, 11/2, 11/3 (20m)

"I felt quite confident and comfortable, it was a good match to play myself into it. I've been here since Thursday, so it's good to finally get going in the tournament.

"I lost in final qualifying last year, so hopefully I'll go one better this time."

Eddie Charlton bt
Chris Hall
11/8, 12/10, 11/7 (35m)

"The second was tough, and it was pretty crucial too, I tried to make it as tough for him as I could. He had a 3/2 yesterday, and I knew I wouldn't fancy coming from two down, so I knew he wouldn't either.

"I'm really pleased, especially since last year I lost in the first round, and having to play two matches yesterday too ..."

Joe Lee bt Keith Timms  12/10, 12/10, 11/7

JOE MORE CONSISTENT…
Framboise reports

If Joe Lee and Keith Timms are totally different physically, their game is not too dissimilar. They both like to hit hard cross court and straight drives, they like their drop shots, and boy do they like to make it last…

But at the game of being fit and all, I guess Joe was a bit better, and in the third, after the disappointment of losing the first two, Keith showed a few signs of tiredness, quite logically it has to be said, after what those two threw at each other throughout the match!

A good match for young Lee who sometimes lets the pressure on his shoulders get the better of him, and makes him lose a match that he shouldn’t do. So, good to see him having a shot at experienced Jonny Harford…

In the second, I was up game ball, but I had to stretch for a few, he got a few nicks and winners at the right time…

It’s all about concentration I think, and that’s where you can see the difference between somebody who plays every day, and somebody like me who plays only three times a week I guess…

But he he played very well, he kept it going. Afterwards, you always think, I could have made more effort, but, what’s done is done…

I’m lucky to win 3/0. He was up 10/8 in the second and I was able to take it 12/10, but the difference was that at the start of that game, I was constantly clipping the tin, whereas at the end, all my shots were coming in. I just needed to concentrate a bit more…

In the third, he started very well, and then looked like he got tired and started to slow down a bit, and I was able to play much better, as the pressure on my game was not so present…

I’m so looking forward to playing Johnny. I’ve never played him before, and last week, I played very well against Parkie, so if I can just play like that… But at the end of the day, the only thing I can do is play my best, and try and keep him out there as long as I can…

Jonathan Harford bt Thomas Phipps  11/7, 11/3, 11/6

"I think I'm a bit unlucky, having to qualify with my world ranking at 78, but I have to qualify, so you just have to get on with it.

"I was fairly comfortable at the start, relaxed a bit at 10/2 in the third but he played a couple of good shots, got a couple of nicks and suddenly it's close. Fortunately I did enough to see it out in the end.

"I've never played Joe before, but I've heard good things of him so it should be a good match.

"There aren't any PSA events of my level in March. I'd love to get into Canary Wharf but it's probably a bit strong, especially with a 16-draw, so it might have to be a good Nationals then a month of rest and training."

Adrian Waller bt Asa Morris  11/8, 11/7, 11/4

WALLER IN CHARGE…
Framboise reports

A nice and close encounter between 17 year old English hope Adrian Waller, a 6’3 lefthander strong boy, and a 25 PHD Jonathan Power look alike from Avon who plays for Bristol, Asa Morris, trying to balance his studies with a squash career.

One advise to Adrian’s future opponents, stay away from his forehand. Whether it’s lengthwise, boast-wise or drop shot-wise, the English boy is lethal, although he played a bit too many “junior style” unforced errors, but was able to send his opponent on the wrong path far too many times.

The first two games were pretty close, but in the third, the long rallies and the picking up of the attacks started to take their toll on Morris’ legs, forcing him to find the tin again and again, and Waller was able to stroll away from 4/4 to 11/7.

"I’m training to balance my studies with my training with Hadrian Stiff and James Snell at the moment, but today, Adrian’s length on the forehand and the mid court tempo were brutal, I tried to play a lot of crosscourts, but with not much luck, plus I made too many forehand silly mistakes that just clipped the tin…"

"I was under pressure in part, there were patches I was behind, like in the second I was down 6/2 I think, and I went straight through to 11/7.

"His length was pretty good today, he got me coming back on myself a lot, and I had to do a lot of digging in the back corner….

"I felt I was playing well in patches…"

Jaymie Haycocks bt
Peter Creed 11/7, 8/11, 11/4, 11/4 (42m)

"It was a bit scrappy in the first couple of games, but once I relaxed a bit and started going for my shots it was much better.

"I've never even seen Adrian play before, so I've no idea what tonight's match will be like. I got through as a lucky loser last year, so I really want to make it on my own merits this time ..."

James Snell bt  Andrew Widdison 11/6, 14/12, 3/11, 11/4 (39m)

"I lost my concentration in the third, got frustrated with the ref for a change. But when I concentrated it was better towards the end.

"I've got a hard match tonight, Stephen's a bit of a dark horse I think, but I'll run around a bit and see what happens ...


 

Stephen Siveter bt
Nick Douglas
11/3, 11/6, 11/6 (31m)

"Sluggish. I''ve been out for seven or eight months with various injuries, so I've got a lot of catching up to do."

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Richard & Andrew Birks

2 out of 2 for Eddie