Carlisle Squash Club Open RD1: Arscott Causes Sole Upset

The opening day of the Carlisle Squash Club 50th Anniversary Open saw just a singular upset, as New Zealand’s Joel Arscott got the better of Irishman Sean Conroy in straight games to make it through to the quarter finals of the competition.

The Kiwi came into the Challenger 5 level tournament unseeded, and he took on Conroy, the No.4 seed for the event, in the first round in Carlisle. The New Zealander, who sits 52 places below the Irishman in the World Rankings, was in complete control throughout, dropping just twelve points in the match, to win 11-3, 11-3, 11-6 to advance to the last eight.

He will now face Welshman Owain Taylor, the tournament’s No.6 seed, in the quarter finals of the Challenger 5 level event, after the World No.150 overcame England’s Finnlay Withington in a five-game battle. Taylor found himself behind after three games, but was able to fight back to win the last two games 11-7 and 11-5, booking his spot in the last eight.

Jamaica’s Christopher Binnie also saw his opening match of the competition go to five, beating the tournament’s wildcard Ben Hetherington. After losing the first game, the Jamaican No.1 fought back to win the next two. He then lost the fourth, but regrouped to win the deciding game, to secure his berth in the quarter finals.

England’s James Peach and Ben Smith both made it through on home soil, and will now meet in the quarter finals, while a second Welshman, in Elliott Morris Devred, will be Binnie’s opponent in the last eight. Top seed Ivan Perez will take on Japan’s Ryunosuke Tsukue in the other quarter final on day two of the competition.

The quarter finals of the Carlisle Squash Club 50th Anniversary Open will take place on Thursday, June 30, with the last eight doing battle at the Carlisle Squash Club. The action will be streamed live, and you can keep up to date with the PSA World Tour social channels for more updates.

First Round Results: Carlisle Squash Club 50th Anniversary Open
[1] Ivan Perez (ESP) bt Lewis Doughty (ENG) 3-0: 11-8, 11-9, 13-11
[7] Ryunosuke Tsukue (JPN) bt Perry Malik (ENG) 3-1: 12-10, 9-11, 17-15, 11-3
[5] Elliott Morris Devred (WAL) bt Liam Marrison (CAN) 3-1: 6-11, 11-3, 11-6, 11-4
[3] Christopher Binnie (JAM) bt [WC] Ben Hetherington (ENG) 3-2: 4-11, 11-6, 11-3, 4-11, 11-5
Joel Arscott (NZL) bt [4] Sean Conroy (IRL) 3-0: 11-3, 11-3, 11-6
[6] Owain Taylor (WAL) bt Finnlay Withington (ENG) 3-2: 7-11, 11-8, 7-11, 11-7, 11-5
[8] James Peach (ENG) bt Henrik Mustonen (FIN) 3-0: 12-10, 11-6, 11-2
[2] Ben Smith (ENG) bt Alasdair Prott (SCO) 3-0: 13-11, 11-8, 11-5

Quarter Final Draw: To Be Played Thursday, June 30
[1] Ivan Perez (ESP) v [7] Ryunosuke Tsukue (JPN)
[5] Elliott Morris Devred (WAL) v [3] Christopher Binnie (JAM)
Joel Arscott (NZL) v [6] Owain Taylor (WAL)
[8] James Peach (ENG) v [2] Ben Smith (ENG)