In the boys team final in the 20th annual Junior Caribbean Area Squash Association (CASA) Championships held last Saturday evening at the Liguanea Club in Kingston, Jamaica, Barbados beat Guyana 4-1 (14-4 in games), to win for the fourth time in succession, with only Rhett Cumberbatch losing (2-3) in the under-17 age group.
In the girls team final, Barbados lost to Guyana 1-4 (3-12 in games), with Bo Harris being our only winner, in three straight games, in the under-13 age group. The overall team championship came down to games won and by the closest of margins (17 games to 16) Barbados emerged victorious to claim its third overall title in four years and fourth overall. Guyana placed second overall while Jamaica placed third.
In the individuals held earlier in the week, Gavin Cumberbatch became the first Barbadian boy to claim an under-19 Caribbean title and closed out his outstanding junior career with his fourth junior Caribbean title. His younger brother Bryant, who now also has four individual Caribbean titles, duly won his first under-15 trophy, while little Bo Harris claimed her second successive girls under-13 trophy, becoming the eighth Barbadian girl to capture more than one junior Caribbean individual crown.
All Barbadian players on tour enjoyed tremendous success: e.g. Fabian Goodridge and Shawn Simpson placed 2nd and 3rd respectively in the boys’ under-19; Rhett Cumberbatch placed 3rd (BU-17); and Nkosi Ross was runner-up in his age group (BU-13). Sherice MacDonald placed 3rd (GU-19); and Nadia McCarthy was 2nd (GU-15). Several other players did very well in the various plates, but 11 year old Cheri-Ann Parris must be especially congratulated for playing in our under-19 #2 position and winning against Jamaica in the semi-finals to help us to a 3-2 victory to get us into the girls final, and therefore give us a chance to claim the overall title.
On Monday evening, on their return to Barbados the returning team members, plus the five extra players (Steven Miller; Alex Garcia; Jason Cox; Alex Jordan and Akil Ross) who played only in the individuals, enjoyed some of Rosie McCarthy’s famous hospitality when food and drinks flowed aplenty at the McCarthy residence. Thanks again Rosie and Ken and congratulations to the tireless team Manager, Monty Cumberbatch, the outstanding Coach, Richard Walcott, and the entire junior Barbados team (Gavin Cumberbatch; Fabian Goodridge; Shawn Simpson – reserve [BU-19]; Rhett Cumberbatch [BU-17]; Bryant Cumberbatch [BU-15]; Nkosi Ross [BU-13]; Sherice MacDonald [GU-19]; Nadia McCarthy; Lea Solomon; Maia Blackman – reserve [GU-15]; Bo Harris and Cheri-Ann Parris [GU-13]- you have done Barbados proud!!
Report by Craig Archer,
BSRA Secretary
