The curtains came down on the 20th St Lucia Squash Open Saturday afternoon at the picturesque St Lucia Yacht Club at Reduit Beach.
Mens Open: The third place playoff between Jules Snagg and Kevin Bailey both of St Vincent went to five games. Both competitors gave it their all in the first game both having a game point before Bailey won that game 12/10. Snagg won the next two 11/6 11/8. In the fourth game Snagg took a quick an early lead to 5/1, before Bailey came back to win the fourth game 11/9. Snagg again took an early lead in the fifth game and did not ease up winning that game 11/5 and the match 3/2.
In the finals between number two seed Joycelyn Martin (Guadeloupe) and number one seed Colin Ramasra (Trinidad & Tobago), Ramasra took the first two games 11/3 and 11/4 with Martin getting the opportunity to serve a total of seven times in the two matches. In the third game Ramasra took the lead 5/1 before Martin snapped into action and brought the game 6/5 before Ramasra got the opportunity to serve again. Ramasra then took the match to 10/6 and getting match point, however, Martin again jumped into action taking the points to 11/10 and getting game point. Ramasra aiming to win in three, got another match point but eventually lost that game 11/13 to the Frenchman. Martin took the lead in fourth game to 3/0 but Ramasra took control and served all the way to match point winning that game 11/3 and the match 3/1.
In the plate division during play in the finals, David Piper (St Lucia) took the first game against his Nigel Griffith (Barbados) 11/8, but Griffith took the next three games 11/3 11/9 11/9 to win the match.
Bradley Glasgow (St Vincent) defeated his Vincentian opponent Eshwan Adams in three straight games 11/3 11/7 11/2.
For third place, Chris Defreitas (St Lucia) won in three straight games against Lindel Norville (St Lucia) 11/7 11/9 11/7
In finals, Derek Clarke (St Lucia) defeated Derek Mogal (St Lucia) in four games 11/7 11/7 7/11 12/10.
The prize giving was held immediately after the finals when Tournament Director, David Piper, and President of the St Lucia Squash Association, Cheryl Renwick, addressed the gathering. They both thanked the players for their support and great level of play especially in the finals.
The executive will take a look to restructure the tournament in the coming weeks so that the 21st St Lucia Squash Open in 2014 can be planned early with any agreed changes. One of the suggestions has been to include a masters division for players 45 years and over.
The Tournament President explained that squash like everything else was suffering this year to attract the normal sponsorship and therefore the executive had to scale back on the tournament.
The St Lucia Squash Association is extremely grateful for support received from their gold sponsor Coco Kreole Resort, their silver sponsor St Lucia Electricity Services Ltd and bronze sponsors Harmony Marina Suites, the Blu Hotel, Consolidated Foods Limited, KFC, Dominos and Bamboo springs water.
