The defending Caribbean squash champions, Barbados, departed August 9th for Jamaica to participate in the 16th biennial Caribbean Area Squash Association?s (CASA) Caribbean Squash Championships. Two years ago in Trinidad, Barbados won the Ladies, Veterans and Overall Team titles at the 15th CASA Squash Championships. The present team is even stronger than two years ago and is a potent mixture of youth and experience. The Barbados team will be captained yet again by the evergreen veterans, Sonia Perkins and Mark Sealy, who are both vastly experienced and are still at the top of their game. The Ladies team looks very strong at every position, with the Caribbean?s #2 player, Karen Meakins, leading the line. The formidable supporting cast will include the recently crowned 16-year old Caribbean U-19 champion, Cheri-Ann Parris, and the overseas based Jennifer Armstrong. Teenagers Bo Harris and Nadia McCarthy, both former Caribbean junior champions, complete the line up along with another former Caribbean junior champion, Lilianna White, who has been representing Barbados for over 14 years, first as a junior and now as a vital member of the senior team.
The Men’s team will be headed by the current four-time National Squash Champion, Shawn Simpson, and yet another former junior Caribbean Champion, Gavin Cumberbatch, both 23 years old. The youthful exuberance and fitness of 18 year old Bryant Cumberbatch (another former Caribbean junior champion) and 23 year old Fabian Goodridge will be balanced by the experience of eight time former national champion, Mark Sealy, and the dangerous Marlon White.
The Veteran?s team will include the defending Caribbean over-40 champion, Nigel “the Dragon” Griffith, and will also be very hard to beat at every position. The wily Sonia Perkins will play in the Ladies over-40 age group alongside Elizabeth Johnson in the over-50 slot. The Men’s over-60 position will be in the very capable hands of the amazingly fit Errol Pilgrim, while the ageless Leon Truss will contest the over-50 division. The Barbados Team Manager is Orson Simpson and the Team Coaches are Richard Walcott (men) and Karen Meakins (ladies).
Competition in the Caribbean Squash Championships will begin with the first round of the Men’s and ladies? individual competitions on Friday August 10th with the finals scheduled for Monday August 13th. The team competition begins on Tuesday August 14th and the team finals will be held on Saturday August 18th. The full Barbados team line-up (in alphabetical order) is as follows:
Ladies:
Jennifer Armstrong, Bo Harris, Nadia McCarthy, Karen Meakins, Cheri-Ann Parris, Lilianna White.
Men:
Bryant Cumberbatch, Gavin Cumberbatch, Fabian Goodridge, Mark Sealy (Men’s Captain), Shawn Simpson, Marlon White.
Veterans:
L+40 ? Sonia Perkins (Ladies Captain); L+50 ? Elizabeth Johnson.
M+40 ? Nigel Griffith; M+50 ? Leon Truss; M+60 ? Errol Pilgrim.
Officials:
Manager ? Orson Simpson; Men’s Coach ? Richard Walcott; Ladies Coach – Karen Meakins.
Thanks Steve Cubbins!!!
