Massy United Barbados Junior Open 2014 – RESULTS

Back row (L to R): John Chandler (Massy United Insurance); Craig Archer (BSA President); Joshua Seale (BU-15 champion & BU-17 3rd); Brandon Straker (BU-19 champion); Stewart St. John (BU-19 runner-up); Zachary Proverbs-Harris (BU-17 runner-up); Giovanna Miller-Alexander [VIN] (GU-13 3rd place & GU-15 Consolation plate). Front row (L to R): Ryan Archer (BU-13 runner-up & BU-15 3rd); Khamal Cumberbatch (BU-17 champion & BU-19 3rd); Kemar Lord (BU-15 Consolation plate); Jlan McMaster [VIN] (BU-11 runner-up & BU-13 Consolation plate); Sumairaa Suleman (GU-13 runner-up & GU-15 3rd); Chelsie Samuel (GU-13 champion& GU-15 runner-up); Amanda Haywood (GU-15 champion). — Back row (L to R): John Chandler (Massy United Insurance); Craig Archer (BSA President); Joshua Seale (BU-15 champion & BU-17 3rd); Brandon Straker (BU-19 champion); Stewart St. John (BU-19 runner-up); Zachary Proverbs-Harris (BU-17 runner-up); Giovanna Miller-Alexander [VIN] (GU-13 3rd place & GU-15 Consolation plate).
Front row (L to R): Ryan Archer (BU-13 runner-up & BU-15 3rd); Khamal Cumberbatch (BU-17 champion & BU-19 3rd); Kemar Lord (BU-15 Consolation plate); Jlan McMaster [VIN] (BU-11 runner-up & BU-13 Consolation plate); Sumairaa Suleman (GU-13 runner-up & GU-15 3rd); Chelsie Samuel (GU-13 champion& GU-15 runner-up); Amanda Haywood (GU-15 champion).

King Cricket has a “big Benn” but Barbados Squash certainly has a powerful “little Benn” as was proven at the conclusion of the Massy United Insurance Barbados Junior Squash Open held recently by the Barbados Squash Association (BSA) at the Barbados Squash Club courts in Marine Gardens.

Competing fearlessly in the BU-11 and BU-13 age categories where he was seeded at #1 in both events, 10 year Darien Benn did not disappoint as he stormed through both divisions without dropping a game to claim both first place trophies.

In the BU-11 age group, Benn defeated Marcus Jordan in the quarter-finals 11-2, 11-5, 13-11, and then dispatched Vincentian Malachi McMaster 11-1, 11-6, 11-2 in the semi-finals before overcoming Malachi’s older brother, Jlan McMaster in the final, also in straight games 11-6, 11-1, 11-7 to claim the U-11 title. The #2 seed, Alex Stewart defeated Malachi McMaster 11-9, 11-4, 3-11, 11-8 to finish third. Marcus Jordan won the Consolation plate by beating Aidan Parris 11-8, 11-5, 11-8.

In the BU-13 age group, Benn defeated Vincentian Jlan McMaster in the quarter-finals 11-5, 11-3, 11-4, and then eased past Alex Stewart 11-3, 11-8, 11-9 in the semi-finals before prevailing over rival and #2 seed, Ryan Archer, in the final once again in straight games 11-3, 11-3, 11-2 to claim his second title in as many hours. The #3/4 seed, Alex Stewart defeated the other #3/4 seed, Aidan Parris to finish third in five exciting games 11-5, 10-12, 14-12, 7-11, 13-11 in one of the best matches of the tournament. Jlan McMaster won the Consolation plate by beating Javan Seale 11-2, 11-3, 11-6.

The GU-13 age group was won by the top seed, Chelsie Samuel, who defeated Sumairaa Suleman 11-7, 10-12, 11-3, 11-7 in an exciting four game match. Vincentian Giovanna Miller-Alexander finished third with Jada Padmore fourth.

The GU-15 age group was won by the top seed and current Barbados and Caribbean GU-15 champion Amanda Haywood, who defeated all-comers in straight games, including the #2 seed Chelsie Samuel in the final 11-3, 11-4, 11-7. Sumairaa Suleman showed real fighting qualities to come back from 1-2 down in the third place playoff to beat Jada Padmore in a five game nail biter 11-9, 10-12, 7-11, 11-5, 11-8. Vincentian Giovanna Miller-Alexander won the consolation plate by overpowering Jodi Padmore 11-1, 11-1, 11-0.

The BU-15 age group was won by the top seed Joshua Seale who defeated the #2 seed Christian Armstrong in the final 11-9, 11-7, 11-5. Ryan Archer placed third by beating Kemar Lord 11-4, 11-5, 11-9.

The BU-17 age group was won by the top seed and current Barbados and Caribbean BU-13 champion Khamal Cumberbatch who despite being only 12 years old stepped up two age groups to try to get some competitive match practice before leaving to play in the Canadian and U.S.A. Junior Squash Opens later this month. Cumberbatch effortlessly defeated all-comers in straight games, including the #2 seed Zachary Proverbs-Harris in the final 11-6, 11-5, 11-2. Joshua Seale relinquished a two game lead in the third place playoff to beat Christian Armstrong in a tense five game struggle 11-4, 11-8, 10-12, 9-11, 12-10.

The BU-19 round robin was a keenly contested and even affair and the only event where the top seed did not come out on top. #1 Stewart St. John lost in the final to his main rival in recent years, Brandon Straker, the #2 seed who despite a slight cold still prevailed 11-7, 11-8, 11-9 in a hotly contested final. Khamal Cumberbatch finished third and Zachary Proverbs-Harris finished fourth.

In the trophy presentation that followed the BU-19 final Mr. John Chandler of Massy United Insurance praised the players for the quality of their play and pledged continued support for next year’s event which will be held in first weekend of December 2015. BSA President, Craig Archer, lauded the current crop of Barbadian juniors which included four current Caribbean age group champions, the greatest number of individual champions ever won by Barbados at the Caribbean level in a single year. He thanked the sponsor’s representative for his kind words as well as all the players, especially the ones from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, for their participation. He noted that the 33rd annual Junior Caribbean Squash Championships were scheduled to be held in Barbados in the third week of July in 2015 and thanked the co-tournament directors, Marlon White and Terry Millar, for their hard work in making the Massy United Insurance Barbados Junior Squash Open the success it had been.

The Massy United Barbados Junior Open 2014 concluded on Saturday 6th December after a competitive and enjoyable two days of competition. A summary of the results can be viewed in the below attachments:

Detailed results are as follows: