The 28th edition of the annual Sagicor General Junior National Squash Championships concluded on Sunday April 27th when all the major finals were contested at the Barbados Squash Club (BSC). The reigning Barbados and Caribbean girl?s under-19 champion, Cheri-Ann Parris at 17 years and 8 months old won her fourth straight National under-19 crown with an easy 3-0 victory over Zoe Lisk, who placed second. Tanya Marshall won the girl?s under-17 title with Zoe Lisk once again finishing in runners-up position. Asha Gibbs won the girl?s under-15 title with Dail Rose finishing second. Gylla Mackenzie won both the girl?s under-13 and under-11 titles, in both cases beating little Amanda Haywood into second place.
The boy?s under-19 title was won in an exciting five game match by the steady left hander, Ciaran Raymer, who was playing in his first ever Junior National final. Jonathan O?Dowd placed second to Raymer and also won the boy?s under-17 title for the first time. O?Dowd defeated Moishe Steinbok in the boy?s under-17 final only about an hour after Steinbok had retained his boy?s under-15 title in an exciting repeat of last year?s final against his major rival in this age group, Matthew Mackenzie. This under-15 final also went the full distance with Steinbok cruising to a comfortable 2-0 lead only to be pegged back when Mackenzie changed tactics, and slowed the pace down, especially on his serve, to win the next two games for the loss of only three points. In the final stanza Steinbok managed to regroup, took an early lead and stayed in front without further alarms to win three games to two in 35 minutes.
Brothers Matthew and Gavin Hutchinson easily won their second straight boy?s under-13 and boy?s under-11 titles respectively in straight games. Matthew defeated Stewart St. John and Gavin defeated Danny Chesham.
The full results of the matches played Sunday April 27, 2008 were as follows:
Girls U-19 (final)
[1] Cheri-Ann Parris defeated [2] Zoe Lisk 9/0 9/1 9/0
Girls U-17 (round robin)
[1] Tanya Marshall defeated [2] Zoe Lisk 10/9 9/2 6/9 9/7
Asha Gibbs defeated Kennilee Ward 9/2 9/6 9/10 8/10 9/4
Girls U-15 (final)
[1] Asha Gibbs defeated Gena Knight 9/2 9/0 9/0
Boys U-19 (final)
[1] Ciaran Raymer defeated [2] Jonathan O?Dowd 2/9 9/3 9/0 0/9 9/4 [34 minutes]
Boys U-17 (final)
[1] Jonathan O?Dowd defeated [2] Moishe Steinbok 9/4 9/2 10/9 [33mins.]
Boys U-17 (third place)
Haiden Ward defeated Matthew Mackenzie 9/4 9/6 9/4
Boys U-15 (final)
[1] Moishe Steinbok defeated [2] Matthew Mackenzie 9/7 9/0 1/9 2/9 9/2 [35 mins.]
Boys U-15 (third place)
Matthew Hutchinson defeated Johann Haywood 9/5 9/2 9/3
Boys U-13 (final)
[1] Matthew Hutchinson defeated Stewart St. John 9/0 9/3 9/0 [17 mins.]
Boys U-13 (third playoff)
[2] Gavin Hutchinson defeated Brandon Straker by default
Boys U-11 (round robin)
[1] Gavin Hutchinson defeated Jean-Luc Prudent 9/0 9/1 9/0
Mr. Roger Spencer, of Sagicor General, the loyal sponsor of the Barbados Junior National Championships since its inception in 1979, was on hand at the Barbados Squash Club yesterday afternoon (Sunday) to present all the trophies and prizes to the successful players. The award for Most Improved Player was won by 13 year old Asha Gibbs, while 8 year old Amanda Haywood won the Most Promising Player Award. The prestigious annual Richard Walcott Perpetual Trophy for Best Display of Sportsmanship was won by 12 year old Stewart St. John. Mr. Richard Walcott, the very popular National Junior Coach who has also been re-appointed as Senior National Men’s Coach for 2008 was on hand to present this award himself and to say a few encouraging and inspirational words to the assembled gathering of squash players and their parents.
