18-Aug-07:
Hurricane stops play

Due to the impending threat of Hurricane Dean to Jamaica most teams have taken the decision to leave the Caribbean Island and return to their respective homes, thereby putting an end to the 2007 Senior CASA Championships.

The team tournament had reached the semi-final stage with Barbados, Bermuda, Trinidad & Tobago and Jamaica in the men's team tournament. Barbados and Jamaica were going to play off in the finals for the ladies team event and both Barbados and Jamaica were undefeated in the veterans section.

As the situation settles down and territories converse, we will inform you of any decisions regarding the tournament. We're going to have conversations with the other territories, but until we have that conversation, then we can call it as being cancelled as of now, or maybe I should I say postponed.

"It’s an unusual circumstance, it has never happened before so we’re going to throw it out and see if people would be willing to meet in a location that maybe easy for all teams to get to and maybe to play out the semi-finals and finals and see if teams are receptive to that."


Acting Tournament Chairperson

The Ladies final was a battle between friendly rivals, the top seed Karen Meakins of Barbados and Karen Anderson of Jamaica (#2), playing in her first Caribbean Senior Championship final. Anderson started off making a lot of mistakes in the first game and Meakins played very aggressively.

Meakins took an early 5/0 lead before Anderson was able to get some points on the board, but Meakins again capitalized on the loose shots and closed out the game 9/2. However, in the second game Anderson obviously had a plan and stuck to it. She was determined to move Meakins laterally and then use the mid-court boast or low cross courts or straight drives to attack. Anderson won the second game, 9/3.



The third game was more about patience. Anderson played down the backhand side consistently with mid-pace straight drives and waited for Meakins to make a mistake. The tactic worked as Anderson closed out that game 9/6. In the fourth game Anderson went up 5/1 using the same tactics as she had deployed in the third, but seemed to tire at 5/4 and lost her length on the drives and lost the next 5 points straight for Meakins to equalize at 2 games all.



In the final game, Anderson jumped out to a 5/0 lead by going back to the patient straight mid-pace drives down the backhand side. But Meakins, ever the fighter, got back to 4/5 when the match was interrupted when Anderson went sliding across the floor on her knees which then had to be bandaged.

When play resumed Anderson started off very shakily, but recovered and went back to the patient, backhand drives and threw in the cross court once or twice to wrong foot her opponent and won the match without the loss of another point, 9/4.

The Men's final between #6 Gavin Cumberbatch of Barbados and #7 Colin Ramasra (T&T) was eagerly anticipated. The entire audience expected it was going to be an epic showdown, but this was not to be.

From early in the first game Cumberbatch who, is deceptively quick and light on his feet, got to every shot that Ramasra could come up with. Up to this point Ramasra had looked like the man to beat coming into the final, but he was totally outplayed by Cumberbatch. The Bajan easily took the first game at 9/4.

The second game was more of what the audience expected: long, intense rallies together with some amazing digs and gets by both players. Again Ramasra went up early in the second game but after a series of handouts, Cumberbatch broke Ramasra down and won this game, 9/7.

After that Ramasra was a broken man. The third game was a blow out as Ramasra did not get to serve as Cumberbatch imperiously reeled off nine successive points to record an emphatic 9/4 9/7 9/0 victory to claim his first Senior CASA title.

The Playoffs

The evening began with the ladies third place playoff between Caribbean U-19 champion, #4 Cheri-Ann Parris of Barbados and the experienced #3 Rhea Khan of Trinidad & Tobago.

Parris got out to an early lead in the first game and never relinquished it. She used her power and size to dominate the slightly built Khan. Parris won that game easily 9/1. However in the second, Khan used every bit of her guile and craft with the drop shot and low drives to race ahead and claim the game 9/2 to even things up. However, it appeared that the second game took its toll on Khan and she was unable to respond to any of the shots Parris played in the third and went down 9/2.

The fourth was an action replay of the third with Parris using her powerful straight drives to set-up her drops to close out the match 9/2.

The men’s third place playoff was also a tight affair between #3 Chris Binnie, the reigning Caribbean U-19 champion and #5 Shawn Simpson of Barbados.

Binnie started off very well and took a 4/1 lead in the first game. However Simpson settled himself and reeled off 7 straight points to go ahead 8/4. Binnie was able to get a change of serve and a point to get to 5/7 but it was not enough as Simpson got back the serve and the game to win 9/5. The second game, however, was more about tactics and attrition. There were 22 service changes with neither player getting more than 3 points ahead of the other. It was a back and forth affair with Binnie going up 7/4 but Simpson using pace and effective drives and drops forced his way to 8/7. Binnie seemed to dig in his heels though and got the change of serve and won the next 3 points to claim the 10/8 victory.

The third game was a no contest with Binnie dominating the game from start to finish and winning 9/0. The fourth game was more intense and had more rallies and Simpson took a 6/4 lead before Binnie, determined to secure his #3 CASA ranking took the match 9/6.

Meakins stumbles but Cumberbatch claims Gold
Craig Archer with a Barbados perspective

Other talented Barbadians had tried for 30 years and failed. Stalwarts like Mickey Armstrong, Rudy Goodridge, Mark Sealy, Joe Singh - talented players all, but none could claim the ultimate prize in Caribbean squash: a gold medal in a CASA Caribbean Squash Championship Men’s Final.

But last night, in the cauldron of court #4 in the famous Liguanea Club, in Kingston Jamaica local hero Gavin Cumberbatch, on his 24th birthday, claimed the first individual gold medal for Barbados in any full Caribbean Squash Championships when he defeated Colin Ramasra of Trinidad and Tobago in three straight games.

The dreadlocked Cumberbatch had promised so much from so very early on in his career. He displayed prodigious talent from the age of 9 years old and won eleven National Junior titles between 1993 and 2001 and was beaten only once during that time.

He won four Junior Caribbean Squash titles at the U-14, U-16 and U-19 levels between 1996 and 2003 and is still the only Barbadian to lay claim to the coveted Caribbean Boys U-19 title. He was the youngest ever winner of a National senior squash title at age 16 in the year 2000.

Then he moved overseas to study architecture. Between 2002 and 2006 he attended the prestigious Yale University on a partial squash scholarship and was popular enough to be elected captain of his University squash team in his final year.

On his return to Barbados, some thought the fire had gone out. The desire seemed missing. He lost a close National Men’s final in May 2006 to his main rival and close friend, Shawn Simpson, who won even more comfortably once again in the National final earlier this year and took over the #1 ranking that Gavin had held in a vice-like grip since 2001.

Last year, at home, Gavin did win the Southern Caribbean Squash Championships title, but that was at home, on familiar courts.

How would he fare on hot, non-air conditioned courts in the heat of Kingston we all wondered? The conditions would be energy sapping, heat at times would be even brutal, and only the strong would survive.

Wonder no more!


More on SquashBarbados

Ladies Final
Karen Anderson bt Karen Meakins                           2/9, 9/3, 9/6 5/9, 9/4

Men’s Final
Gavin Cumberbatch bt Colin Ramasra                      9/4, 9/7, 9/0

Ladies 3/4th Place: Cheri-Ann Parris bt Rhea Khan    9/1, 2/9, 9/2, 9/2

Men 3/4th Place: Chris Binnie bt Shawn Simpson       5/9, 10/8, 9/0, 9/6

Ladies Consolation
5/6th Place: Jennifer Armstrong bt Anita Bicknell       10/8, 9/2, 7/9, 8/10, 9/7
7/8th Place: Kimberly Farah bt Nadia McCarthy          4/9, 9/1, 9/5, 9/1

Men’s Consolation
5/6th Place: Nicholas Kyme bt Josh Pinard                9/5, 9/6, 9/7

Karen Anderson reports

The Men’s semifinals began with a match between Shawn Simpson of Barbados and Colin Ramasra of Trinidad and Tobago. The second rally of the match was 100 shots and was a portent of things to come which ended with a tight shot on the side wall that Simpson swung on and missed. However, the 100 shot rally seemed to take its toll on Simpson as he lost the next 7 points straight to go down 1/7.

This match was a true tactical match. Ramasra had a plan and he stuck to it. He gave Simpson no pace on the ball, played his backhand, and was extremely patient. Ramasra won 9/1. The second game was more of the same, for the first few points it was three all, but at 3-all Ramasra ran off six straight points to win 9/3. The final game was more evenly contested with Ramasra going up 5/3 in the third but Simpson rallied to go up 6/5. There were a few handouts and Simpson capitalized to go up 7/5 but Ramasra stuck to his plan and reeled off 4 straight points to win 8/7 in the third.

The second semifinal between Chris Binnie of Jamaica and Gavin Cumberbatch of Barbados was a very even contest. Binnie got down early in the match 0/7 by making too many errors and not attacking the ball. However after a number of service changes, Binnie fought his way back into the game by stepping up and attacking, using his drops to effective use and battled to equalize and pass Cumberbatch to win 9/7. Binnie continued his attacking ways and took a 4/0 lead in the second, but lost his way and Cumberbatch started to use his drops and drives, both crosscourt and straight to devastating use.

Binnie got only one more point in the second before Cumberbatch won the next 5 points to win 9/5. Binnie seemed very frustrated in the third and got down on himself. He would create openings but not capitalize on them. He started to make mistakes again which cost him the game 9/2. The fourth game was a more even contest with Binnie going up 7/3, and serving for the game twice, but eight service changes later, Cumberbatch caught up and won the match 10/9 to secure a place in the final against Trinidad’s Colin Ramasra.

The first ladies semifinal was between Barbadian compatriots, Karen Meakins (#1) seed and Cheri-Ann Parris (#4). Cheri-Ann started off very aggressively and attacked the mistakes that Meakins made. Parris continued her aggressive ways and went up 6/5 before some costly and unforced errors cost her the game, 9/6. Parris got down early in the 2nd but valiantly fought back but it was not enough and she lost that game 9/4. Meakins used her experience over the 17-year old and dominated the third by volleying any loose shots. Parris never seemed to get going and lost the game 9/0.

Karen Anderson #2 of Jamaica, jumped to an early 6/0 lead against Rhea Khan (#3) of Trinidad. But Khan who started off very nervously regrouped and with a few mistakes from Anderson, came up 4/6. Anderson got to 7 before Khan stepped up and started cutting off and volleying shots from Anderson and equalized at 7/7. However, Anderson kept her composure and stuck to her plan of playing Khan deep and then opening up the court with the drop or the mid-court boast.

The second game again started with Anderson going up 3/0 before Khan again volleyed aggressively and attacked any shots that were mid-court and loose. Anderson, again went back to moving Khan front and back to go up 7/2 and after one more service change to close out the 2nd , 9/2. The third game was more of the same with the service changes occurring at the same point that they did in the second. Khan seemed to tire and and Anderson seized the opportunities presented and won the third, 9/3.
  

Simpson & Ramasra

Ladies
Semi Finals:

Karen Meakins (Bar) bt
Cheri-Ann Parris (Bar)
 9/6, 9/4, 9/0

Karen Anderson (Jam) bt
Rhea Khan (T&T)
 9/7, 9/2, 9/3

Men’s
Semi Finals:

Gavin Cumberbatch (Bar) bt Chris Binnie (Jam)
 7/9, 9/5, 9/2, 10/9

Colin Ramasra (T&T) bt
Shawn Simpson (Bar)
 9/1, 9/3, 9/7

Khan coached ...

Schedule for 13th

Matches start at 5 p.m. at the Liguanea Club with the 3/4th place playoffs for men and women followed by the finals.

The team competition begins on Tuesday August 14th with the preliminary round robins. Team semi-finals will be on August 17th and all finals will be held on August 18th

Bicknell & Meakin

Robert McDavid

The Cumberbatch Boys

Parris v Binnie

Photo Gallery & Slideshow

Day One Results

Women's First Round:
Gill Binnie (Jam) #14 d. Marian Goodall (Cay) 3/1 9/4, 9/4, 2/9, 9/7
Stephanie McConnell (Jam) d. Vonnie Roudette (OECS) 3/0 9/4, 9/0, 9/1
Nadia McCarthy (B’dos) d. Greta Primus (OECS) 3/1 3/9, 9/8, 9/6, 9/2
Kimberly Farah (T&T) d. Amy Gillezeau (T&T) 3/0 9/7, 9/0, 9/1
Anita Bicknell (Jam) d. Amber Glasgow (OECS) 3/0 9/1, 9/1, 9/1
Nakita Poon Kong (T&T) d. Gen Shim (T&T) 3/0 9/7, 9/6, 9/3
Tracy Binnie (Jam) d. Cheryl Renwick (OECS) 3/0 9/1, 9/2, 9/1

Second Round
Rhea Khan (T&T) d. Stephanie McConnell (Jam) 3/0 10/9, 9/0, 9/2
Sherian Slater (OECS) d. Nakita Poon Kong (T&T) 3/0 9/4, 9/2, 9/1
Anita Bicknell (Jam) d. Jennifer Armstrong (B’dos) 3/2 8/10, 10/8, 9/5, 8/10,9/5
Cheri-Ann Parris (B’dos) d. Kimberly Farah (T&T) 3/0 9/5, 9/2, 9/0
Tracy Binnie (Jam) d. Bo Harris (B’dos) 3/0 9/6, 9/5, 10/9
Karen Anderson (Jam) d. Nadia McCarthy (B’dos) 3/0 9/1, 9/5, 9/0
Karen Meakins (B’dos) d. Dingle Spence (Jam) 3/0 9/4, 9/0, 9/1
Lilliana White (B’dos) d. Gill Binnie (Jam) 3/1 9/6, 9/1, 9/7, 9/3

Men's First Round:
Paul Deverteuil (9) (T&T) d. Warren Burrowes (Jam) 3/1 9/6, 9/1, 7/9, 9/0
Shawn Simpson (5) (B’dos) d. Peter Pirtheesingh (T&T) 3/0 9/4, 9/2, 9/1
Colin Ramasra (7) (T&T) d. Dane Schwier (Jam) 3/0 9/6, 9/3, 9/4
Bruce Bicknell (13) (Jam) d. Kevin Bailey (OECS) 3/0 9/3, 9/4, 9/1
John McRury (15) (Cay) d. Raphael deGroot (OECS) 3/0 9/6, 9/1, 9/2
James Bentick (11) (OECS) d. Bruce Levy (Jam) 3/0 9/5, 9/5, 9/2
Wayne Burrowes (4) (Jam) d. Micheal Shrubb (Ber) 3/0 9/6, 9/1, 9/0
Chris Binnie (3) (Jam) d. Shane Slater (Jam) 3/0 9/4, 9/2, 9/1
Bryant Cumberbatch (B’dos) d. Ryan Abraham(16) (T&T) 3/1 9/2, 7/9, 9/5, 9/0
Mark Sealy (B’dos) d. Richard Van Liendon (Ber) 3/0 9/2, 9/0, 9/3
Charlie SonSon (OECS) d. Robert McDavid (Guy) 3/0 9/4, 9/4, 9/3
Gavin Cumberbatch (B’dos) d. Alex Arjoon (Guy) 3/0 9/4, 9/0, 9/3
Julian Chin (Guy) d. Alain Mudeen (Cay) 3/0 9/7, 9/1, 9/5
Josh Pinard (T&T) d. Jake Kelly (Cay) 3/0 9/7, 9/7, 9/3
Nicolas Kyme (2) (Ber) d. Fabian Goodridge (B’dos) 3/0 9/4, 9/1, 9/0
Patrick Foster (1) (Ber) d. Marlon White (B’dos) 3/0 9/2, 9/2, 9/5

Second Round
Paul Deverteuil (9) (T&T) d. Patrick Foster (1) (Ber) 3/1 9/6, 7/9, 5/9, 5/9
Charlie SonSon (8) d. Mark Sealy 3/0 9/4, 10/9, 9/7
Wayne Burrowes (4) d. James Bentick (11) 3/2 9/7, 9/6, 8/10, 2/9, 9/6
Colin Ramasra (7) d. John Macrury (15) 3/0 9/4, 9/2, 10/8
Shawn Simpson (5) d. Bruce Bicknell (13) 3/0 9/0, 9/0, 9/0
Chris Binnie (3) d. Bryant Cumberbatch 3/0 9/3, 9/4, 9/5
Gavin Cumberbatch (6) d. Julian Chin (14) 3/0 9/3, 9/4, 9/3
Nick Kyme (2) d. Josh Pinard (10) 3/1 9/4, 2/9, 9/5, 9/3

Men’s Consolation
Bruce Levy d. Micheal Shrubb 3/0 9/2, 10/8, 9/3
Ryan Abraham d. Shane Slater 3/1 9/5, 6/9, 9/7, 9/2
Peter Pirtheesingh d. Kevin Bailey 3/0 9/0, 9/2, 9/1
Warren Burrowes d. Marlon White 3/0 9/6, 9/7, 9/7
Dane Schwier d. Raphael deGroot 3/0 9/4, 9/3, 9/5
Alain Mudeen d. Alex Arjoon 3/0 9/3, 9/2, 9/5
Jake Kelly d. Fabian Goodridge 3/1 10/8, 9/6, 2/9, 10/9
Robert McDavid d. Richard Van Liendon 3/2 9/3, 7/9, 6/9, 9/2, 9/0
 

BARBADOS TEAM OFF TO CARIBBEAN
SQUASH CHAMPIONSHIPS
Craig Archer reports

The defending Caribbean squash champions Barbados depart later this morning 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 and 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 complete the line up along with 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 four-time National Squash Champion, Shawn Simpson, and the former junior Caribbean Champion, Gavin Cumberbatch, both 23 years old. The youthful exuberance and fitness of 18 year old Bryant Cumberbatch 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 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 and 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.