Fernandes, Wiltshire are new Caribbean Squash Champions
By Akeem Greene
Guyana’s Taylor Fernandes and Shomari Wiltshire battled their way to respective titles when the Caribbean Area Squash Association (CASA) Junior Championships continued on Tuesday at the Georgetown Club.
Fernandes playing her final year as junior withstood immense pressure from Barbadian Amanda Yearwood in the u-19 final while Shomari Wiltshire produced another clinical performance to defeat Trinidad’s Christopher Anthony in the u-15 final.
Benjamin Mekdeci (left) tried desperately to end his junior career on a high but was overwhelmed by Barbados’ Shemane Griffith
Fernandes won 11-8, 8-11, 12-10, 5-11 & 11-8 but was pushed to the limit by a determined Yearwood in battle that took a toll on both players’ fitness.
Though it was a home game for Fernandes, Yearwood got thunderous applause due to her remarkable athleticism and cheeky dabs, which coupled with long rallies, seemed to unnerve the Guyanese.
However, like a true warrior the tenacious Fernandes fought on to seal a maiden Caribbean title.
In addition, 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.
Similarly, Wiltshire’s dominance at this level continued as he classed his way to a first u-15 title by winning 11 – 1, 9 – 11, 11 – 1, 11-2. Wiltshire had previously won u-13 titles in 2016 and 2015.
Taylor Fernandes fought her championship glory in tiring battle with Barbados’ Amanda Yearwood
Darien Benn (BAR) beat Charlie Ryker (BER) 11 – 7, 8 – 11, 11 – 8, 11 – 6 to finish third. Local Samuel Ince-Carvalhal finished fifth when he defeated Joshua Poon (T &T) 7 – 11, 11 – 3, 11 – 3, 11 – 3.
In the girls Under 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.
Meanwhile, what was poised to be the blockbuster clash of the day, the boys’ u-19 final between local captain Benjamin Mekdeci and Shemane Griffith from Barbados lived upped to its expectations but it was Griffith who came out the happiest.
Shomari Wiltshire played a smart match to win his under-15 title
Mekdeci started with great enthusiasm, winning the first game 11-4. However, Griffith who is a Guyanese by birth and played with Mekdeci in his earlier days, slowed the pace of the game and later produced a sublime performance to win the other three games 8 – 11, 6 – 11 & 4 – 11.
Taj Lumley (JAM) secured a walkover from teammate Jonathan Walker to finish third while Reggie Brewster (BAR) avenged his earlier loss to Alex Cheeks (GUY) to finish fifth by winning 11 – 5, 2 – 11, 11 – 7, 11 – 3.
The Boys U-17 final saw 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. More so, in the girl 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 Sarah Lewis (GUY) 11 – 8, 11 – 9, 9 – 11, 11 – 9.
In the u-13 category, Jace Jervis (CAY) captured his first title by defeating Aiden Parris (BAR) 11 – 5, 11 – 5, 7 – 11, 11 – 8. 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.
In a repeat of last year’s final, defending champion Sumairaa Suleman (BAR) retained her title with a straight sets win over Kirsten Gomes (GUY) 11 – 3, 11 – 4, 11 – 2 while Paige Fernandes (GUY) beat Hailey Moss (BER) 7– 11, 11 – 9, 16 – 14, 11 – 8 to finish third.
In the Boys Under 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.
,Rebekah Nichols (BAR) beat Beau Fernandes (GUY) 11 – 1, 11 – 6, 11 – 4 to finish unbeaten and be crowned champion in the Girls Under 11 round robin final set of matches while Christiana Fernandes (GUY) ended third by beating Isabella Ramjohn (GUY) 11 – 7, 8 – 11, 11 – 6, 11 – 9. Barbados established themselves as firm favourites to dethrone Guyana who are seeking their 13thconsecutive overall. Barbados has captured six of the ten individual titles that were up for grabs. Guyana captured two, and Trinidad & Tobago and Cayman Islands captured one each.
Play in the Boys and Girls team event starts today with matches 09:00. The Boys team event has a pool of six teams while the girls’ team event has a pool of four.
The Opening ceremony for that aspect of the championship will be held from 16:00 hrs. at the aforementioned venue.
