Below are a collection of articles leading up to the conclusion of the Sunbeach Squash Open, which started on Sunday.
Sunbeach Squash tourney starts on Sunday
WHEN the Sunbeach Squash Open 2003 serves off on June 15 there will be exciting competition in the Ladies and Men’s Events.
Local squash enthusiasts will be joined by regional and international players for this six day event which will be hosted by the Barbados Squash Rackets Association (BSRA) at the Barbados Squash Club in Hastings. This event, formerly known as the Rockley Open is being sponsored by Sunbeach for the first time, and is shaping up to be a thrilling spectacle with a high level of squash expected.
Barbados’ No. 1 player Gavin Cumberbatch has returned from Connecticut for the event and will be looking to continue to make his mark on the Caribbean circuit. Cumberbatch will be seeded No. 3 behind Yves Tastet (France) and Shawn Badrinauth (Guyana). Charlie Sonson of St. Lucia will be the No. 4 seed in the men’s event. Other top Barbadian players are: Andy Gill (recently crowned National Champion), Marlon White and Shawn Simpson, who will also be vying for glory. In the ladies’ event Karen Meakins, the current Southern Caribbean Champion and three-time Barbados National Champion is the No. 1 seed and will provide stiff competition for all opponents.
Annette Pilling of the UK is seeded No. 2 in the ladies’, while Barbadians Sonia Perkins and Jenny Armstrong are seeded No. 3 and No. 4 respectively. Unfortunately, former national champion Andrea Goodridge, has had to pull out due to an injury.
Matches will be played daily at the Barbados Squash Club from 5:45 pm, with the finals on Saturday afternoon.
Player profiles for the overseas players are below: Yves Tastet (France) – Ranked No 16 in France, Yves Tastet has made a career in squash, working full time as a coach in Cognac. Tastet is actively playing around Europe in various leagues and recently defeated an Australian player with a PSA world ranking of 100. Tastet visited the Caribbean in 2002 to take part in the St. Lucia Open and lost a hard fought battle to James Bullock of Jamaica (3-2, 10-9 in the fifth) in the semi- finals. Tastet is seeded No. 1 for the Sunbeach Open.
Shawn Badrinauth (Guyana) – Badrinauth, the defending Barbados Open Champion from 2002, will be seeking to retain his title at the Sunbeach Open 2003. Badrinauth, a national team member joins us from his homeland of Guyana and will be preparing for the CASA Championships to be hosted in Barbados at the same venue in August 2003.
In the 2002 Barbados Open, Badrinauth defeated Barbados’ No. 1 player Gavin Cumberbatch. In November in El Salvador, Badrinauth was a part of the Bronze medal trio in the men’s event. Badrinauth was integral in Guyana advancing to the medal round, by fighting back from 2-0 down to pull off a victory against Jamaica’s Steve Smith.
Charlie Sonson (St. Lucia) – Sonson is no stranger to Barbados and his talented game is a favourite with spectators around the Caribbean. Sonson, a St. Lucian, has been representing the OECS for many years and has travelled to the Commonwealth games and more recently the Central American and Caribbean Games in El Salvador. Sonson works as a squash coach in St. Lucia and is leading the charge with the development of young players there.
Fabien Magne (France) – Magne, 32 years old, also hails from France and has visited the Caribbean for the past six consecutive years. Magne began playing at 21 years of age and in 1998 was ranked 40th in France. After a recent hiatus from squash he has returned with fresh enthusiasm.
Hernan Marino (Venezuela) – This will be Marino’s first visit to Barbados since he impressed in 1998 at the Southern Caribbean Championships. Marino, an avid player, is 25 years of age and has represented Venezuala at the regional level for several years.
Annette Pilling (UK) – Pilling, a former semi- professional player was once ranked at No. 12 in the UK. A few years ago she claimed the World Over 35 title. This seasoned player continues to enjoy her squash and is currently the assistant national coach responsible for the English Junior Squash programme, working within the Sport England lottery funded programme since 1998. She is also a personal coach to a number of pro players and is continually travelling to the junior European and world team championships with the English Teams.
Her coaching career has afforded her some success, not least of which is the fact that England currently holds all world team titles in Under 15, Under 17 and Under 19 age groups with the exception of the Under 19 boys.
Caroline Glain (France) – Glain currently plays club league and graded tournaments on the French circuit in pursuit of improving her National ranking close to No. 40.
Glain, a natural athlete, is also an ex-professional freestyle skier and national handball player with several European Club Handball Titles under her belt. In her occupation as a fascia therapist she works predominantly with pro sportspeople, mainly footballers and squash pros.
Sunbeach Squash tourney underway
The Sunbeach Squash Open 2003 moved into full swing Monday evening at the Barbados Squash Club. The Men’s event, a draw of 32, began Sunday and continued Monday with preliminary matches
The tournament is already thrilling spectators with the mix of experienced and youthful players. Monty Cumberbatch, father of the Cumberbatch trio (Gavin, Rhett & Bryant) is playing in the tournament along side all three of his sons. Monty, a seasoned player and manager of the Junior National Team for several years, rejoined the tournament scene after an eight year hiatus. 14 year old Bryant Cumberbatch is making an impression with wins over Frederik Crouzet of France in four games and Jason Small (Bdos) in a five setter. Rhett Cumberbatch defeated Jonathon Foster in three straight games, following an impressive win by Foster over Craig Archer.
Algy Leacock, who first played the game in 1975, has also made a come back but had a difficult first round match, succumbing to Haydn Jones (UK).
The Ladies event, also in preliminary stages, saw a competitive match between Edna Corbette and junior National player, Maia Blackman. The more experienced Corbette, used her unorthodox and energetic play to clinch victory in five games.
Play continues at 5:45 daily at the Hastings venue with the final matches on Saturday.
Sunday June 15 – Men’s Preliminaries 1st round
Jason Small def Sharu Commissiong 9-0,9-1,9-0
Alex Garcia def Sylvester Nurse W/O
Leon Truss def Monty Cumberbatch 9-0,9-0,9-2
Haydn Hones def Algy Leacock 9-2,9-2,9-5
Jonathon Foster def Craig Archer 1-9, 4-9, 9-4, 9-7, 9-2
Rawle Jackson def Alex Jordan 9-6, 9-2, 9-4
Cliff Nolan def Andre Donawa 9-10, 9-1, 10-8, 3-9, 9-6
Peter King def Frank Jordan 9-1, 9-5, 9-7
Monday June 16 – Men’s Prelim 2nd Round / 3rd Round
Bryant Cumberbatch def Frederik Crouzet 9-0, 5-9, 9-4, 9-4
Hernan Marino def Alex Garcia 9-0, 9-0, 9-0
Adrian Deane def Leon Truss 9-6, 4-9, 9-3, 4-9, 9-4
Rhett Cumberbatch def Jonathon Foster 9-0,9-3,9-6
Nigel Griffith def Rawle Jackson 9-2, 9-3, 7-9, 9-0
John Cumberbatch def Haydn Jones 9-4, 10-8,9-2
Fabien Magne def Cliff Nolan 9-0, 9-1, 9-4
Bryant Cumerbatch def Jason Small 3-9, 9-5, 9-1, 4-9, 10-8
Ladies Preliminaries
Cherie Ann Paris def Bo Harris W/O
Elizabeth Johnson def Jamie Lee Seale 9-1, 9-1, 9-5
Edna Corbette def Maia Blackman 9-10, 6-9, 9-5, 9-5, 9-2
Suzanne Griffith def Alexandra Leacock 9-4, 9-1, 9-3
Griffith Upsets in Sunbeach Squash
When the Sunbeach Squash Open continued Tuesday at the Barbados Squash Club
Nigel Griffith powered by recently crowned National Champion, Andy Gill in three straight games to provide the first upset of the tournament. The Over 40 National Champion, a dedicated National team member for several years, moved by Gill 9-7,9-6,9-4. Play continues daily at 5:45 pm.
Ladies
Lilianna Seale def Elizabeth Johnson 9-4,9-5,9-5
Caroline Glain (FR) def Cherie Ann Paris 9-0,9-1,9-0
Tracey Roett def Edna Corbette 9-4,9-3,9-0
Nadia McCarthy def Suzanne Griffith W/O
Men
Nigel Griffith def Andy Gill 9-7,9-6,9-4
Marlon White def Timothy Oneal 9-3,9-7,9-3
Sam Wendt (AUS) def Fabien Magne (FR) 9-8,9-6,9-4
Yves Tastet (FR) def Adrian deane 9-4,10-8,9-8
Shawn Badrinauth (GUY) def Hernan Marino (VEN) 4-9,9-3,9-1,9-0
Shawn Simpson def Bryant Cumberbatch 9-7,9-2,9-1
Charlie Sonson (ST L) def Rhett Cumberbatch 9-6,10-8,8-9,9-0
Gavin Cumberbatch def John Cumberbatch 9-3,9-7,9-2
SUNBEACH SQUASH OPEN 2003 CONTINUES
The Sunbeach Squash Open continued on Wednesday evening at the Barbados Squash Club with play being contested in the Ladies Main Draw and the Men’s Plate. Men’s quarterfinal action is scheduled for Thursday night, with semifinal action on Friday night and finals on Saturday afternoon from 1:15 pm.
In the Ladies event, the top seeds cruised through their quarter final matches unscathed.
Karen Meakins (No1) wasted no time in defeating Tracey Roett in three straight games while the No 2 seed of UK, Annette Pilling, dropped one game before defeating Nadia McCarthy, the Barbadian Under 19 champion. Sonia Perkins (No 3) made light work of fellow national team member Lilianna White while Jenny Armstrong (No 4) struggled initially but then found her rhythm and cruised to victory over Caroline Glain of France (3-1).
Ladies Main Draw
Karen Meakins def Tracey Roett 9-0,9-2,9-3
Annette Pilling (UK) def Nadia McCarthy 7-9,9-1,9-0,9-4
Sonia Perkins def Lilianna White 9-3,9-3,9-3
Jenny Armstrong def Caroline Glain (FR) 6-9,9-4,9-5,9-1
Men’s Plate
Andre Donawa def Frank Jordan 9-1,9-0,9-3
Monty Cumberbatch def Alex Jordan 9-6,9-0,9-2
Craig Archer def Sharu Commissiong 9-1,9-2,9-0
Frederik Crouzet def Algie Leacock 9-0,9-1,10-8
Andy Gill def Jonathon Foster 9-3, 9-1, 9-6
Hernan Marino def Clif Nolan 9-5,9-2,9-2
Bryant Cumberbatch def Rawle Jackson 10-8, 5-9, 9-3,9-0
Rhett Cumberbatch def Peter King 9-4,5-9,9-3,9-4
Leon Truss def Timothy Oneal 9-6,9-0,1-9,9-6
Adrian Deane def Jason Small 6-9,9-5,9-2,9-0
Fabian Magne def Alex Garcia
Heated Play in Sunbeach Squash
Action heated up in the 2003 Sunbeach Squash Open when the Men’s Quarterfinals were decided Thursday night at the Barbados Squash Club in Hastings. Marlon White of Barbados (seeded 5-8) lost after a brave effort against No 1 seeded Frenchman, Yves Tastet. After losing the first game White, with a fine display of winning shots, won the second and third games. He could not match the consistent finesse of Tastet who stepped up his game as the match progressed and finished with style.
Barbados’ No 1 Player, Gavin Cumberbatch, seeded at three in the tournament moved into the semifinals with a 3-1 victory over fellow Barbadian Shawn Simpson. Gavin, a member of the Yale squash team, won the first game but faltered a bit in the second game and the hard hitting Simpson snatched the game 9-7. Gavin, a focused and dedicated player continued to win the third and fourth games and will now face the No 1 seeded Tastet in the semi-finals.
Other seeds Charlie Sonson (4) and Shawn Badrinauth (2) advanced to the semifinals and will face each other. They each won in three straight games against Sam Wendt of Australia and Nigel Griffith of Barbados respectively.
In the Men’s Repechage veteran Leon Truss proved he can still hold his own when he extended John Cumberbatch to a five setter. After losing the first two games without registering a point Truss clawed his way back to win the third and fourth games. In the fifth Cumberbatch pulled out all the stops to clinch victory.
Semifinals will be played Friday night and finals start at 1:15 pm on Saturday culminating in the Ladies Final at 5pm and the Men;s final at 5:45 pm.
Mens Quarterfinals
Yves Tastet (FR) def Marlon White 9-4,7-9,7-9,9-2,9-1
Shawn Badrinauth (GUY) def Nigel Griffith 9-4,9-1,9-3
Charlie Sonson (STL) def Sam wendt (AUS) 9-4,9-7,9-5
Gavin Cumberbatch def Shawn Simpson 9-4,7-9,9-5,9-3
Men’s Repechage
Hernan Marino (VEN) def Rhett Cumberbatch 10-8,9-1,9-0
John Cumberbatch def Leon Truss 9-0,9-0,6-9,2-9,9-5
Fabian Magne (FR) def Adrian Deane 9-0,9-3,9-1
Andy Gill def Bryant Cumberbatch 9-6,9-0,9-7
Ladies Plate
Suzanne Griifth def Maia Blackman 9-5,9-5,9-7
Edna Corbette def Alex Leacock 9-2,9-1,9-0
Cherie Ann Parris def Jamie Lee Seale 9-2,9-3,9-1
