After the end of the first day of individual competition in the 17th Cayman Contractor Store 2009 Caribbean Squash Championships at the South Sound Squash Club in Grand Cayman the first two rounds in the individual competition for both men and ladies have been played and all the top eight seeds are now safely through to today?s quarter-finals. As expected, Barbados now has three men and three ladies among the eight quarter-final matches scheduled for today (Tuesday).
In Monday?s 2nd round action Barbados’ top three ladies, #2 Karen Meakins, #3/4 Cheri-Ann Parris and #5/8 Lilianna White, all cruised comfortably through their matches in three straight games against Nakita Poon Kong (T&T), Lauren Mahfood (J?ca) and Victoria Arjoon (Guyana) respectively.
In the 2nd round of the Men’s Individuals, of the five Barbadians last sixteen, three of them progressed to today?s quarter-finals. The #2 seed, Shawn Simpson dispatched Ryan Abraham (T&T) in straight games, as did the #5/8 seed and defending Caribbean Men’s champion, Gavin Cumberbatch, who comfortably defeated the reigning Caribbean U-17 champion, Micah Franklin (Ber), also in straight games. The most exciting match on Monday night was between two popular former Caribbean juniors, now both in their early 20?s. In a match filled with spectacular shot making and incredible retrieving by both of these extremely speedy players, the higher ranked player, the #5/8 seed from Barbados, Bryant Cumberbatch, defeated Jake Kelly (Cay) in four games to the disappointment of the passionate home town crowd. Full match scores are given below (Barbadian players named first):
Men – #2 Shawn Simpson def. Ryan Abraham (T&T) 11-6, 11-3, 11-4
#5/8 Gavin Cumberbatch def. Micah Franklin (Ber) 11-5, 11-3, 11-6
#5/8 Bryant Cumberbatch def. Jake Kelly (Cay) 11-6, 11-5, 4-11, 11-7
#9/16 Mark Sealy lost to #1 Dean Watson (Cay) 10-12, 8-11, 7-11
#9/16 Fabian Goodridge lost to #5/8 Patrick Foster (Ber) 1-11, 5-11, 8-11
Ladies ? #2 Karen Meakins def. Nakita Poon Kong (T&T) 11-3, 11-3, 11-5
#3/4 Cheri-Ann Parris def. Lauren Mahfood (J?ca) 11-4, 11-4, 11-2
#5/8 Lilianna White def. Victoria Arjoon (Guy) 11-5, 11-5, 11-5
For all the details, photos, the draws etc. please click on 2009 Caribbean Squash Championships on the SquashSite.co.uk
The team competition will begin on Wednesday morning and continue until the team finals on Saturday August 22nd. The six countries competing this year are Barbados; Bermuda; Cayman; Guyana; Jamaica & Trinidad and Tobago. The defending team champions from 2005 are: Men (Jamaica); Ladies (Barbados); Veterans (Barbados); Overall Team Champions (Barbados). The 2007 team championship in Jamaica was disrupted by Hurricane Dean and was never completed.
Report by C. Archer
