After a thrilling victory over the No 1 seed on Friday night, Gavin Cumberbatch succumbed to the experienced No 2 seed, Shawn Badrinauth of Guyana in the finals of the Sunbeach Squash Open on Saturday. Badrinauth, the 2002 champion, was faced with stiff opposition, losing the first game (6-9) but winning the next three (10-9, 9-2,10-8).
Both players displayed a high standard of squash, with many long and exciting rallies. In the fourth game Cumberbatch soared to a 8-4 lead, just one point short of a game but the determined Badrinauth fought back to take the title in four games.
Barbados was more fortunate in the Ladies event where No 1 seed Karen Meakins executed a solid game plan against former Over 35 world champion Annette Pilling of the UK. Meakins won in three straight games and added another title to her growing list of successes on the Caribbean circuit.
The 2003 Sunbeach Squash Open, a week long event was hailed as a success, attracting 50 players including entries from Venezuala, France, Australia, St Lucia and the UK. The Barbados Squash Rackets Association (BSRA) was pleased with the
turn out of players and the number of spectators that supported the event. The presence of the overseas players allows for the local players to sharpen their skills as the Junior and Senior Caribbean Championships approach.
At the presentation of prizes, the BSRA applauded Sunbeach for their growing involvement in sports and culture. The final results were as follows:
Ladies
1st ? Karen Meakins (9-2,9-3,9-4)
2nd ? Annette Pilling UK
3rd ? Sonia Perkins (9-3,9-3,9-3)
4th ? Jenny Armstrong
Ladies Classic Plate winner: Lilianna White
Ladies Plate winner: Elizabeth Johnson
Men
1st ? Shawn Badrinauth (GUY)(6-9,10-9,9-2,10-8)
2nd ? Gavin Cumberbatch
3rd ? Yves Tastet (France)(9-3,9-3,9-6)
4th ? Charlie Sonson (St. Lucia)
Men’s Classic Plate winner: Shawn Simpson
Men’s Repechage winner ? Andy Gill
Men’s Plate winner ? Craig Archer
