IT took medallists from the Olympic Games in Rio to halt the progress of Greg Mairs, from Northwich, and Jenny Moore in the US Open.

The duo, making their debut in the competition at Fullerton in California, pushed Malaysian combination Peng Soon Chan and Liu Ying Go all the way before bowing out 14-21 21-16 14-21 at the quarter-finals stage.

Mairs and Moore turn their attention next to the Canada Open.

They travel to Calgary with confidence boosted by a stunning win against Dutch pair Jacco Arends and Selena Piek, the third seeds, in the first round at the US Open.

Their run continued with a straight sets success against locals Kwong Beng Chan and Jenna Gozali before they ran into a combination that took silver in Brazil two years ago.

Mairs, a former student at Sir John Deane’s College and Weaverham High School, and Moore were one of a half-dozen European mixed pairs to reach the last eight.

They are enjoying a rich vein of form on the international stage that continued last month with a mixed doubles title at the Slovenia International in Medvode.

That followed overall victories in the latter stages of 2017 in both the Norwegian International and the Irish Open.

Results

Yonex US Open

Fullerton Titan Gym, California

Mixed doubles

First Round

Greg Mairs & Jenny Moore ENG bt Jacco Arends & Selena Piek NED (3) 21-19 21-17

Last 16

Greg Mairs & Jenny Moore ENG bt Kwong Beng Chan & Jenna Gozali USA 21-17 21-19

Quarter-finals

Greg Mairs & Jenny Moore ENG lost to Peng Soon Chan & Liu Ying Go MAL (5) 14-21 21-16 14-21