Squash: Joyce arrival creates squash

New British Open squash champion Leilani Joyce returned home to a tumultuous welcome by friends and family at Auckland airport yesterday.

Joyce won the sport's most coveted title in Aberdeen on Sunday when she beat English world champion Cassie Campion 5-9 9-6 9-3 10-8.

Accompanied by her partner Matt Taylor, Joyce, 25, expected a welcome on getting home but was still caught by surprise by the warm reception.

"It was fantastic, just great, I got such an unbelievable reception when I came through customs this morning to the point where I started to feel a little bit awkward because the passengers were getting held up,'' Joyce said.

"There was an almighty cheer when I came out and I just thought 'oh, my gosh' and all my family, my friends and sponsors were there and it was just amazing.''

Joyce said the long flight from Britain gave her time to take in becoming the second New Zealand woman to win the British Open.

Dame Susan Devoy won the last of her eight British titles in 1992.

"I got time to reflect and absorb the win on the flight home on my own,'' she said.

She said she had learned to develop a healthy new respect for her trophy after discovering what it cost. Joyce only won sterling 4524 ($14,700) for the win, but was more captivated with the trophy fashioned from Edinburgh crystal.

"I thought what a really pretty trophy this is, then a girlfriend asked me do you realise what it is? Do you know what it costs?

"Before that I was throwing it around saying "here, have a hold, have a look' then she said it costs around sterling 2500 and all of a sudden it was like a precious little baby, absolutely beautiful.

"I don't really have a lot of trophies at home, I usually throw them at mum and dad, but I think I will keep this one and they can come around and have a look.''

Joyce dedicated her British Open win to her late brother Quentin, who committed suicide two years ago. She said his death had pushed her to make the most of her own abilities.

"Before he died it was like, I'm just here playing this sport.

"But after he passed away I said 'c'mon life is only short'. As an athlete in a sport I'm only going to be here for possibly another six years so why not make the most of it,'' she said.

"If he'd been here he would have come up, given me a big hug and said 'well done sis, let's go and have a drink'.

"But we go through times like that and I've been really fortunate to have my family around me, we really came together.

It is times like that which make you appreciate something like this.''

Joyce didn't mind being compared with Devoy, saying she couldn't be paid a higher compliment than that.

"At times it can be a bit daunting because we're all trying to find our own identity.

"On the other side of the coin it is such a compliment to be compared with such a great athlete like Susan Devoy, it is so neat.

"... in the last 27 years there has only been one Englishwoman who has won the British Open, which otherwise has been dominated by Australians and one Kiwi in Susan Devoy. "I am so glad to be carrying on that tradition.''

- NZPA