‘I have a shocking record in Hull, but just wanted to put in a decent performance’  
By SEAN REUTHE in Hull

England’s former World No.2 Jenny Duncalf claimed her first victory at the prestigious Allam British Open since 2013 as she upset World Junior Champion Rowan Elaraby at the Allam Sport Centre in Hull to keep retirement at bay for another day at least.


Duncalf, a 2008 runner-up at the sport’s longest-running tournament, announced earlier this month that she will retire after the British Open and the World No.62 came into her match with World No.29 Elaraby having lost to the 18-year-old at the El Gouna International last month.

However, 36-year-old Duncalf rolled back the years as she put in a highly-composed display and limited Elaraby’s attacking abilities to claim an 11-6, 9-11, 11-9, 12-10 victory which will pit her against World No.1 Raneem El Welily in today’s second round, in what will potentially be her final match as a professional squash player.

“I didn’t expect to be stood here as the winner, which probably helped because I just wanted to put in a decent performance in my last tournament,” said Duncalf.

“I thought it was going to be my last match. Rowan is such a good little player and I have been on the end of defeats to her a couple of times. I love playing in England, but to be honest I actually have a shocking record in Hull, so I was a bit apprehensive that this was my last tournament.

“To be able to play another match is all I’ve ever wanted, and these past few years I’ve just wanted to play as many matches as I can. It’s so nice to be able to play in front of my family.”

Duncalf’s conqueror in the 2008 final, five-time winner Nicol David, is also due to retire at the end of this tournament, and she booked her place in round two of the PSA World Tour Platinum tournament after beating Hong Kong’s Ho Tze-Lok 11-7, 11-5, 13-11 in 32 minutes.

David, 35, will take on World No.3 Nour El Tayeb in the last 32. The Malaysian is 9-1 up on their head-to-head record, but El Tayeb won their last match at the 2018 Saudi Masters.

“I just had to do what I do best and keep digging in and I’m really please to win 3-0,” David said.

“I was happy to just get on court and play in front of a crowd. It’s my last tournament and it’s really special for it to be at the British Open, I’m just going to try and absorb everything that comes my way and savour the moments.”

Local favourite Fiona Moverley did call time on her professional career after falling to Malaysia’s Low Wee Wern in straight games.

The 32-year-old from Hull – who is currently in the midst of training to join the fire service – made her PSA debut in 2005 and won eight titles on the tour, but was unable to prevent Low from claiming her first win at the tournament since 2014.

Moverley said: “Being here every year has been great, the tournament has been held in Hull every year since I came back so that has been special being the local player.

“Playing for England has been exciting and something I won’t forget. The whole experience has been something special, travelling the world and doing something I love.”

Wildcard Jasmine Hutton – the World No.77 from Brighton – claimed the biggest win of her career as she scalped World No.30 Hollie Naughton on the traditional plaster courts located at the same venue.

In the men’s draw, both of the wildcards earned their spots in the second round as Manchester-based Patrick Rooney and Birmingham’s Joshua Masters upset Malaysia’s Eain Yow Ng and Hong Kong’s Tsz Fung Yip, respectively.

World No.95 Rooney bridged a 59-place gap in the PSA World Rankings to overcome Ng 11-8, 12-10, 11-7 and claim his first ever win at the British Open.

“I didn’t expect to win, but I just tried to take all the pressure off myself and just play the best I could against Yow, who I’ve known for ages,” Rooney said.

“I’ve never beaten him before, and I knew it was going to be tough because he has loads of skill and is so quick.”

Meanwhile, World No.55 Masters will appear in the second round here for the first time after beating World No.28 Yip by an 11-8, 11-9, 11-9 margin.

“I’ve beaten him before and so that gave me a lot of confidence,” said Masters. “I knew exactly how to beat him and although at times I sometimes went away from that game plan, I was pleased to get over the line.” The 24-year-old from Kent, now based in the Midlands and working with coach Robert Owen, will take on Egypt’s Fares Dessouky in round two.

Former World No.1 James Willstrop also earned his second round spot courtesy of a 3-0 win over India’s Ramit Tandon, while England No.3 Daryl Selby beat close friend and compatriot Ben Coleman in four games to earn his place in the last 32.

Second round action continues tomorrow, when England’s former World Champion Laura Massaro begins her final PSA tournament, while reigning champions Nour El Sherbini and Miguel Rodriguez kickstart their title defences.

Play starts at 12:00 (GMT+1) and will be shown live on SQUASHTV (rest of world), Eurosport Player (Europe only) and the official Facebook page of the PSA World Tour (excluding Europe and Japan). 

2019 Allam British Open, University of Hull Sports and Fitness Centre, Hull, England.

Men’s First Round:
Mostafa Asal (EGY) bt Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi (QAT) 3-1: 11-7, 11-8, 9-11, 11-4 (60m)
Borja Golan (ESP) bt Alan Clyne (SCO) 3-1: 4-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-2 (62m)
Adrian Waller (ENG) bt George Parker (ENG) 3-2: 11-6, 5-11, 9-11, 12-10, 11-7 (75m)
Mazen Hesham (EGY) bt Tayyab Aslam (PAK) 3-1: 7-11, 14-12, 11-6, 11-6 (52m)
Todd Harrity (USA) bt Max Lee (HKG) 3-1: 14-12, 11-4, 9-11, 11-6 (56m)
Lucas Serme (FRA) bt Cameron Pilley (AUS) 3-0: 11-7, 11-7, 11-4 (39m)
[WC] Joshua Masters (ENG) bt Tsz Fung Yip (HKG) 3-0: 11-8, 11-9, 11-9 (35m)
Fares Dessouky (EGY) bt Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) 3-2: 11-8, 7-11, 12-14, 11-8, 12-10 (85m)
Tom Richards (ENG) bt Nathan Lake (ENG) 3-2: 4-11, 16-14, 11-8, 6-11, 11-9 (71m)
Greg Lobban (SCO) bt Ivan Yuen (MAS) 3-1: 12-10, 11-9, 10-12, 11-4 (58m)
Campbell Grayson (NZL) bt Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 3-2: 7-11, 11-7, 6-11, 11-9, 11-5 (65m)
Cesar Salazar (MEX) bt Richie Fallows (ENG) 3-1: 11-9, 5-11, 11-6, 11-4 (44m)
Karim Ali Fathi (EGY) bt Chris Simpson (ENG) 3-0: 11-9, 11-9, 11-3 (40m)
[17/32] Daryl Selby (ENG) bt Ben Coleman (ENG) 3-1: 11-9, 11-7, 6-11, 11-4 (70m)
[WC] Patrick Rooney (ENG) bt [17/32] Eain Yow Ng (MAS) 3-0: 11-8, 12-10, 11-7 (41m)
[17/32] James Willstrop (ENG) bt Ramit Tandon (IND) 3-0: 11-8, 11-8, 11-1 (36m)

Women’s First Round:
Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt Rowan Elaraby (EGY) 3-1: 11-6, 9-11, 11-9, 12-10 (39m)
Samantha Cornett (CAN) bt Alexandra Fuller (RSA) 3-2: 11-9, 9-11, 11-9, 7-11, 12-10 (53m)
Joey Chan (HKG) bt Amanda Landers-Murphy (NZL) 3-0: 11-6, 11-3, 11-9 (27m)
Emily Whitlock (ENG) bt Liu Tsz-Ling (HKG) 3-0: 11-9, 11-7, 11-8 (27m)
Low Wee Wern (MAS) bt Fiona Moverley (ENG) 3-0: 11-6, 11-3, 11-6 (28m)
Yathreb Adel (EGY) bt Haley Mendez (USA) 3-0: 11-8, 11-7, 11-6 (26m)
Olivia Fiechter (USA) bt Zeina Mickawy (EGY) 3-2: 8-11, 12-10, 11-6, 7-11, 11-7 (48m)
Nicol David (MAS) bt Ho Tze-Lok (HKG) 3-0: 11-7, 11-5, 13-11 (32m)
Lisa Aitken (SCO) bt Milou van der Heijden (NED) 3-0: 11-4, 11-8, 11-7 (30m)
Julianne Courtice (ENG) bt Mariam Metwally (EGY) 3-1: 11-5, 5-11, 11-7, 11-1 (32m)
Nele Gilis (BEL) bt [WC] Lucy Turmel (ENG) 3-0: 11-4, 11-8, 11-5 (33m)
Tinne Gilis (BEL) bt Rachael Grinham (AUS) 3-0: 11-5, 11-5, 11-6 (24m)
[WC] Jasmine Hutton (ENG) bt Hollie Naughton (CAN) 3-0: 11-7, 11-4, 11-8 (26m)
[17/32] Millie Tomlinson (ENG) bt Danielle Letourneau (CAN) 3-2: 10-12, 13-11, 13-15, 11-2, 11-5 (57m)
[17/32] Olivia Blatchford Clyne (USA) bt Melissa Alves (FRA) 3-1: 11-4, 11-3, 9-11, 11-9 (40m)
[17/32] Mayar Hany (EGY) bt Coline Aumard (FRA) 3-2: 2-11, 11-5, 9-11, 11-6, 11-6 (52m)

Men’s Second Round (May 21):
[1] Ali Farag (EGY) v Mostafa Asal (EGY)
Raphael Kandra (GER) v Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY)
Gregoire Marche (FRA) v Borja Golan (ESP)
Adrian Waller (ENG) v [7] Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY)
[8] Diego Elias (PER) v Mazen Hesham (EGY)
Todd Harrity (USA) v Lucas Serme (FRA)
[WC] Joshua Masters (ENG) v Fares Dessouky (EGY)
Joel Makin (WAL) v [4] Paul Coll (NZL)
[3] Simon Rösner (GER) v Tom Richards (ENG)
Omar Mosaad (EGY) v Declan James (ENG)
Greg Lobban (SCO) v Zahed Salem (EGY)
Saurav Ghosal (IND) v [5] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY)
[6] Miguel Rodriguez (COL) v Campbell Grayson (NZL)
Cesar Salazar (MEX) v Karim Ali Fathi (EGY)
Daryl Selby (ENG) v [WC] Patrick Rooney (ENG)
James Willstrop (ENG) v [2] Mohamed ElShorbagy (EGY)

Women’s Second Round (May 21):
[1] Raneem El Welily (EGY) v Jenny Duncalf (ENG)
Samantha Cornett (CAN) v [12] Amanda Sobhy (USA)
[14] Salma Hany (EGY) v Joey Chan (HKG)
Emily Whitlock (ENG) v [7] Nouran Gohar (EGY)
[5] Joelle King (NZL) v Low Wee Wern (MAS)
Yathreb Adel (EGY) v [10] Alison Waters (ENG)
[11] Annie Au (HKG) v Olivia Fiechter (USA)
Nicol David (MAS) v [3] Nour El Tayeb (EGY)
[4] Camille Serme (FRA) v Lisa Aitken (SCO)
Julianne Courtice (ENG) v [9] Tesni Evans (WAL)
[16] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) v Nele Gilis (BEL)
Tinne Gilis (BEL) v [8] Laura Massaro (ENG)
[6] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) v [WC] Jasmine Hutton (ENG)
Millie Tomlinson (ENG) v [15] Joshna Chinappa (IND)
[13] Victoria Lust (ENG) v Olivia Blatchford Clyne (USA)
Mayar Hany (EGY) v [2] Nour El Sherbini (EGY)

Report by SEAN REUTHE (PSA PR and Media Manager). Edited by ALAN THATCHER.

Pictures courtesy of PSA

TULARE, Calif. – With last Saturday’s Peter Murphy Classic falling victim to rain, officials from Merle Stone Chevrolet Thunderbowl Raceway have announced that the event will now be part of a two-night weekend June 7-8.

The annual Chris and Brian Faria Memorial will now open the doubleheader weekend on June 7 and will showcase the Kings of Thunder Winged 360 Sprint Cars, USAC West Coast Wingless Sprints, Western RaceSaver Sprint Cars and IMCA Stock Cars.

Adult reserved grandstand seats for the Chris and Brian Faria Memorial on Friday, June 7 cost $18, while general admission bleacher tickets are $15. Kids 6-12 are $9 in the grandstands and $8 in the bleachers. Senior grandstand seats will be $16 and senior bleacher tickets are $13. The front gate will open at 3 p.m., with heat races scheduled to begin around 6 p.m.

On Saturday, June 8 the sixth annual Peter Murphy Classic will conclude with the King of the West-NARC Fujitsu 410 Sprint Car Series and the Kings of Thunder Winged 360 Sprint Cars. The purse for both divisions and format on Saturday will remain the same as originally scheduled.

Fans that purchased tickets for the previously scheduled running this past Saturday must hang onto those and use them for June 8.

Adult reserved grandstand seats for the Peter Murphy Classic cost $30, while general admission bleacher tickets are $25 each night. Kids 6-12 will be $15 in the grandstands and $13 in the bleachers. Senior grandstand seats will be $28 and senior bleacher tickets are $23. The front gate will open at 3pm, with heat races scheduled to begin around 6pm. To reserve your seats, contact 559-688-0909. Plenty of tickets will also be available at the gate on race day.

Now contesting his 18th season with Corvette Racing, Britain’s Oliver Gavin recently notched his landmark 50th win with the team, making him the most successful driver in Corvette Racing history.

Mobil 1 The Grid caught up with the veteran racer as he reflects on his career so far with the team, with whom he has won at Le Mans, Long Beach, Sebring, Lime Rock Park and many other tracks.

LEXINGTON, N.C. – Austin Dillon will return to Kaulig Racing to compete in Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Dillon will drive the No. 10 Chevrolet Camaro with sponsorship from Nyloxin Pain Relief Gel, an opioid-free chronic pain relief solution, during the Alsco 300.

“I’m looking forward to getting back with the No. 10 team and driving for Kaulig Racing,” Dillon said. “We had a strong run at Las Vegas, finishing fourth. Charlotte Motor Speedway is a strong track for me, and also my hometrack. It would be awesome to drive into Victory Lane together and with new partner Nyloxin chronic pain relief gel.”

Dillon made his first start with the team in 2018, claiming an eighth-place finish at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Earlier this season, the North Carolina native brought home the No. 10 team’s first top-five of the year at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

ALISO VIEJO, Calif. – Ralph Sheheen, president and co-founder of SPEED SPORT, will share his passion for and knowledge of motorsports as the new host of the Grand Opening Breakfast at the 2019 Performance Racing Industry Trade Show.

The breakfast takes place Thursday morning, Dec. 12, immediately before the PRI Show opens its doors for the Three Biggest Business Days in Racing, Dec. 12-14 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis.

“We are thrilled to welcome to the 2019 PRI Show one of the greatest voices in broadcasting and a guy that shares the passion and love of motorsports,” said Bill Miller, PRI General Manager. “From Outlaws and trucks to Cup and motorcycles, Sheheen covers anything and everything that competes on the track.”

The Grand Opening Breakfast kicks off the PRI Show and is deeply rooted in the 30-plus-year show. Open exclusively to PRI Show attendees (not the general public) free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis, the Breakfast features motorsports legends sharing personal stories and experiences in an intimate setting surrounded by industry professionals enjoying a hot breakfast.

This year’s breakfast will be held in the Indiana Convention Center’s Sagamore Ballroom beginning at 8 a.m. Sheheen is taking over the reins as emcee of the event from veteran journalist Dave Despain, who hosted the breakfast for the past 10 years before retiring this winter.

“It gives us great pleasure to have Ralph Sheheen carry on the wonderful tradition of hosting motorsports’ finest on PRI’s Grand Opening Breakfast stage,” said Miller. “He believes so much in the grassroots racer and track operators. If he’s not on the air, he’s at some track hanging in the garage, chatting it up with the racing community.”

“I’m thrilled to host this year’s Grand Opening Breakfast and to be a part of the PRI tradition,” said Sheheen. “The most legendary names in racing have graced the stage before the start of the PRI Show, and to now be a part of that is amazing!”

This year’s PRI Trade Show will feature more than 1,100 companies exhibiting in more than 3,300 booths and showcasing the latest products, services, machinery, simulation and testing technologies, and trailers for the racing industry in a single location. Now in its 32nd year, PRI encompasses all forms of racing and attracts attendees from all 50 states and over 70 countries.

Numerous conferences and seminars, among them the Race Track Business Conference and International Council of Motorsport Sciences’ Annual Congress, offer unlimited business opportunities and provide invaluable insight on the latest technologies and how to apply them throughout the racing world. Furthermore, special features like Machinery Row make PRI the ideal event for motorsports pros to connect and discover what’s trending ahead of the new racing season.

Known as Race Industry Week, the days leading up to and including the Show will offer a range of motorsports-related activities in and around the Indiana Convention Center beginning on Monday, Dec. 9.

BOSTON -- Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara returned to practice and worked out with the full squad Monday, his first such workout since sitting out Boston's Eastern Conference-clinching victory over Carolina with an undisclosed injury.

Chara had skated prior to practices over the weekend but didn't participate in any full sessions. He said he felt good after the Bruins' 45-minute workout on Monday and is on track to play in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on May 27.

Chara was the first player on the ice Monday. Forward David Krejci also returned to practice. Coach Bruce Cassidy said Krejci was given a "maintenance day" on Sunday.

Being a spectator for a series-clinching victory was difficult for the 42-year-old Chara. He was a member of the Bruins, who defeated Vancouver to win the Stanley Cup in 2011 and lost to Chicago in the Cup Final in 2013.

"It was, I'm not gonna lie," Chara said. "Watching games are not fun. You want to play them, you want to be involved in them. It was that feeling of an anxiousness to play. But the guys did a great job."

But Chara was easy to spot following the Game 4 win over the Hurricanes, when he suited up to shake hands with Carolina and celebrate on the ice with his teammates.

He has one goal and two assists in 16 games this postseason.

Patrice Bergeron said having Chara paired back up with Charlie McAvoy provides a major boost to the blue line.

"I think they complement each other really well," Bergeron said. "Obviously the experience that `Z' has is something that he shares. And Chuck is the type of young guy that wants to learn and listen to everything that `Z' has to share."

With the exception of those still playing in the AHL's Calder Cup Playoffs and CHL's Memorial Cup, the season is over for most NHL prospects. It's time to dole out some recognition to the prospects who had exceptional campaigns among their peers. This isn't necessarily to name the best prospect in the game or who has the best professional projection, but rather recognize the merits of this past season with an eye to what it means for the future.

There were a lot of worthy candidates who earned runner-up status, but my "Prospect of the Year" is without a doubt Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar.

Houston Dynamo captain and U.S. international DaMarcus Beasley announced on Monday that he is retiring following the 2019 season.

Beasley, a mainstay for the national team and the only American to play in four World Cups during his international career, took to Twitter to make the announcement with a #quickliketakingoffabandaid at the end.

pic.twitter.com/Doo45Luy7L

— DaMarcus Beasley (@DaMarcusBeasley) May 20, 2019

The 36-year-old broke into MLS with the Chicago Fire in 2000 and played there until 2004, when PSV Eindhoven of the Netherlands paid a $2.5 million transfer fee to bring him to the Eredivisie.

He spent a short loan spell with Manchester City in the Premier League and played with the Scottish Premier League's Rangers, German Bundesliga team Hannover 96 and Puebla of Liga MX before returning to the United States and the Dynamo in 2014.

Beasley has played in just one game this season, recently returning from arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in March. He has played in 211 MLS matches (199 starts) for the Fire and Dynamo (2014-19), scoring 17 goals and adding 24 assists.

The Fort Wayne, Indiana native's 126 caps are seventh most in U.S. men's team history, having scored 17 goals and assisting on 13 during his international career. He won four Gold Cups with the U.S. in 2002, 2005, 2007 and 2013.

Beasley won two league titles with PSV, two with Rangers, two U.S. Open Cups with the Fire and one with the Dynamo over the course of his 20-year career as a pro.

Information from Reuters was used in this story.

Liam Dawson has been called into England's World Cup squad at the expense of Joe Denly, while David Willey is expected to be the unlucky seamer to make way for the inclusion of Jofra Archer, as England's selectors ring the changes in their final 15-man line-up ahead of the tournament's opening fixture, against South Africa at The Oval on May 30.

James Vince has also been named in the 15 as a straight swap for Alex Hales, who was deselected earlier this month after failing two tests for recreational drugs, making a total of three changes from the provisional 15 that was named ahead of ODIs against Ireland and Pakistan this month.

Dawson's inclusion completes a remarkable return to prominence for a player who has not been in the England frame since the ODI tour of Sri Lanka prior to Christmas. A side strain suffered on that trip opened the door for Denly, who marked his first England appearance for almost ten years with a four-wicket haul in a one-off T20I.

However, having been earmarked as England's spin-bowling reserve allrounder for the World Cup, Denly failed to cement his place during the Ireland and Pakistan series. He bowled just 11 overs in three matches - in which his solitary wicket came from a leg-side stumping - while his innings of 17 from 21 balls in England's three-wicket win at Trent Bridge last week was not enough to convince the selectors that he has the batting prowess to be worth a place.

Dawson, meanwhile, has been in impressive form for Hampshire in this season's Royal London Cup. He has claimed 18 wickets at 20.33 en route to the final against Somerset at Lord's this week, and he has also made 274 runs at 45.66, including a century against Middlesex at The Oval.

Dawson's potential inclusion in England's plans had been telegraphed earlier in the month, when the coach Trevor Bayliss hinted that he might be included in the squad for the latter stages of the Pakistan series. Though that didn't come to pass, it was clear that he and England's captain, Eoin Morgan, were at odds with the chief selector, Ed Smith, a strong advocate of Denly's credentials.

Bayliss ultimately conceded that the casting vote in the event of a selection disagreement would come down to the captain, Morgan, who had dropped a strong hint as to Denly's lack of suitability for the back-up spin role by bowling him for a solitary over - containing three full-tosses - in the third ODI at Bristol.

Archer, meanwhile, is set to complete a stunning rise through England's ranks, having only received the opportunity to qualify for the World Cup when the ECB changed its residency rules from seven years to three late last year.

Having made his name on the T20 franchise circuit, Archer showcased his value to England as a 90mph new-ball bowler in a sharp four-over spell in the rain-ruined first ODI against Pakistan at The Oval, then combined well with Mark Wood on a batsman-friendly surface at Trent Bridge the following week.

His anticipated inclusion is cruel luck on Willey, who seemed to have risen to the challenge posed to his place in the squad with an impressive showing in the second ODI at the Ageas Bowl, where he showcased his death-bowling credentials to close out a tight 12-run win.

However, he was less impressive at other moments of the series - not least in being taken for 86 runs in ten overs at Bristol - and appears to have suffered, ultimately, from the lack of fallibility from his rivals for selection. Tom Curran impressed with bat and ball at various stages over the last two weeks, while Chris Woakes reaffirmed his status with a decisive five-wicket haul at Headingley.

Liam Plunkett, meanwhile, remains England's most prolific seamer since the 2015 World Cup, and the selectors are loath to go into the upcoming tournament without his experience. And Mark Wood, despite his injury concerns, was touching 90mph in what is so far his only spell of the summer alongside Archer at Trent Bridge.

Bayliss, who will stand down at England coach after the Ashes later this summer, said: "I hadn't seen [Archer] play live before but he's certainly lived up to expectations. He's got good control, good pace and he can bowl in all the three phases of the match.

"It's been a hectic last six months but the guys have come through and I fully expect them to play well," he added. "For any team, knockout cricket is when the most pressure is. Our first job is to get through and qualify for the semi-finals. Get to a semi and anything is possible."

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