Top seed Sealy falls to Gilkes in National Veterans Squash Championship upset
Mark Gilkes, defeated the top seeded Mark Sealy to cause a significant upset in the Men’s 35-44 division on Day 3 of the National Veterans Squash Championships, which continued at the Barbados Squash Club.
Competition for the men is being played in five different age groups and the Men’s 35-44 semi-finals were both very competitive. The top seed and former two-time Caribbean Over-40 champion, Mark Sealy, was defeated by the much younger Mark Gilkes in four games in one of the longest matches in the tournament thus far. The experienced Sealy pulled back from 5-9 down in the first game and reeled off six straight points to take an early one game lead, but Gilkes was unfazed and dominated the second game with a run of nine unanswered points claim it 11-3. In the third game the #3/4 seeded Gilkes used excellent volley drops and powerful drives to telling effect keep Sealy guessing but the experienced top seed was still able to pull back from 7-8 down to 10-8 up. Gilkes was not to be denied, however, and won the last four points to take a two games to one lead and a significant, psychological advantage in the match. In the deciding fourth game the pendulum swung to and fro, with Sealy holding a 8-5 lead only for Gilkes to recover to 10-8 match ball. Sealy was able to save one match ball but then Gilkes hit a fortunate backhand crosscourt volley nick off the Sealy serve to clinch his hard fought victory 9-11, 11-3, 12-10, 11-9 in 41 minutes. In the final Gilkes will face the #2 seeded Andy Gill who outlasted a resurgent Marlon White in a fast paced encounter in four games 11-8, 7-11, 11-7, 11-6.
In the Ladies Over-40 Open, the #2 seed Cilla Seale just scraped home against Carolyn Last-Johnson after pulling back from 1-2 down to win in five exciting games 10-12, 11-7, 3-11, 11-5, 11-9.
In the Men’s +45 age group was as expected with Michael Best winning a hard fought battle against Preston Parris in five games 11-4, 9-11, 9-11, 11-8, 13-11. The #2 seed, Sylvester Nurse, had a slightly easier time against Paul Sealy and won in four games 11-7, 2-11, 11-2, 13-11.
In the Men’s +55 round robin one match was played with the top seeded Cliff Nolan easily defeating Orson Simpson in three games 11-3, 11-9, 11-6. Nolan will now face the #2 seed Craig Archer in today’s final.
In the Men’s +60 round robin former M+60 champion Errol Pilgrim impressively defeated the #2 seed David Spink in straight games 11-3, 11-3, 11-6 while Ruairidh (pronounced Rory) Mackenzie beat Chester Haynes in four games, 8-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-8.
Matches continue this afternoon (Saturday) at the BSC in all age groups from 1:00 p.m. with the last match (M +35-44 final)scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
Full matches results for are as follows (all matches at the Barbados Squash Club):
Ladies+40 Open RR Cilla Seale Carolyn bt. Last-Johnson 10-12, 11-7, 3-11, 11-5, 11-9
Men +60 RR Errol Pilgrim bt. David Spink 11-3, 11-3, 11-6
Men +60 RR Ruairidh Mackenzie bt. Chester Haynes 8-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-8
Men +55 RR Cliff Nolan bt. Orson Simpson 11-3, 11-9, 11-6
Men +45 RR Sylvester Nurse bt. Paul Sealy 11-7, 2-11, 11-2, 13-11
Men +45 RR Michael Best bt. Preston Parris 11-4, 9-11, 9-11, 11-8, 13-11
Men 35-44 S/F #3/4 Mark Gilkes bt. #1 Mark Sealy 9-11,11-3, 12-10, 11-9
Men 35-44 S/F #2 Andy Gill bt. Marlon White 11-8, 7-11, 11-7, 11-6
Men 35-44 Plate 1st rd. Brian Lowe bt. Ran Dana 6-11, 11-8, 11-13, 11-7, 11-7
Men 35-44 Plate 1st rd. David Lewis bt. Julian Welch 11-4, 11-9, 11-6
Men 35-44 Plate S/F Leon Truss bt. David Lewis 12-10, 11-8, 11-7
