Barbados’ sports personality of 2010 and world over-35 female squash silver medallist, Karen Meakins, will be among the record 70 competitors taking part in the fourth edition of the BCQS International Masters Squash Open which smashed off yesterday evening at the Barbados Squash Club.
Unfortunately, local fans following the action which concludes on Sunday will not get the chance to see Meakins battling her own sex as the under-subscription of women has forced organizers to lump the women with the men.
Even so, fans are expected to get more that a share of good squash action with a number of heavyweight masters appearing from Europe, the United States, Canada, Tortola, St Lucia, St Vincent, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Action will be divided into four age groups: 35 to 44, 45 to 54, 55 to 64 and 65 years-and-up.
There are 30 overseas entries which have been boosted by Meakins’ performance at last year’s Worlds in Germany, as well as efforts by Mark Cox in spreading the word in Britain. The local organizers have also been promoting the tournament throughout the Caribbean.
The over-45 age group is expected to produce plenty of fireworks with England’s Mark Cowley, the World over-50s champion, taking part in that section. Britain’s No.1 and No.2 seeds Chris Harland and Ian Bradburn are looking for stiff opposition from Trinidad and Tobago’s John Holley in the over-50s.
Although Meakins will be taking part in the men’s over 35 she will still have a keen interest in the performance of Bea De Dreu-Spitse from the Netherlands who reached the finals at the Over-45s Worlds in Cologne last year.
Some of the other outstanding women who will be in action will be Trinidad and Tobago’s No.2 and Caribbean No.7 Rhea Khan as well as Betty Dryhurst from ?Britain who reached the quarter-finals in the over-60s Worlds last year.
Meakins will launch the competition this evening at 6:30 when she battles Don Benn. Last year Meakins lost in the finals to Barbados squash director, Jonathan Gallacher. Matches will be played from 6:30 today and tomorrow with the games beginning at five on Friday.
The competition will commence at nine on Saturday morning with the staging of some of the finals, the remaining finals to be concluded on Sunday morning with an awards presentation being slated for 11 a.m.
Whereas a number of sponsors have come on board for this fourth edition, BCQS International can boast their fourth year of support for the squash tournament.
