MICHAEL BULL from Winchester won the under-14 plate at British Open in Sheffield.

The talented teenager was one of three Winchester Squash Club prospects to travel north to compete against top juniors from as far away as Australia and Egypt.

Bull, full of confidence since shooting up the national rankings to a career high of six, took on Jamie Douglas from Northumbria in the first round and, in a tense match, Bull was unlucky to lose 9-7 in the fifth game.

Overcoming his disappointment he went on to win the plate event, comfortably beating two more nationally-ranked juniors on the way.

Fourteen-year-old Susie King had the toughest possible draw in the first round having to play Egyptian world number one Sara Badr.

With no expectation of winning, King set about her task with determination, almost taking the third game from the surprised Badr.

In the plate event, King brushed aside girls from Sweden and the Czech republic before losing a very tight final against England number 10 Fiona Maverly, 9-5 in the fifth set.

Alex Woodcock, 12, the junior of the group, had a tournament full of highs and lows.

Losing his first round match to Oliver Pett from Sussex, he then went on a giant-killing spree in the plate event, beating three highly-ranked England juniors for the loss of only a handful of points. His run came to an end at the hands of Jim Bristow 3-1 in the semi-final.

l Hendy Ford Winchester Juniors started their New Year with mixed fortunes for both the first and second sides.

Top-of-the-league Moonrakers proved too strong for the Winchester first side with Johnny Beacham trying to save some points for Winchester in his match with Simba Mugomba. But the match was soon forgotten as they romped to victory against Abshot, leaving them in a mid-table position.

The second side fared much the same, with Moonrakers' seconds proving their nemesis as well.

Simon Retter enjoyed a fine win against Nick Boyes while Jon Morbin narrowly lost in a five-set thriller against Mike Wolley.

Winchester IIs managed to see off Hart in the second match of the day.