Photo: Members of the triumphant Jamaica Badminton team at the 2014 SDF/NCB Caribbean Badminton Championships
As the curtains came down on the SDF/NCB Caribbean Badminton Championships, Jamaica again remained supreme capturing 58 medals across all divisions in the tournament. This tally comprised of (22) Gold, (12) Silver & (24) Bronze. Play started from 12pm on the final day with the finals of the U-11,U-13,U-15, U-17 age groups.
In the Under 11 age group Jamaica claimed 2 Gold, 2 silver & a Bronze, with Rihanna Rust being the prominent player here.
In the U-13 division, the players to watch were the defending champions Zane Reid & Shezelle Mctyson , with Adam Taylor also stamping his presence in this division. These players are definitely youngsters to look out for and with proper guidance, coaching and administration will definitely become the senior stars of the future. The U-13 division claimed (4) Gold’s (1) Silver & (1) Bronze.
The U-15 age groups again felt Jamaica’s presence even with large contingents from the other countries. Taina Daley and Joel Angus were the dominated Jamaicans in this division. Jamaica brought home 3 Gold 2 Silver & 2 Bronze in the category.
The medal tally was now going to really step up as the U-17 & U-19 is where Jamaica has dominated the region and excel in the Pan-AM. Already a youngster with a cabinet filled with medals, both local and overseas, Shane Wilson, stamped his presence in this division and came close to being the 2nd player of all time to claim 4 titles at these games since its inception in 1972.Only Joni Van DeGroot accomplished this back in the 70’s. (winning 3 Junior titles and the senior Mixed doubles ) .
Wilson started his triple title challenge when he eased past Guyanese top Junior player Narayan Ramdhani 21-19;21-16. He then paired with Dejon Wright to again shut down the Guyanese pair & #1 seeds Jonathan Mangra & Narayan Ramdhani 21-17;21-13. Wilson then teamed with Mandeville teammate Alana Bailey to beat another rising star from Barbados Amanda Haywood & Shae Martin from Barbados 21-7; 21-17.
However it was his U-19 doubles games with partner Tremar Barham that could have been considered the match of the night. Wilson was going up against brother Sean and Samuel Ricketts (Pan-AM Gold Medal winners). Tremar & Shane out played the #1 seeds in the first set with some aggressive play that left the gold medalist stunned. They took that game 21-15.
The Men’s doubles was going on at the same time on Court #2 but the crowd’s focus was now solely on what was looking to be a major upset and a record in the making. It was a battle royale down to the wire and the unseeded pair almost had it when leading 20-19 and needed only one more point to be in the record books.
This however was not meant to be as the more senior pair kept their cool and rallied back to win the 2nd set 24-22. This took the wind out of the sail of Tremar & Shane and they eventually were put into submission at 21-13. To end what was a thrilling game.
Ester Reynolds, an unseeded player also stamped her class in the girl’s section. She took the singles defeating the T & T President’s daughter, Jada Renales 21-15; 21-19. She then teamed with Alana Bailey to beat Jada Renales & Ralitsa Wong in a close encounter 21-16; 21-14.
The U-17’s grabbed 13 medals (5) Gold & 8 Bronze.
This ended the 1st session and it was now onto the U-19 & Seniors. Medal presentation took place for all age groups at this point and Mr. Tolan BWF Vice president. Audley Astwood CAREBACO President and Robert Richards JBA President did the honors.
The evening session was going to see All Jamaica affairs in a number of matches. The first two were in the Men’s Singles and the U-19 boy’s Singles. Jamaica #1 Gareth Henry was going to take on surprise finalist Anthony McNee. McNee made the #1 Henry battle to the end with his usual attacking style of play, but could not manger to overcome the standard bearer’s class. Gareth achieved his 1st Caribbean singles crown , to join a list of other outstanding Jamaican players to have this title, beating McNee 21-15; 21-17.
The young guns Samuel Ricketts & Sean Wilson were competing on Court#3 and this bout however did not live up to its expectation. Fresh from his Silver medal performance in the singles in the Pan Am tournament in Guatemala, Ricketts dominated this encounter taking the match 21-10;21-9.
In the Women’s singles Jamaica for the 1st time was absent in this finals and Cuban born Salangel Guzman playing for Trinidad easily beat Tamisha Williams of Barbados 21-4 21-11.
In the U-19 Girl’s Singles Jamaica’s #1 Katherine Wynter made short work of T &T Kristi Reno-Singh 21-10 ;21-10
The Men’s doubles was again an All Jamaican bout. #1 Seeds Gareth Henry & Garron Palmer were to do battle with Wilroy Miles & Jamari Rose. This was exactly that a battle to the finish. The first set ended at 21-19, the 2nd set was going to be even more gripping as the players went at it with smashes and attaching drives to have the crowd gasping with the eventual score ending 29-27. Henry now became a double winner.
The U-19 Girls doubles was Jamaica all over again and saw Katherine & Jade Clarke defeating Dematra Mew Christina Petri 21-16; 21-11.
The women’s Doubles the consistent pair from Barbados of Shari Watson & Tamisha Williams worked their way past the Jamaican pair of Mikaylia Haldane & Geordine Henry and took the WD game 21-11;21-17.
The senior Mixed doubles would now see Terry Leyow Walker & Jamari Rose (who had defeated the #1 seeds the night before) taking on the experienced Garron Palmer & Mikaylia Haldane. Terry who would have now represented Jamaica for 34 years would probably be seeing her last Caribbean Championships. Many came out to see if she could pull off one last title. It came close to happening but with a number of unforced errors by both of them Palmer and Haldane took the game 21-19;21-15.
The U-19 Mixed doubles the battle was again Ricketts and Wilson. Ricketts paired with Katherine Wynter and were the #1 seeds & Wilson paired with Jade Clarke. Clarke who probably played her best game on this night worked well with her partner and stopped the pair of Wynter and Ricketts who were both on their way to be triple champions.
The U-19 Players won (14) Medals 5-Gold, 4 Silver & 4 –Bronze.
The Seniors won (13) Medals 3-Gold, 3-Silver, & 7 Bronze
The night concluded with the presentation of the medals by the Sponsors, who were present SDF, NCB, Yonex, & LAN Integrators. Commemorative medals and gifts of appreciation were also handed out.
The next Caribbean Championships will be held in Suriname 2015.
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