 James
Willstrop has been named England number one for the first time
in the new national squash rankings issued today by England Squash.
Lincolnshire's Tania Bailey retains her position at the top
of the new women's list.
Willstrop, 23, from Pontefract in Yorkshire rapidly followed his
teenage years as the most successful British junior of all-time –
crowning the period by becoming the world junior champion four years
ago - by storming up the senior rankings to reach a career-high
world No2 position last December.
Later in the month, he led England – for the first time - to success
in the World Team Championships in Pakistan.
Willstrop's world fell apart a week ago in Egypt when he was rushed
to hospital after being struck down by food poisoning on the eve of
the World Open Championship, staged alongside the great pyramids in
Giza.
Willstrop heads a quartet of Yorkshiremen at the top of the England
rankings, with Sheffield's Nick Matthew at two; Peter
Nicol at three; and his Pontefract club-mate Lee Beachill
in fourth place. With Kent left-hander Adrian Grant at No5,
Essex's Peter Barker rises to a career-high sixth place.
British National champion Tania Bailey moves into a second
period in pole position in the women's list, ahead of Manchester's
Vicky Botwright at No2.
Yorkshire's Jenny Duncalf, who won the European Individual
Championship title in June, celebrates a career-best third place,
while Londoner Alison Waters also rises to a best-ever No4
position.
Three significant England stalwarts are absent from the women's list
for the first time following retirement –former England number one
Linda Elriani; two-times
British Open O35 champion Fiona Geaves;
and former world No4 Stephanie Brind.
 But
perhaps the most impressive achievement in the women's rankings is
the four-place leap into the top ten for the first time by Laura
Hill, the full-time firewoman and part-time squash player from
Duffield in Derbyshire who is at No8.
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08-Sep-06:
"That's
got a really special ring to it, to be able to say your
England number one." 
