British Nationals, Finals, Manchester Velodrome

SquashTalk with materials from Howard Harding, 2.13.2000, Manchester

MARSHALL AND CAMPION CROWNED BRITISH 2000 CHAMPIONS
[also read Colin McQuillan's report for SquashTalk]

RESULTS: National Squash Championships, Manchester Velodrome
Men's final:
[4] Peter Marshall (Notts) bt [3] David Evans (Wales) 15-9 15-6 15-11

Women's final:
[1] Cassie Campion (Norfolk) bt [3] Sue Wright (Kent) 9-1 2-9 9-2 2-9 9-3

Nottingham's Peter Marshall crowned a remarkable sporting comeback in Manchester today (Sunday 13 February) when he beat David Evans of Wales 15-9 15-6 15-11 in the final of the National Squash Championships.

In the women's final at the Manchester Velodrome, Norfolk's world champion Cassie Campion successfully defended her British national title in a second successive victory over Kent's Sue Wright.

MARSHALL PUTS SELF-QUESTIONING BEHIND HIM

Marshall, the former world No2 and England's highest ever world-ranked player, was struck down by 'chronic fatigue syndrome' in mid 1995 and, after a short-lived comeback in 1997, returned to the international squash circuit only last autumn. Seeded four, the 28-year-old was making his first Nationals' appearance since 1994, when he beat Scotland's current world champion Peter Nicol in the final "I am delighted to have won today - especially after going through the stage of wondering whether I would ever play at all again, then if I would ever get back to a reasonable level," said a jubilant Marshall after the 61-minute final. "In fact today has been one of the first days that I've really felt that I'm back to my former standard," added the three-times champion.

WRIGHT AND CAMPION REJOIN LONG RIVALRY

The topsy-turvy women's final took 56 minutes, with Halifax-based world No1 Campion eventually triumphing 9-1 2-9 9-2 2-9 9-3 to claim her third title. "I've never played an easy match against Sue, and today was no exception," said Campion, who lost to her long-time adversary only two weeks ago, again in five games. "I'm really glad to have won today. With English women's squash being so strong, it makes the Nationals a really important tournament - and winning it is a good way to start the year." Wright, making a comeback after a seven-month absence with viral pneumonia, was pleased with her performance. "I still feel I've got a long way to go before being 100% - I was glad enough to get to my seeded position in the semi-finals, so to be in my fourth successive final was a bonus," said the three-times champion from Aylesbury.

Press Officer: Howard Harding (on behalf of the Squash Rackets Association)
Tel: 0161-445 5350/5362; Fax: 0161-445 5429; Email: HowHard@aol.com