Caribbean Women's Doubles Champions Ashley DeGroot and Ashley Khalil are all smiles as Guyana walked away with the overall title at the Caribbean Senior Squash Championships that concluded at the Liguanea Club in Kingston, Jamaica on Saturday.
Guyana won the overall team title at the 2022 Caribbean Senior Squash Championships that concluded at the Liguanea Club in Kingston on Saturday.
The formidable contingent from the South American continent won both men's and women’s team titles to come away with 64 points after winning the men’s title over Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, respectively. They also took the women’s title over the Cayman Islands and Trinidad and Tobago, respectively.
Overall, the Cayman Islands were runners-up with 56 points while hosts Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago amassed 45 points. Barbados were fifth with 30 points.
In women’s play on Saturday, Guyana blanked Jamaica 5-0 and the Cayman Island defeated Barbados 4-1. In men's play, Guyana beat Jamaica 4-1 while The Cayman Islands defeated Barbados 3-2.
The Guyanese pair Ashley Degroot and Ashley Khalil won the women’s doubles title. Jade Pitcairn and Michaela Rensburg of the Cayman Islands were the runners-up with Tessa Martin and Alexandria Yearwood of Trinidad & Tobago and Savannah Thomson and Mia Todd of Jamaica tied for third.
Meantime, Nyron Joseph and Jason-Ray Khalil of Guyana won the men’s doubles title over the Barbadian pair of Khamal Cumberbatch & Shawn Simpson.
Julian Jervis and Jake Kelly of the Cayman Islands and Bruce Burrowes and Julian Morrison of Jamaica tied for third.
The Cayman Islands pair of Cameron Stafford and Marlene West won the mixed doubles title with Daniel Ince and Taylor Fernandes of Guyana as the runners-up. Darien Benn and Jodi Smith-Padmore of Barbados and Chayse McQuan and Marie Claire Barcant of Trinidad and Tobago shared third-place honours.
Ramon Chan-A-Sue of Guyana won the Men’s 40-plus title over Trinidad and Tobago’s Peter Pirthseesingh and Jamaica’s Bruce Levy.
The Women’s title was won by Lori-Ann Foley of the Cayman Islands. Karen Anderson of Jamaica was second and Diane Julien of Trinidad and TobagoNyro was third.
Joey Levy of Jamaica took the Men’s 50 and over crown over Peter Drury of Bermuda and Keith Higgins of the Cayman Islands who were second and third, respectively. The women’s title went to Marlene West of the Cayman Islands with Cathy Martin of Trinidad and Tobago and Gill Binnie of Jamaica finishing second and third, respectively.
Richard Hart of Trinidad and Tobago won the men’s 60 and over title. Chris Bicknell of Jamaica was the runner up and Nick Buckley of the Cayman Islands finished third.
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Blown and Fantastic Warriors set for thrilling KPMG Squash League final this evening
Blown and Fantastic Warriors have secured their spots in the eagerly anticipated final of the 24th KPMG Squash League after impressive victories over Saints and Racketeers in the semi-finals. Squash enthusiasts are gearing up for an exciting showdown between these two formidable teams, scheduled for this Friday at the Liguanea Club in New Kingston, with the action kicking off at 6:00 pm on the main court.
The path to the final saw both teams display exceptional skill and determination, thrilling spectators with intense matches that highlighted the competitive spirit of the league.
In the first semi-final clash between Blown and Saints, Jerry Bell of Saints delivered a commanding performance to secure victory over Fraser McConnell in straight sets (21-17, 21-19, 21-13). However, Blown fought back fiercely, with Jake Mahfood and Andrew Bicknell securing crucial wins to propel their team to the final.
Meanwhile, the battle between Fantastic Warriors and Racketeers kept fans on the edge of their seats with extended rallies and impressive displays of athleticism. Racketeers' Adam Lee and Fantastic Warriors' Nabeel Jawad and Stewart Maxwell showcased exceptional talent, ultimately leading to a thrilling conclusion in favor of the Fantastic Warriors.
This year's league has witnessed captivating matches and standout performances, with a new champion set to be crowned following the absence of defending champions AGI (Advantage General Insurance). The competition, which began with 16 teams in early March, featured 64 players representing a diverse range of skill levels, from beginners to national champions.
A unique aspect of the league was the implementation of handicaps based on players' skill levels, ensuring a level playing field and offering every participant an opportunity to excel. Matches were extended to twenty-one points, adding an extra layer of challenge and excitement to the games.
As the KPMG Squash League reaches its pinnacle with the highly anticipated final, squash enthusiasts and supporters eagerly await what promises to be an exhilarating showdown between Blown and Fantastic Warriors. Don't miss out on the action as these two top-tier teams vie for supremacy in this prestigious tournament.
Elite Jamaica squash player Julian Morrison fights back against doping allegations after positive test for Boldenone
In a bid to clear his name and restore his reputation, Jamaica's national squash champion, Julian Morrison, is challenging the provisional suspension imposed by the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) after testing positive for trace amounts of Boldenone, a banned anabolic agent.
The suspension came following an out-of-competition test conducted on January 18th, 2024, where Morrison's results showed the presence of Boldenone in his system. However, Morrison and his representatives strongly assert that the substance entered his body inadvertently, likely through contamination.
Dr. Emir Crowne and Mr. Matthew Gayle, legal representatives for Morrison, are steadfast in their support of his innocence. They emphasize that Boldenone's presence was unintentional and stress Morrison's commitment to upholding the integrity of the sport.
Speaking on behalf of Morrison, Dr. Crowne stated, "As best as can be determined at this time, the banned substance unknowingly entered Mr. Morrison's system through contamination." Morrison remains determined to expedite the process of vindication and is actively engaging with authorities to clear his name.
Boldenone, often associated with bodybuilding due to its anabolic properties, is prohibited in competitive sports. However, Morrison's case highlights the complexities of anti-doping regulations and the challenges faced by athletes when dealing with inadvertent exposure to banned substances.
Despite the setback, Morrison remains resolute and hopeful for a positive resolution. His representatives have expressed confidence in the ongoing efforts to overturn the suspension and restore Morrison's eligibility to compete.
CWI President Shallow pleased with region's progress in preparation for T20 World Cup
As the much-anticipated ICC Men’s T20 World Cup draws closer, Cricket West Indies president Dr Kishore Shallow expressed satisfaction with the region’s state of readiness for global showpiece which is jointly hosted by in the Caribbean and United States.
Shallow’s remarks followed a recent visit Kensington Oval in Barbados where he was assured that all was on course for the June 1-29 tournament.
Barbados will host nine matches– five in the group stage, three in the Super Eight second stage, and the final on June 29, which will mark the third such ICC marquee game to be staged at the venue following on from the historic One-Day International World Cup in 2007 and the 2010 T20 World Cup.
Though West Indies will not feature in any group stage games at the Oval, a box office fixture between reigning T20 World champions England and Australia is on the cards for June 8.
Ambassador Noel Lynch, chairman of the National Organising Committee, in a recent media conference said that the major elements of the storied venue would be delivered to tournament authorities next week while the remaining elements would be completed by month end.
“On the eastern concourse where there’s the party stand and the temporary facility, and all of those facilities that are coming in, we are sure that we’ll hand over those on the 30th of April. But we’ll hand over the major parts that you know – the 3Ws, the Greenidge and Haynes, the Media Centre, the field of play, the scoreboards, all of the electronic boards – will be finished within a week and handed over,” Lynch said.
“I think that’s ahead of schedule. I think Barbados has done an exceptional job. It wasn’t my job … when I came back from the US, we were already very far advanced in terms of the progress – the infrastructural progress at Kensington Oval,” he added.
Shallow agreed, as he gave the thumbs up to Barbados and other host venues across the region, who are well advanced in preparation for the tournament.
“Well ahead of schedule. I’m happy with the progress we’ve made so far with the World Cup and it’s definitely going to be a spectacle of an event and something we should all look forward to,” Shallow said.
He later revealed that there was one territory that was lagging behind in their preparations, but was reluctant to name the island.
Along with Barbados, games will also be played in Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St Lucia, and St Vincent and the Grenadines.
“Only one facility in the Caribbean, one country (is) probably a couple weeks behind schedule, but we have their commitment that they are going to accelerate. It might take some day and night application but no doubt, by June 1, every country in the Caribbean is going to be ready,” Shallow shared.
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