The men's event, being in London, seemed to have attracted a higher standard of qualifying entry than most 15Ks in the UK but the women's qualifying event is weak even for a 10K, with no ranked players in it at all!
Extraordinarily weak. It's like a back-of-beyond $10k in the middle of Africa. Does that mean that there are UNR direct entries, too? How do they work that one out?
Some juicy easy points up for grabs for some lucky girls.
It's still stronger than last week at Wrexham which was a 25k.
There were four ranked players in Wrexham Q last week - very weak for a 25K, obviously (probably because it was in, well, Wrexham ...), but still stronger than this week's Q draw.
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GB on a shirt, Davis Cup still gleaming, 79 years of hurt, never stopped us dreaming ... 29/11/2015 that dream came true!
Technically speaking you're right Steven, but at least this week they have a full 32 field unlike last week when there were 6 byes. The point I was probably trying to make was that given last week was a 25, you would have thought it would have been much stronger than this week's 10. Anyway moving on today's results are in using the link at the top of the page, and a good win for Fran against Starling, easier than you would have expected.
Main draw is out and only one match is without British interest:
Lisa WHYBOURN (GBR) (1) Vs Malou EJDESGAARD (DEN) Daneika BORTHWICK (GBR) Vs Yasmin CLARKE (GBR) Mai GRAGE (DEN) Vs Alexandra WALKER (GBR) Julia MORIARTY (IRL) Vs Tara MOORE (GBR) (8) Tammi PATTERSON (AUS) (4) Vs Hope JOHNSON (GBR) Alexandra ZANIEWSKI (GBR) Vs Holly RICHARDS (GBR) Stephanie CORNISH (GBR) Vs Amanda ELLIOTT (GBR) Oceane ADAM (FRA) Vs Jade WINDLEY (GBR) (5) Irina RAMIALISON (FRA) (7) Vs Anna FITZPATRICK (GBR) Elizabeth THOMAS (GBR) Vs Samantha VICKERS (GBR) Georgina BASTICK (GBR) Vs Nicola GEORGE (GBR) Laura DEIGMAN (GBR) Vs Jocelyn RAE (GBR) (3) Emelyn STARR (AUS) (6) Vs Hannah JAMES (GBR) Claire RICKETTS (GBR) Vs Lucie REY (SUI) Elisha HANDE (GBR) Vs Isabella HOLLAND (AUS) (2)
Assuming Jos wins her first round match, she is likely to face Starr who beat her a couple of weeks back, so will be a tough ask.
Having seen a lot of the players in Wrexham, I wondered if Phil thought Anna Fitzy has a chance. I know she's facing a seed in R1, but she's under-ranked at present.
Phil, who have you in mind from the bottom half of the draw?
I'm keen on Anna F at the moment having seen her play at Wrexham. Obviously Jos is a contender as well if her back is OK. Holland and Starr are threats and maybe the French girl but don't see them as favourites. I would make it 60/40 we have a finalist in the bottom half of the draw. Jade W can't be completely discounted either. Hopefully not just wishful thinking on my part.