Former national youth champion Mandela Patrick claimed the U-15 title at the Junior Caribbean Squash Championships being played in Barbados. Mandela was the only T&T player to win an individual title , after women's U-19 top seed Kerrie Sample, and U-13 boy's champion Nku Patrick were beaten in their finals.
Patrick (Mandela), who was beaten at the Holiday Snacks Junior National Tournament in T&T by his younger brother Nku, entered this tournament as the number one seed, and did not disappoint. After getting by Jean-Claude Jeffrey of Guyana in three sets in the semifinal, Mandela claimed a straight-set win over Jamaica's Julian Morrison in the finale, 11-5, 11-2, 12-10.
Sample, the 2008 champion, who eased through to the final, could not replicate her performance in last year's final, going down to Barbados number one and tournament number two, Cheri-Ann Parris, in five sets.
Parris, who was the beaten finalist last year, got her revenge in a match that went to the wire. Sample, the T&T champion, took the opening set at five, however, she lost her way in the second, going down at two.
She had a better third set despite losing at nine, before she bounced back to take the fourth set at seven. The fifth and final set was very close, and was 10-10, before Parris won the next two points to take the set and the title. The scoresheet read 5-11, 11-2, 9-11, 11-7, 12-10.
Patrick (Nku), last year's champ, had a tough tournament after being diagnosed with tonsillitis, however, he battled his way to the final, only to go down in straight sets to Jake Mahfood of Jamaica. The number two seed Mahfood won 11-7, 12-10, 11-8, but not without a fight from the defending champion.
?U-19 Division
Women: (2) Cheri-Ann Parris (BDS) beat (1) Kerrie Sample (T&T) 5-11, 11-2, 9-11, 11-7, 12-10.
Men: (1) Joe Chapman (OECS) beat (2) Cameron Stafford (CAY) 9-11, 8-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-6.
U-17 Division
Women: (1) Keisha Jeffrey (GUY) beat (2) Ashley Khalil (GUY) 11-6, 11-4, 11-1.
Men: Micah Franklyn (BER) beat Kevin Hannaway (OECS) 11-4, 11-6, 11-6.
U-15 Boys Division:
(1) Mandela Patrick (T&T) beat Julian Morrison (JAM) 11-5, 11-2, 12-10.
U-13 Boys Division:
(2) Jake Mahfood (JAM) beat (1) Nku Patrick (T&T) 11-7, 12-10, 11-8.
