Mark Sealy , the #2 seed and former eight time Men’s National squash king, claimed his first National Over-40 squash title yesterday (Saturday) as action concluded in the veteran?s events in the Barbados National Squash Championships, which are being sponsored by the Barbados Olympic Association.
In the Men’s Over-40 final at the Barbados Squash Club (BSC), Sealy prevailed over Nigel Griffith , the top seed and defending Barbados , Southern Caribbean and all-Caribbean over-40 champion in a pulsating encounter that could be likened to a three act play. For the first game and a half it was all Griffith, who is known in local squash circles as ‘the Dragon’, as he ran down every ball and returned every shot that Sealy tried. It was vintage counterpunching squash and at times Sealy looked completely bemused as the Dragon ran away with the first game 9/2 and cruised to a 6-0 lead in the second. At this point the mileage that Griffith had to travel in his marathon semi-final the previous night began to take its toll. The rallies and his length grew shorter and shorter and after a change of racket Sealy was finally able to assert himself on the proceedings, with cross court drops and tickle boasts aplenty. In about 15 minutes of sustained brilliance Sealy reeled off 26 out of the next 28 points, taking the second game at seven, the next at love and was 8-1 match ball up in the fourth before Griffith recovered sufficiently for one last stand. Running like a man possessed Griffith then moved from 1-8 down to 9-8 game ball up in a single hand. Sealy pulled back to 9-all, match ball. Then Griffith had another game ball before two close refereeing decisions at 9-all, match ball, brought the match to an abrupt conclusion. First Griffith struck Sealy with a ball probably on its way to the front wall which was called a ‘let’, and then in the following rally Sealy hit Griffith, who was standing in front of him, with a low shot that might not have reached the front wall, but this was called ‘stroke to Sealy’, which ended the match 2/9 9/7 9/0 10/9 in Sealy’s favour. In the over-40 third place match John Cumberbatch was too good for Craig Archer and won 9/6 10/8 9/3. The over-40 plate final was won by Andre Donawa who held off Roger Martin 9/2 9/3 5/9 5/9 9/3 in a 55 minute marathon.
The Men’s Over-45 competition was won by Andrew Nunes who defeated Cliff Nolan in straight games in impressive fashion 9/7 9/3 9/4. Richard Taylor placed third and Frank Jordan came fourth.
In the eagerly anticipated Men’s Over-50 final the top seed Leon Truss easily defeated #2 seed, Richard Walcott, in straight games in a match where Walcott repeatedly moved Truss to the front of the court with boasts instead of keeping him pinned in the back court with length. Anyone familiar with the Truss game knows that he is devastating in the front of the court and so it again proved as he reeled off straight and cross court drops, delicate boasts and volleys, as well as his trademark high lobs that kept dropping into the back corners never to return. It was all too easy as Truss cantered home with few alarms 9/1 9/5 9/7 in 23 minutes. The Over-50 third place was won by Orson Simpson who defeated David Foster in five hard fought games 4/9 9/6 3/9 9/4 9/5. The over-50 plate competition was won by Nick Paddison who defeated Chester Haynes 9/7 9/0 4/9 10/8.
The Senior Ladies Over-35 Open title was won by Sonia Perkins who defeated third placed Sue Rogers 9/1 9/2 9/1. Cyla Seale finished second in this round robin competition with Audre Spence fourth. The Men’s Over-35 competition concluded on Friday night with Marlon White finishing first, Mark Sealy second, Jason Small third and Martin Bynoe fourth. David Foster defeated Charles Evelyn 3-0 to claim the Men’s Over-55 title.
Competition in the Barbados National Squash Championships Men’s and Ladies Open events commences in two weeks time, between May 9th and May 14th at the BSC from 5:45 p.m. each night. Spectators and the press are welcome.
