Men's Draw
analysis from Howard Harding
England number
one James Willstrop is seeded to retain his men's title
in next month's British National Championships in
Manchester, from 12-17 February.
But the
24-year-old world No6 from Pontefract in Yorkshire will face
determined local opposition from British Over-35 Open
champion Nick Taylor in the first round, according to the
draw issued today by England Squash.
The
championships, in their 12th successive year in Manchester and
sixth year at the National Squash Centre in Sportcity,
have attracted world class fields from throughout the UK. In
addition to the men's and women's open events, the tournament
will feature Masters championships in age-group categories
ranging from Over-35 to Over-70.
Willstrop and
Manchester-based Taylor were team-mates in the National Squash
Centre-based Manchester/Pontefract side which won the
Premier Squash League title in 2004 - and both know the
NSC's spectacular all-glass court well.
Willstrop, who
won the national title for the first time last year, is expected
to progress through to the semi-finals - where he is scheduled
to face England team-mate Peter Barker, the third seed
who clinched the world team title for England in December after
winning the deciding match against Australia.
The left-hander
from Upminster in Essex begins his 2008 Nationals campaign
against a qualifier. A quarter-finalist for the past two years,
Barker is expected to reach the semi-finals for the first time.
Second seed
Lee Beachill, whose distinguished National Championships'
record includes three titles and six successive final
appearances from 2001-2006, also faces a qualifier in the
opening round.
The 30-year-old
from Pontefract will be making his tournament comeback in the
Nationals after undergoing hernia surgery at the beginning of
this month. Beachill has a tough route through to the final -
where he is expected to meet England and Pontefract Club
team-mate James Willstrop.
A predicted
second round clash with fellow Yorkshireman Simon Parke -
the 1998 champion hoping to notch up his 50th match in the
championships since his debut in 1987 - could take Beachill
through to face long-time rival Alex Gough, the
fifth-seeded Welshman who boasts a British O35 Open
crown.
Beachill's
scheduled semi-final opponent is fourth-seeded Londoner
Adrian Grant, also an England team-mate and also based in
Yorkshire.
In addition to
Nick Taylor, local interest in the men's event will be provided
by 13th seed Andrew Whipp and unseeded Peter Billson.
Whipp, a 26-year-old from Stockport, is looking to make his
first appearance in the last sixteen after facing a qualifier in
the first round - while Manchester-based Billson, 27, lines up
against Kent's 16th seed Ben Ford.
A familiar name
will return to National Championship action for the first time
since reaching the quarter-finals two years ago. Joey
Barrington, son of 1980 champion Jonah Barrington, is
the seventh seed. The 28-year-old world No27 from Glastonbury
in Somerset faces a qualifier in the opening round.
Men's 1st round draw:
[1] James
Willstrop (Yorks) v Nick Taylor (Lancs)
[16] Ben Ford
(Kent) v Peter Billson (Lancs)
[6] Jonathan
Kemp (Shropshire) v Chris Simpson (Hants)
[14] Tim Vail
(Sussex) v Tom Richards (Surrey)
[3] Peter Barker
(Essex) v Qualifier
[15] Alex Stait
(Glos) v Qualifier
[8] Alister
Walker (Glos) v Hadrian Stiff (Devon)
[13] Andrew
Whipp (Cheshire) v Qualifier
[9] Daryl Selby
(Essex) v Stephen Meads (Berks)
[7] Joey
Barrington (Somerset) v Qualifier
[12] Stacey Ross
(Surrey) v Jonathan Harford (Glos)
[4] Adrian Grant
(Kent) v Qualifier
[11] Chris Ryder
(Herts) v Qualifier
[5] Alex Gough
(Wales) v John Rooney (Ireland)
[10] Simon Parke
(Yorks) v Qualifier
[2] Lee Beachill
(Yorks) v Qualifier
