Karen Anderson of Jamaica outlasted the defending Barbados Open champion Karen Meakins to claim her first Ladies Open title and Shawn Badrinath successfully defended his Men’s Open title as the curtain came down on the Caribbee / Playfair Barbados Squash Open at the Barbados Squash Club (BSC) yesterday evening (Saturday).
Local favourite and top seed Meakins, who had previously won the Barbados Open title in 1993 and from 2000 to 2004 had never lost a match in this event dropped the first game at seven after an uncharacteristically shaky start but looked in command and took the following two games for the loss of five and two points respectively. Most spectators expected the #2 seeded Anderson to fade at this point but, to her great credit, she played patient deliberate squash and never panicked as Meakins attacked relentlessly down the backhand wing. As the rallies grew longer a few unforced errors began to creep into the Meakins game and several defensive boasts began to find the tin. Anderson closed out the fourth game at six, but in the deciding fifth game Meakins opened up with some attacking volleys and drops and rushed to a 7-3 lead. Anderson dug deep into her reserves from this moment on and deliberately kept hitting the ball into the back court and waited for an opening. Meakins was only two points away from a seventh title and unwisely tried to be too careful and made several unforced errors as one by one the points started going Anderson?s way.
In a single hand 3-7 became 8-7 match ball to Anderson . Meakins had one more chance to even the score but could not convert on her serve and then it was over. After 66 minutes, and on her second match ball, Anderson played a forehand boast that left Meakins floundering and flat footed on the tee to win 9/7 5/9 2/9 9/6 9/7. With a loud shout of glee Anderson raised both arms in the air in triumph to celebrate her first ever victory over Meakins. Earlier the ladies third place had been won by #3 seed Alana Simmons (St. Lucia) who outlasted #4 Lilianna White in five hard fought games, 9/7 9/5 4/9 5/9 9/3. Nadia McCarthy defeated Carla Jackson 3-0 for fifth place and Sue Rogers defeated Elizabeth Johnson 3-2 for seventh place.
The Men’s Open final had none of the drama of the Men’s final last year, or of this year?s ladies final. The Men’s ?A? top seed, Shawn Badrinath (Guyana) blew away the #4 seed, Steve Smith (Jamaica) 5/9 9/1 9/0 9/1 in 28 minutes to win his fourth straight Barbados Open title. In the third place playoff, the local national squash champion, Shawn Simpson completed a successful tournament by defeating #3 seed, Charlie Sonson (St. Lucia), 9/6 9/1 8/10 9/3. Marlon White impressively defeated #2 seed Gavin Cumberbatch 3-0 for fifth place and 16 year old Chris Binnie ( Jamaica ) demolished top local junior, Bryant Cumberbatch, 3-0 for seventh.
Full results of the matches played on Saturday were as follows (all local players unless noted otherwise):
Men’s ?A?
1st Place – #1 Shawn Badrinath ( Guyana ) defeated #4 Steve Smith ( Jamaica ) (3-1) 5/9 9/1 9/0 9/1
3rd Place – #5 Shawn Simpson defeated #3 Charlie Sonson ( St. Lucia ) (3-1) 9/6 9/1 8/10 9/3
5th Place – #6 Marlon White defeated #2 Gavin Cumberbatch (3-0) 9/4 10/8 9/7
7th Place – Chris Binnie ( Jamaica ) defeated Bryant Cumberbatch (3-0) 9/5 9/0 9/5
Plate Final (9th ) ? #7 Mark Sealy defeated Steven Peever ( Canada ) (3-1) 9/7 1/9 9/4 9/6
Ladies ?A?
1st Place – #2 Karen Anderson ( Jamaica ) defeated #1 Karen Meakins (3-2) 9/7 5/9 2/9 9/6 9/7
3rd Place – #3 Alana Simmons ( St. Lucia ) defeated #4 Lilianna White (3-2) 9/7 9/5 4/9 5/9 9/3
5th Place – Nadia McCarthy defeated Carla Jackson (3-1) 10/8 9/3 4/9 9/7
7th Place – Sue Rogers defeated Elizabeth Johnson (3-2) 9/4 8/10 3/9 9/1 9/4
Plate Final (9th ) ? Maia Blackman defeated Edna Corbette (3-2) 9/7 9/3 4/9 1/9 9/4
Men’s ?B?
1st Place ? Shane Slater ( St. Vincent ) defeated #1 Jason Small (3-1) 9/1 9/7 7/9 9/4
3rd Place – #2 Peter King defeated Mickey Armstrong by default
5th Place ? Steven Miller defeated Dean Straker (3-0) 9/2 9/1 9/5
7th Place ? Tariq Williams ( Guyana ) defeated Richard Marsh by default
Plate Final (9th ) ? Orson Simpson defeated Cliff Nolan (3-0) 9/6 9/0 9/6
Plate Semi-Final ? Orson Simpson defeated Roger Martin (3-0) 9/6 9/5 9/5
Plate Semi-Final ? Cliff Nolan defeated Andrew Nunes (3-2) 9/6 1/9 9/3 7/9 9/4
