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Stafford runner-up at Caribbean squash championships

Cameron Stafford (file photo-twitter)

Cayman Islands professional squash player Cameron Stafford finished as the runner-up in the men’s singles at the 2017 Caribbean Area Squash Association (CASA) Championships in St Vincent and the Grenadines after losing in the final to Jamaica’s Chris Binnie.

Stafford, the number two seeded player, moved comfortably into the final with wins over opposition from Barbados, Jamaica and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) to set up the match against the top-ranked Jamaican.

Binnie was seeking an unprecedented eighth title and was playing in his ninth consecutive final. Meantime, Stafford advanced to the championship match after being upset in the semifinals last year.

After edging out a tough first game 12-10, Binnie went on to win the next two 11-7, 11-4.

The 25-year-old Stafford showed good form in the tournament and had not dropped a game until the finals. After a first-round bye, the Caymanian beat Khamal Cumberbatch of Barbados 11-6, 11-8, 11-3 in the second round before another convincing victory over another Barbadian Bryant Cumberbatch 11-2, 11-5, 11-4.

He then beat Jamaica’s Bruce Burrowes in the quarterfinals by a score of 14-12, 11-6, 11-6. Joe Chapman of the OECS was also no match for the seasoned professional and was dispatched 11-9, 11-4, 11-5 in the semifinals.

Jervis injured

Julian Jervis (file photo)

Meantime, Cayman’s other top male player, Julian Jervis had to withdraw from his quarterfinal match due to injury. Jervis had previously beaten hometown rival Jason Doyle 11-7, 11-6, 11-6. He also had an early round win over Barbados’ Gavin Cumberbatch 11-7, 11-8, 11-5.

Jake Kelly lost in the semi-finals of the men’s consolation event, after advancing to the round of 32 in the main draw before falling to Trinidad and Tobago’s Collin Ramasra in a tough five-game match.

Sean Murphy lost in the opening round to Jamaica’s Jonathan Walker.

Bridgeman sixth in women’s singles

In the women’s singles draw:

Eilidh Bridgeman finished sixth after losing to Guyana’s Taylor Fernandes 11-4, 11-3, 13-11 in the playoffs. Bridgeman beat Trinidad & Tobago’s Charlotte Knags in the playoff opener in four games. After dropping the first game 8-11, the reigning Cayman Islands women’s champ rebounded to seal the deal 11-6, 11-7 and 11-5.

Bridgeman had main draw wins against Jodi Smith-Padmore of Barbados and Victoria Arjoon of Guyana before losing to Barbados’ Karen Meakins in the quarterfinals.

Cayman’s other female player, Lara Conolly lost to Fernandes in the second round after beating Trinidad & Tobago’s Faith Gillezeau in a tough five-game match: 11-6, 9-11, 11-7, 7-11, 11-6.

The players have now turned their attention to the team competition, which runs until Saturday, 19 August.

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