Barry Gale swept into his first over-50 final by outlasting the top seeded Orson Simpson on an exciting night of squash at the Barbados Squash Club (BSC), Marine Gardens, Christ Church (427-7913). As action continued on Thursday night in the veteran’s competition in the Barbados National Squash Championships, which are sponsored by the Barbados Olympic Association, Gale clawed his way back from a 1-2 deficit and wore Simpson down and eventually won at a canter 10/9 7/9 5/9 9/6 9/4 in 50 minutes. In tomorrow?s final Gale will face the effervescent David Spink, who also upset the #2 seed, David Foster, in the other over-50 semi-final 6/9 1/9 9/3 9/1 9/1.
In the Men’s over-45 semi-finals the top seed, Nigel Griffith, was tested by Cliff Nolan but still won in straight games 9/6 9/0 9/7. In the other Men’s over-45 semi-final, Craig Archer fought off four match points in the fourth game with #2 seed Mickey Armstrong and eventually prevailed in the fifth 4/9 10/9 7/9 10/9 9/6 in a pulsating 62 minute match, the longest of the tournament thus far. The other matches played on Thursday night were won in straight games by the higher ranked player, the exceptions being Mylon Wason, who battled Michael Best and dropped the first game before winning 2/9 9/3 9/1 9/1, and the ever confident Alex McDonald, who defeated the higher ranked, Norman Rice, in five hard fought games in the over-35 plate final.
Full results from Day 3 on May 11th were as follows:
L+45: #1 Elizabeth Johnson defeated #2 Carolyn Last-Johnson 9/4 9/5 9/4
M+35 Semi-final: #1 Marlon White defeated Jason Small by default
M+35 Semi-final: #2 Mark Sealy defeated Tim O?Neal 9/3 9/4 9/0
M+35 Plate Final: Alex McDonald defeated Norman Rice 4/9 9/4 4/9 9/4 9/6
M+40 Plate Final: Mylon Wason defeated Michael Best 2/9 9/3 9/1 9/1
M+45 Semi-Final: #1 Nigel Griffith defeated Cliff Nolan 9/6 9/0 9/7
M+45 Semi-final: Craig Archer defeated #2 Mickey Armstrong 4/9 10/9 7/9 10/9 9/6
M+50 Semi-final: Barry Gale defeated #1 Orson Simpson 10/9 7/9 5/9 9/6 9/4
M+50: Semi-final David Spink defeated #2 David Foster 6/9 1/9 9/3 9/1 9/1
The veteran’s competition continues at the BSC tomorrow (Friday) beginning at 5:45 p.m. Some finals will be played on Friday night with the remainder being played from 1:00 p.m. on Saturday afternoon (May 13th). Admission to the BSC is free and spectators are welcome.
The National Closed Championships will follow, beginning at the BSC on Monday May 15th.
You can follow the action day by day by downloading the updated tournament draw for the veteran’s competition below.
B’dos National Championships (Veterans) – Day 3 – file no. 1
