The 1997 Leekes British Open Squash Championships was held at the Welsh Institute of Sport with the later stages being held at the Wales National Ice Rink in Cardiff from 31 March- 6 April 1997. The event was won by Michelle Martin for the fifth consecutive year defeating Sarah Fitzgerald in a repeat of the 1996 final.
Seeds
Draw and results
Qualifying round Player OnePlayer TwoScore Hugoline Van Hoorn Melanie Jans 9–0 9–3 9–1 Tracey Shenton Janie Thacker 9–5 9–5 6–9 9–6 Natalie Grainger Maha Zein 9–4 9–1 9–0 Stephanie Brind Senga Macfie 9–4 7–9 9–3 9–4 Kate Major Tegwen Malik * 3–9 9–3 9–1 9–5 Lucky Loser* due to the withdrawal of Cassie Jackman.
First round Player OnePlayer TwoScore Sarah Fitzgerald Salma Shabana 9–2 9–0 9–1 Michelle Martin Jade Wilson 9–7 9–0 9–1 Sue Wright Leilani Joyce (Marsh) 9–4 9–2 9–2 Liz Irving Toni Weeks 4–9 9–2 9–4 9–5 Suzanne Horner (née Burgess) Narelle Tippett 9–1 9–0 9–7 Carol Owens Vicki Cardwell (née Hoffman) 9–0 9–7 9–6 Sabine Schoene Hugoline Van Hoorn 9–5 2–9 9–6 9–3 Claire Nitch Tracey Shenton 9–4 9–6 9–0 Fiona Geaves Natarsha Tippett 9–2 9–0 9–6 Linda Charman Carla Venter 9–0 9–1 9–1 Jane Martin Stephanie Brind 9–2 7–9 9–3 9–7 Rebecca Macree Vanessa Atkinson 9–5 9–0 9–2 Robyn Cooper Sarah Cook 9–6 9–5 5–9 9–2 Natalie Grainger Meeghan Bell 9–5 9–7 10–8 Philippa Beams Kate Major 9–10 9–1 9–1 9–3 Rachael Grinham Tegwen Malik 9–7 9–2 9–10 3–9 9–3
Second round Player OnePlayer TwoScore Martin M Cooper 9–3 9–7 9–5 Owens Beams 9–2 9–4 9–1 Geaves Schoene 9–6 10–8 4–9 9–4 Martin J Grinham 9–6 9–2 9–2 Fitzgerald Nitch 9–4 9–2 9–1 Irving Grainger 9–4 7–9 9–3 9–4 Wright Macree 7–9 3–9 9–4 9–6 9–4 Charman Horner 9–3 9–3 8–10 5–9 9–1
Quarter-finals Player OnePlayer TwoScore Martin M Owens 9–3 9–3 9–4 Geaves Martin J 9–2 9–10 9–4 9–2 Fitzgerald Irving 9–1 9–3 9–2 Wright Charman 9–7 9–5 9–4
Semi-finals Player OnePlayer TwoScore Fitzgerald Wright 9–2 7–9 9–2 9–1 Martin Geaves 9–4 9–0 9–1
Final Player OnePlayer TwoScore Martin Fitzgerald 9–5 9–10 9–5 9–5
References