There were several brand new national age group squash champions crowned on Saturday as the curtain fell on the Veteran?s competition of the 34th annual, Barbados Olympic Association (BOA) sponsored, Barbados National Squash Championships. The ladies over-40 event was a straight final and the left handed Ayoni Bradshaw prevailed over Cilla Seale in four games to win her first over-40 title. The Men’s over-35 competition was a round robin affair and the top seed Mark Gilkes, as expected, won all his matches in straight games to win his first ever over-35 title. Tony Mackenzie defeated James Punnett to clinch second place. Norman Rice placed third.
The Men’s over-45 final was an eagerly anticipated clash between the top two seeds and close rivals Mickey Armstrong [1] and the defending champion Craig Archer [2]. Unfortunately, both of them were bitterly disappointed when Armstrong had to default due to illness, leaving Archer, a veteran sports administrator the champion for the second year without having to break sweat. In the final last year Armstrong was stranded in Trinidad due to flight problems and had to concede to Archer then also. Musician, Dean Straker, defeated locally based Jamaican horse trainer, Andrew Nunes 9/2 9/1 7/9 9/5 to claim third place in this age group. John Freer easily defeated Brian Robinson in straight games to win the over-45 plate final (5th place).
In the over-50 final, the top seed and defending champion Orson Simpson, was defeated by the younger and fitter Cliff Nolan in four games 2/9 9/0 9/2 9/2. Once again this was Nolan?s first age group national title. The third place match was the most exciting encounter of the day as Barry Gale was made to fight all the way by the plucky David Spink before Gale prevailed in five grueling games 2/9 9/2 10/8 0/9 9/4 in 39 minutes. Spink then returned to the court in less than an hour to play the Men’s over-55 final, and comfortably defeated Chester Haynes in straight games to claim his first national over-55 title.
The results of all the matches played on Saturday, May 10, 2008 were as follows:
L+40 Final: [1] Ayoni Bradshaw bt. [2] Cilla Seale 9/4 7/9 9/5 10/8 (40 mins.)
M+35 Round Robin: [1] Mark Gilkes bt. [2] Norman Rice 9/6 9/3 9/2
M+35 Round Robin: Tony Mackenzie bt. James Punnett 9/4 10/9 9/4 (31 mins.)
[Final places: 1st M. Gilkes; 2nd T. Mackenzie; 3rd N. Rice; 4th J. Punnett]
M+45 Final: [2] Craig Archer bt. [1] Mickey Armstrong by default
M+45 3rd place: [3/4] Dean Straker bt. [3/4] Andrew Nunes 9/2 9/1 7/9 9/5 (37 mins.)
M+45: Plate final (5th place): John Freer bt. Brian Robinson 9/1 9/2 9/3 (12 mins.)
M+50 Final: [2] Cliff Nolan bt. [1] Orson Simpson 2/9 9/0 9/2 9/2 (26 mins.)
M+50 3rd place: [3/4] Barry Gale bt. [3/4] David Spink 2/9 9/2 10/8 0/9 9/4 (39 mins.)
M+55 Final: [1] David Spink bt. [2] Chester Haynes 9/6 9/2 9/2
The Open competition will begin next Tuesday, May 13th at the Barbados Squash Club (BSC), beginning from 4:15 p.m. with the first two rounds of the Men’s Preliminary Competition. The top eight seeded players (men) as well as all ladies will begin their campaigns on Wednesday, May 14, 2008. From Wednesday to Friday (May 14-16th) matches begin at the BSC each evening at 5:00 p.m. and continue until approximately 9:00 p.m. The national finals and the trophy presentation for the Veterans and the Open competitions will be held next Saturday afternoon May 17th.
