Down to the finals ...

Another two rounds of action today, quarters and semis of all events.

Mixed Doubles:

The first players to upset the seedings in this year's event were Chris Langridge and Sarah Bok, 2/1 quarter-final winners over third seeds David Lindley and Suzanne Rayappan. Fourth seeds Chris Adcock and Gabby White were taken to three games by Robin Middleton and Mariana Agathangelou, while the top pairings of Clarke & Kellogg and Robinson & Wallwork both went through to the semis in straight games.


Richard Eaton on Clarke & Kellogg

Semis:
[1] Clark & Kellogg bt [4] Adcock & White
        21/12, 21/11 (28m)
Langridge & Bok bt [2] Robertson & Wallwork
        21/18, 18/21, 21/16 (56m)

No worries for the defending champions in the semis, always keeping a safe margin over their young challengers, but the second seeds are out as Langridge & Bock continued their giant-killing run.

Robertson & Wallwork lost the first, and were always behind in the second before closing it out at the death, but there was to be no comeback in the decider for the new pairing who are set to represent England in the European Championships next month..


Richard Eaton on a mixed doubles upset


Men's Singles:

No such troubles for the men's top four seeds, all winning their quarter-finals in straight sets, and the top seeds continued their impressive form into the semis.

Defending champion Raj Ouseph was dominant throughout, never letting Ben Beckman get close, scorewise, and it was a similar story as Carl Baxter brushed aside the challenge of local hope Harry Wright.

Semi-Finals:
[1] Raj Ouseph bt [4] Ben Beckman
                   21/11, 21/13 (31m)
[2] Carl Baxter bt [3] Harry Wright
                  21/7, 21/16 (23m)



Singles roundup by Richard Eaton

Women's Singles:

Defending champion Elizabeth Cann eased through against Alexandra Langley and will meet Sarah Walker, who beat the diminutive Sarah Milne, in the semis. Jill Pittard remained on course for a fourth final, and she faces Helen Davies, who was taken to three games by Fontaine Chapman, in the semis.

Semi-Finals:
[1] Elizabeth Cann bt [4] Sarah Walker
            21/17, 21/10 (30m)
[2] Jill Pittard bt [3] Helen Davies
             21/11, 21/13 (27m)

Cann was made to work hard in the first game of the semi-final, but pulled clear from the start of the second and never looked back as she moved into the final.

Pittard was always in control over new England cap Davies, and she will play her fourth final hoping to go one better than her three runners-up medals, compared to Cann's three winners' trophies.


Richard Eaton on one of England's top prospects


Men's & Women's Doubles:

All seeds through the quarter-finals, although veteran Julie Bradbury, with partner Heather Olver, came close to upsetting third seeds Mariana Agathangelou and Sarah Bok, leading 7/2 in the third before falling just short, losing the decider 21/19.

In the women's semis Kellogg & Rayappan won easily enough, but Wallwork and White were given a stern test in a highly entertaining match before Wallwork gained a measure of revenge for her mixed defeat by Bok.

Both men's semis were close-run things. Robertson & Clark recovered strongly after losing the first game against Eidestedt & Ellis, and although they led the third all the way, they managed to establish a big enough lead to feel truly comfortable.

Like Bok, Chris Langridge fell just short of making two finals as Adcock & Blair, like Clark & Robertson, managed to stay just ahead in their decider.

Men's Doubles Semis:
[1] Clark & Robertson bt [3] Eidestedt & Ellis
          18/21, 21/13, 21/19 (57m)
[2] Adcock & Blair bt [4] Langridge & Lindley
          22/20, 15/21, 21/18 (65m)

Women's Doubles Semis:
[1] Kellogg & Rayappan bt [4] Hardaker & Nicholas
          21/13, 21/6 (29m)
[2] Wallwork & White bt [3] Agathangelou & Bok
          19/21, 21/16, 21/18 (59m)
         

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