Beere beats British champ

LUCY BEERE, who won the Guernsey women's singles title in 2008, took the scalp of the British Isles champion Marie Todd from Scotland in the fourth round of the World Champion of Champions singles tournament in Ayr yesterday.

Beere's superb 6-8, 10-5, 3-1 victory made up for her third round defeat at the hands of Israeli Laureen Harris and kept her on course to make the frame for next week's quarter-finals.

'Laureen was very steady,' said Beere (pictured). 'After I won the first set quite easily, 15-4, she got her head down and deserved to win the second set, although I had a chance to win it on the last end.'

Trailing 4-9 in the second set, Beere scored a full house to keep her hopes alive, but dropped a single on the next end and, needing two for the match, could manage only a single on the last end.

'I have only myself to blame,' said Beere, who trailed 0-3 in the tiebreak, and had to sign a frustrating 4-15, 10-9, 3-1 card.

'Edna used to be manager of the England junior team when I played for them, so I knew I was in for a hard game.'

The tall Scot won the first set, 8-6, but Beere took advantage of some loose play to win the second, 10-5, and took the tiebreak, 3-1.