The peerless Karen Meakins imperiously claimed her eighth Barbados Open title, while Englishman Mike Bull upset yet another higher ranked player, as the annual Playfair Barbados Squash Open concluded on Saturday July 7th at the Barbados Squash Club (BSC), Marine Gardens, Christ Church.
In the Ladies final, Meakins, comfortably defeated world # 96 Carrie Hastings of England in straight games for the second time in a week to add to her impressive collection of Barbados Open titles. The England born Barbados resident, Meakins was only seeded at #2 for this event but had beaten the top seeded Hastings 3-0 to win her fourth successive St. Lucia Open final exactly one week earlier on June 30th.
Meakins had won the Barbados Squash Open title previously in 1993, 2000?04 and in 2006 and was clearly up for the challenge right from the opening rally. In the first game she dominated her opponent from the start with punishing drives, both straight and cross court, and only allowed Hastings to serve twice before closing out the game for the loss of two points in only four minutes! To her credit Hastings regrouped and in the long and competitive second game led at one time 7-3 before Meakins reeled her in to win 9-7 in 17 minutes. In the third game Meakins returned to the up tempo game plan she employed in the opening game with similar results. Hastings was only allowed to serve four times in total in this game and bravely tried to rally back from 1-8 down but had no answers to the pace and accuracy of the weapons in the Meakins’ arsenal. The tall, seven time Barbados National champion, Meakins, crisply converted her first match ball and then raised both fists in triumph as she won 9/2 9/7 9/3 in 32 minutes.
The Men’s A final was a much more even contest between the popular local top seed, Shawn Simpson, and the #5 seed, Mike Bull from England. Simpson, the current and four-time National Champion, had the support of most of the watching spectators who had much to celebrate as the lanky left hander used his great reach and deadly straight drop to telling effect to win the first game easily at two. Thereafter both players thrilled the crowd with amazing digs and the speed of movement around the court. Bull took the next two games, both at six before Simpson recovered and in three hands won the fourth game 9-2. In the deciding game Simpson led 4-0 before Bull pulled back to 6-4. Simpson then got to within two points of a famous victory by moving to 7-6 before Bull reeled off the final three points without reply, including a fortunate ?nick? off a defensive sidewall boast at match ball to win 2/9 9/6 9/6 2/9 9/7 in 44 minutes.
In some other matches scheduled, the #2 seed Gavin Cumberbatch won the third place playoff by default from # 3 seed Charlie Sonson (St. Lucia) because Sonson was unable to play after suffering an upper thigh muscle injury in the semi-finals held on Day 5. The # 7 seed, Mark Sealy completed a very successful tournament for him by defeating the #4 seed, Steve Smith (Jamaica) in straight games in the Classic Plate final to clinch fifth position.
In the Ladies draw, Sonia Perkins also had an easy walkover victory in the third place playoff because her opponent Jenny Tamblyn (England) had to return to the U.K. on Saturday afternoon. In the Ladies Classic Plate final two former Caribbean Junior champions squared up but this time experience overcame youth as Lilianna White beat Bo Harris in four close games.
The Men’s B final was won in impressive fashion by Mark Gilkes who did not drop a single game all week and dispatched the top seeded Mickey Armstrong 9/1 9/0 9/6 in just under half an hour. Third place was claimed by the youthful Vincentian Kevin Bailey who defeated veteran squash administrator Craig Archer in four hard fought games. Junior National under-19 representative Nkosi Ross defeated Don Benn for fifth place, while Nkosi?s younger brother Liu Ross prevailed in four games over Andrew Nunes to win the Men’s B Plate competition.
Results from Day 6 on July 7th were as follows (all players from Barbados except otherwise indicated):
Ladies A – Final
#2 Karen Meakins bt. #1 Carrie Hastings (England) 9/2 9/7 9/3 (32 min.)
3rd Place
#4 Sonia Perkins bt. #3 Jenny Tamblyn (England) by default
5th Place (Classic Plate Final)
#5 Lilianna White bt. #6 Bo Harris 9/1 9/5 1/9 9/2 (30 min.)
7th Place
#7 Nadia McCarthy bt. #8 Carla Jackson by default
9th Place (Plate Final)
Nakita Poon Kong (T&T) bt. Ayoni Bradshaw 9/3 9/4 9/2 (21 min.)
Men’s A ? Final
#5 Mike Bull (England) bt. #1 Shawn Simpson 2/9 9/6 9/6 2/9 9/7 (44 min.)
3rd Place
#2 Gavin Cumberbatch bt. #3 Charlie Sonson (St. Lucia) by default
5th Place (Classic Plate Final)
#7 Mark
Sealy bt. #4 Steve Smith (Jamaica) (3-0) 9/0 10/8 9/6 (30 min.)
7th Place
#6 Ryan Abraham (T&T) bt. #8 Fabian Goodridge by default
9th Place (Consolation Plate Final)
Bryant Cumberbatch bt. Marlon White 9/7 9/7 9/6 (40 min.)
Men’s B – Final
#5 Mark Gilkes bt. #1 Mickey Armstrong 9/1 9/0 9/6 (28 min.)
3rd Place
Kevin Bailey (St. Vincent) bt. #2 Craig Archer 9/3 7/9 9/6 9/4 (40 min.)
5th Place (Classic Plate Final)
Nkosi Ross bt. Don Benn 7/9 9/4 7/9 9/7 retired (44 min.)
Plate Final
Liu Ross bt. Andrew Nunes 9/0 1/9 9/1 9/0 (21 min.)
