20-Jan-06:
Local Stars Botwright & Willstrop
Line Up For Success At Sportcity
Howard Harding previews the 2006 event

Early predictions suggest that the main titles in next month's British National Squash Championships at the National Squash Centre at Sportcity will fall into local hands for the first time in the event's history.

Worsley star Vicky Botwright leapt to No5 in the world rankings in December to become England's highest-ranked woman player for the first time.

Simultaneously, James Willstrop catapulted six places to a career-high No2 in the men's world list to overtake Manchester / Pontefract Premier League team-mate Lee Beachill as the highest-ranked Englishman in the world.

Both are expected to be named as top seeds for the 2006 Championships which get underway at the NSC on Tuesday 7 February after qualifying on Sunday and Monday (5/6 February).

The finals, on the all-glass showcourt which staged the Commonwealth Games action in 2002, will take place on Sunday 12 February.

Good year for James and Vicky

Since crowning his status as England's most successful junior of all time by winning the World U19 title in India in December 2002, 22-year-old James Willstrop has enjoyed a glittering run as a senior. After reaching last year's Nationals' final, he went on to reach the climax of the British Open final – also at the NSC.

But his appearance in December's Qatar Classic final provided the standout result of the year when he beat Australia's David Palmer in straight games to lift the prestigious Super Series title in Doha.

Vicky Botwright reached five international tour finals last year, winning the Yokohama Open crown in Japan. In addition, the 28-year-old claimed the first title in her home town when she won the Gerrard Grand Prix trophy at the NSC in September.

Star-studded Supporting Cast

In addition to Botwright and Willstrop, the British Nationals will again boast world-class fields - including defending men's champion Lee Beachill, the world No8 who is hoping to become the first man to reach the final six years in a row, and women's champion Linda Elriani, the world No6 from Sussex who won the title for the first time last year in her 17th appearance in the event.

Peter Nicol, arguably Britain's most successful player of all time, who won the 50th major international title of his career last year, will be looking to win his third National trophy in Manchester – ten years after winning his first!

The 2006 championships will mark the first time that Nicol, Willstrop, Beachill and Yorkshire's Nick Matthew have been together since winning the World Team Championships title for England in Pakistan in December.

Manchester interest in the women's event will also be boosted by Vicky Botwright's younger sister Becky, who is expected to be seeded for the first time. Becky made her name in 2004 when she won the revived European Individual Championship title. The 23-year-old kicked off last year in fine style by winning her first Tour title, the Liberty Bell Open in the USA.

Vicky Botwright


James Willstrop


Lee Beeachill


Becky Botwright