The biggest talking point yesterday on Day 3 of the 42nd annual Barbados Senior National Squash Championships, which are sponsored once again this year by the Barbados Olympic Association (BOA), occurred well away from the Barbados Squash Club (BSC) courts as the 15-time ladies champion, Karen Meakins, was forced due to illness to withdraw from the event she has completely dominated since she first stepped on the Marine Gardens squash courts in 2001. “Since returning from (vacation overseas) last Friday, I have had what I thought was a bad cold. As there was no improvement over the last few days I visited my doctor this morning (Wednesday) who diagnosed that I have bronchitis. She has prescribed complete rest for a week, and advised that I not play in the tournament. Obviously pulling out of the Nationals has been an extremely difficult decision for me, but I have to follow my doctor’s advice. I have had an amazing run over the past 15 years and I am absolutely gutted that it has to come to an end in this way”, Meakins said in a statement released yesterday.
Meakins, was the top seed and defending Ladies champion, and is a 3-time Caribbean Ladies champion (2010, 2014, 2015) and was expected to extend her record breaking sequence of consecutive National squash titles to 16 this year, as she had only ever dropped one game in more than 45 matches in this event over the past 15 years, but it was not to be. Her opponent in this evening’s semi-final was to be the #3/4 seed, Meagan Best, the reigning 2016 Barbados U-15 and U-17 champion and the 2015 Caribbean GU-15 champion, and she will claim the fortuitous walkover victory to advance to what will surely be the first of many National Ladies finals on Saturday afternoon. Her opponent on Saturday will be the winner of the other semi-final encounter this evening (Thursday) at 6:30 p.m. between the #2 seed, Amanda Haywood, the 2015 Caribbean Under-17 champion, who will be facing the other #3/4 seed and national senior team compatriot, Muffin Stollmeyer. Whatever the outcome this evening there will be a brand new Barbados Ladies champion on Saturday afternoon, as none of the three ladies remaining in the competition has made it all the way to a national ladies final to date.
In the four men’s quarterfinals played last night, there was no such drama. The top seed Gavin Cumberbatch, again had to work hard to overcome his youngest brother, Khamal Cumberbatch (age 14), in four competitive games 11-7, 7-11, 11-6, 11-7. Gavin’s other brothers Rhett and Bryant Cumberbatch who are both seeded at #3/4 both advanced in contrasting fashion. Rhett (28) recorded a walkover over Mark Sealy who had earlier withdrawn due illness, while Bryant (27) eventually claimed a hard fought 3-0 victory over the competitive Don Benn, who squandered a game ball in the first game and went downhill from there to lose 12-10, 11-9, 11-6. The #2 seed Shawn Simpson also had a relatively easy passage into yet another semi-final as he profited from numerous unforced errors from Stewart St. John to prevail in straight games 11-8, 11-3, 11-6.
In other consolation plate matches contested the outstanding victor on the night was little 11-year old, Darien Benn, who sensationally upset his much older opponent, Preston Parris, coming back from 1-2 down to win in five pulsating games 11-6, 8-11, 1-11, 11-6, 11-9 to the delight of the assembled crowd of spectators, who included both of Darien’s proud parents as well as his little baby sister. In other matches played, Jada Smith-Padmore defeated her twin sister Jodi by a 3-1 score line, and Lilianna White was also a 3-1 winner over the daring Chelsie Samuel. Tiny Sumairaa Suleman defeated the twin’s mother, Alison Smith Padmore, in straight games, as did Craig Archer over his 13-year old son, Ryan. Zaki Williams and Zachary Proverbs-Harris rounded off the night with comfortable 3-0 triumphs over Kemar Lord and Alex Stewart respectively.
Results of all matches played at the BSC last night (April 6th) in the Ladies and Men’s Individual competitions are as follows:
Men’s Quarter-finals
#1 Gavin Cumberbatch (d) #5/8 Khamal Cumberbatch (3-1) 11-7, 7-11, 11-6, 11-7
#3/4 Rhett Cumberbatch (d) #5/8 Mark Sealy by default
#3/4 Bryant Cumberbatch (d) #5/8 Don Benn (3-0) 12-10, 11-9, 11-6
#2 Shawn Simpson (d) #5/8 Stewart St. John (3-0) 11-8, 11-3, 11-6
Men’s Consolation Plate 1st Round
Craig Archer (d) Ryan Archer (3-0) 12-10, 11-7, 11-4
Zachary Proverbs-Harris (d) Alex Stewart (3-0) 11-2, 11-4, 11-5
Darien Benn (d) Preston Parris (3-2) 11-6, 8-11, 1-11, 11-6, 11-9
Zaki Williams (d) Kemar Lord (3-0) 11-2, 11-5, 11-3
Ladies’ Consolation Plate 1st Round
Lilianna White (d) Chelsie Samuel (3-1) 11-4, 11-7, 9-11, 13-11
Sumairaa Suleman (d) Alison Smith-Padmore (3-0) 11-4, 11-2, 11-2
Jada Smith-Padmore (d) Jodi Smith-Padmore (3-1) 11-8, 11-9, 3-11, 11-5
Both the ladies and men’s competitions continue this evening (Thursday) evening at the BSC, starting at 5:30 p.m. All semi-finals will be held this evening starting an hour later, at 6:30 p.m. with the finals being contested on Saturday afternoon, April 9th with matches starting at 11:30 a.m. and continuing until the last scheduled match, the men’s final which is scheduled for a 4:00 p.m. start. Admission to the public is free.
Craig Archer
