Team England claim European gold and silver

Julie O’Hare reports

Team England’s men and women claimed gold and silver respectively at the European Team Championships at Edgbaston Priory Club in Birmingham yesterday.

In the men’s final, England faced Spain, the third seeds who had upset defending champions France in the semis to reach the final for the first time in the event's 47-year history. Meanwhile, England had beaten Spain 4-0 in the pool stages.

Spanish number one Borja Golan, who was absent from the pool match against England, immediately made amends as he beat Declan James in the opening tie, with James unable to properly compete in the fifth following an injury, to put the underdogs ahead.

Commonwealth Games Gold medallist James Willstrop, who was making his 16th appearance in the event, put the second seeds level with a straight games win over the previous day's Spanish hero Iker Pajares Bernabeu.

Daryl Selby twice came from behind to put England ahead with a five-game win over Bernat Jaume - which left England needing just one game from the final match and Spain requiring a 3/0 win and points countback.

In a nail-biting final tie, Tom Richards and Edmon Lopez battled it out in the first game with Richards always head. At 10-9 to England, Richards slammed a winner into the back corner, sealing the title once again for England.

Captain Daryl Selby said:

“I’m really proud to have been able to captain this team to the title.It’s been a long time since the event was held at home, so to do it here with the support of the crowd makes it even more special.

“It’s been a great event, superbly organised, and we’re all grateful for that and the support of the referees, volunteers, ESF, Edgbaston Priory Club and all the England Squash support staff.”

England were hot favourites for the women's title, having beaten France in the last five finals and only having previously failed to emerge as champions once - in 2010 - in the event's 41-year history.

Camille Serme put France ahead when the world No.4 beat Sarah-Jane Perry in four games. But former world No.1 Laura Massaro levelled the tie after overcoming Coline Aumard, also in four games. In the decider, Melissa Alves came flying out of the block, taking the first two games 11-1, 11-3 against England's higher-ranked Victoria Lust, whom she had never before beaten.

Lust fought back to take the third, and again from 1-7 down in the fourth, drew level at eight-all. But it was Alves who took the next two points, and on her second match ball the impossible happened - a front court winner from Alves, a no let for Lust, and to French disbelief and delight they had finally become women's European Team Champions.

Commenting on England's performance, National Coach David Campion said: “I’m very proud of the teams. It’s a huge honour to represent England, and every time these guys pull on the England shirt, they always give 100% and more.

“It was a tough finals day. The match against Spain was highly contested and we knew once Declan had opened up a two game lead against Borja it would make us very difficult to beat. The French girls deserve full credit for their win, particularly Alves in the deciding rubber who was expectional. SJ’s match against Camille was a high quality encounter, and overall the sell-out crowd were highly entertained in both finals lasting well over 8 hours.”

France's Camille Serme was ecstatic to claim France's first title and said:

“We’ve been trying to win this for so long now, it feels great. Thanks to England for pushing us over the years, we’re delighted to finally win one.”

Elsewhere, Belgium claimed a second consecutive bronze medal after overpowering Scotland.

“Very happy,” said Belgian manager Ronnie Vlassacks. “Not only with the bronze medal, but to see how we’re closing the gap on England and France. With Nele and Tinne still so young and having a few years to improve, we hope what they’re doing will help us get some more young players to strengthen the depth of the team.”

Meanwhile, Scotland’s men went one better as they beat France in the men’s 3rd/4th, after narrowly losing to the former champions in the pool stages.

Elsewhere, Finland’s men returned to Division One after a three-year absence led by Olli Tuominen playing in his 22nd Europeans in a row. Also promoted were the Czech Republic who beat Finland in the final. There was similar success for Finland's women who beat Czech Rep to go back to Division One for the first time since 2010.