Ford & Temple Boost English Interest In Bishop's Stortford Festival

Englishmen Ben Ford and Robbie Temple boosted domestic interest in the BAA Bishop's Stortford Festival after claiming qualifying places in the inaugural PSA Tour event at the Bishop's Stortford Squash Club in Bishop's Stortford.

Ford, from Welling in Kent, defeated compatriot Shaun le Roux 11-5, 11-6, 9-11, 11-10 (3-1) in the qualifying finals to set up a first round clash with Frenchman Julien Balbo, the No5 seed.

Robbie Temple earned his third successful PSA Tour event qualifying success after outlasting Scotland's Stuart Crawford 11-7, 8-11, 11-4, 9-11, 11-10 (3-1). The London-based 21-year-old from Gloucester now faces local hero Daryl Selby, the top seed who is based at the Bishop's Stortford club.

"Players from all over Europe are converging on Bishop's Stortford Squash Club to compete in this new Festival of squash, sponsored by our close neighbours BAA London Stansted Airport," said Jason Foster, manager of the host club which was officially recognised by the National body, England Squash, as '2007 Club of the Year'.

"I'm so proud at how the whole squash community has come together to try and promote squash within the schools and the clubs to be a part of the BAA Squash Festival," added Foster.

"By working with the 'UK Squash Academy', run by Paul Selby and John Milton, plus the support received by England Squash, I sincerely believe squash will become an Olympic sport in the very near future - and with the crop of youngsters coming through hope that they will be inspired with what they see at the BAA Squash Festival."

Qualifying finals:
Romain Tenant (FRA) bt Ryan Thompson (NAM) 11-8, 7-11, 11-8, 11-9
Ben Ford (ENG) bt Shaun le Roux (ENG) 11-5, 11-6, 9-11, 11-10 (3-1)
Jens Schoor (GER) bt Arthur Gaskin (IRL) 9-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-7, 11-10 (4-2)
Robbie Temple (ENG) bt Stuart Crawford (SCO) 11-7, 8-11, 11-4, 9-11, 11-10 (3-1)