Barbados are on the verge of more squash glory.
Just days after Karen Meakins gave the hosts their first title at the 22nd Senior Caribbean Squash Championships, local hopes have been further amplified in the team competition.
The women’s team of Meakins, Nadia McCarthy, Alex Jordan, Amanda Haywood, Muffin Stollmeyer and Megan Best have already established themselves as the ones to beat with comprehensive 5-0 victories over Bermuda, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Yesterday, they were set to oppose the Cayman Islands before today’s crucial tie against defending champions Guyana.
The local men’s team, featuring reigning national champion Shawn Simpson, the Cumberbatch brothers (Gavin, Rhett and Bryant), Mark Gilkes and Zaki Williams, rebounded after dropping their first tie against Guyana 2-3 on Tuesday to register a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Jamaica the following day.
Against Guyana, who are also the defending men’s champions, Simpson went under to professional player Sunil Seth 11-4, 11-7, 11-9, while Gavin Cumberbatch lost to veteran Richard Chin 11-6, 11-2, 11-7. Â
Bryant Cumberbatch then succumbed to Guyanese national champion Alex Arjoon 5-11, 11-7, 11-2, 11-8, before Rhett and Gilkes restored a measure of respectability to the scoreline.
The men’s team were scheduled to oppose Trinidad and Tobago yesterday for a berth in today’s final against Guyana.
Among the veterans, Barbados made a solid start with a 5-0 victory over Guyana.
The defending champions are represented by captain Mark Sealy (Men’s +50), Andy Gill (Men’s +40), Leon Truss (Men’s +60), Kristina Evelyn (Women +40), Lynn DeCambra-McLeod (Women +50) and Ruth Deane-Webster (Women +50).
The championships conclude today at the Barbados Squash Club, with play starting at 9 a.m. (PR/EZS)
