Caribbean Squash: Bermuda Reaches Finals
Bermuda’s top men’s squash players are currently taking part in the CASA (Caribbean) 2010 Squash Championships being held in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and according to squash spokesman, Roger Sherratt, they are enjoying a very successful tournament in the Team Event. Earlier in the week saw completion of the individual championship with three members of the Bermuda team finishing in the top 10. Bermuda’s #1 player, Patrick Foster, placed 3rd overall, while Bermuda’s best ever home grown player, Nick Kyme finished 5th. Last year’s Under 19 Caribbean champion, Robert Maycock, also placed in the top ten.
Over 100 players from 7 countries are now competing in the Team Championships and Bermuda has included several promising juniors to give them valuable experience in senior international competition. Each team has 5 seeded players and Sherratt explained, “To do well in the team event we need good quality players in depth, and this year we have a great mix of experience and enthusiastic juniors. In fact our juniors have been performing even better than expected. Our Bermuda Team was drawn in the same pool as Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago, with the top two teams progressing to the semi-finals. Our first match was against Jamaica and Bermuda had a comfortable 4-1 win. On Thursday we faced Trinidad and Tobago and won by the same margin 4-1 to put Bermuda at the top of their group standings and earn a place in the semi-finals against Barbados on Friday afternoon. Bermuda’s two juniors, Micah Franklin and Christ Stout had won both their matches but they would face stiff competition against Barbados.”
Captain of the Bermuda Squad, Patrick Foster, reported that conditions were extremely hot and humid for the semi-finals, but the team played brilliantly once again and triumphed by 4 matches to 1 against a strong Barbados team. Patrick Foster at #1 seed had a comfortable 3-0 win, and so did Robert Maycock, but Nick Kyme ran into stiff competition against Barbados’ #2 seed, falling behind 2 games to 1 before leveling the match then winning the 5th and deciding game. Micah Franklin, playing at #4 seed has been playing exceptionally well in the Team Event and his 3-1 win means he remain unbeatens going into Saturday’s final. Match of the night was between #5 seeds, Chris Stout for Bermuda and Rhett Cumberbatch for Barbados. Stout had won his two pervious matches, but he lost this one in a thrilling encounter, going down 11-9 in the 5th and deciding game.
Bermuda now faces the OECS team in Saturday’s final, and will be hard pressed against the team that is considered to be strongest in the championships.
