It’s official. Guyana squash teams again rule Caribbean squash.
Not content with sweeping the team titles at the 31st Junior Caribbean Squash Championships last month in Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana’s squash seniors made a clean sweep of the team titles when the Digicel-sponsored Powerade and Smalta senior Caribbean championships concluded yesterday at the Georgetown Club.
The men’s team 4-1 defeat of Jamaica and the women’s 4-1 victory over Barbados ensured Guyana the overall team title.
In the women’s final, World ranked Nicolette Fernandes, who had earlier in the championships won the ladies singles title, again disposed of Karen Meakins in straight games 11-5, 11-2, and 11-7 to give the local side the early lead.
Guyana then wrapped up the tie as Ashley Khalil easily defeated Alex Jordan 11-8, 11-3, 11-6 and Mary Fung-A-Fat trounced Gylla Mackenzie 11-7, 11-6, 11-7.
Nadia McCarthy would pull one back for Barbados as she edged Ashley DeGroot 11-4, 9-11, 8-11, 11-3, and 11-7 but Keisha Jeffrey sealed Guyana’s first Caribbean senior’s women title in emphatic fashion as she downed Amanda Haywood 11-5, 11-6, 11-8.
In the men’s final Jamal Callender gave Guyana the early lead when he defeated Julian Morrison 11-8, 11-9, 11-7 while Jason Ray Khalil doubled the lead as he disposed of Bruce Levy 11-5, 11-5, and 11-9.
Jamaica fought back through their men’s individual champion Chris Binnie. Binnie who defeated Sunil Seth in a rematch of the men’s singles final 9-11, 11-6, 11-1, and 11-6 but the locals clinched the title when Alex Arjoon defeated Dane Schwier 3-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-6.
In the dead rubber Guyana’s Richard Chin downed Bruce Burrowes 11-3, 11-9, 9-11, 11-2.
In other results the Cayman Islands thrashed Barbados 4-1. Julian Jervis disposed of Zaki Williams 11-1, 11-4, 11-7 in the first matchup to give Cayman Islands the lead. Barbados would battle as Stewart St. John defeated Daniel Murphy to tie the scores at 1-1.
Mark Chaloner would push the Caymanians back into the lead as he defeated Gavin Cumberbatch 11-3, 11-4, 11-4.
The Cayman Islands would seal the contest as Gabby Rabess beat Rhett Cumberbatch 6-11, 11-9, 11-8, 9-11, 12-10 and Cameron Stafford swept Shawn Simpson 11-6, 11-6, 11-5.
In the final fixture of the division, Trinidad and Tobago defeated OECS 3-2. Paul DeVerteuil defeated Jason Doyle 11-9, 5-11, 11-7, 11-5 to push Trinidad and Tobago into the early lead.
Trinidad and Tobago would take a 3-0 lead as Chase McQuan thrashed Dion Anselm 11-8, 11-4, 11-9 and Kale Wilson downed Jules Snagg 11-5, 11-8, 11-5.
However OECS would take the final two fixtures as Kevin Bailey overcame Mandela Patrick 3-11, 11-5, 11-7, 7-11, 6-11 and Kevin Hannaway trounced Don Lee 11-5, 11-9, 11-8.
Barbados clinched the veteran’s team title when they swept the Cayman Islands 5-0. Mark Sealy, Nigel Griffith, Leon Truss and Lynne DeCambra-McLeod each earned walkover victories while Ayoni Bradshaw defeated Janet Sairsingh 11-5, 11-6, 2-11, 11-9 in their women’s over 40 matchup.
In the final veteran’s matchup, Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) edged Trinidad and Tobago 3-2. James Bentick swept Peter Pirtheesingh 11-6, 11-4, 11-1 to give OECS the early lead.
Trinidad and Tobago would take a 2-1 lead as Richard Hart mauled Winston Findlay 11-9, 11-8, 11-4 and John Holley earned a walkover victory against Keith Boyea.
OECS would however win the final two matchups as Monique Lovell and Sherian Slater both earned walkover victories.
Final 2013 Tournament Team Results are as follows:
Women’s Team Division
Winner Guyana
Second Barbados
Third Jamaica
Men’s Team Division
Winner Guyana
Second Cayman Islands
Third Jamaica
Fourth Trinidad and Tobago
Fifth Barbados
Sixth OECS
Veterans Team Division
Winner Barbados
Second Guyana
Third OECS
Fourth Trinidad and Tobago
Overall Team Results
Winner Guyana
Second Barbados
Third Jamaica
Fourth Trinidad and Tobago
Fifth OECS
Sixth Cayman Islands
