After last night's celebrations when Cayman's top junior Cameron
Stafford beat Shawn Simpson, ranked #3 in the Caribbean, much to
the disappointment of the Camana Bay crowd there was to be no
repeat as Caribbean #2 Colin Ramasra ended young Stafford's run
to take the title.
After a shaky opening Cameron surged ahead from midway through
the first with a series of winners, taking the game with a pump
of the fist as the crowd reacted accordingly.
From then on though Colin was generally in control, settling his
nerves with early leads in next three games, and holding off a
number of attempted comebacks by Cameron, urged on by the crowd
naturally.
Minister
Challenge:
Minister Mark Scotland vs MLA Mr. Cline Glidden
Honours even in Ministerial Challenge
No-one is actually sure who won this challenge match as
substitutes were used by both competitors, and the refereeing
was rather, well, arbitrary ...
What isn't in dispute though is that great fun was had by all,
and the not only is the Cayman Government proactive in promoting
a wide range of sporting activities and events in the islands,
squash is lucky to have friends such as these in high places.
Jenny Duncalf may have won two of their last three meetings, but
before that spell Nicol David had won eighteen in a row, that
has to have some bearing on the match, consciously or not.
Three-nil to Nicol in half an hour sounds pretty simple, but it
was far from as easy as thay sounds. Jenny matches the world
champion point for point for the vast majority of the first two
games, but as she often does Nicol found what was needed to
close out tight games.
Jenny
played a lovely volley kill to get to within 9/8 in the first,
but Nicol put in a winning boast followed by a volley kill of
her own, almost as if to make a point.
Same story in the second, well constructed rallies, nothing to
choose between them, 7-all and another tight finish on the
cards. A boast from Jenny brought it to 9/8 again, then two
perfect lengths from Nicol, dying in the backhand corner, and
the defending champion was two games to the good.
Nicol came out bouncing for the third, quickly going 5/1 up and
looking in control. Jenny pulled a few points back, but from 6/3
she put three balls quickly into the tin and the match was all
but over, and soon enough Nicol had defended her title.
"It's always tough against Jenny," said the champion. "It felt
more like a 3/2 than a 3/0, the first games were really tight.
"It's so great to be able to defend my title here, Dan and his
team have done another fantastic job, it's ten times better than
I could have imagined, and the sponsors and the government have
put so much in to make the event a success.
"Hopefully I'll be back to defend my title next year, and if my
body's still well I'll definitely be here for the World Open in
2012!".
