Nathan and Gail are champions

NATHAN ROBERTSON and Gail Emms gave their beloved fans what they wanted today when they won the mixed doubles title at the Yonex All England Championships in Birmingham.

On a day when China won four of the five titles - with Chen Hong and Xie Xinfang taking the singles crowns - it was Britain's Olympic silver medallists who stole the show.

In scenes never witnessed before at an English event the packed, raucous crowd went wild before, during and after with cries of 'I Love you Gail' and chants of 'England England' as they claimed a title for England for the first time since Simon Archer and Jo Goode won in 1999.

It means performance director Finn Traerup Hansen at last got the All England success he wanted before leaving for his native Denmark at the end of the month.

And it came with a 15-10, 15-12 win over unseeded Thomas Laybourn and Kamilla Julh - but not without a few anxious moments as they saw a 2-0 lead in the second game turn into a 7-2 deficit.

But they hauled themselves back to 11-11 and from then on there was no stopping them. Gail raced to hug coach Andy Wood at the end, Nathan then aeroplaned into Wood and RExy Mainaky's arms while Nathan and Gail's parents, who had flag-waived them throughout the match, were left overjoyed.

Gail & Nathan - Champions	TV interview after their victory
	Full concentration from both players as Gail prepares to serve.
Gail & Nathan receive congratulations from their parents.	VICTORY - CHAMPIONS