Ouseph makes winning start at nationals

DEFENDING CHAMPION Rajiv Ouseph got off to a flying start when the English National Championships got under way on Friday at the Manchester Velodrome.

The top seed from Middlesex, ranked 40th in the world, outplayed Yorkshire's Richard Morris in the opening round of the men's singles 21-8, 21-15.

And he booked his place in Saturday's quarter-finals by beating Surrey's Robert Kettle 21-12, 21-9 in the second round.

Eighth seed Jamie Bonsels of Yorkshire will be his next opponent after he edged past Shropshire's Mark Sellwood 22-20, 21-15.

Jersey's Mark Constable, the 2002 champion, and the only other player in the draw apart from Ouseph to have appeared in the final, booked his place in the last eight with a 21-15, 23-21 victory over Yorkshire's Alex Marritt.

Fifth seed Constable, who was representing Warwickshire when he was champion, now meets second seed Carl Baxter of Avon.

Elizabeth Cann is top seed in the women's singles and is bidding for a third title in a row and a fourth in five years.

And she comfortably Hertfordshire's England international Rachel Howard 21-19, 21-11.

In the mixed doubles Olympic sliver medallist Nathan Robertson and Jenny Wallwork returned to tournament action after missing the Malaysia and Korea Opens.

The second seeds faced a tricky second round against Nick Ponting and Julie Bradbury, two 40-somethings making a sentimental return to the Nationals more than 13 years after being doubles champions.

Robertson and Wallwork, the second seeds, were made to work for their place in the last eight before winning 21-14 21-17.

European champions and top seeds Anthony Clark  and Donna Kellogg got their bid for a hat-trick of wins off to a sound start with a 21-7, 21-16 second-round win over Ben Stawski and Lauren Smith after a first-round bye.