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TODAY in Cayman: Sun 7th, the
night before ... |
Chaloner ruling dents
Cayman hopes
There was disappointment for hosts Cayman Islands on the eve of
the 2011 edition of the CASA Senior Championships when their
number one and provisional top seed for the men's individual
competition Mark Chaloner was ruled ineligible to
compete.
Ever since Chaloner, the former England international and
Commonwealth Games medal winner who reached a career-high world
ranking of seven, had been nominated some queries were tabled by
some of the other competing countries, while CASA deliberated
over his eligibility.
After much discussion the CASA Executive Committee finally ruled
him out of the competition.
"Based on information provided to CASA by CINSA Mr. Chaloner has
not resided in the Cayman Islands for the required minimum of
four years in the aggregate over the five years immediately
prior to these Championships," explained CASA President Craig
Archer. "He therefore does not satisfy Championship
Regulation G.3 and is therefore ineligible to play this year."
In another twist, the eligibility of Guyana's defending
individual champion Richard Chin had also been called
into question, but the CASA Officers in the same statement ruled
the Guyana-born US-resident Chin eligible to play.
Archer explained: "Based on information presented to CASA by the
Guyana Squash Association Mr. Chin was born in Guyana. He is
therefore in compliance with Regulation G.3. Mr. Chin has not
represented another country in the three years prior to these
Championships and therefore also complies with Regulation G.4
and is therefore eligible to play this year."
The rulings leave Chin as top seed for the men's individuals,
with Jamaica's 2009 champion Chris Binnie expected to
face the defending champion in Wednesday's final. Cayman's main
hope now rests with their upcoming junior champion Cameron
Stafford, the third seed who recently finished an extended
training stint in Holland as he sets off on a professional
career.
The women's draw features, as expected, Guyana's Nicolette
Fernandes and Bahama's Karen Meakins as top seeds.
Fernandes, the 2009 and 2005 champion, will be looking to regain the
title at the expense of the defending champion should they make
their expected progress to the final.
The individual championship gets under way at 09.00 on Monday
with the finals on Wednesday 10th, and the team events following
on Thursday 11th and concluding on Saturday 13th.
Cayman will still be hoping for a sweep of Men's, Women's, Vets
and overall team titles, a feat achieved only once before by
Jamaica in 1997, but their women already faced an uphill task
against reigning champions Barbados, and the ruling over
Chaloner certainly makes the men's team's task harder.
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Photos from the opening function at Tikki Beach
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CAYMAN ISLANDS GOING FOR GOLD
Preview from Ryan Abraham
 In
2009 Cayman Islands hosted CASA with high hopes of taking
the Caribbean Title.
They took home the Vets Team Championship but just fell short to
Trinidad & Tobago for the Ladies and Overall titles. This
year, however, they are coming out with a well-stocked arsenal
and are determined to claim each of the three team titles.
That’s not all they will be seeking though, as the Individuals
event will kick-off the championships.
Although the Individuals competition is missing a few popular
names, there is no doubt that the top four players would still
be the main ones to fear. This year the top four in each
category will comprise two young players and two ... experienced
players!
Last year saw the experience overcome the youth as Richard
Chin ousted Chris Binnie and Karen Meakins
halted Kerrie Sample to win the individual titles. Could
the outcome be different this year?
One thing is certain: the level of squash will be top notch.
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LATEST:
Challenges to the eligibility of both men's top seeds,
Mark Chaloner and Richard Chin have been adjudicated on by the
CASA Executive - Chaloner 'does not satisfy the
requirements', Chin does and can play.
more to follow ...
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MEN'S Contenders |
MARK CHALONER – CAYMAN ISLANDS
 Mark
Chaloner decides to participate in his first ever Caribbean
Championships and will be seeded #1 based on his professional
and international experience (entry to be confirmed).
He was a former world #7 back in 2001 as well as Captain of the
1995 England Team that won the World Team Championships. He will
be keen to provide a title victory for his new home team, Cayman
Islands, and will no doubt be pulling out all the old tricks,
and maybe some new ones.
Caribbean-born players now have a new resident to overcome.
RICHARD CHIN – GUYANA
 Richard
Chin will be the defending champion as he made his return to
Caribbean squash last year. He earned himself is first ever
senior Caribbean title as he had been representing the U.S. for
many years prior.
Now that he has been reminded of the sweet taste of Caribbean
squash, there’s no going back for Richard and he will be vying
to defend his title against any challenger who vie to take that
away. Richard won the Barbados Open in July and will be seeded
#2.
Look out youngsters, because the ball does whatever he tells it
to do.
CHRIS BINNIE – JAMAICA
 Chris
is no stranger to Caribbean squash. He is a former Junior
Caribbean Champion and won the Mens Caribbean Title back in
2009. Having lost the title to Chin last year, he will be coming
out strong with another year of experience under his belt.
He has been making vast strides in the U.S. representing 13-time
National Intercollegiate champs, Trinity College. This year the
Bantams were tested yet again, and at 4-4 in the intercollegiate
team final against Yale, Binnie closed out the deciding match
3-1 to seal the win for his team.
His strong attacking play will no doubt drive fear into most of
his opponents.
CAMERON STAFFORD – CAYMAN ISLANDS
 Rounding
out the top 4 seeds will be the young home player, Cameron
Stafford. The 2010 Junior Caribbean Champion has recently turned
pro and has been taking his squash to the next level.
Last year he finished 6th in the Caribbean Championships, and he
lost a very tight 3-2 to Richard Chin in the Barbados Open final
in July. He recently had a good win over Welsh National player,
David Haley in the PSA Salt Lake City Open to make the main draw
of his first PSA event.
Cameron will definitely keen to defy the seeds at home this
year.
Other top players to keep an eye on are players such as Dean
Watson, Shawn Simpson, Bryant Cumberbatch,
Joe Chapman, and recently crowned Junior Caribbean Champ,
Kale Wilson.
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LADIES' Contenders |
NICOLETTE FERNANDES – GUYANA
 Nicolette
is by far the most accomplished female player in the Caribbean.
Having gotten to as high as #28 in the world before sustaining
an injury, she has managed to claw her way back into the top 50.
She has won many junior and senior Caribbean titles, but opted
out of the competition last year. She has returned to reclaim
what she believes is hers and will show no mercy to her
opposition.
With a combination of fast-paced shots and on-court speed, her
youth will be a great asset for her on the court and the other
players will have a tough task to keep up.
KAREN MEAKINS – BARBADOS
 Karen
may not have born in Barbados, but we have all come to love and
accept her as a Bajan! She is the defending Caribbean Ladies
Champion and will always be a competitive force to be reckoned
with in the region.
She has accomplished some extraordinary feats of her own
including 11 consecutive Barbados National titles and 12
Barbados Open titles. Karen also attained a silver medal at the
2010 CAC Games and another silver medal at the World Masters.
No stranger to victory and competition, she will be keen to
resist anyone who stands in her way of retaining the Caribbean
title.
MARLENE WEST – CAYMAN ISLANDS
 Marlene
is another popular name among the Caribbean squash fraternity
and has won a few Caribbean titles of her own, but not since
playing under the Cayman flag.
Having won multiple National titles for both Jamaica and Cayman
Islands, she will be contending to taste Caribbean victory yet
again as she has missed the last few individual competitions.
Definitely not a player to be taken lightly, the top seeds
should be very vigilant when on court with her.
CHERI-ANN PARRIS - BARBADOS
 And
our final player in the top four will be former Junior Caribbean
Champion, Cheri-Ann Parris. This youngster knows how to put some
heat on the ball and has been expanding her game while based in
the U.S. at Bates College.
Having won many titles as a junior, she is likely determined to
challenge the top three this year and earn a place in her first
ever senior CASA final. Although it will be no easy feat, she
has the mindset to rise to a challenge.
Other top players to keep an eye on are players such as
Lilianna White, Rhea Khan, Samantha Hennings
and Jenny Armstrong.
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Good luck to all the players and teams! I am sure it will be a
very competitive event. Sorry I couldn’t join in this year.
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