SVG Squash team successful in OECS championships

The 11th Annual Junior OECS Squash Championships were held in Dominica from April 1st – 3rd.{{more}}

St. Vincent and the Grenadines captured 4 gold medals and 6 silver medals to regain the OECS title.

It was a weekend of keen competition as the juniors from Dominica, St.Lucia, BVI and St.Vincent and the Grenadines battled for a place on the Junior OECS Team 2011. The team will compete in the Junior CASA Championships 2011 to be held in Guyana.

Following the short Opening Ceremony, players took to the court, and when the curtains came down Rashid Constance reversed the tables on his teammate Kai Bentick in a much anticipated showdown of the tournament tots from SVG. The scores were 9-11, 11-9, 11-5, 7-11, and 11-7 in an exciting Under-11 Boys’ five-setter.

A much improved Thandi Myers of SVG went under to Abiyomi Maddox of BVI in the Girls’ Under-13 finals – 6-11, 11-9, 11-4, 11-7.

Arch rivals Demi Ollivierre and Gianna Miller-Alexander both, of SVG, dispensed with the two competitors from the BVI to set up a rematch of the National Under-15 Girls’ Final. On this occasion Demi reversed the results to win 11-8, 11-3, 11-7 and secure her place on the OECS Team.

The reigning Under-13 Caribbean champion, Jason Doyle of SVG stamped his authority with straight set wins over all of his opponents in the Boys’ Under-15 category. He defeated Andre Segovia of St. Lucia 11-2, 11-1, 11-4 in the final. Omari Wilson of SVG turned in a creditable performance placing 2nd in this division.

Having defeated eventual third place Rory Thornton of BVI, Romario Constance of SVG needed to get past Stefan Joseph of BVI to secure the Under-17 Boys’ title. Stephan, however, stopped Romario in straight sets winning 11-8, 11-8, 11-4.

The highlight of the weekend was the encounter between teammates Kevin Hannaway and Jules Snagg of SVG. Both players displayed a level of squash which lifted the blue, yellow and green to new heights. Capturing the attention of all present at the venue, Kevin and Jules produced unbelievable 20-plus stroke rallies showing the results of their hardwork. In the end it was Hannaway in straight sets 12-10, 11-7, 11-4 retaining the Under-19 Boys’ title.

During the Closing Ceremony Vincentian coach James Bentick announced the 15-member team selected to represent the OECS at the 27th Annual Junior Caribbean Area Squash Association Squash Championships in Guyana from July 7th -15th. Eight Vincentians, one St.Lucian, one Dominician and five from BVI will journey to Guyana in July.

The Vincentian players selected are:

Girls’ under-13: Thandi Myers; Girls under-15: Demi Ollivierre and Gianna Miller-Alexander; Boys under-15: Jason Doyle and Omari Wilson; Boys under-17: Romario Constance; Boys under-19: Kevin Hannaway and Jules Snagg.

Team SVG was sponsored by Western Union and Bickles St. Vincent.