15-Jul, Individual Finals:

G13:   Victoria Arjoon (GUY) bt Emma Keane (BER)                  9-0, 9-1, 9-2
B13:   Nku Patrick (T&T) bt Jake Mahfood (JAM)                        9-1, 10-9, 3-9, 5-9, 9-1
G15:   Mary Fung-a-Fat (GUY) bt Ashley deGroot (GUY)            9-0, 9-0, 9-2
B15:   Kevin Hannaway (OECS) bt Noah Browne (BER)              9-4, 9-4, 9-2
G17:   Keisha Jeffrey (GUY) bt Kayla Jeffrey (GUY)                   10-8, 10-8, 9-4
B17:   Cameron Stafford (CAY) bt Alexander Arjoon (GUY)        9-4, 9-1, 8-10, 9-4
G19:   Kerrie Sample (T&T) bt Cheri-Ann Parris (BAR)               5-9, 9-4, 7-9, 9-5, 9-5
B19:   Robbie Maycock (BER) bt Joe Chapman (OECS)              10-8, 9-2, 9-4
 

Day Four roundup from Roger Sherratt

Hurricane Bertha - downgraded to a Tropical Storm - did her best to dampen spirits at the Bank of Bermuda Foundation Junior CASA (Caribbean) Squash Championship, being held in Bermuda, but to no avail as the finals in individual competition were held in front of a packed and raucous audience at the BSRA’s squash club in this semi-tropical paradise.

Perhaps the spirits of Bermudian squash fans were dampened during the opening match in Girls Under 13, when Victoria Arjoon despatched Bermuda’s Emma Keane in three straight games, Arjoon repeating her success as last year’s Under 13 champion.

Top seed Nku Patrick (T&T) looked to be planning a similar victory over #2 seed Jake Mahfood (Jam) as he surged through the first game and looked to be in total command. He began to faulter a little towards the end of the second game as Mahfood chased down every ball, but Patrick hung on to take the game 10-8 with his superior shot making skills still evident. But sometimes sheer grit and determination makes up for other skills, and Mahfood came firing back on all cylinders, simply refusing to give up a single point without a fight.

As his confidence increased, Patrick began to make errors and found himself increasingly on the defensive. Mahfood won the third 9-3, and powered through the fourth 9-5 to set up an intriguing finale to an excellent match. At this point Patrick calmed himself down and began to find his length, while Mahfood was beginning to run out of steam. Patrick cruised through the fifth, winning it 9-1, to take his first Junior CASA title. This exciting young 11 year old will still be eligible to compete in Under 13 again next year, and will be tough to beat – again.

"It was a hard game. I was playing my shots then I started to get tired. I got lackadaisical and started making mistakes. Jake came back and played well, running fast and getting all the balls.

"Going into the fifth my coach told me to relax and don’t study the referee! Just play your game. I played real good and Jake got tired going for so many balls. I’m real happy to win. Last year I came second and I’m still in Under 13’s next year.

The Girls Under 15 final saw the appearance of a star of the future as Mary Fung-a-fat of Guyana put on an exhibition in her match against fellow team mate Ashley deGroot. deGroot is a fine player, but Fung-a-fat has all the shots and then some! Her backhand cross court proved deadly, and she seems to always have time to think about where to play her shots. The result was never in doubt as she conceded just two points in the third game.



Next up in Girls Under 17 were the Jeffrey twins from Guyana, #1 seed Keisha and #2 seed Kayla. Keisha raced into an early 7-1 lead in the opening game, only to have Kyla fight back to level the score, and even serve for game point at 8-7. Keisha then tightened up her game and when her sister made an unforced error she pushed through to take the game 10-8.

These two young ladies played exceptionally well, with Keisha slightly the stronger. Game two was almost identical; Kyla served for game point at 8-7, and again Keisha maintained her composure to win back serve and take this crucial game 10-8. She went on to win the third game 9-4 and the title in fine style. The score is not indicative of the closeness of this match. Both twins displayed superb racket skills, had extended rallies, and played in the true spirit of the game. Dare one call them the Williams (of tennis fame) sisters of Caribbean squash!

The Boys Under 15 final involved two protaganists who have played each other several times in Junior CASA championships. Second seed Noah Brown (Ber) won their first encounter when he took the Under 13 title two years ago, and in 2007 top seed, Kevin Hannaway, had won their last junior CASA match. On this occasion it was Hannaway who had the upper hand, despite enthusiastic support from Bermuda supporters for Browne. Hannaway was just too strong and won in straight games 9-4, 9-4, 9-2.

"I felt confident going into the match. I lost to Noah in 2006 in the Under 13 final, and I beat him last year in Under 15.

"My approach was to keep him under pressure so I could volley the ball. I felt in control all the way through. I’ve been playing a lot and I’m really enjoying it."

The next Boys Final, in Under 17s, proved a much closer match between Cameron Stafford (Cay) and Alex Arjoon (Guyana). Both played superbly, with Stafford using his excellent racket skills to dominate the first two games. The third game was a cliffhanger, as Arjoon fought his way back into the match against a clearly tiring Stafford who hit the tin repeatedly with a series of poor drop shots. Arjoon took this game 10-8, and the gallery began to sense that Stafford was beginning to fade.

Had he lost the fourth it would likely have been game over, but Stafford continued to play his shots, keeping Arjoon at the back of the court whenever possible, while finding his touch again for effective drops as Arjeen began to tire. Both players struggled in the humidity, and it was an exhausted Stafford who managed to find the extra reserves to win the fourth and take the title in a thrilling encounter.

"It was a really tough match. Alex is a very smart player - very strong. I just tried to play my shots and in the first couple of games I was stronger than him.

"One thing I know about his game though, he NEVER gives up. He came back strong in the third game and I sort of fell apart, kinda nervous with it being a championship match, and I was getting real tired. My head was blowing up like a balloon and I was really sweating in that humidity.

"In the fourth I tried to concentrate on good length, tiring him out. I lost my concentration again for a little while then pulled it back and found a bit more confidence with my teammates cheering me on. I can tell you it was a big relief winning that last point.

"Now I’m looking forward to playing in the World Juniors in Zurich later this month. One of my ambitions is to get on the PSA circuit."

With the wind and rain howling outside the Devonshire courts by this time, it was on to the last two finals, and by coincidence, one of the finalists in each match are students of Wycliffe College in England who had just completed their “A” levels.

In the Girls Under 19 Final, #2 seed Kerrie Sample was representing Trinidad and Tobago for the first time (her mother is Trinidadian), while her opponent, #1 seed, Cheri-Ann Parris of Barbados, has won every other age group title in Junior CASA, and had just spent three weeks at a training camp in Egypt. Although little known in the Caribbean, Sample had been playing regularly at Wycliffe and in U.K. tournaments where she is currently ranked in the top ten in England Under 19s. She is no slouch!

This was without doubt, the match of the championships - from start to finish - and held a packed gallery engrossed as these two young ladies put on an incredible display. Parris took the first game 9-5 against a slightly apprehensive Sample, who promptly came back to win the 2nd 9-4. Both were striking the ball beautifully, playing to a good length and chasing down every ball.

The third game was a no-holds-barred affair, as both sought to take control of the “T”. Parris looked to be the fitter of the two as she managed to stay ahead through the third to take it 9-7. She extended her lead at the start of the fourth and looked to be in command, but Sample showed her experience in competition as she forced herself to chase every ball while avoiding mistakes. Quite frankly, she looked too tired to go to a fifth, particularly as the conditions were so hot and humid compared with the U.K. , but somewhat against expectations she overtook Parris in this crucial game and won it 9-5 to set up an exciting finale in the fifth.

If the standard of squash in this match was high in the first four games, it reached a peak in the decider. Both played at their best. Sample managed to slowly take command, and won several crucial points for a 7-4 lead, only to have Parris win back service and the next point. An extra long rally had spectators on their feet, and when Sample won back serve it seemed to be a case of now or never! She hung in to take the last two points and claim her first ever Junior CASA title. There was really no loser in this fabulous match.

"I was VERY nervous. I’d never seen Cheri-Ann play before – her style or technique - and I heard she’d been training for three weeks in Egypt. I was really not sure of the outcome but I knew it was a great opportunity to do my best.

"In the first game she really impressed me. Judging from her previous experience she has obviously improved a lot. I felt a bit shaken and lost it 9-5. I realized it was going to be a tough match but I always felt I could do it. I think I made better shot selections in the second game, moving her around and taking a little more control.

"I was trying to get her to the back of the court and then go short. She does like to boast from the front and I picked up on that and was able to anticipate them. I think she may have relaxed a little in the second game because after losing it she came back strong in the third and won it even though it was close.

"In the fourth I think I was down 2-5 and I started thinking about all the effort I’ve put into this. She was ahead on points and I knew I couldn’t make any errors if I wanted to win. It was a huge relief to win the fourth.

"In the last game I remember being 7-4 up and we were having a real battle. She got the serve back and got to 5-7 before I got the serve again. I have to say those final two points were the hardest of the whole game. I said to myself, don’t hit the tin, don’t make mistakes; let her make them. It’s unfortunate in a way because we couldn’t both be winners today."

"I was ecstatic to win, and so pleased my parents were here to see it. This is the first time my dad has seen me play since last September.

"Since Easter I’ve played in the Peru Open with the Wycliffe College team where I won the Senior Ladies Open. It was really hot out there and I got prickly heat syndrome. I also played in the Trinidad & Tobago Open where I placed third but I’ve been suffering from a repetitive leg strain and had to cut back on my training. I’ve also been concentrating on my ‘A’ levels for three weeks - training only when I had a little time - but I was training hard at school for the past two weeks with my two coaches, David Morrish and Mike Edwards, and the school squad. I think it paid off and I have to thank my coaches for doing a fantastic job."

Bermudian squash fans had had a rather disappointing day, and their one remaining hope was the final match of the individual championship - the Boys Under 19 - between #1 seed, Robbie Maycock, the hometown hero, and OECS star, Joe Chapman, who had played in Bermuda in last year's PSA World Championship as a wildcard entry. Their last three encounters, all of which were close 3-2 matches, were won by Maycock, who had has previously won the Junior CASA title in every other age group. Maycock had just completed his “A” levels in the U.K. while Chapman had been training in BVI with their new coach, Joe Kneipp, a former professional from Australia and a regular visitor to Bermuda.

It was a restrained gallery watching anxiously as Chapman surged into a 6-1 lead in the first game with Maycock looking rather nervous. However, Maycock slowly found his length and began to take advantage of his height and his ability to retrieve anything and everything Chapman threw at him. He clawed his way to 8-8 and by this time had the confidence to go for his shots.

Maycock took the first game 10-8,and this certainly seemed to rattle Chapman who continued to play well, but had no answer to Maycock who then picked up the pace and later said he played “out of his skin” in front of his home crowd. Maycock was hitting to a tight length, keeping Chapman pinned to the back of the court, then exploiting any opportunity to drop or boast in the front corners. He put on a terrific display of controlled squash, winning the second game 9-2, and the third 9-4 to take the Under 19 title in his last year as a junior.

From the Bermudian fans’ point of view a great finish to the individual championships. Tuesday is a rest day, with Team Competition getting underway on Wednesday.


BSRA Press Officer

Meet Madeline ... Meet 9 year old Madeline Rose, the youngest and smallest player in this year’s Junior CASA Championships. It is her first time - but not the last! She has been playing squash for two years after being introduced to the game by none other than the PSA World Champion, David Palmer, who was staying with her parents and took her on court for the very first time. Says Madeline, "I really like squash, running around and playing games. I train on Saturdays, and with Denise Sommers in the Girls Club on Tuesdays. I’ve made lots of friends and I want to go away with everybody else (to Junior CASA). My sister also plays. She’s 7. My daddy plays sometimes and I think he used to be good!" Daddy - Julian Rose - is a former squash professional who played in the top 100

deGroot & Fung-a-Fat

"We know each others strategies with training together all the time, so I tried to keep her at the back because she’s a bit faster than me. That gives me an advantage. She still came on very strong and played really well. I had to put in the extra effort and keep on my toes, retrieve the ball, and be prepared for her shots otherwise she would win.

"She got ahead 8-7 in the first game and the second game. I tried to stay calm, not panic, and not rush – and DON’T hit the tin! I managed to win both those games. In the third we both got a little tired and I just tried to stay ahead so when I served I didn’t have to work twice as hard.

"On the court we both want to win so we fight hard against each other, but after the game, no matter what, we’re sisters - and best friends.

"I’ve won the Junior CASA Under 13, and last year I was second in Under 15, so this was a sweet victory. It was nice playing against Kayla even though I got tired."

Arjoon & Stafford

Sample & Parris

Maycock & Chapman

"I wasn’t expecting it to be 3-0 like that. The last two matches with Joe it’s been down to the wire 3-2. The home crowd played a huge role, and playing on my home court is a definite advantage. And maybe even the weather helped. Today it was a little cooler with all the rain - sort of made me think of England!

"I thought I played out of my skin, despite a few errors. I started nervously in the first. Maybe I felt the pressure, especially as I’ve won every other age group and had a lot to lose. I was down 1-6 before I settled. I just tried to play my game, steady, tight length, keep him trapped at the back and exploit the front when I had an opportunity.

"The first game we played at his pace – slowly - but in the second I picked it up and volleyed a lot more to keep him pinned back, He seemed to tire as I grew in confidence. My shots seemed to come naturally, and the crowd got me pumped up and feeding on their energy.

"I felt he was more or less finished in the third game so I just kept my focus because he’s not the type to give up. I was solid and didn’t really have to dig deep today.

"Now I’m off to the World Juniors with Micah and Noah. I know that will be a wake up call for me compared with here. It’s going to be really tough."

GU13       GU15    GU15 CONS         GU17    GU17 CONS     GU19     2007 Event
   

Early start for the Finals ...

The Devonshire courts were exceptionally hot and humid for the individual semi-final matches in the Bank of Bermuda Foundation Junior CASA (Caribbean) Squash Championship, resulting in a series of hard fought matches with long and arduous rallies.

"Despite the unusually hot conditions and capacity crowds packed into the galleries cheering on their favourite players, we’ve been able to keep on schedule so far.



"But to be on the safe side we’ve decided to start the individual Finals early - at 9am Monday morning - so that we are all through by the time Hurricane Bertha reaches its estimated closest point to the Island in late afternoon."


Tournament Referee

Cheri-Ann Parris

Down to the
last four ...

All semi-finals will be played on Sunday 13th with the Finals on Monday 14th July, before the start of Team Competition on 16th July.

Official Opening

Bermuda’s Junior Minister of Sports, Senator Marc Bean, officially opened the Bank of Bermuda Foundation Junior CASA (Caribbean) Squash Championships 2008, on the first day of competition between more than 120 young squash enthusiasts from 7 Caribbean countries - Barbados, Cayman, Guyana, Jamaica, OECS, Trinidad & Tobago, and host country Bermuda.

Bertha at bay ...
 
Hovering some 200 miles off Bermuda is Hurricane Bertha which is losing strength and is expected to pass about 120 miles to the east of the Island on Sunday morning, but all of the action this weekend will be concentrated at the Devonshire Squash Courts as singles competition draws to a climax ...

12-Jul, Day Two Results:

Boys Under 19
Joe Chapman (OECS) bt Ryan McConvey (CAY) 9-0, 9-4, 9-0
Robbie Maycock (BER) bt Adrian Dyer (T&T) ` 9-1, 9-2, 9-7
Jake Kelly (CAY) bt Kevin Ross (T&T) 9-3, 9-2, 9-5
Bruce Burrowes (JAM) bt Raphael deGroot (GUY) 9-6, 9-6, 9-6
Luc David (T&T) bt Elijah Simmons (BER) 9-1, 9-3, 9-3
Scott West(BER) bt Miles Brewer (BER) 9-7, 6-9, 1-9, 2-8 Def
Justin Sanguinette (T&T) bt Ryan Foster (BER) 9-5, 9-1, 9-2

Boys Under 17
Ryan Bayne (T&T) bt Josh Myren (CAY) 9-2, 9-2, 9-2
David Lawrence (JAM) bt Stephen Reid (JAM) 9-6, 9-5, 9-1
Korin Knights (BER) bt Ben Bramlett (BER) 9-4, 9-5, 9-3
Chayse McQuan (T&T) bt Moishe Steinbok (BAR) 9-4, 9-0, 7-9, 9-4
Alexander Arjoon (GUY) bt Micah Franklin (BER) 9-7, 9-7, 9-2
Oliver Kear-Downs (GUY) bt Deje Dias (GUY) 9-5, 8-10, 9-1, 9-6
Cameron Stafford (CAY) bt Kristian Muldoon (BER) 9-4, 9-1, 9-2
Kale Wilson (T&T) bt Chris Stout (BER) 9-0, 9-4, 9-3
Ryan Bayne (T&T) bt Korin Knights (BER) 9-2, 9-3, 9-3
Jason Shrubb (BER) bt David Lawrence (JAM) 9-4, 9-4, 9-2
Jules Snagg (OECS) bt Chayse Mc Quan (T&T) 9-6, 9-1, 9-1
Jeff Olson (BER) bt Jonathon O’Dowd (BAR) 10-9, 6-9, 9-5, 9-0

Boys Under 15
Kevin Hannaway (OECS) bt Laird Simmons (BER) 9-2, 9-0, 9-0
Mandela Patrick (T&T) bt Stefan Joseph (OECS) 9-4, 9-6, 9-4
Abhishek Singh (GUY) bt Josh Mahfood (JAM) 9-3, 9-5, 9-1
Noah Browne (BER) bt Matthew Mackenzie (BAR) 9-0, 9-3, 9-0
Austin Moore (CAY) bt Kyler Knights (BER) 3-9, 9-6, 9-7, 9-6
Nicholas Cameron (CAY) bt David Franks (BER) 4-9, 9-6, 9-6, 4-9, 9-1

Boys Under 13
David Mullings (JAM) bt Beckett Simmons (BER) 9-0, 9-4, 9-1
Nku Patrick (T&T) bt Julian Morrison (JAM) 3-9, 9-6, 9-4, 9-5
Jake Mahfood (JAM) bt Jean Claude Jeffrey (GUY) 9-4, 10-8, 10-8
BT’Vario Thompson (BER) bt Nyron Joseph (GUY) 9-3, 9-5, 6-9, 9-0
Julian Morrison (JAM) bt Kion Knights (BER) 9-1, 9-0, 9-1
Jean Claude Jeffrey (GUY) bt Iain McCallum (CAY) 9-0, 9-4, 9-0
Stewart St. John (BAR) bt Beckett Simmons (BER) 5-9, 3-9, 0-9, 9-7, 9-5
Nyron Joseph (OECS) bt Rory Thornton (OECS) 9-1, 9-2, 10-8

Girls Under 13
Emma Keane (BER) bt Gylla Mackenzie (BAR) 9-0, 9-1, 9-0
Charlotte Knaggs (T&T) bt Madeline Rose (BER) 9-1, 9-0, 9-2
Mary Mahfood (JAM) bt Erika Sorrentino (OECS) 2-9, 9-3, 9-2, 9-2

Girls Under 15
Mary Fung-a-fat (GUY) bt Talia Abdool (T&T) 9-1, 9-0, 9-0
Emily Farah (T&T) bt Kalina Browne (OECS) 9-6, 9-4, 9-3
Justine Anderson (Jam) bt Asha Gibbs (BAR) 5-9, 9-7, 9-4, 9-3
Ashley deGroot (GUY) bt Jessica Perkins (JAM) 9-2, 9-0, 9-5
Talia Abdool (T&T) bt Kristina Abdool (T&t) 7-9, 10-9, 9-2, 9-0
Kalina Browne (OECS) bt Alex Marshall (BER) W/O
Asha Gibbs (BAR) bt Eilidh Bridgeman (CAY) 6-9, 9-1, 9-1, 9-6
Jessica Perkins (JAM) bt Amber Evans (CAY) 9-0, 9-5, 9-1

Girls Under 17
Keisha Jeffrey (GUY) bt Lauren Mahfood (JAM) 9-1, 9-0, 9-1
Kayla Jeffrey (GUY) bt Rachel Barnes (BER) 9-1, 9-4, 9-1
Brook eBurrowes (JAM) bt Jessica Scott (T&T) 9-7, 9-3, 9-0
Kelly Barnes (BER) bt Emily Bones (T&T) 9-5, 10-8, 10-8
Jenni Schroder (BER) bt Zoe Lisk (BAR) 9-4, 9-1, 9-6
Kennilee Ward (BAR) bt Claire Patrick (CAY) 9-5, 9-4, 9-4
Tanya Marshall (BAR) bt Jennifer Ince (BER) 10-9, 9-0, 9-0
Juliette McComb (BER) bt Zoe Sorrentino (OECS) 9-3, 9-2, 9-1

Girls Under 19
Samantha Hennings (CAY) bt Tessa Martin (T&T) 9-0, 0-9, 9-1, 3-0 def.
Daina King (GUY) bt Amy Gillezeau (T&T) 10-8, 9-4, 9-7
Kerrie Sample (T&T) bt Courtney Stafford (CAY) 9-2, 9-4, 9-1
Daina King (GUY) bt Amy Gillezeau (T&T) 10-8, 9-4, 9-7
 

Emma Keane & Victoria Arjoon

Bertha at bay ...
 
Hovering some 200 miles off Bermuda is Hurricane Bertha which is losing strength and is expected to pass about 120 miles to the east of the Island on Sunday morning, but all of the action this weekend will be concentrated at the Devonshire Squash Courts as singles competition draws to a climax ...
 

Kayla & Keisha Jeffrey

GU13       GU15    GU15 CONS         GU17    GU17 CONS     GU19     2007 Event
 

"Hosting Junior CASA in Bermuda brings the very best youngsters from all over the Caribbean to the Island, giving our own juniors the incentive to compete for places on the team and to support their team members.

"All of our juniors, including players on the fringes of getting into our national team, enjoy a unique opportunity to meet young people from all backgrounds who are keen on the sport.

"It is this kind of exposure to exciting international competition that helps to raise our standards and keeps our youngsters excited about squash.

"Many of the visiting players are hosted by local families and this encourages everyone involved to form lasting bonds of friendship throughout the Caribbean."