Current local National Champions Karen Meakins & Shawn Simpson will contest the ladies? and Men’s finals after easily overcoming their respective opponents in Monday evening?s semi-finals in the 20th Southern Caribbean Squash Championships in Georgetown, Guyana. The #2 seed, Meakins, easily overcame team mate and #4 seed Lilianna White 9-0, 9-3, 9-0, while the #3 seed Simpson avenged the top seed, Gavin Cumberbatch?s defeat earlier in the day by disposing of the experienced #5/8 seed James Bentick [OECS] 9-7, 9-1, 9-3. Simpson took control of the pace of the match and dominated his Vincentian opponent with conbination of deft dropshots and punishing drives whenever the openings presented themselves. The tall athletic Simpson, who is also an important member of the Barbados national volleyball team will face the 2006 Southern Caribbean losing finalist, Colin Ramasra [T&T].Currently ranked at #172 in the world and seeded at #2 here, Ramasra, easily dispatched the impressive #5/8 seed, Bryant Cumberbatch [B’dos], in straight games 9-4, 9-1, 9-1.
In the other ladies semi-final the top seed and defending champion, Nicolette Fernandes [Guy], made light work of #3 seed Cheri-Ann Parris 9-1, 9-1, 9-3 despite a spirited effort from Barbados’ top junior player.
Tomorrow night?s (Wednesday) individual finals will see #1 Nicolette Fernandes vs. #2 Karen Meakins and #2 Colin Ramasra vs. #3 Shawn Simpson. Barbadians, Cheri-Ann Parris & Lilianna White will face off for Ladies’ third place, while in the Men’s Individuals 19 year old Byrant Cumberbatch [B’dos] will attempt to continue his impressive play when he faces James Bentick [St. Vincent] in the other bronze medal encounter.
Also on court on tomorrow (Wednesday) ? Gavin Cumberbatch [B’dos] vs. Francisco Valecillo [Ven] for 5th place, Bajans Fabian Goodridge and Mark Sealy will face each other in one plate semi-final for positions in the playoff for 9th place. Nadia McCarthy [B’dos] also plays in the ladies’ plate semi-final vs. Mary Fung-A-Fat [Guy].
