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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Tahjia Lumley, Alyssa Mullings, the surprise winners at Jamaica senior squash trials
Tahjia Lumley and Alyssa Mullings were the surprise winners at the Jamaica Squash Association’s four-day national senior trials that concluded at the Liguanea Club in Kingston on Sunday.
Lumley won in a walk over after the number-one seed Chris Binnie, who had defeated him in the preliminary round, had to leave the island due to work commitments. Mullings, meanwhile, beat the number-three seed Savannah Thompson 3-1 to finish atop the women’s section.
Lumley, who defeated national champion Julian Morrison to reach Sunday’s final, was grateful just to get to the final.
"It was very hard. It was difficult. I thought I was probably in one of the hardest groups playing against Chris (Binnie) and Bruce (Burrowes) in the group stages,” he said.
“I lost out to Chris and I knew that the match against Bruce was very important for me to come out on top in order for me to make it into the top four. So I was a little bit edgy and a little bit nervous in that match but I was glad I was able to come out 3-1 the victor.
“My body aches, my body hurts but I think my hard work paid off."
At the end of the trials, the top four men were Lumley, Binnie, Morrison and Dane Schwier.
The unseeded Mullings had a similar journey, defeating the number-one seed Mia Todd to get to the semi-final and then beat the number three seed Savannah Thompson 3-1 to emerge victorious.
"It was a really tough match. I actually knew of Savannah before coming here and all the other girls. They played really well and I am really proud of what women's squash is becoming. So it’s really great to come back out here and play and get a win," she said.
"I came in unseeded because I really hadn't been playing for a very long time. The last competitive tournament was maybe seven years ago so I really had to fight and get ready for this so it felt good coming back and doing so well."
Mullings said Thompson "played extremely well and she is quite fit. It was hard. It showed, her fitness is a bit above mine. I really have to work on that. I am really at a loss for words. I am really proud of what I was able to come out and do."
The top four ladies were Mullings, Thompson, Todd and Melissa Lue Yen.
Chairman of the Selection Committee Joey Levy was impressed with the level of play during the trials and believes Jamaica’s squash is in a good place.
"We had good groups of seven men and eight women and we saw some really tough squash over a compressed time. Overall, it was just four days in all so most people were playing two games a day (and) it wears on you but really, really competitive stuff, (and) a couple of surprises. We are very happy, the association, we are very with what we have seen," he said.
"Alyssa won the All Jamaica Championships, the Senior All Jamaica Championships at 14 about ten years ago. She stopped playing squash. She hasn't played for a while and has now come back. This is her first tournament since coming back so she came in unseeded. She was very impressive."
Jamaica's teams to the Pan Am Games in June and the Senior Caribbean Squash Championship in August will be announced in the near future.
Guyana upset Dominican Republic 3-2 to advance to semis at CRTTF Regional Championships
Guyana produced a massive upset win over The Dominican Republic to advance to the semi-finals of the men’s team category at the 2023 Caribbean Regional Table Tennis Federation Championships in Georgetown on Saturday.
The team of Shemar Britton, Elishaba Johnson, Paul David and Jonathan Van Lange combined to defeat Dom Rep 3-2 and guarantee the hosts at least a bronze medal.
Earlier, the hosts finished second in their group behind Cuba, who will take on Barbados in semi-final two after Guyana battle Puerto Rico on Saturday.
Guyana also advanced to the Women’s semi-finals after Chelsea Edgehill, Natalie Cummings, Thuraia Thomas and Jasmin Billingy combined to beat Barbados 3-0 on Friday. Cummings and Billingy won the doubles before Edgehill and Cummings both secured 3-0 singles wins. They will face Trinidad & Tobago in the semis while Barbados and Dominican Republic will contest the other semi-final.
Top-seed Chris Binnie off to a winning start at Jamaica senior trials
Top seed Chris Binnie got off to a strong start at the Jamaica Squash Association's senior trials defeating the number-five seed Bruce Burrowes in straight sets 11-9, 11-9 and 11-8 at the Liguanea Club in Kingston on Thursday.
As the scores indicate, all three sets were competitive with Burrowes enjoying the lead over Binnie briefly in each set but was not able to convert any to a win.
"Good game. I think that shows, you come, you have to play and everyone is competitive and today he (Burrowes) took it to me and it was really close so I am happy to get a 3-0 win and I am looking forward to tomorrow (Friday)," said the nine-time Caribbean men’s singles champion.
"When you start playing events, you want to get that first win under your belt, you want to get that first match done with as well so little nerves to start getting used to the court. I am not based here so the courts I play on are a lot colder so getting used to all of that. I am super happy with how it ended. Hopefully tomorrow (Friday) I can be a little bit better and hopefully get another win."
Despite the loss, Burrowes was not unhappy with his play.
"Chris is a top notch player; Caribbean national player, Caribbean top player, top national player. He is definitely of a different level than the local boys that I am able to train with here but I was able to hold my own against him in the game with points 11-9, 11-9, 11-8,” he said.
“That's not bad even though it’s a 3-0 loss. (I) just have to move on to the next match. Wish Chris all the best in the rest of his matches and just hope that Jamaica can put together our strongest team of these trials."
The trials opened with number-four seed Dane Schwier defeating the number-six seed Stephan Morrison in straight sets.
Meanwhile, reigning national champion and number-two seed Julian Morrison beat the U19 champion and number-seven seed Tobias Levy 3-0.
The four-day trials to select Jamaica's team to the upcoming PanAm Games in June and the Senior Caribbean Squash Championship in August, continue on Friday with matches starting at 6:00 pm at the Liguanea Club.
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