Digicel Junior CASA 2017 … Taylor Fernandes, Shomari Wilshire cop Individual titles for locals, but Bajans dominate

Jul 05, 2017 Sports, http://www.kaieteurnewsonline....but-bajans-dominate/

By Sean Devers
The Weather conditions yesterday morning was as depressing as Guyana’s showing on the final day of the Individual catorgry of the 2017 Digicel Junior Caribbean Squash Championships powered by Exxon Mobil, Banks DIH, Ansa Mcal, Bounty Farm Ltd, Guyana Olympic Association and DD Signs at the Georgetown Club in Guyana and when the sun eventually emerged in all its glory it smiled on the Barbadians.

Barbados won six of the 10 titles up for grabs, while Guyana Girls Captain Taylor Fernandes was not at her best but still good enough to take the U-19 title in a hard fought five-set game, while Guyana’s Shomari Wilshire eased his way to the U-15 title in emphatic fashion despite surprisingly losing the second set.

Trinidad and Tobago and the Cayman Islands took the other two titles in the tournament which commenced on Sunday.

Watched by another vocal crowd which included 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games Gold medalist, 34-year-old Canadian born Guyana Squash queen, Nicolette Fernandes, Taylor was pushed to the limit in her game against Bajan Amanda Haywood in what turned out to be the most entertaining match of the day. After Fernandes won the first set 11-8, Haywood regrouped and took the second set 11-8 in a riveting battle. The gangly Fernandes used her reach and took the third stanza 12 – 10 but seemed to be running out of gas as the Bajan raced to an 11-5 win before the determined Fernandes, dug deep to win the final game 11-8.

On the back of Fernandes’ victory, Mekdeci was expected to be the pillar of the Guyana team but yesterday the USA based player looked a shadow of himself and on several occasions gifted Bajan Shemane Griffith easy points, including conceding a point when he served high to be soundly beaten 11-4, 8-11, 6-11, 4-11 in a contest that he would rather forget.

Wilshire win was more clinical and dominated every set against T&T’s Christopher Anthony. Only in the second set, which Wilshire surprisingly lost 9-11, did Anthony manage more than two points.

In the Boys U-11 final, Seth Thong (T &T) defeated Mohyryan Baksh (GUY) 11 – 0, 11 – 2, 11 – 9, while Zishan Motara (BAR) beat Brody Mc Comb (CAY) 11 – 1, 12 – 10, 10 – 12, 11 – 5 for third place. The winner of the consolation final was Louis Da Silva (GUY) who defeated Nathan Rahaman (GUY) 11 – 9, 13 – 11, 11 – 3.

In the Girls U-11 round robin final set of matches, Rebekah Nichols (BAR) beat Beau Fernandes (GUY) 11 – 1, 11 – 6, 11 – 4 to finish unbeaten and be crowned champion, while Christiana Fernandes (GUY) ended third by beating Isabella Ramjohn (GUY) 11 – 7, 8 – 11, 11 – 6, 11 – 9.

In the Boys U-13 final Jace Jervis (CAY) captured his first title by defeating Aiden Parris (BAR) 11 – 5, 11 – 5, 7 – 11, 11 – 8, while in the play off for third place, Alex Stewart (BAR) beat Michael Alphonso (GUY) 11 – 7, 12 – 14, 11 – 6, 11 – 2. In the consolation final Demetrius De Abreu (GUY) beat Ethan Jonas (GUY) 8 – 11, 11 – 7, 11 – 3, 11 – 6.

The girls U-13 was a repeat of last year’s final with defending Bajan champion Sumairaa Suleman retaining her title by beating Kirsten Gomes of Guyana, 11 – 3, 11 – 4, 11 – 2, while Guyanese Paige Fernandes beat Hailey Moss of Bermuda 7 – 11, 11 – 9, 16 – 14, 11 – 8 to finish third. Olivia Kluyver (CAY) beat Sigourney Williams (T & T) 11 – 5, 8 – 11, 7 – 11, 11 – 6, 11 – 5 to win the consolation title.

In the results: Guyana won its first individual title when in the U-15 category Shomari Wiltshire defeated Christopher Anthony (T & T) 11 – 1, 9 – 11, 11 – 1, 11 – 2, while Darien Benn (BAR) beat Charlie Ryker (BER) 11 – 7, 8 – 11, 11 – 8, 11 – 6 to finish third. Samuel Ince-Carvalhal finished fifth when he defeated Joshua Poon (T &T) 7 – 11, 11 – 3, 11 – 3, 11 – 3.

In the girls U-15 final, Chelsea Samuel (BAR) beat Abosaide Cadogan (GUY) 11 – 2, 11 – 5, 11 – 2, while Madison Fernandes (GUY) beat Giovanna Miller-Alexander (OECS) 11 – 5, 11 – 7, 11 – 6 for third place. In the consolation final Aimee De Verteuil (T & T) beat Aliyah Persaud (GUY) 14 – 12, 11 – 5, 11 – 8.

In the Boys U-17 final, Khamal Cumberbatch (BAR) defeated Kai Bentick (OECS) 11- 7, 11 – 4, 11 – 6, while Taylor Carrick (BER) defeated Daniel Islam (GUY) 11 – 7, 11 – 6, 11 – 7 to finish third. In the consolation final Anaya Smith (BER) beat Adam Ardito (JAM) 11 – 6, 4 – 11, 11 – 8, 11 – 4.

In the girls U-17 final, Caribbean Women’s Champion Megan Best (BAR) defeated Jade Pitcairn (CAY) 11 – 7, 11 – 4, 11 – 1, while in the third place play-off Jada Smith-Padmore (BAR) beat Makeda Harding (GUY) 11 – 7, 11 – 7, 11 – 2. Twin sister Jodi Smith-Padmore (BAR) won the consolation final when she defeated Guyanese Sarah Lewis 11 – 8, 11 – 9, 9 – 11, 11 – 9.

In the Boys U-19 final, Guyana Boys captain Ben Mekdeci could not pull off the win when he went down in four games to Bajan Shemane Griffith 11 – 4, 8 – 11, 6 – 11, 4 – 11. Jamaican Taj Lumley got a walkover from teammate Jonathan Walker to finish third, while Reggie Brewster (BAR) avenged his loss to Guyanese Alex Cheeks to win 11 – 5, 2 – 11, 11 – 7, 11 – 3.

Guyana won its second title when Fernandes prevailed in five games; defeating Amanda Haywood (BAR) 11 – 8, 8 – 11, 12 – 10, 5 – 11, 11 – 8. Alexandria Yearwood (T & T) gained a walkover from teammate Marie-Claire Barcant to finish third, while Emma Turnbull (CAY) beat Rebecca Low (GUY) 10 – 12, 10 – 12, 11 – 9, 11 – 5, 11 – 6 to finish fifth.

Play in the team Event commences today at the GT Club with matches at 09:00hrs and 17:00hrs. The Boys team event has a pool of six teams, while the Girls team event has a pool of four.

The Opening ceremony is scheduled for today at the GT Club at 16.00hrs.

Shomari Wilshire (right) hammered T&T’s Christopher Anthony 11-1, 9-11, 11-1, 11-2 in the U-15 Final. (Sean Devers photo)

Guyana’s Taylor Fernandes (left) was pushed to the limit by Bajan Amanda Haywood in their competitive U-19 final yesterday at the GT Club. (Sean Devers photo)