by Ian Marshall, Editor

After recording a 3-0 semi-final success against the Barbados combination of Mark Dowell, Kevin Farley and Tyrese Knight, a 3-1 margin of victory was recorded in opposition to the Puerto Rican combination of Hector Berrios, Ricardo Jimenez and José Gabriel Perez.

Success but it was hard fought success, only the doubles which commenced the fixture not going the full five games distance. Samuel Galvez and Emil Santos combined to beat Hector Berrios and José Gabriel Perez (11-9, 11-6, 11-6), before Ricardo Jimenez levelled matters by accounting for Mariano Lockward (11-4, 13-11, 7-11, 6-11, 11-7).

Parity, Samuel Galvez beat Hector Berrios (11-9, 9-11, 15-13, 8-11, 11-7) to give the Dominican Republic the lead; Samuel Galvez duly concluded matters by overcoming José Gabriel Perez (6-11, 11-5, 13-11, 9-11, 11-7).

Earlier in the counterpart semi-final, fielding the same trio, Puerto Rico had recorded a three-nil win in opposition to Guyana represented by Joel Alleyne, Shemar Britton and Christopher Franklin. Guyana eventually finished in third position; they beat Barbados 3-2 in the play-off contest. Star of the show was Joel Alleyne, he partnered Christopher Franklin to doubles success against Mark Dowell and Kevin Farley (7-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-3), before in the third match of the engagement accounting for Kevin Farley (11-6, 4-11, 11-6, 11-8). Shemar Briiton beat Mark Dowell in the vital fifth match (11-7, 11-6, 6-11, 11-8) of the fixture to seal the win.

Meanwhile, in a group organized women’s event both the Dominican Republic and Guyana reached the concluding series of fixtures unbeaten. A 3-1 win was the eventual margin of victory when the outfits met, a hard fought contest being the order of the day.

Chelsea Edghill and Trenace Lowe gave Guyana the ideal start by beating Esmerlyn Castro and Yasiris Ortiz in five games (6-11, 11-9, 7-11, 13-11, 12-10), before in an almost equally close contest Eva Brito accounted for Natalie Cummings (11-7, 8-11, 11-4, 13-15, 11-5) to level matters. A crucial win for the champions elect, Yasiris Ortiz overcame Trenace Lowe (11-7, 10-12, 11-2, 13-11) to set the scene for Esmerlyn Castro to bring the day to a conclusion. She defeated Natalie Cummings (11-6, 11-7, 11-4).

Represented by Krystle Harvey, Kenady King and Anthoinette Riley; Barbados finished in third place.

Team events concluded; attention turns to the individual competitions; play concludes on Sunday 31st March.

2019 Caribbean Championships: Men’s Team – Complete Results (Wednesday 27th March)

2019 Caribbean Championships: Women’s Team – Complete Results (Wednesday 27th March)