Taylor Whipps Up Local Clash In Nationals Opener

Manchester's Andrew Whipp fought through today's qualifying finals of the British National Championships at the National Squash Centre at Sportcity in Manchester for the third successive year - only to be drawn to face local star Nick Taylor, the No9 seed, in Tuesday's first round.

Whipp, 23, from Stockport, will perhaps count himself lucky - as his opponent both in 2003 and 2004 was England's former world No1 Peter Nicol who, after the first of their meetings, went on to win the title for the second time.

The Manchester Northern stalwart beat Gloucestershire's Rob Shepherd in straight games in the first match of the day, then triumphed 11-10 11-5 11-5 over Derbyshire's Joel Hinds to earn his place in the main draw.

Twice a runner-up in the Nationals, Taylor is now retired from the international circuit and coaching at the National Centre at Sportcity. But the 33-year-old from Stalybridge is still a formidable force on a squash court - and a full-house is guaranteed for the all-Manchester battle at 8.00pm on Tuesday.

Manchester favourite Derek Ryan also came through the qualifying finals in style, beating Nottingham's Nick Douglas 7-11 11-4 11-6 11-10 to earn a first round clash with Scotland's defending champion John White.

A Nationals veteran since 1992, Irishman Ryan is based in Bury and represents Rochdale in the North West Counties league.

It was fifth time lucky for Manchester Northern coach Peter Billson, who further boosted north west interest in the men's main draw by beating Leicestershire's Darren Lewis 11-8 11-7 4-11 11-7 in the qualifying finals. The 24-year-old from Manchester will face Essex's Peter Barker in the first round.

Qualifying in the women's event began on Monday with Sussex's Rachel Willmott surviving the longest battle when she beat Hampshire's Susannah King 9-1 8-10 3-9 9-6 9-3 in 54 minutes.

Twice champion Lee Beachill, the world No2 from Pontefract in Yorkshire who is seeded to reach his fifth successive final, begins his campaign against Gloucestershire's Alister Walker at 1.00pm on Tuesday. The 27-year-old is expected to face fellow Englishman Peter Nicol, the second seed, in the men's final on Sunday.

Nicol, also a two-times champion, takes on Yorkshireman Laurence Delasaux in the first round. Delasaux claimed the final qualifying final victory at Sportcity when he beat Oliver Davidson 11-4 11-5 11-9.

Immediately after the match, Davidson, from Hayes in Middlesex, discovered that he had been picked as 'lucky loser' - and given a place in the main draw against former champion Stephen Meads. The Berkshire player's original opponent had been upgraded to 16th seed, and moved elsewhere in the draw, following the last-minute withdrawal of ninth seed Mark Chaloner, from Lincolnshire, with a calf injury.

Qualifying finals:
Derek Ryan (Ireland) bt Nick Douglas (Notts) 7-11, 11-4, 11-6, 11-10 (2-0) (40m)
Chris Simpson (Hants) bt Andrew Peter Learoyd (Yorks) 11-7, 11-6, 11-8 (25m)
Andrew Whipp (Cheshire) bt Joel Hinds (Derbyshire) 11-10 (3-1), 11-5, 11-5 (38m)
James Wright (Leics) bt David Barnett (Northumbria) 11-9, 11-10 (2-0), 11-7 (35m)
Daryl Selby (Essex) bt Simon Pickering (Cheshire) 11-4, 11-4, 11-6 (25m)
Peter Billson (Lancs) bt Darren Lewis (Leics) 11-8, 11-7, 4-11, 11-7 (46m)
Laurence Delasaux (Yorks) bt Oliver Davidson (Middx) 11-4, 11-5, 11-9 (22m)
Tim Vail (Sussex) bt Chris Tasker-Grindley (Glos) 11-6, 11-1, 8-11, 11-3 (23m)

Women's 1st qualifying round:
Sarah Bowles (Northumbria) bt Irene Critchley (Dorset) w/o
Caroline Chaloner (Sussex) bt Emma Chorley (Somerset) 9-2, 9-5, 9-3 (30m)
Georgina Stoker (Merseyside) bt Deon Saffery (Yorks) 9-5, 9-4, 9-5 (31m)
Rachel Willmott (Sussex) bt Susannah King (Hants) 9-1, 8-10, 3-9, 9-6, 9-3 (54m)
Isabelle Tweedle (Surrey) bt Emmeline Goulden (Merseyside) 9-5, 9-1, 9-4 (24m)
Suzie Pierrepont (Sussex) bt Leonie Holt (Warwicks) 9-0, 9-1, 9-4 (19m)
Fiona Moverley (Yorks) bt Jennifer Wright (Wales) 9-5, 9-7, 9-4 (31m)
Jenna Gates (Sussex) bt Victoria Lust (Beds) 9-3, 9-0, 9-1 (19m)
Kirsty McPhee (Yorks) bt Louise Clark (Hants) 9-3, 9-5, 9-0 (23m)