Neck Injury Scuppers Beachill's Record Hopes In Manchester

Lee Beachill, the three-times British National Championship champion from Yorkshire who was one match away from reaching a record seventh successive men's final, has been forced to pull out of today's semi-finals at the National Squash Centre in Manchester due to a neck injury sustained in practice on Friday.

The 29-year-old former world number one from Pontefract was due to face his club and England team-mate James Willstrop, the top seed to whom he has never lost, for a place in Sunday's final.

Five minutes into a knock up at the National Squash Centre with Manchester's Nick Taylor, a former England international and runner-up in the event, Beachill heard his neck "click" - and within five minutes couldn't turn his head round.

"I haven't got a clicky neck - so I knew something was a bit weird," said a disconsolate Beachill at a press conference, held shortly after he returned to the venue to express his disappointment to the packed crowd waiting to see one of the most eagerly-anticipated clashes in British squash.

"I've never had a problem with my neck before - so this was a real shock. It seems that I've trapped a nerve in the side of my neck, and it's now in spasm.

"I had physio treatment immediately after the incident yesterday, and again all morning today. I even tried acupuncture as a last-ditch effort. But I can't turn my head round at all, so playing would be impossible.

"If I could have gone on, I would have done. I know this is a match everyone wanted to see - especially being in England - as well as it being a match we both wanted to play," added Beachill.

The audience were not totally disappointed: Willstrop played a best-of-three match against club-mate Saurav Ghosal, the Indian national champion and world No46 who is a student at Leeds University.

"It's the worst thing that can happen to a professional squash player - and there's nothing you can do about it," said Willstrop, when asked to express his feelings about Beachill's situation.

The 23-year-old world No9 will now face either John White, the No2 seed from Scotland, or Adrian Grant, the fourth seed from England, in Sunday's final at 5.00pm.