Favourites Simpson & Willmott Claim Top British Junior National Titles

The 2006 BAA Stansted British Under 19/15 Championships reached their climax in a packed Bishop's Stortford Squash Club. The top juniors from all around the country had descended on the Hertfordshire town to contest the much-coveted British titles.

Hampshire's Chris Simpson looked every bit the professional as he retained the Don Sanderson Trophy when he defeated Derbyshire's Joel Hinds 9-2, 9-7, 9-0 in 41 minutes in the Men's Under 19 final. It was a polished performance that brought Brighton-based Simpson his fourth national title (his second at U19 to add to the two U17 crowns he earned in 2002 and 2003). It was a fitting way for the 18-year-old from Guernsey - who won the European Junior title last March - to sign off his illustrious junior career.

The two Women's U19 semi-finals were extremely close 3/2 affairs with Sussex's Rachel Willmott fighting back from match ball down in the fourth before finally beating Victoria Bell (Cumbria) in the decider. The other semi saw Somerset's Emma Chorley triumph over Yorkshire's former British U17 champion Deon Saffery 10-9 in the fifth after 73 minutes.

The final was well-contested, with Willmott coming back after losing the first game to take the title after 51 minutes in an 8-10, 9-7, 9-3, 9-5 scoreline. The triumph not only marked the 17-year-old from Horsham's seventh title in all - Willmott has now completed the full range of National titles from Under-13 through to Under-19 - but it also produced a notable double for Brighton-based Mike Harris, who coaches both Willmott and Simpson.

The current British Under-13 champion James Earles, from Yorkshire, showed real class in overturning the seedings to take the Under-15 crown. The 13-year-old number two seed from the Pontefract stable looked impressive throughout the event and despatched Devon's top seed Ben Rodgers 9-5, 4-9, 9-4, 9-5 in the 42-minute final.

Top seed Kimberley Hay, from Northumbria, added the Women's Under-15 title to the Under-13 title she won in 2003 with an impressive four-game victory over Oxfordshire's second seed Katherine Quarterman. After losing the first game 9-0, Katherine fought back to take the second before Kimberley regained control to win the title 9-0, 9-10, 9-7, 9-6 in 49 minutes.

Men's U19 final:
[1] Chris Simpson (Hants) bt [2] Joel Hinds (Derbyshire) 9-2, 9-7, 9-0 (41m)

Women's U19 final:
[1] Rachel Willmott (Sussex) bt [3/4] Emma Chorley (Somerset) 8-10, 9-7, 9-3, 9-5 (51m)

Men's U15 final:
[2] James Earles (Yorks) bt [1] Ben Rodgers (Devon) 9-5, 4-9, 9-4, 9-5 (42m)

Women's U15 final:
[1] Kimberley Hay (Northumbria) bt [2] Katherine Quarterman (Oxon) 9-0, 9-10, 9-7, 9-6 (49m)