Ali And Ciara Clash In Bangor Squash Classic

Welsh rivals Ali Hemingway and Ciara Richards clash in the main draw of the Karakal $5000 PSA World Women’s Tour squash tournament today.

Hemingway, 25, was born in Wales and now plays out of Cambridge, while teenager Richards is from Aberdare.

Newport-born Jenny Haley, who lives in America, plays Cheshire’s Rachael Chadwick in the opening round at Canolfan Brailsford, Bangor University, while Lowri Roberts, who lives in Trefriw, Conwy, takes on sixth seed Cristina Gomez from Spain.

Top seed Lisa Aitken. Pic: Getty Images.

Lisa Aitken from Scotland is number one seed, has been ranked 38 in the World and is currently number 60.

Also competing is World number 66 Enora Villard from France and current European Junior Champion Lucy Turmel.

Players from nine different countries, including Spain, Colombia and Egypt, made the journey to Bangor.

The four players who came through the qualifying rounds to take their place in the main draw are Georgia Adderley (Scotland), Laura Tovar (Colombia), Lucy Beecroft (England) and Haley, who won a five-set thriller against fellow Welsh player Nia Davies.

It took Haley 46 minutes to win, recovering from 2-1 down to win 11-6, 9-11, 4-11, 11-8, 11-7.

Organisers have thanked Karakal, Haystack Dryers, Bangor University and all the private anonymous sponsors.

Tickets are £5 for a child and £10 for an adult. To buy tickets or for further information about scholarships contact Brailsford on 01248 382 571 or by email [email protected]

Karakal $5000 PSA World Women’s Tour event:

First round draw: [1] Lisa Aitken (Scotland) v Laura Tovar (qualifier, Colombia)

[5] Chloe Mesic (France) v Charlotte Jagger (England)

[8] Grace Gear (England) v Farah Momen (Egypt)

[4] Rachael Chadwick (England) v Jenny Haley (qualifier, Wales)

[3] Lucy Turmel (England) v Lucy Beecroft (qualifier, England)

[7] Ali Hemingway (Wales) v Ciara Richards (Wales)

[6] Cristina Gomez (Spain) v Lowri Roberts (Wales)

[2] Enora Villard (France) v Georgia Adderley (qualifier, Scotland)

Qualifying finals:

Georgia Adderley (Scotland) beat Evie Coxon (England) 11-3, 11-2, 11-7 (18 mins)

Laura Tovar (Colombia) beat Bruna Marchesi Petrillo (Brazil) 11-4, 11-4, 11-2 (20m)

Lucy Beecroft (England) beat Lily Taylor (England) 10-12, 11-6, 14-12, 13-11 (39m)

Jenny Haley (Wales) beat Nia Davies (Wales) 11-6, 9-11, 4-11, 11-8, 11-7 (46m)

Qualifying round one results:

[3] Lily Taylor (Eng) 3-0 Elin Harlow (Wal) 11-4, 11-3, 11-5 (19m)

[8] Lucy Beecroft (Eng) 3-0 Helen Barnard (Wal) 11-2, 11-2, 11-5 (21m)

[1] Georgia Adderley (Sco) 3-0 Lauren Evans (Wal) 11-5, 11-2, 11-2 (16m)

[7] Evie Coxon (Eng) 3-1 Megan Thomas (Wal) 11-7, 11-13, 11-4, 11-4 (30m)

[6] Laura Tovar (Col) 3-2 Hannah Davies (Wal) 11-5, 9-11, 11-6, 8-11, 13-11 (48m)

[4] Bruna Marchesi (Bra) 3-2 Layna Beattie (Wal) 8-11, 11-4, 8-11, 12-10, 12-10 (35m)

[5] Nia Davies (Wal) 3-0 Emily Powell (Wal) 11-2 11-1 11-2 (14m)

[2] Jenny Haley (Wal) 3-1 Abby Hicks (Wal)11-13, 11-3, 12-10, 11-5 (30m)