James Willstrop Confident Of British Nationals' Success

James Willstrop, who led England to success in last December's World Team Championships in Pakistan, is confident of success in next week's British National Championships in Manchester, where he has been named as top seed for the first time.

The 22-year-old from Pontefract in Yorkshire begins his campaign against Oxfordshire's Scott Handley, according to the men's draw announced today by England Squash.

The 2006 men's and women's championships, boasting world-class fields from England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, will take place at the National Squash Centre at Sportcity in Manchester from 7-12 February, after qualifying on Sunday and Monday (5/6 February).

Willstrop is expected to face his good friend and Pontefract club-mate Lee Beachill, the third seed, in the semi-finals - in what would be a repeat of last year's final when Beachill became only the third person to win the men's title three times.

"I'm not thinking that far ahead," said Willstrop. "I'm just focusing on my first round match with Scott. We played a few times when I was a junior, when he used to beat me, but I took him when we last met, in the 2004 English Open in Sheffield.

"But I'm really looking forward to playing - it's always a great tournament, with a great atmosphere. I feel very confident."

When asked how he felt being favourite for the first time, the world No6 added: "It's quite weird really - like it was leading the England team for the first time in Islamabad last month, ahead of the likes of Peter Nicol, Lee and Nick Matthew.

"But I'm pleased to be number one and am happy to have the pressure. I'm going to relish the occasion," said Willstrop.

Second seed Peter Nicol, appearing in the event ten years after winning the first of his two titles, is drawn to face a qualifier in the opening round. The left-hander is predicted to face fourth seed Nick Matthew, from Sheffield, in the semi-finals.

Manchester star Vicky Botwright is top seed in the women's event for the first time. The world No5 is drawn to face Sussex's former European Junior Champion Suzie Pierrepont in the first round.

In what would be her maiden appearance in the semi-finals, 28-year-old Botwright is expected to meet third seed Tania Bailey, from Stamford in Lincolnshire. With five first round exits in six appearances in the event, Bailey will be hoping to keep her anticipated semi-final date with her England team-mate.

Defending women's champion Linda Elriani is the event's No2 seed. After winning the title for the first time last year in her 17th appearance in the event, the world No6 from Eastbourne will be hoping to reach her sixth final. Elriani meets a qualifier in the opening round and is expected to face Yorkshire's fourth seed Jenny Duncalf in the last four.

Men's 1st round draw:
[1] James Willstrop (Yorks) v Scott Handley (Oxon)
[15] Phillip Barker (Essex) v Qualifier
[8] Joey Barrington (Somerset) v Qualifier
[14] Alister Walker (Glos) v Qualifier
[3] Lee Beachill (Yorks) v Hadrian Stiff (Devon)
[11] Nick Taylor (Lancs) v Andrew Whipp (Cheshire)
[7] Adrian Grant (Kent) v Alex Stait (Glos)
[12] Stephen Meads (Berks) v Stacey Ross (Surrey)
[9] Jonathan Kemp (Shropshire) v Peter Billson (Lancs)
[5] Alex Gough (Wales) v Qualifier
[10] Simon Parke (Yorks) v Qualifier
[4] Nick Matthew (Yorks) v Qualifier
[13] Ben Garner (Surrey) v Tim Vail (Sussex)
[6] Peter Barker (Essex) v Daryl Selby (Essex)
[16] Peter Genever (Sussex) v Qualifier
[2] Peter Nicol (Yorks) v Qualifier

Women's 1st round draw:
[1] Vicky Botwright (Lancs) v Suzie Pierrepont (Sussex)
[5] Alison Waters (Middx) v Qualifier
[3] Tania Bailey (Lincs) v Qualifier
[8] Dominique Lloyd-Walter (Middx) v Rebecca Botwright (Lancs)
[7] Stephanie Brind (Kent) v Laura Hill (Derbyshire)
[4] Jenny Duncalf (Yorks) v Sarah Kippax (Cheshire)
[6] Laura-Jane Lengthorn (Lancs) v Qualifier
[2] Linda Elriani (Sussex) v Qualifier