Local squash was treated to Meagan’s best again. Shawn Simpson’s too.
National champs Meagan Best and Shawn Simpson successfully defended their titles over the weekend by winning the women’s and men’s titles, respectively at the BOA Barbados Senior Squash Championships.
Playing in Marine Gardens, Simpson captured his tenth national singles title after taking just 20 minutes to dismiss seconded seeded Bryant Cumberbatch 11-9, 11-1, 11-4.
It was the 15th finals appearance in 16 years for the seasoned southpaw, who serves as national captain in both squash and volleyball.
Best copped her third straight national crown through a hard-fought 11-9, 9-11, 11-8, 11-4 victory over fellow St Michael School student and national teammate Amanda Haywood.
The teenaged Caribbean and US Open Junior champion was made to work for 43 minutes in a tough finals encounter that witnessed a five-minute hold-up over a contentious call in the second set.
Jada Smith-Padmore held on for third place with an 11-8, 11-7, 11-8 win against Sumairaa Suleman while Cumberbatch’s older brother Gavin took the men’s equivalent, beating veteran Mark Sealy 11-4, 11-6, 11-8.
In other men’s matches, Zaki Williams fended off Tony McKenzie 11-7, 14-12, 11-3 for fifth after Leon Truss took the seventh via a walkover.
Darien Benn valiantly came from two sets down to beat Andrei Grant 6-11, 9-11, 13-11, 11-4, 11-1 in the consolation plate. (JM)