Caribbean Area Squash Association
Organisation of Squash Playing Territories in the Caribbean
Caribbean Area Squash Association (CASA) President Craig Archer Saturday night said that Guyana has earned an automatic qualification for the 2015 Pan Am Games to be held in Toronto, Canada.
Addressing the gathering at the tournament’s closing ceremony hosted at Grand Coastal Inn on the East Coast Demerara on Saturday Archer said Guyana’s qualification was as a result of the teams’ performances at the just concluded Caribbean Squash Championships which was held at the Georgetown Club.
Final team results are as follows:
Mens Team : Winner Guyana, Second Cayman Islands, Third Jamaica, Fourth Trinidad & Tobago, Fifth Barbados, Sixth OECS
Womens Team: Winner Guyana, Second Barbados, Third Jamaica,
Vets Team: Winner Barbados, Second Guyana, Third OECS, Fourth Trinidad & Tobago
Overall Team: Winner Guyana, Second Barbados, Third Jamaica, Fourth trinidad & Tobago, Fifth OECS, Sixth Cayman Islands
Guyana cemented their dominance of Caribbean squash by winning the team title on July 14 in the Caribbean Areas Squash Association and Digicel sponsored Junior Squash Championships 2011. This is the seventh consecutive year the local side has won the competition. The impressive performance in the singles stage of the championships was carried over into the team segment and the result was Guyana being declared the overall winners in the weeklong competition.
In the male team finals it appeared that a competitive afternoon of squash was expected since heading into the third match of the afternoon the scoreline read 1-1. Alex Arjoon however shifted the balance in favour of the hosts and dispatched his Trinidadian counterpart in a hard fought 5 set match. After that there was no turning back and the remainder of the male team marched on to a convincing 4-1 victory over their island neighbours.
Earlier in the day the female side sealed the team title in similar style suffering only one match loss to Jamaica. The most exciting match in the female team finals was between Guyana’s Akeila Wiltshire and Jamaica’s Mary Jo Mahfood. Wiltshire was tested by a mixture of aggressive strokes and soft touches by the talented Jamaican. After dropping the second and fourth game the tenacious Wiltshire bounced back in impressive fashion to win 11/6 9/11 11/6 6/11 11/9.
The senior squad will be keen on taking some of the confidence drawn from their junior colleagues when they compete in the CASA senior tournament to be hosted by the Cayman Islands in August. Next year looks to be challenging since five players from the victorious side will be elevated to the senior platform. That development will mean that new players without regional exposure will have to take over. The coaching staff is nonetheless confident of going 8-straight in 2012. For now the team is relishing in their hard fought victory.
Guyana made a clean sweep of the Banks Mini Malta-sponsored Southern Caribbean Squash Championships by winning both the men’s and ladies’ team titles yesterday at the Georgetown club
Guyana’s ladies defeated Barbados by a 4-1 margin, while the local men won by a similar margin also over Barbados.
In the veterans’ category, only Dennis `Big Youth’ Dias kept the Golden Arrowhead aloft, winning three games in as many matches. He was crowned Southern Caribbean men’s over-50 `King’ at last night’s presentation.
Speaking to Stabroek Sport, Guyana Squash Asso-ciation President Andrew Arjoon said: “I’m really happy and proud of the team’s performance. They worked very hard during the year to ensure they won this championship and their hard work has paid off.”
Arjoon said he is pleased with the way the championships have been conducted and thanked all the hard-working persons for their support.
He made special mention of Banks’ Mini Malta, the major sponsor of the championships as well as the other corporate sponsors who came forward in a time of need.
In last night’s men’s results: Shawn Badrinauth defeated Gavin Cumberbatch 9/7, 4/9, 9/5, 9/3; Robert Fernandes beat Shawn Simpson 5/9, 9/4, 9/4, 9/2; Damien DaSilva edged Rhett Cumberbatch 9/6, 7/9, 9/3, 10/9; Regan Pollard lost to John Cumberbatch 5/9, 6/9, 7/9; Ramon Chan-A-Sue lost to Marlon White 7/9, 6/9, 6/9.
Earlier yesterday, Guyana’s women beat Barbados 4-1 through victories from Nicolette Fernandes, Gillian Griffith-Lillico, Kathy Shuffler and Denise Jeffrey. Chantelle Fernandes lost her match.
Nicolette Fernandes beat Karen Meakins 9/4, 10/8, 9/6; Shuffler beat Lilianna White 9/2, 9/2, 9/6; Griffith-Lillico defeated Andrea Goodridge 9/0, 9/3, 9/6; Jeffrey beat Nadia McCarthy 9/4, 9/1, 9/3; Chantelle Fernandes lost 9/0, 6/9, 7/9, 5/9.
Yesterday also, OECS ladies beat Trinidad 4-1.
Cheryl Renwick beat Cathy Martin 3-0; Greta Primus defeated Tessa Martin 3-0; Alanna Simmons beat Dianne Julien 3-0 and Lindy Alexander beat Joanna Scoon 3-0. Both teams had only four ladies.
In the veterans’ category, OECS won 3-0 through victories from Sherian Slater who beat Michelle Cornelliac 3-0 in the ladies over-40; Jon Osmon who defeated Lewis Smith 3-0 in the men’s over-50; and Colin Alexander who secured a walk-over from the injured John Holley.
On Friday evening, Guyana defeated OECS. In the men’s competition, Shawn Badrinauth defeated James Bentick 9/1, 9/1, 9/0; Robert Fernandes defeated Charlie Sonson 1/9, 9/7, 9/0, 9/7; Ramon Chan-a-Sue lost to Karl Nassief 10/8, 6/9, 6/9, 2/9; Damien DaSilva defeated Dion Anselm 9/4, 9/4, 9/0; Jerry Bell defeated Shane Slater 9/1,9/1,9/4.
Guyana’s ladies also defeated OECS 5-0, while in the veterans category Guyana lost to OECS 1-2. Guyana’s lone winner was Dennis Dias who beat Jon Osmon 9/6, 2/9, 9/6, 9/0 in the men’s over-50.
And then there was the after-party!
STANLEY Marcus Jr finished the third game with an amazing point to give Guyana the Boys team title and the overall champions’ crown of the Western Union/Supligen Caribbean Junior Squash Championships at the Georgetown Club yesterday.
Earlier, Guyana beat Barbados a second straight year to retain the Girls team title, with a 4-1 victory.
But the Boys team produced the tension, as Guyana aimed to regain the male supremacy they last held in 1997, and at the same time clinch the overall title a tenth time. With the eventual 4-1 victory over Bermuda, Guyana won both titles a second time, having won the first in 1984 in Jamaica. The only other country to hold both titles was Barbados in 2001 at home.
Kristian Jeffrey opened the title hunt, beating Robert Maycock in straight games 9-4, 9-7, 10-8 in the Under-15 encounter, then Damien Da Silva disposed of Michael Shrubb, also in straight games 9-3, 9-2, 9-3, in the Under-17 match.
As expected Bermuda won in the Under-19 (1) with James Stout beating Ryan Farnum 9-0, 9-5, 9-0.
Guyana led 2-1 and 15-year-old Marcus took to the court to face Andrew Robinson in the Under-19 (2) match, which clinched the title. Marcus was the reserve, meaning he could be injected in either the Under-17 or Under-19 where he was required most.
He responded with 9-7, 9-3 wins in the first two games. He seemed set to take the title easily as he led 2-0. But Robinson bounced back and was ahead 7-4, then 8-6, facing match point. After several service changes, Marcus tied the score at 8-8, and went on to win 10-8 to effectively give Guyana both titles and the overall crown.
“I couldn’t believe I did it. It was a better match than most. I knew I had to win and I just played on,” Marcus told Chronicle Sport.
Raphael De Groot put the icing on the cake when he won the academic Under-13 encounter against Robert Forbes after dropping the first game 1-9, 9-5, 9-5, 10-8.
Guyana had already won the Girls team title over Barbados 4-1. Tiffany Solomon stepped in for the injured Andrea King in the Under-19 (1) match, beating Sherice MacDonald 9-5, 9-4, 9-2. Reserve Chantelle Fernandes entered the Under-19 (2) slot and only conceded one point to defeat Maia Blackman 9-1, 9-0, 9-0, while Kristina King disposed of Nadia McCarthy 9-0, 10-9, 9-3, in the Under-17 match.
Expectedly, Bo Harris gave Barbados the only win, putting away Dominique Dias in the Under-15 match 9-1, 9-1, 9-0, but Daina King fought for five matches to eventually defeat Cheri-Ann Parris 9-10, 10-8, 10-8, 7-9, 9-0.
Coach Carl Ince told Chronicle Sport: “Overall, the performance was more than satisfactory. Everyone involved was quite pleased. We admired even the ones who did not win because they showed improvement. It showed that we are going in the right direction.”
Guyana had gained revenge over Barbados in the semifinals, marching to the final with a 4-1, while Bermuda took care of Jamaica, also, 4-1.
In the Boys’ third place play-off, Barbados edged out Jamaica 3-2.
The presentation ceremony was held last evening at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC).
(Article by Isaiah Chappelle of the Guyana Chronicle)
By Isaiah Chappelle
GUYANA’S Damien Da Silva and Barbadian Bryant Cumberbatch successfully defended their titles in the Western Union/Supligen Caribbean Junior Squash Championships at Georgetown Club, Monday night.
New Girls Under-19 champion Andrea King and new Under-17 champion Kristina King added two more gold to Guyana’s eight-medal haul in the Individual championships.
Silver medals came from Tiffany Solomon, Stanley Marcus Jr and Daina King, while Ryan Farnum and Kristian Jeffrey got bronze.
Barbados matched Guyana with gold medals, but ended with one silver and three bronze. The gold came from Bryant Cumberbatch (Boys Under-15), Bo Harris (Girls Under-15) and Cheri-Ann Parris (Girls Under-13), while Nadia Mc Carthy produced the silver and Rhett Cumberbatch, Akil Ross and Sherice Mac Donald the bronze.
Gold medals also went to Bermuda’s James Stout (Boys Under-19) and Cayman Islands Alain Mudeen (Boys Under-13).
Bermuda, also, bagged a silver medal and Cayman Islands a bronze, while Jamaica ended with a silver and a bronze, Trinidad & Tobago a silver and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) a bronze.
The matches of the night were the gruelling encounters between Andrea King and Solomon for the Girls Under-19 title and Da Silva and Marcus for the Boys Under-17 crown.
Andrea King scored the first three points, then went on to win the first game, 9-5, an inkling that she would take the title easily to add to her previous Under-14 and Under-15 crowns.
That was not the case. King raced ahead 5-0 in the second, but Solomon stormed back to level the match, with a 9-7 win, setting the stage for a truly big showdown.
Solomon scored the first three points in the third and King closed in to 2-3. Solomon eventually won 9-2, to take the match lead.
In the fourth, Solomon scored the first point, but King took back the initiative and raced to 8-1, eventually winning, 9-2, sending the match into the fifth and deciding game. King easily won the last, 9-2.
King was unbeaten in four matches to take the title, while Solomon ended with three for the silver, while Sherice Mac Donald (Barbados) took care of Jessica Mitchell (Bermuda), 9-7, 4-9, 10-9, 9-3, to also end with three, but she had lost to Solomon, thus got the bronze.
Immediately after, another scorcher enveloped the main court as Marcus gave Da Silva a strong challenge for the Under-17 crown, but faltered in the fourth, apparently lacking the killer instinct and Da Silva retained the crown.
The first game was tied twice at 3-3 and 6-6 and eventually Marcus won 9-6 to take the match advantage. But Da Silva raced to 6-0 in the second and won, 9-3, to level the match.
Da Silva scored the first four points in the third, but Marcus came back and tied the game at 4-4. Da Silva again went ahead reaching 7-4, but Marcus was back, tying the game again at 7-7. And in an amazing turn around, Marcus clinched the game, 9-7, to take the match lead.
In the fourth, Marcus still had the momentum and scored the first point but Da Silva came back to tie the game at 2-2. Marcus again went ahead, holding the initiative at 4-2, but seemed to lost focus and Da Silva came back to tie the game at 4-4 and raced to 9-4 win to level the match.
The fifth and final game was tied three times, after Marcus scored the first point. Da Silva tied score at 1-1, went ahead. Marcus tied it at 2-2 and went ahead. Da Silva again tied the game at 3-3, surged ahead to 6-3 and controlled the game to eventually win, 9-4.
In the third place play-off, Rhett Cumberbatch (Barbados) beat Chris Binnie (Jamaica), 9-0, 9-6, 9-4.
Stout whizzed to the Under-19 championship title, scoring 27 points within ten minutes. Opponent Gerard Greaves served about three times with scoring a point. Eventual score: 9-0, 9-0, 9-0.
Guyana’s Ryan Farnum defeated of Brad Low (Jamaica), 9-4, 9-5, 1-9, 9-8, to place third.
Bryant Cumberbatch easily disposed of Chris Binnie (Jamaica), 9-0, 9-6, 9-4, to retain his Under-15 crown, while Kristian Jeffrey (Guyana) needed four games to place third over Robert Maycock (Bermuda), 9-5, 4-9, 9-6, 9-0.
In straight games, Alain Mudeen (Cayman) put away Justin Sanguinette (T&T), 9-6, 9-7, 9-2, for the Boys Under-13 title, while Akil Ross (Barbados) beat Raphael De Groot (Guyana), 9-6, 0-9, 10-8, 10-8, for the third place.
Guyana’s Kristina King made light work of Nadia Mc Carthy (Barbados), 9-5, 9-5, 9-1, to take the Girls Under-17 crown, and Chantelle Day (Cayman) defeated Chantelle Fernandes (Guyana), 9-5, 9-2, 9-7, to place third.
Bo Harris (Barbados) needed four games to claim the Girls Under-15 title over Laura Robinson (Bermuda), 9-6, 9-1, 7-9, 9-4, while Kristina Bell (Jamaica) had a tough third place match with Tessa Martin (T&T) eventually winning, 6-9, 10-8, 7-9, 10-8, 9-5.
In the Girls Under-13 final, Cheri-Ann Parris (Barbados) beat Daina King (Guyana), 9-4, 9-4, 9-4, while Sherina Slater (OECS) went through five games to place third over Keisha Jeffrey (Guyana), 8-10, 1-9, 9-5, 9-4, 9-7.
After a rest day yesterday, the team battles begin today from 9:00 hrs at Georgetown Club.