Squash: Mixed family fortunes for Selbys

It WAS mixed fortunes for the Selby family in two all-English squash finals at the Edinburgh Open at Edinburgh Sports Club.

Daryl, the No. 1 seed and world No. 11, became the Open’s first three-time winner after beating a player ranked just two places lower, Tom Richards. But Daryl’s sister, Lauren, had to settle for second best in the women’s event – although only just.

Edinburgh-based Greg Lobban was the top home player, reaching the men’s quarter-finals before going out 11-7, 8-11, 1-11, 3-11 to the No. 4 seed, Chris Ryder.

Ryder then took Selby to five games in the semi-finals, losing 7-11 in the decider. In the other semi, Richards beat England’s Adrian Grant 11-9, 11-7, 12-10.

In the men’s final, Selby dropped the third against Richards but made sure of his third Edinburgh Open win with an 11-4, 3-11, 11-6, 11-7 win in 47 minutes.

There are some really good names on this trophy so it’s great to be the first one to get my name on it three times,” said Daryl.

Facing the top seed Emily Whitlock in the women’s final, Lauren stretched the women’s final to five games but eventually lost 2-11, 11-9, 6-11, 11-5, 3-11 in a 51-minute encounter.

In the first round, Whitlcok knocked out Scotland’s Frania Gillen-Butchert, although it took a comeback over four games. Gillen-Butchert took the opener 11-6, but the eventual champion it back to take the next three 11-2, 11-4, 11-2.

Whitlock, 18, won the British Open junior title last month and said: “Lauren was really tough to play. She lobs really well and used the court to her advantage. After I made a good start she came out all guns blazing and it took me a while to get used to it.”