History

BJO 2008

British Junior Open 2002
Egypt, Pakistan, England & Australia
Share British Junior Open Spoils

Egypt, Pakistan, Australia and hosts England shared the spoils in the British Junior Open Squash Championships in Sheffield - with Egypt claiming four of the eight titles and Pakistan taking two to register the country's first success in the prestigious tournament since 1982.

Beaten finalist twelve months ago, favourite James Willstrop secured the Men's U-19 title, for the Drysdale Cup, in some style - beating fellow Englishman Peter Barker 9-6, 9-5, 9-4 in the 47-minute final to become the only domestic winner without conceding a game throughout the event. The talented 18-year-old from Pontefract in Yorkshire, runner-up in last year's European Junior Championships, now has British Junior Open titles at U-14, U-17 and U-19, and will seek to end his glittering junior career on a high this summer by winning the world junior crown in India.

Egypt's Omneya Abdel Kawy, still just 16, claimed the women's U-19 title for the second year running after defeating Switzerland's Manuela Zehnder 10-8, 9-6, 9-0 in the final.  Zehnder, the fourth seed, upset England's No2 seed Laura-Jane Lengthorn in the semi-finals, but was unable to stop Kawy clinching her fifth successive British Junior Open trophy.

Pakistan squash achieved a much-needed boost by providing all four players - against the seedings - in the Men's U-17 and U-15 finals, with 7th seed Safeer Khan beating unseeded Khalid Atlas 9-6, 9-5, 9-2, in the U-17 climax to become the country's first British Junior Open winner since Asad Ahmed claimed the U-16 trophy twenty years ago. Atlas removed Egyptian top seed Sherif Mostafa Kamel in the semi-finals, while Khan despatched No2 seed Mahmoud Adel, also from Egypt, at the same stage for the loss of just six points.

The U-15 final was an unseeded contest, with Farahan Mehboob eventually overcoming Yasir Butt 7-9, 9-1, 9-4, 8-10, 9-4.

Kasey Brown became the first Australian since Carin Clonda in 1979 to claim a women's British Junior Open title when she clinched her anticipated U-17 final win over Egypt's No2 seed Sara Badr. Brown's 9-6, 9-3, 9-2 victory marked the end of a three-year unbeaten run by Badr who won the U-15 title in January 2001, and the U-13 crown over the previous two years.

The remaining titles went according to seedings - in all-Egyptian finals.  Raneem El-Welily beat Nihal Yehia 6-9, 9-2, 9-7, 9-5 in the women's U-15 final to claim her second successive Sheffield crown, while in the U-13 final, Shahenda Osama defeated Esraa Samy Saied 9-2, 9-2, 9-2. The Men's U-13 event became an exclusive Egyptian affair by the semi-final stage - which ultimately concluded with a 9-0, 9-7, 9-0 victory by Mohamed Aly Anwar over Mohamed Said Mahmoud in the final.

Complete results from 2002

British Junior Open 2001, Sheffield, England, 02-06 Jan

EGYPTIAN DELIGHT MATCHED BY ENGLISH DESPAIR
Howard Harding reports

Whilst Egypt celebrated successes in six of the eight finals in the Eye Group British Junior Open Squash Championships in Sheffield, hosts England were left without a single victory in the world's most prestigious junior tournament for the first time since 1980.

The blow came in the concluding match at Abbeydale Club, the final of the blue riband Men's Under-19 event, when Yorkshire's James Willstrop lost 9-5 9-7 9-4 in 55 minutes to Frenchman Gregory Gaultier, who won the sport's prized Drysdale Cup for the first time.

It was the fourth successive loss for the 17-year-old from Pontefract against the year-older full-time player from Aix-en-Provence, and a disappointing end to a great tournament for the talented youngster who already has British Junior Open wins at U14 and U17 and, unlike his opponent, a further chance to add the U19 title next year.

England also went down in the women's U19 final when Egypt's top seed Omneya Abdel Kawy beat Yorkshire's Jenny Duncalf, the second seed from Harrogate, 9-4 9-2 6-9 9-4 - Duncalf being the first player in the tournament to take a game against the highly-talented 15-year-old who represented Egypt in last year's senior world championships.

England's third finalist Tom Richards, from Surrey, also took a game in the Men's U15 final but was unable to stop Egypt's top seed Rami Ashour march on to his third successive British Junior Open title with a 5-9 9-1 9-5 9-2 victory.

In the women's U17 final, Michelle Quibell became the first ever American British Junior Open champion when she ended the run of unseeded Australian Kasey Brown in a 9-1 9-0 9-4 scoreline

GREGORY THE GREAT SINKS LOCAL HERO WILLSTROP
Alan Thatcher reports on the Drysdale Cup Final

GREGORY GAULTIER is leading a French revolution in world squash. This incredible 18-year-old, from Aix-en-Provence, beat Yorkshire's James Willstrop to win the British Junior Open Under-19 title before an enthralled crowd packed like sardines into the grand old showcourt here at Sheffield's historic Abbeydale club.

Gaultier justified his top seeding by beating Willstrop in straight games, 9-5 9-7 9-4.  The tall young Englishman fought hard all the way but Gaultier had too much variety in his play and the winners flourished from his racket.

This young man has the lot. He moves round the court like lightning, he attacks from any angle, and hits dead nicks at will. 

Gaultier raced into an early 5-0 lead in the first game and although Willstrop mounted fierce resistance and drew level at 5-5, he was always playing catch-up after that and served just once more as Gaultier took the game 9-5.

 The second game was close and at 4-4 Gaultier was penalised when his headband fell to the floor in the middle of a rally. Willstrop had the chance to pull ahead but hit too many attempted winners into the tin. Gaultier edged it 9-7 and was quickly ahead in the third. More loose play from Willstrop, and a succession of exquisite winners from his opponent, allowed the Frenchman to develop a commanding lead. When he reached his first match ball at 8-3 you could sense that he wanted to finish with a flourish. He stepped up the pace and blitzed the ball around the court. Unfortunately he tinned a boast and Willstrop pinched a point back, but Gaultier clinched the title at the next opportunity. 

During the match there were thousands of cries of 'Come on James' but at the end of the match the Abbeydale crowd burst into applause to salute the Frenchman's victory.

With film star looks, incredible racket skills and the speed of a panther, Gaultier would already be earning millions if he was a tennis player. Agents would be knocking at his door with mind-boggling fiscal offers, but this is squash and the rewards are peanuts by comparison. However, this young man is certain to go far in the senior game. He is already surging up the PSA rankings and can only get better. A frightening prospect.

2001 Results

Men's U19 quarter-finals:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [5] Peter Barker (Essex)  9-0 9-5 9-7
[6] Hesham Mohamed Ashour (EGY) bt Jesse Engelbrecht (ZIM)  9-6 9-3 9-1
[15] Daryl Selby (Essex) bt [8] Shawn DeLierre (CAN)    9-5 9-0 9-3
[2] James Willstrop (Yorks) bt [7] Moustafa Essam Mahmoud (EGY)     9-4 9-3 9-0
Semi-finals:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [6] Hesham Mohamed Ashour (EGY)   9-3 9-3 9-5
[2] James Willstrop (Yorks) bt [15] Daryl Selby (Essex) 9-5 9-2 9-2
Final:
Gregory Gaultier (Fra) bt James Willstrop (GB) 9-5 9-7 9-4

Men's U17 quarter-finals:
[1] Yasser El Halaby (EGY) bt [5] Patrick Gassler (GER)     9-0 9-4 9-3
[4] Omar Ahmed Refaat (EGY) bt Aaron Frankcomb (AUS)    9-7 9-3 9-2
[12] Amro Ramzy Swelim (EGY) bt [8] Ilan Oren (ISR) 9-4 3-9 9-3 9-6
[6] Dylan Bennett (NED) bt [2] Ashley Flathers (Yorks)  9-4 9-1 9-2
Semi-finals:
[1] Yasser El Halaby (EGY) bt [4] Omar Ahmed Refaat (EGY)   9-7 9-3 9-0
[6] Dylan Bennett (NED) bt [12] Amro Ramzy Swelim (EGY) 9-4 10-8 0-9 9-2
Final:
Yasser El Helaby bt Dylan Bennett 8-9 9-1 9-1 9-6

Men's U15 quarter-finals:
[1] Rami Ashour (EGY) bt [7] Ahmed Swaify (EGY)     7-9 9-4 5-9 9-0 9-2
[3] Tamin El Walily (EGY) bt [6] Lewys Hurst (WAL)  5-9 10-8 9-5 10-8
[4] Thomas Phipps (Bucks) bt [5] Dean Alder (Warwicks)  8-10 9-4 3-9 9-5 9-6
[2] Tom Richards (Surrey) bt Robin Clarke (CAN)     9-1 9-5 9-0
Semi-finals:
[1] Rami Ashour (EGY) bt [3] Tamin El Walily (EGY)  9-0 9-1 9-5
[2] Tom Richards (Surrey) bt [4] Thomas Phipps (Bucks)  9-1 6-9 9-0 9-2
Final:
Rami Ashour bt Tom Richards   5-9 9-1 9-5 9-2

Men's U13 quarter-finals:
[1] Tarek Mohammed Momen (Egypt) bt [6] James Snell (Devon)     9-2 9-1 9-0
[4] Ayman Wahid Elghazaly (Egypt) bt [9] Mohamed Ali Anwar Ali (Egypt)  9-4 9-6 2-9 9-7
[3] Khawaja Adil Maqbool (Pakistan) bt Oliver Pett (Sussex)     9-0 9-6 9-0
[2] Omar Abo Zeid (Egypt) bt [8] Tom Pashley (Sussex)   9-0 9-0 9-0
Semi-finals:
[1] Tarek Mohammed Momen (Egy) bt [4] Ayman Wahid Elghazaly (Egy)   9-3 10-9 9-1
[2] Omar Abo Zeid (Egypt) bt [3] Khawaja Adil Maqbool (Pakistan)    9-6 9-4 7-9 9-4
Final:
Tarek Mohammed Momen bt Omar Abo Zeid  9-3 10-9 9-2

Women's U19 quarter-finals:
[1] Omneya Abdel Kawy (Egypt) bt [5] Amelia Pittock (Australia)     9-3 9-3 9-1
[3] Tricia Chuah (Malaysia) bt [8] Manuela Zehnder (SWI)    9-6 7-9 9-4 10-9
[6] Laura-Jane Lengthorn (Lancashire) bt [4] Louisa Hall (USA)  1-9 9-1 3-9 9-1 9-2
[2] Jenny Duncalf (Yorkshire) bt [7] Olivia Hauser (Switzerland)    9-6 9-0 9-3
Semi-finals:
[1] Omneya Abdel Kawy (Egypt) bt [3] Tricia Chuah (Malaysia)    9-4 9-4 9-1
[2] Jenny Duncalf (Yorks) bt [6] Laura-Jane Lengthorn (Lancs)   9-6 9-6 9-6
Final:
Omneya El Kawy bt Jenny Duncalf   9-4 9-2 6-9 9-4 

Women's U17 quarter-finals:
Kasey Brown (Australia) bt [1] Alison Waters (Middlesex)    0-9 9-0 2-9 9-4 10-8
[4] Alexandra Pearson (USA) bt [6] Moira Weigel (USA)   9-0 9-3 9-0
[3] Tina Rix (Hampshire) bt [10] Kirsty McPhee (Yorkshire)  9-3 9-4 9-2
[2] Michelle Quibell (USA) bt [11] Georgina Davis (Australia)   10-8 10-8 5-9 2-9 9-4
Semi-finals:
Kasey Brown (Australia) bt [4] Alexandra Pearson (USA)  9-6 7-9 9-2 9-6
[2] Michelle Quibell (USA) bt [3] Tina Rix (Hampshire)  9-3 9-1 9-3
Final:
Michelle Quibell bt Kasey Brown 9-1 9-1 9-4

Women's U15 quarter-finals:
[1] Sara Badr (Egypt) bt [8] Gemma Hall (Gloucestershire)   10-9 9-2 9-1
Ashley Clackson (Canada) bt [3] Challie De Rycke (Belgium)  3-9 6-9 10-8 9-3 9-4
[4] Danielle Dawson (Lancashire) bt [14] Celia Allamargot (France)  10-9 9-2 9-2
[2] Nihal Yehia Ahmed (Egypt) bt [6] Danielle Bolt (Norfolk)    10-9 9-5 9-1
Semi-finals:
[1] Sara Badr (Egypt) bt Ashley Clackson (Canada)   7-9 9-4 9-0 9-1
[2] Nihal Yehia Ahmed (Egypt) bt [4] Danielle Dawson (Lancs)    9-3 9-5 9-1
Final:
Sara Badr bt Nihal Yehia Ahmed  7-9 9-2 9-1 9-4 

Women's U13 quarter-finals:
[1] Ranim El Walily (EGY) bt [5/8] Monique Shahid (Yorks)   9-0 9-0 9-0
[3/4] Nour Mohsen Bahgat (EGY) bt [5/8] Stephanie Coombs (Kent)     9-0 9-0 9-2
[3/4] Rachel Willmott (Sussex) bt [5/8] Lucie Fialova (CZE)     9-3 9-6 6-9 6-9 9-6
[2] Shahenda Ossama (EGY) bt Neha Kumar (CAN)   9-5 9-7 10-9
Semi-finals:
[1] Ranim El Walily (EGY) bt [3/4] Nour Mohsen Bahgat (EGY)     9-2 9-5 9-2
[2] Shahenda Ossama (EGY) bt [3/4] Rachel Willmott (Sussex)     9-3 9-6 9-1
Final:
Ranim El Walily bt  Shahenda Ossama 8-9 9-4 9-4 9-3

British Junior Open 1999, Sheffield, England, 19~22 Dec

Egypt swept the board in the 1999 British Junior Open Squash Championships in Sheffield, England, winning five of the eight titles in all-Egyptian finals.

Karim Darwish led the way for his country by claiming the Men's U-19 title with a 9/6 10/8 9/1 victory in 49 minutes over compatriot Mohamed Abbas to win the prestigious Drysdale Cup for the first time.

The women's U-19 title went to Nicol David, the remarkable 16-year-old schoolgirl from Malaysia who fought back from a game down to beat England's Vicky Lankester 1/9 9/2 9/1 9/6 in 33 minutes to register her fifth successive British Junior Open triumph since winning the U-14 title in 1996.  

David, who would have been eligible to compete in the U-17 event, won the world junior (U-19) title this summer, to add to the senior Asian Games and Asian Championships' titles she collected in 1998.

The host country's sole success was provided by Yorkshire's James Willstrop, the 1997 U-14 champion who beat Spain's Borta Golan Santin 9/2 3/9 9/0 9/2 in a 52-minute Men's U-17 final to make up for his loss in last season's U-17 final.

Egyptians Omar Refaat and Omneya Abdel Kawi successfully defended their U-15 titles, Refaat coming from a game behind to beat compatriot Sherif Moustafa Kamel 5/9 9/7 9/0 9/2 in 46 minutes in the men's final, and Kawi winning her third successive British Open title after defeating fellow Egyptian Amna El Tarabolsy 9/0 9/4 9/1 in just 20 minutes.

The U-13 titles also stayed in the same Egyptians' hands - Ramy Ashour beating Tarek Moemin 9/3 9/1 9/3 in a 21-minute men's final, and Sarah Badr surviving the only five-game final with a 6/9 9/7 9/5 7/9 9/5 victory over Ranim El Walili in 60 minutes, the longest match of the day. 

1999 Results

Boys U-19 quarter-finals:
[1] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt Shawn Delierre (CAN) 9/3 9/4 6/9 9/7
[3/4] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Hansi Seestaller (GER) 9/6 9/6 9/2
[3/4] Andrew Whipp (ENG) bt Phillip Barker (ENG) 7/9 9/7 9/5 9/1
[2] Mohamed Abbas (EGY) bt [5/8] Shahid Zaman (PAK) 10/9 9/6 7/9 9/6
semi-finals:
[1] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt [3/4] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) 9/6 9/6 3/9 9/4
[2] Mohamed Abbas (EGY) bt [3/4] Andrew Whipp (ENG) 9/2 7/9 9/1 9/7
Final
Karim Darwish (Egypt ) beat Mohamed Abbas 9/6 10/8 9/1 49 minutes

 by Squash Site

www.bjosquash.com