The veteran’s competition in the 33rd edition of the annual Barbados National Squash Championships which is sponsored by Sports Lottery Barbados, the lottery of the Barbados Olympic Association, continued on Thursday night May 3rd at the Barbados Squash Club (BSC), Marine Gardens, Christ Church.
The only upset for the night was in the ladies over-45 division where the unseeded Audre Spence fought back from a two game deficit to prevail over the #2 seed Cilla Seale in five close games. Seale seemed to have the match all wrapped up while at 2-0 and 8-6 match ball up in the third game, when a momentary lapse of concentration and nasty fall at 9-all, match ball, came to the aid of her opponent. Seale was never quite the same after turning her ankle over and Spence, buoyed by her very vocal and frank supporters in the audience, snatched the third game 10/9 and gradually wore down her younger opponent to win 9/10 4/9 10/9 9/3 9/7 in exactly one hour, which is the longest match of the tournament thus far.
In all the other semi-finals the higher seeded players won to validate the work of the seeding panel. The over-40 top seed, Mark Sealy, dispatched Roger Martin in straight games for the loss of just two points. Sealy’s opponent in the final tonight will be the seemingly tireless #2 seed, Nigel Griffith, who was fully extended by the #3 seed Marlon White, and had to recover from a 1-2 deficit before winning in 52 minutes 3/9 9/6 7/9 9/1 9/4. The over-45 final will be contested by the #1 seed Mickey Armstrong, who comfortably disposed of Cliff Nolan in straight games, and the #2 seed, Craig Archer, who wore down the wily veteran, Leon Truss in four tough games 7/9 9/0 9/2 10/8 in just over half an hour.
In the over-50 competition there was none of the drama of opening night. The evergreen top seed Errol Pilgrim, who is now well into his sixth decade as a player, swept past Ronald Watson in straight games for the loss of just six points, while the #2 seed, Orson Simpson, looked to be full of running as he vanquished the gutsy David Spink also in straight games. The veteran’s competition concludes on Friday, May 4th with matches beginning at 5:45 p.m. Admission to the BSC is free and spectators are welcome.
Results from Day 2 on May 3rd were as follows:
L+45: Audre Spence defeated #2 Cilla Seale 9/10 4/9 10/9 9/3 9/7
M+40 Semi-final: #1 Mark Sealy defeated #4 Roger Martin 9/2 9/0 9/0
M+40 Semi-final: #2 Nigel Griffith defeated #3 Marlon White 3/9 9/6 7/9 9/1 9/4
M+40 Plate: Dean Straker defeated Michael Best 9/5 9/0 9/0
M+45 Semi-final: #1 Mickey Armstrong defeated #4 Cliff Nolan 9/5 9/5 9/1
M+45 Semi-final: #2 Craig Archer defeated #3 Leon Truss 7/9 9/0 9/2 10/8
M+45 Plate: Frank Jordan defeated Peter Raymer 9/6 9/5 9/1
M+50: #1 Errol Pilgrim defeated #4 Ronald Watson 9/3 9/0 9/3
M+50: #2 Orson Simpson defeated #3 David Spink 9/3 9/6 9/0
The National Closed Squash Championships will begin on Monday night, May 7th, at the BSC starting at 5:45 p.m. and will continue each evening until Friday, May 11th beginning each night at that same time. The finals will be held on Saturday afternoon, May 12th. You can follow the action day by day by downloading the updated tournament draw for the veteran’s competition by following the link below.
B’dos National Championships 2007 (Veterans) – Day 2 – file no. 1
