Barrington Blasts Into British Open

More than twenty years after the famous squash name last appeared in the starting line-up of the British Open, a Barrington will feature in the 2004 Championships which get underway tomorrow in Nottingham.

Joey Barrington, son of the legendary six-times champion Jonah Barrington, fought from 0/2 and 2/7 down to overcome compatriot Peter Genever in a marathon qualifying battle at Nottingham Squash Club to reach the first round of the Harris British Open Championships in his fourth attempt since 2001.

"I've been suffering with a hip injury over the past few weeks, but tests just a few days ago thankfully revealed that the trouble was just muscular," said the delighted 24-year-old from Glastonbury in Somerset after his 4-11 6-11 11-8 11-7 11-7 in 88 minutes. "I wasn't feeling too bright in the early part of the game, but was able to pull myself together and get on top of Pete, who's always a difficult opponent, in the end.

"My Dad had other commitments with the kids he coaches at Millfield School today, but hopefully he'll be able to be with me when I play my first round match," Barrington junior added.

Barrington was joined by four other English qualifiers in the first round, including the Gloucestershire pair Alister Walker and Alex Stait. Botswana-born Walker, a former pupil at Wycliffe College in Gloucester, beat Switzerland's Lars Harms 11-8 11-8 11-10, while Stroud-based Stait beat Surrey's Ben Garner, ranked 15 places higher in the world, 11-4 11-4 6-11 11-9 in 45 minutes.

Three home players came through the women's qualifying finals, in all cases winning all-English clashes. Manchester's Rebecca Botwright beat Sussex's Suzie Pierrepont 9-2 9-0 9-6 to join her sister Vicky Botwright in the first round, while Harrow's Dominique Lloyd-Walter overcame Emma Beddoes, from Warwick, 9-3 9-1 9-2. It took just 18 minutes for Essex's Lauren Briggs to despatch Yorkshire's Kirsty McPhee 9-1 9-1 9-7, while a later match saw Guyana's Nicolette Fernandes extend Runa Reta for 85 minutes before the Canadian prevailed 7-9 9-7 9-5 6-9 9-6.