Matthew & Bailey Seeded To Repeat Nationals' Success In Manchester

Yorkshire's Nick Matthew and Lincolnshire's Tania Bailey are expected to retain their titles in the British National Championships later this month in Manchester, according to the seedings announced today by England Squash.

The sport's biggest UK domestic event takes place at the National Squash Centre at Sportcity from 11-18 February.

In addition to members of England's historic Men's and Women's World Team Championships-winning squads, the 2007 National Championships have also attracted the leading players from Scotland, Ireland and Wales - including former champion John White, the world No10 from Scotland; Madeline Perry, the world No8 from Banbridge, near Belfast; and British Open O35 champion Alex Gough, the world No23 from Wales.

The NSC will also welcome competitors for the country's biggest Masters event, offering British National titles for men in age-groups from Over-35 to Over-70, and women from Over-35 to Over-55.

Since winning the British National title for the first time twelve months ago, Nick Matthew went on to become the first home-grown Englishman to win the British Open trophy since 1939 - in addition to becoming the first ever holder of both the British Open and National titles simultaneously!

The 26-year-old world No6 from Sheffield is currently recovering from an ankle injury sustained earlier in the year in Canada, and is expected to make his comeback on the all-glass show court at the National Squash Centre.

Fellow Yorkshireman Lee Beachill, the three-times champion who was runner-up to Matthew last year, is seeded four - behind Scotland's John White at three - while his Pontefract club-mate James Willstrop, the world No9 who was runner-up two years ago, is the No2 seed.

Tania Bailey's maiden triumph in the 2006 Nationals also provided a springboard for further success on the international tour. The 27-year-old world No5 from Stamford picked up the Vassar College Class of 1932 Open title in the USA in April, and also reached the finals of the Malaysian Open and Hong Kong Open.

Bailey is expected to meet her England team-mate Vicky Botwright in the women's final. Second seed Botwright, the world No7 from Manchester, leads local interest in the event - and, after missing the championship last year as a result of injury, will be hoping for her best ever success in her ninth appearance in the event.

With Ireland's Madeline Perry as third seed and Londoner Alison Waters named fourth, further north west interest is provided by fifth seed Laura-Jane Lengthorn, the 23-year-old from Preston who rose to No11 in the world rankings this month.

Men's seeds:
[1] Nick Matthew (Yorks)
[2] James Willstrop (Yorks)
[3] John White (Scotland)
[4] Lee Beachill (Yorks)
[5] Adrian Grant (Kent)
[6] Peter Barker (Essex)
[7] Alex Gough (Wales)
[8] Jonathan Kemp (Shropshire)
[9] Simon Parke (Yorks)
[10] Alister Walker (Glos)
[11] Daryl Selby (Essex)
[12] Stacey Ross (Surrey)
[13] Scott Handley (Oxon)
[14] Tom Richards (Surrey)
[15] Chris Simpson (Hants)
[16] Lee Drew (Essex)

Women's seeds:
[1] Tania Bailey (Lincs)
[2] Vicky Botwright (Lancs)
[3] Madeline Perry (Ireland)
[4] Alison Waters (Middx)
[5] Laura-Jane Lengthorn (Lancs)
[6] Jenny Duncalf (Yorks)
[7] Dominique Lloyd-Walter (Middx)
[8] Laura Hill (Derbyshire)