Steady Eddie Battles Into Nationals Draw In Manchester

Eddie Charlton battled for 66 minutes against Notts county team-mate and fellow 18-year-old Lewis Walters in today's qualifying finals of the British National Championships to become the youngest player to qualify for the men's main draw of the sport's biggest UK domestic event at the National Squash Centre in Manchester.

The Mansfield teenager, who became a member of the Professional Squash Association (PSA) to play the international circuit only two months ago, came through 11-8, 6-11, 11-10 (4-2), 11-10 (2-0) against Walters - and goes on to face Yorkshire's three-times champion Lee Beachill, the No3 seed, in the first round tomorrow at 1.00pm.

Merseyside's Stephen Siviter earned the distinction of becoming the oldest player to qualify for the main draw when he beat Devon's James Snell 11-8, 11-7, 11-6 in 33 minutes. It was a case of 'fifth time lucky' for the 31-year-old from Swinton who has failed in his attempts to qualify for the event four times earlier since 2000.

The Prestbury club No2, widely regarded as the best non-professional player in the famed North West Counties league, will now take on left-handed Londoner Adrian Grant, the No4 seed ranked 14 in the world, in the first round.

Event favourite James Willstrop, the 23-year-old from Pontefract in Yorkshire who was runner-up two years ago, is drawn to meet qualifier Jethro Binns in the first round. The 22-year-old Welshman defeated Surrey-based Yorkshireman Phil Rushworth 11-5, 8-11, 11-8, 11-9 in the qualifying finals.

The late withdrawal of Surrey's 11th seed Stacey Ross opened the door for a 'lucky loser' in the event. Hertfordshire's Adrian Waller, beaten earlier by Jaymie Haycocks (Shropshire) in straight games, was given a further opportunity to shine in the event by replacing Ross to meet Sussex's former world No116 Tim Vail in the first round.

Men's Qualifying finals:
Stephen Siviter (Merseyside) bt James Snell (Devon) 11-8, 11-7, 11-6 (33m)
Jaymie Haycocks (Shropshire) bt Adrian Waller (Herts) 11-9, 11-9, 11-5 (39m)
Jonathan Harford (Glos) bt Joe Lee (Surrey) 11-2, 8-11, 11-1, 11-4 (51m)
Shaun le Roux (Yorks) bt Jonathan Tate (Northumbria) 11-9, 11-9, 11-6 (42m)
Chris Tasker-Grindley (Glos) bt Darren Lewis (Leics) 5-11, 11-10 (4-2), 11-5, 8-11, 11-9 (71m)
Eddie Charlton (Notts) bt Lewis Walters (Notts) 11-8, 6-11, 11-10 (4-2), 11-10 (2-0) (66m)
Tom Pashley (Sussex) bt Robbie Temple (Glos) 11-7, 11-5, 3-11, 11-6 (41m)
Jethro Binns (Wales) bt Phil Rushworth (Yorks) 11-5, 8-11, 11-8, 11-9 (45m)

Women's 1st qualifying round:
Karen Leach (Merseyside) bt Sarah-Jane Perry (Warwicks) 9-5, 9-1, 10-9 (41m)
Victoria Bell (Cumbria) bt Jennifer Knibbs (Derbyshire) 9-6, 9-5, 9-3 (40m)
Lauren Selby (Essex) bt Kimberley Hay (Northumbria) 9-7, 9-6, 9-0 (25m)
Victoria Lust (Beds) bt Harriet Ingham (Surrey) 9-2, 9-0, 9-1 (13m)
Rachel Willmott (Sussex) bt Carrie Ramsey (Yorks) 9-0, 9-2, 9-1 (30m)
Fiona Moverley (Yorks) bt Emma Molyneux (Lancs) 9-3, 9-5, 9-2 (23m)
Vicky Hynes (Warwicks) bt Carrie Hastings (Cambs) 10-8, 9-10, 9-5, 9-4 (57m)
Stacey Sephton (Middx) bt Kerri Shields (Ireland) 9-2, 9-3, 4-9, 9-6 (35m)
Leonie Holt (Warwicks) bt Millie Tomlinson (Derbyshire) 6-9, 9-3, 8-10, 9-1, 9-4 (61m)
Susannah King (Hants) bt Kirsty West (Cheshire) 9-3, 5-9, 9-4, 9-1 (29m)
Kirsty McPhee (Yorks) bt Katherine Quarterman (Oxon) 9-1, 9-5, 9-1 (19m)