Harford Is Lone English Qualifier In Wolverhampton

Gloucestershire's Jonathan Harford became the lone English player to qualify for the Wolverhampton Open when he beat compatriot Joel Hinds 3-11, 11-8, 11-2, 11-4 in the men's qualifying finals of the UK's biggest club-based squash championships in Wolverhampton, England.

The Leeds-based 24-year-old will now face Spain's third seed Borja Golan in the first round of the $30,000 3-star PSA Tour event in its second year.

Mathieu Castagnet led a strong group of four French players through to the main draws of both the men's and women's events - the 20-year-old from Le Mans beating England's Ben Ford 11-5, 11-5, 11-7 to set up a first round clash with England's No2 seed Adrian Grant.

There was disappointment for Malaysian Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan playing in his first PSA Tour event outside Asia and Australasia. The 21-year-old from Kuala Lumpur went down 11-6, 11-9, 11-6 to Jesse Engelbrecht, who joins fellow South African Stephen Coppinger in the men's first round.

In the women's event, Celia Allamargot celebrated her first ever breakthrough into the main draw of a WISPA World Tour event via the qualifiers when she beat Ireland's Kerri Shields 9-1, 9-4, 9-0.

The 21-year-old from Aix-en-Provence now takes on England's defending champion Laura Lengthorn-Massaro, the world No12 from Lancashire.

The French domination of the women's qualifiers included Soraya Renai, who recovered from two games down to beat Czech Republic's Lucie Fialova 6-9, 6-9, 9-2, 9-6, 9-7, and European Junior Champion Camille Serme who battled for 67 minutes to defeat Dutch opponent Karen Kronemeyer 9-3, 4-9, 8-10, 9-7, 9-2.

Men's qualifying finals:
Jonathan Harford (ENG) bt Joel Hinds (ENG) 3-11, 11-8, 11-2, 11-4
Jesse Engelbrecht (RSA) bt Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) 11-6, 11-9, 11-6
Stephen Coppinger (RSA) bt Bradley Hindle (AUS) 11-9, 11-5, 11-6
Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) bt Ben Ford (ENG) 11-5, 11-5, 11-7

Women's qualifying finals:
Camille Serme (FRA) bt Karen Kronemeyer (NED) 9-3, 4-9, 8-10, 9-7, 9-2
Celia Allamargot (FRA) bt Kerri Shields (IRL) 9-1, 9-4, 9-0
Soraya Renai (FRA) bt Lucie Fialova (CZE) 6-9, 6-9, 9-2, 9-6, 9-7
Emma Chorley (ENG) bt Carrie Hastings (ENG) 3-9, 9-3, 9-0, 9-2