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England Celebrate European Double In Riccione

Already men's and women's champions of the world, England maintained its status as the leading squash nation in the region by retaining both titles in the European Team Championships in the Italian resort of Riccione without dropping a match in both the men's and the women's finals.

Hi-Tec's Willstrop wearing the Hi-Tec Vortex CC, England number 1 and seventh in the World put the favourites ahead with a dominant 9-7, 9-6, 7-9, 9-5 victory over Laurens Jan Anjerma in 95 minutes- the longest match of the tournament.

Willstrop's team-mates Adrian Grant, Hi-Tec sponsored Lee Beachill, wearing the Hi-Tec Wraptor, and Nick Matthew continued the comprehensive battle with a 4-0 victory without losing any further games to give England its 15th successive men's win.

Dutch disappointment was made up for the fact that the Netherlands squad was celebrating its first ever appearance in the final. In the Womens' final, for the fifth year in a row, they faced the second seeds Netherlands.

England did not lose their concentration, and continued to win with a 25minutes match winning against Margriet Huisman in 3 straight sets. England number one Tania Bailey overpowered Vanessa Atkinson with 3 sets of 9-2 games to clinch the title for the top seeds.

The triumph marked England's 30th title in a row- extending the nation's remarkable unbeaten run in the history of the tournament.

European Team Squash Championships, Riccione, Italy

Men's Final:
[1] ENGLAND bt [4] NETHERLANDS 4-0
James Willstrop bt Laurens Jan Anjema 9-7, 9-6, 7-9, 9-5 (95m)
Adrian Grant bt Tom Hoevenaars 9-3, 9-0, 9-1 (36m)
Lee Beachill bt Dylan Bennett 9-1, 9-1 (22m)
Nick Matthew bt Lucas Buit 9-0, 9-2, 9-3 (34m)

Women's Final:
[1] ENGLAND bt [2] NETHERLANDS 3-0
Alison Waters bt Margriet Huisman 9-0, 9-4, 9-0 (25m)
Tania Bailey bt Vanessa Atkinson 9-2, 9-2, 9-2 (34m)
Vicky Botwright bt Annelize Naude 9-0, 10-8 (19m)

Congratulations to England and especially our Sponsored Players!

© 2007 HI-TEC Plc