Two more trophies have been added to the Under 17 Caribbean squash champion?s expanding haul of squash silverware. Local squash princess, Cheri-Ann Parris placed second in the Under-17 and third in the Under-19 age groups, in the inaugural Colombian Junior Squash Open that was held from April 26-29th in the Club Campestre Los Arrayanes in Bogota, Colombia.
This tournament was organised by the Colombian Squash Federation and for its debut the Federation invited top juniors from England, Ecuador, Guatemala, Argentina, USA, Canada and Barbados, among others.
Playing in two age categories was tough for Cheri-Ann who had to play ten matches in three days, but only lost to the eventual winner in both age groups, Colombian Catalina Pelaez, and the under-19 runner up Cristina Amaya.
Cheri-Ann?s impressive showing reinforces Barbados’ increasing competitiveness in the sport of squash both within the region and internationally. As recently as November 2004 Cheri-Ann was a key member of the Barbados girls team that won a silver medal at the 3rd Pan-American Junior Squash Championships in Santiago, Chile. On that occasion Barbados was runner-up to Colombia, the top girl?s team in South and Central America. Cheri-Ann followed up that achievement in 2005 (while playing for a Caribbean Developmental girl’s team) with a bronze medal in the 4th Pan-American Junior Squash Championships in Ambato, Ecuador.
In 2006 Cheri-Ann was also a member of the Barbados senior ladies team that claimed a historic bronze medal for Barbados at the XX Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in Cartagena, Colombia – one of three medals won in squash out of a record haul of 19 medals for Barbados at the CAC Games.
This most recent journey to Bogota, Colombia was a most rewarding experience for Cheri-Ann who is currently hard in training to try to retain her Caribbean Under-17 title at the Junior Caribbean Squash Championships in July in Tortola, BVI.
Cheri-Ann is deeply indebted to Sagicor General for its generous assistance in helping her to get to Colombia, and to her coach, Gavin Cumberbatch, and to all the other persons who have assisted her along the way to such a great achievement.
