Germany Wins Historic European Junior Double

A major shift in the balance of power in European junior squash took place in Israel at the weekend when Germany clinched both titles in the European Junior U15/U17 Team Championships at the Towers Squash Club in Tel Aviv.

Germany now boasts all but one of the European Squash Federation junior individual and team titles - while England, for the first time ever, no longer hold a single one of the established titles!

England, holders of the U17 crown since the inaugural event in 1999, were seeded to retain the title for an eighth year - and reached the last four without dropping a single game. But the favourites met their match in the semi-finals against third seeds Switzerland, losing 2/1 to be denied a place in the final for the first time.

The defending champions looked in control as Neil Cordell beat Switzerland's Fabian Signer 9-0, 9-0, 9-1, and British U17 champion Joe Lee built up a two-game lead against Nicolas Mueller. But Mueller, the Swiss Junior Open champion, fought back to win 7-9, 6-9, 9-3, 9-0, 9-7 - and team-mate Jasmin Ballman then battled for five games to defeat England's Victoria Bell 10-9, 9-2, 2-9, 4-9, 9-7 to pull off the shock upset.

After a comfortable 2/1 win over France in the other semi-final, second seeds Germany went ahead in the final when Florian Silbernagl beat Switzerland's Fabian Signer 9-2, 9-2, 9-2. But Nicolas Mueller again showed his prowess to defeat Germany's Norman Junge 9-3, 9-2, 9-7 to level the tie. However, Sina Wall extended her unbeaten run in Tel Aviv to claim a 9-6, 9-4, 9-3 win over Swiss star Jasmin Ballman to clinch victory for Germany.

Title-holders England and second seeds Germany met for the second year running in the U15 final - England beating Czech Republic 3/0 and Germany overcoming France 2/1 in the semi-finals.

Ken Gibson put Germany into the lead with a 9-6, 9-7, 10-8 victory over Charles Sharpes before Rudi Rohrmueller avenged last year's final defeat by by beating James Earles 9-2, 9-2, 9-0. There was small consolation for England in the third rubber when Kimberley Hay beat Nina Schuttkowski 9-1, 9-1.

U17 Final:
[2] GERMANY bt [3] SWITZERLAND 2-1
Florian Silbernagl bt Fabian Signer 9-2, 9-2, 9-2
Norman Junge lost to Nicolas Mueller 3-9, 2-9, 7-9
Sina Wall bt Jasmin Ballman 9-6, 9-4, 9-3

U15 Final:
[2] GERMANY bt [1] ENGLAND 2-1
Ken Gibson bt Charles Sharpes 9-6, 9-7, 10-8
Rudi Rohrmueller bt James Earles 9-2, 9-2, 9-0
Nina Schuttkowski lost to Kimberley Hay 1-9, 1-9