Guyana finishes third overall

Guyana finished third overall with both male and female teams securing second spots in the Caribbean Squash Championships in Trinidad and Tobago.
The Guyanese played their best squash but the females succumbed to powerhouse Barbados while the men fell to the host Trinidad and Tobago.

The ladies’ team advanced to the finals with the help of Ashley Khalil who played at the number two position. Unfortunately, Khalil was not available to represent Guyana on the final day since she had to travel abroad on a previously arranged commitment.
As a result, the reserve player was called to duty but all players had to move up one position. This meant that the third, fourth and fifth strings had to play at second, third and fourth with the reserve at fifth.
Even though the team was a bit weakened, the players represented themselves admirably and put up quite a fight for the title.
Nicolette Fernandes made light work of her old nemesis Karen Meakins 11/1, 11/4, 11/ 7.
Mary Fung-a-Fat played spectacularly to extend Caribbean number four Cheri-Ann Parris to five games in her tie. She played the match of her life but lost 7/11, 11/9, 7/11, 14/12, 5/11.
Young Victoria Arjoon lost to Nadia McCarthy in another hard fought five setter; the set points were 11/9, 9/11, 11/9, 11/13, 5/11.
Ashley DeGroot lost to seasoned campaigner Alex Jordan 11/9, 5/11, 7/11, 5/11. Tiffany Solomon who flew in to join the team for the final match lost to Gylla MacKenzie in another five-setter.
Solomon played to the best of her ability but lost out 11/9, 4/11, 15/13, 10/ 2, 5/11.
The men’s team lost a heartbreaker to Trinidad 3-2 in a matchup that did not disappoint. Deja Dias played first and lost 3-0 to Mandela Patrick. Julian Chin then stepped up and defeated Ryan Abraham 3/1.
The third match saw Guyana’s number one Richard Chin up against Trinidad’s national champion Josh Pinard. It was the most tension-filled match of the entire tournament.
Chin is now being referred to as the ‘Houdini’ of squash as he escaped four match balls in the fifth game and won six consecutive points to win the game and take the match 3- 2.
Jamal Callender then took to the court with Guyana up 2-1. He faced Kale Wilson who plays for Western University in Canada in a grueling match.
After both players won two games each Wilson established a 10/6 lead in the fifth and final game. Callender faced four match balls and played exceptional squash to stave off three of them before an error ended his fight at 9/11.
The last match of the night saw Alex Arjoon up against professional Colin Ramasra.
Arjoon played well but was not good enough on the night as Ramasra won 3-0.
Guyana’s depleted Vets team lost 3-2 to Jamaica.
Alwyn Callender got a walk over as Jamaica did not have an over- 50 player and Dennis Dias beat Douglas Beckford 6/ 9, 11/ 9, 11/ 4, 6/ 11, 11/ 4. Brian Yong lost to Lowell Lawrence in the 40+ category 6/ 11, 4/ 11, 5/ 11. Jamaica got two walkovers as Guyana did not field any Ladies 40+ and 50+ players.
The 2013 Championships will be held in Guyana.