|
|
BCQS International
Masters
May 2011, Barbados |
|
Photo Gallery
|
Day Three
Scintillating Squash at BCQS
International Masters Open 2011
Report by Jonathan Gallacher.
Photographs by Stuart Tippleston
The atmosphere on Friday night was simply electric as the
BCQS Internationals Masters Squash Open got into full flow.
Barbados Squash Club was alive with music and great food
whilst the crowd enjoyed top sporting entertainment. The
tournament has attracted players from throughout North
America, the Caribbean and Europe including a World
Champion, two World Finalists and numerous national title
holders.
The action reached the quarter-final and semi-final stage on
Saturday with the majority of the finals being played on
Sunday morning.
The men's Over 35 age-group provided one of the first upsets
as Karen Meakins fell in a dramatically close match to Mark
Gilkes. Gilkes efforts prevented him from taking to the
court on Saturday morning having sustained a back injury and
he was forced to give a walk-over to his opponent James
Bentick. National Coach Jonathan Gallacher awaits the second
seed from SVI after powering past Jason Small and Andy Gill.
The men's Over 45 has attracted the strongest field. English
Over 50 number one Chris Harland could have expected an easy
run to the semi-final stage. However, National O50 Champion
Nigel Griffith had other ideas and a dramatic win looked on
the cards after Griffith took the first game. Harland's
experienced told thereafter but he was pushed hard all the
way. Harland defeated World Over 55 Champion Mark Cowley in
the semi-final later in the day. His opponent in the final
will be two time British Open Champion Ian Bradburn whose
ruthless style has brought him yet another final appearance.
Bradburn's semi-final win over T&T's John Holley was 3-0 but
two of the games could have gone either way in a highly
entertaining match.
The Men's Over 55 has provided two surprise finalist with a
Barbadian winner guaranteed. Orson Simpson defeated top seed
and defending champion Carlos Barbosa of Canada 3-2. After
Simpson won the first two games by a narrow margin to take
the lead, Barbosa hit back to win the third and fourth with
some ease 11-1, 11-4. The fifth was Simpson's by an 11-6
scoreline. In the final Simpson will face BSC's David Foster
who got the better of Keith Bynoe (SVG) 3-1.
The second seed in the Men's Over 55, Errol Pilgrim was
unexpectedly knocked out in the first round by Ken Adamson (BVI).
Pilgrim will have chance for revenge as the two meet in the
men's Over 65 final.
In the ladies Over 35 plate final Jeannette Cullen had a
good win against St Lucia's Monique Deveaux-Lovell whilst
there was more home success with Don Benn also recording a
3-1 win against Carlos Segova (St Lucia) in the men's Over
35 plate final. The men's Over 45 plate final was won by
Percy Roden (BVI) who beat Andrew Nunes 3-0.
Finals begin on Sunday at 9.00am with the presentation
expected between 10.30am and 11.00am Entrance is free at
Barbados Squash Club, Marine Gardens.
Ladies Over 35 Results:
Quarter-Finals:
1) Rhea Khan (T&T) bt Carolyn Johnson 3-0 (11-5, 11-5, 11-3)
3/4) Betty Dryhurst (Eng) bt Jeannette Cullen 3-0 (11-4,
11-2, 11-6)
2) Bea De Dreu-Spitse (Netherlands) bt Caroline Dubois (BVI)
3-0 (11-5, 11-7, 11-7)
3/4) Sonia Carrington (T&T) bt Monique Deveaux-Lovell (St
Lucia) 3-1 (11-4, 7-11, 13-11, 11-5)
Semi-Finals:
1) Rhea Khan (T&T) bt 3/4) Betty Dryhurst (Eng) 3-0 (11-4,
11-7, 11-6)
2) Bea De Dreu-Spitse (Netherlands) bt 3/4) Sonia Carrington
(T&T) 3-0 (11-7, 11-3, 11-6)
Final:
2) Bea De Dreu-Spitse (Netherlands) bt 1) Rhea Khan (T&T)
3-0 (11-7, 11-9, 11-9)
Plate Final:
Jeannette Cullen bt Monique Deveaux-Lovell (St Lucia) 3-1
(11-9, 4-11, 11-8, 11-7)
Men's Over 35 Results:
Quarter-Finals:
1) Jonathan Gallacher (Eng) bt Jason Small 3-0 (11-1, 11-6,
11-0)
3/4) Andy Gill bt Robert Pacey (Can) 3-1 (9-11, 11-5, 11-4,
11-3
Mark Gilkes bt 3/4) Karen Meakins 3-2 (9-11, 7-11, 11-7,
11-8, 11-9)
2) James Bentick (SVG) bt Fleming Helgeland 3-0 (11-3, 11-7,
12-10)
Semi-Finals:
1) Jonathan Gallacher (Eng) bt 3/4) Andy Gill 3-0 (11-1,
11-0, 11-2)
2) James Bentick (SVG) bt Mark Gilkes w/o
Plate Final:
Don Benn bt Carlos Segova (St Lucia) 3-1 (8-11, 11-1, 11-6,
11-9)
Men's Over 45 Results:
Quarter-Finals:
1) Chris Harland (Eng) bt Nigel Griffith 3-1
3/4) Mark Cowley (Eng) bt Leon Truss 3-0
3/4) John Holley (T&T) bt Brooke Siver (Can) 3-0
2) Ian Bradburn (Eng) bt Neville Sorrentino (BVI) 3-0
Semi-Finals:
1) Chris Harland (Eng) bt 3/4) Mark Cowley (Eng) 3-1 (11-9,
12-10, 6-11, 11-7)
2) Ian Bradburn (Eng) bt 3/4) John Holley (T&T) 3-0 (11-2,
12-10, 12-10)
Men's Over 55 Results:
1st Round Results:
1) Carlos Barbosa bt Ruaridh Mackenzie 3-0 (11-4, 11-3,
11-5)
Ken Adamson (BVI) bt 2) Errol Pilgrim 3-0 (11-9, 12-10,
11-7)
Charles Crane (BVI) bt Philip Mendlow w/o
Bobby Dixon (USA)bt Winston Finlay (BVI) 3-1 (12-10, 11-8,
8-11, 11-2)
Orson Simpson bt Leroy Lewis 3-1 (11-8, 11-6, 14-12)
David Foster bt Nigel Carter w/o
Ronald Watson bt Nick Paddison 3-1 (11-3, 11-8, 9-11, 11-7)
Keith Boyes bt David Spink 3-2 (6-11, 11-6, 7-11, 11-7,
11-9)
Semi-Finals:
Orson Simpson bt 1) Carlos Barbosa (Can) 3-2 (12-10, 11-9,
1-11, 4-11, 11-6)
David Foster bt Keith Boyea (SVG) 3-1
|
Cowley
and Bradburn show their class
Jonathan Gallacher Reports from Barbados:
Day 2:
English duo Mark Cowley and Ian Bradburn
provided a fitting exhibition of world class squash as play
concluded on the second day at Barbados Squash Club.
Barbados photographer Stuart Tippleston, who himself
is the National O45 Champion, was taking on World O55
Champion Cowley. Cowley was able to control the pace of play
throughout the match forcing the errors from Tippleston. The
rallies in the third game were longer as Tippleston found
his confidence but to no avail as Cowley progressed with
plenty to spare.
Leon Truss will eagerly look forward to his encounter
against Cowley after scrapping through against BCQS sponsor,
Sanjay Amin. Amin recovered well from 2-0 down to
extend the match into a fifth game which concluded by the
narrowest of margins. The scoreline 3-2 (12-10, 11-4, 11-13,
9-11, 11-9).
Bradburn has a style of play that few can contend with. His
record of two British Open titles and three British closed
titles speaks for itself. However, his opponent Paul
McLeod should be pleased with his efforts after coming
close to winning the third game. Bradburn will next face top
Caribbean opposition on Saturday in the form of Neville
Sorrentino (Tortola) in what should be a match of
excellent quality.
Number one seed in the Men's 45-54 age-group Chris
Harland opens his campaign against Glyne Husband.
Barbados O50 Champion Nigel Griffith has already
progressed to the quarter-final stage and lies in wait for
the victor.
The ladies Over 35 got underway with a good win for
Carolyn Johnson over Tortola's Sue Sorrentino.
The next round's matches will also showcase World O45
Finalist Bea De Dreu-Spitse (Netherlands) who is up
against Caroline Dubois (Tortola). English legend
Bett Dryhurst will play Barbados Squash Club's Secretary
Jeannette Cullen.
Barbados' two national O35 finalists Andy Gill and
Jonathan Gallacher both advanced in anticipation of
their semi-final clash. However, both players will have to
get past Robert Pacey (Canada) and tournament
scheduler Jason Small respectively. The pick of the
quarter finals will be Mark Gilkes as he tackles our
own World O35 Finalist, Karen Meakins. In March's
National Championships Gilkes beat Andy Gill and extended
Shawn Simpson to five games. So this could well be a very
close match.
Ladies Over 35 Results:
Carolyn Johnson beat Sue Sorrentino (Tortola) 3-1 (8-11,
11-4, 12-10, 12-10)
Men's 35-44 Results:
1) Jonathan Gallacher (Eng) beat Jasper Seymour 3-0 (11-6,
11-5, 11-2), 3/4) Andy Gill beat James Punnett 3-0 (11-9,
11-7, 11-8), Jason Small beat Orjan Holme (Norway) 3-1
(7-11, 11-8, 15-13, 11-6), Robert Pacey (Canada) beat Carlos
Segova (St Lucia) 3-0 (11-6, 11-6, 16-14), Mark Gilkes beat
Ran Dana 3-0 (11-4, 11-7, 11-4)
Plate:
Don Benn beat Steve Clarke 3-0 (11-3, 11-9, 11-4)
Men's 45-54 Results:
2) Ian Bradburn (Eng) beat Paul McLeod 3-0 (11-3, 11-7,
11-9), 3/4) Mark Cowley (Eng) beat Stuart Tippleston 3-0
(11-6, 11-5, 11-6), Neville Sorrentino (Tortola) beat Peter
Harris 3-0 (11-6, 11-4, 11-5), Nigel Griffith beat Dean
Straker 3-0 (11-4, 11-5, 11-4), Brooke Siver (Canada) beat
Roger Martin 11-7, 11-6, 11-9), Leon Truss beat Sanjay Amin
3-2 (12-10, 11-4, 11-13, 9-11, 11-9)
Plate:
Frank Jordan beat John McLeery
Men's 45-54 Results:
Orson Simpson beat Archie Lee (USA) 3-1 (11-7, 9-11, 11-6,
11-7)
Ronald Watson beat Nick Paddison 3-1 (11-3, 11-8, 9-11,
11-7) |
|
| |
|
|
Tippleston to face World Champion
Jonathan Gallacher Reports from Barbados:
Day 1:
The BCQS International Masters Squash Open hots up at
Barbados Squash Club. The 45-54 event sees four of the top
O50 players in the world competing including World O55
Champion Mark Cowley (England). The honour of facing
Cowley falls to Barbados O45 Champion Stuart Tippleston
following his 3-1 victory over Cliff Nolan on the
opening night of the event.
Paul McLeod will face an equally tough challenge as
he faces the unique playing style of Ian Bradburn
(English no. 2 O50). The accolades that Bradburn have
accumulated over his playing career would fill too many
column inches. Suffice to say he is a multiple British Open
and British Closed Champion during the last fifteen years.
The big guns will continue to roll into town over the 24
hours including the top seeds Chris Harland (English
no. 1 O50) and Bea De Dreu-Spitse (World no.2 O45).
Tournament Director Frank Jordan narrowly missed out
on a second round match up against Harland losing to Glynne
Husbands 3-1.
The Netherland's De Dreu-Spitse player was a World O45
Finalist in 2010 and will be one to watch as she begins her
campaign.
The opportunity to face these players is one that the local
Barbados players are relishing and the first round matches
were extremely hared fought. Peter Harris had a good
win against Andrew Nunes and will next face OECS
national team player Neville Sorrentino (Tortola).
Roger Martin's comprehensive 3-0 win gives him a tie
against Canada's Brooke Sivers.
Some intriguing ties were played in the men's 35-44
age-groups. Karen Meakins (World no. 2 O35) was
pushed all the way by Donn Benn and was forced to
recover from a heavy deficit in the fourth game to secure a
3-1 victory. A similar 3-1 scoreline for Mike Best
gives him the chance to face second seed James Bentick
(St. Vincent) in the next round. James Punnett and
Ran Dana both recorded straight game wins. Punnett will
next play 3 / 4 seed Andy Gill. Mark Gilkes
awaits Dana with the winner of that match drawn against
Meakins.
Men's 35-44 Results:
Karen Meakins beat Don Benn 3-1 (11-7, 4-11, 11-5, 11-9)
James Punnett beat Deepu Panjwani 3-0 (11-7, 11-4, 11-3)
Mike Best beat Steve Clarke 3-1 (11-8, 11-3, 5-11, 11-3)
Ran Dana beat Martin Bryan 3-0 (11-3, 11-5, 13-11)
Men's 45-54 Results:
Stuart Tippleston beat Cliff Nolan 3-1 (14-12, 5-11, 11-7,
11-8)
Glynne Husbands beat Frank Jordan 3-1 (11-6, 11-7, 9-11,
11-7)
Roger Martin beat John McLeery 3-0 (11-2, 11-4, 112)
Peter Harris beat Andrew Nunes 3-1 (11-8, 11-3, 5-11, 11-3) |
| |
World
Squash Stars in BCQS International Barbados Masters Squash
Open 2011
The caliber of entry in the fourth annual BCQS International
sponsored Barbados Masters Squash Open has reached new
heights and has attracted a host of elite players to the
tournament at Barbados Squash Club.
The overwhelming success of this tournament is testament to
the involvement of the sponsors and the Tournament Director
Frank Jordan and his team who have created the perfect
mix of fun and competitive spice with events laid on
throughout the week. For the fourth year Sanjay Amin
of BCQS International has given his financial backing to
what has become a world-class event.
Each year the number of participants has grown with overseas
players bringing others with them when returning to Barbados
for the annual festival of squash. This year we have over 30
overseas entries making up the 70 competitors that are
entered in the five age-groups events that are running.
Players from throughout the Caribbean including Tortola, St
Lucia, St. Vincent and Trinidad & Tobago are being joined by
a large contingent from the USA, Canada and UK. Competitors
from Norway and the Netherlands will add to the
international flavour.
The standard of play will be of the highest order with the
2011 World O55 Men’s Champion, the 2011 World O35 Ladies
Finalist and the 2011 World O45 Ladies Finalist all playing
this week. Ironically, such is the fierceness of the
competition that none of these players are seeded to win the
events they have entered!
The strength of the Men’s Over 45 age-group in particular is
phenomenal and serves up the fact that England’s Mark Cowley
who is the World O55 Champion is only seeded 3 / 4. The O50
English number one and two Chris Harland and Ian Bradburn
taking the top two seeding positions. Both are themselves
2010 World O50 Quarter-Finalists.
Bradburn has the strongest pedigree of these players winning
a multitude of British Open and British Closed age-group
titles throughout his glittering career. T&T’s John Holley
will provide Bradburn with a stern test at the semi-final
stage.
The ladies O35 tournament sees two further world stars
competing. Bea De Dreu-Spitse from the Netherlands reached
the final at the O45 World Masters in Cologne last year. She
is seeded two behind the Trinidad number two and Caribbean
number 7, Rhea Khan.
Bett Dryhurst from the UK is seeded 3 / 4 and was a
quarter-finalist in the World O60 Championships last year.
Like Ian Bradburn she brings a wealth of national title
experience as she looks to topple one of the top two seeds.
In the men’s O60’s and O65’s local interest will be on Errol
Pilgrim who will have to get the better of the top seeded
Canadian Carlos Barbosa if he is to repeat his recent double
success in the Barbados Veterans National Championship.
World O35 Finalist Karen Meakins will play in the men’s O35
event and will get proceedings underway on Wednesday evening
at 6.30pm against Don Benn. She will be looking to go one
better than last year when she lost in the final to top seed
Jonathan Gallacher, the Barbados Men’s National Finalist.
However, to get there she will first need to get past the
experienced James Bentick from St. Vincent who is the
Caribbean number 12 ranked man and second seed this year.
|
Our thanks go
to the title sponsor BCQS International - Regional
Quantity Surveyors and Real Estate consultants, and sponsors
Jammin’ Catamaran Cruises (Bdos) Inc, Black Knight
(USA), Pinnacle Feeds Ltd, Ocean Fisheries Ltd.,
River Bay Ltd and Pirates Inn, COURTESY
Rent-A-Car
|
|
