01-Feb-2011:
Wright on course to meet Ouseph again in Manchester

LANCASHIRE’S Harry Wright is on course to meet Middlesex’s three times champion Rajiv Ouseph in the semi-finals of the English National Badminton Championships for the second year running.

The draw was made today for this weekend’s Championships and Ouseph will meet Surrey’s Sam Phillips in his opening match on Friday morning when the event returns to the National Cycling Centre in Manchester for the eighth year running. Wright begins his bid against Ben Dolman of Cheshire.

Kent’s Carl Baxter, runner-up to Ouseph the last two years, is second seed and begins his challenge against Surrey’s Robert Kettle.

The women’s singles should feature one of the top matches of day two when four-times winner Elizabeth Cann is expected to face teenager Sarah Milne, the sixth seed from Leeds, in Saturday’s quarter-finals.

Cann, who comes from Jersey but lives in Milton Keynes, goes into the Nationals boosted by her bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games while Milne finished fourth in the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore in the summer.

Cann defeated Helen Davies in last year’s final but will not be up against her this time. The fifth seed from Cheshire has pulled out of the singles, having not reached full fitness after a knee injury but will partner Milne in the women’s doubles.

Herftordshire’s Rachel Howard is second seed this weekend and begins her challenge against Dorset’s Jennifer Sargent.

Anthony Clark (Notts) is chasing a 10th consecutive men’s doubles title but he and new partner Chris Langridge (Surrey) are only third seeds in the men’s doubles

Clark and Langridge can expect to face top seeds Peter Mills (Notts) & Marcus Ellis (Yorks) in Saturday night’s semi-finals.

Second seeds Chris Adcock (Notts) & Andy Ellis (Yorks) are expected to meet fourth seeds Chris Coles (Avon) & Matthew Nottingham (Cheshire) in the other semi-final.

But before that there could be a sizzling contest between six-times champions Simon Archer (Warks) & Chris Hunt (Lancs) if they win their opening match with Alex Fowler (Yorks) & Harley Towler (Lincs). Victory will pit them against Yorkshire pair Robin Middleton & Stephen Foster.

In the women’s doubles, the fans will be eager to see a rematch between 2010 winners Jenny Wallwork & Gabby White and European bronze medallists Mariana Agathangelou (Avon) & Heather Olver (Sussex).

Top seeds Wallwork & White start with a bye then face Helena Lewczynska (Herts) & Hayley Rogers (Cheshire) while second seeds Agathangelou & Olver start with a second-round test against Lexi Gilders (Bucks) & Kerri Scott (Surrey) as they aim to avenge last year’s three-game defeat by Wallwork and White.

Wallwork is bidding to retain a second title in the mixed doubles where she and Nathan Robertson, who is chasing a sixth mixed title, are clear favourites. The top seeds start with a bye but there first test should come in the semi-finals against the fast-improving third seeds Mark Middleton (Yorks) & Alyssa Lim (Bucks).

But first Middleton may have to get the better of his brother Robin and his new partner Heather Olver, who won the Swedish title together last month.

Second seeds Chris Adcock & Gabby White are fancied to go all the way to the final as long as they can overcome fourth seeds Ben Stawski (Warwicks) & Lauren Smith (Yorks) in the semi-finals.