Emma Vickers and Karina Le Fevre carried their Women’s Singles title challenge past an unusual opponent as they made the semi-finals at Ponds Forge, Sheffield.

Vickers had to face her own mother, Jane Vickers, in the semi-final after Jane, and partner Caroline Hallows were given a walkover against Evangeline Collier and the absent Isobel Ashley.

However, if you thought there might be some family sympathy, there was little to be seen as the second seeds romped home to victory. Le Fevre and Vickers winning comfortably 3-0 (11-2, 11-1, 12-10).

Next they will face Chloe Whyte and Jess Dawson who won both their matches on Saturday 3-0 against Emily Standing and Charlotte Spencer and Sue Collier and Sanja Clements respectively.

In the other semi-final, defending champions and heavy favourites Joanna Parker and Kelly Sibley advanced to the last four with a simple 3-0 (11-5, 11-6, 11-5) win over Jas Ould and Emma Tovey.

The top seeds will face youngsters Tin-Tin Ho and Maria Tsaptsinos in the last four after they came through a thrilling five game encounter with Yolanda King and Abbie Milwain. Although they threw away a 2-0 lead, they eventually came back to win the decider and take the quarter-final 3-2 (11-8, 12-10, 5-11, 9-11, 11-8).

Women’s Doubles Semi-Final Draw:

Parker/Sibley vs Ho/Tsaptsinos

Whyte/Dawson vs Le Fevre/Vickers