James Willstrop Named England Squash No1 For First Time

James Willstrop has been named England number one for the first time in the new national squash rankings issued today by England Squash. Lincolnshire's Tania Bailey retains her position at the top of the new women's list.

Willstrop, 23, from Pontefract in Yorkshire rapidly followed his teenage years as the most successful British junior of all-time - crowning the period by becoming the world junior champion four years ago - by storming up the senior rankings to reach a career-high world No2 position last December.

Later in the month, he led England - for the first time - to success in the World Team Championships in Pakistan.

"That's got a really special ring to it, to be able to say your England number one," said Willstrop today when told of the news. "I've had a bit of a low time recently, so that's a real big boost."

Willstrop's world fell apart a week ago in Egypt when he was rushed to hospital after being struck down by food poisoning on the eve of the World Open, staged alongside the great pyramids in Giza.

"I'm eating normal food at last, and slowly building back my strength. But I was devastated to miss out on playing in the event that I had worked throughout the summer in preparation for," said Willstrop from his home in Pontefract.

The new ranking will provide a further boost to Willstrop's chances in next week's Dunlop British Open at the University of Nottingham, from 15-18 September.

"The last week's not been ideal preparation for the British Open - but it's a massive event and I am raring to play again," said the 6' 4" fourth seed who reached the event's final last year.

Willstrop heads a quartet of Yorkshiremen at the top of the England rankings, with Sheffield's Nick Matthew at two; Peter Nicol at three; and his Pontefract club-mate Lee Beachill in fourth place. With Kent left-hander Adrian Grant at No5, Essex's Peter Barker rises to a career-high sixth place.

British National champion Tania Bailey moves into a second period in pole position in the women's list, ahead of Manchester's Vicky Botwright at No2.

Yorkshire's Jenny Duncalf, who won the European Individual Championship title in June, celebrates a career-best third place, while Londoner Alison Waters also rises to a best-ever No4 position.

Three significant England stalwarts are absent from the women's list for the first time following retirement -former England number one Linda Elriani; two-times British Open O35 champion Fiona Geaves; and former world No4 Stephanie Brind.

But perhaps the most impressive achievement in the women's rankings is the four-place leap into the top ten for the first time by Laura Hill, the full-time firewoman and part-time squash player from Duffield in Derbyshire who is at No8.

Men
1 [3] James Willstrop (Yorks)
2 [2] Nick Matthew (Yorks)
3 [1] Peter Nicol (Yorks)
4 [4] Lee Beachill (Yorks)
5 [5] Adrian Grant (Kent)
6 [7] Peter Barker (Essex)
7 [6] Simon Parke (Yorks)
8 [9] Mark Chaloner (Lincs)
9 [10] Jonathan Kemp (Shropshire)
10 [11] Joey Barrington (Somerset)
11 [13] Stacey Ross (Surrey)
12 [12] Ben Garner (Surrey)
13 [22] Scott Handley (Oxon)
14 [16] Daryl Selby (Essex)
15 [15] Alister Walker (Glos)
16 [18] Stephen Meads (Berks)
17 [14] Peter Genever (Sussex)
18 [17] Nick Taylor (Lancs)
19 [19] Lee Drew (Essex)
20 [20] Tim Vail (Sussex)

Women
1 [1] Tania Bailey (Lincs)
2 [2] Vicky Botwright (Lancs)
3 [4] Jenny Duncalf (Yorks)
4 [5] Alison Waters (Middx)
5 [6] Laura-Jane Lengthorn (Lancs)
6 [9] Lauren Briggs (Essex)
7 [8] Dominique Lloyd-Walter (Middx)
8 [12] Laura Hill (Derbyshire)
9 [10] Rebecca Botwright (Lancs)
10 [13] Suzie Pierrepont (Sussex)
11 [14] Sarah Kippax (Cheshire)
12 [16] Georgina Stoker (Merseyside)
13 [15] Lauren Siddall (Yorks)
14 [17] Kirsty McPhee (Yorks)
15 [18] Jenna Gates (Sussex)
16 [19] Emma Beddoes (Warwicks)
17 [-] Rachel Willmott (Sussex)
18 [-] Deon Saffery (Yorks)
19 [-] Fiona Moverley (Yorks)
20 [-] Susannah King (Hants)