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Nine is fine! - Chris Binnie adds to national title collection at All-Jamaica Senior Squash Championships

Published:Monday | December 2, 2019 | 12:23 AM
Chris Binnie holds the All-Jamaica Men’s Senior Squash Champion trophy after winning it for the ninth time at this year’s event at the Liguanea Club in New Kingston on the weekend.
Chris Binnie holds the All-Jamaica Men’s Senior Squash Champion trophy after winning it for the ninth time at this year’s event at the Liguanea Club in New Kingston on the weekend.

Defending champion Chris Binnie took care of business at the office, posting a 3-0 victory to win his ninth national title at the All-Jamaica Senior Squash Championships, which climaxed at the Liguanea Club in St Andrew at the weekend.

The top seed beat No. 2 and last year’s runner-up, Bruce Burrowes, 11-6, 11-4, 11-3, to lay claim to the prestigious title for the eighth consecutive year. With his career tally now at nine overall, the national and regional champion is slowly closing in on the all-time record of 13, which is held by Wayne Burrowes (Bruce’s father), whose consistency and longevity are so far unmatched in local squash.

Binnie said the timing of the tournament aided his victory.

“It is always great to come home to play,” he said. “Of course, as defending champion, the target is on my back, but fortunately, this tournament usually falls right in the middle of my pro season. So when I step out on my home court, I am ready to compete, and it was good to come through again.”

In the Ladies B Draw competition, young Savannah Thomson stormed past veteran Melissa Lue Yen to take top honours. The reigning All-Jamaica Under-17 Girls Champion, turned up her power game to post an 11-6, 11-5, 11-9 win and overcome her more experienced opponent.

THRILLING DISPLAY OF FIREPOWER

The Men’s C Draw final was an all-junior-players affair with 13-year-old Aman Dhiman and 15- year-old Dylan Vaz battling it out in a gripping five-game showcase. The youngsters held the crowd with a thrilling display of firepower and endurance with Dhiman prevailing 8-11, 11-8, 8-11, 11-5, 11-7 to take the title.

Disciplined campaigner Robert Roper won the Men’s B draw, beating Jordon Dawson 11-6, 11-3, 11-9, while Paul Monroe put on a display of diligence to overcome Patrick Chin 11-9, 11-7, 11-5 and win the Over-50 competition.

In the Over-40 category, Bruce Levy waged an epic struggle to register a 11-9, 11-7, 16-14 win and take down his long-time rival and cousin Joey Levy.

Jamaica Squash Association executive Douglas Beckford said the championships were a success on many levels.

“We had solid performances from the players, strong spectator support, and some pleasant surprises, especially from our junior players who showed courage and composure on the senior stage,” he said.

“It is always thrilling for us to see Chris Binnie in action, because as a professional, his standard of play is a notch above the rest, and we all enjoyed watching him win his ninth title and continue to write his historical squash story.”

Binnie; Burrowes; Tahjia Lumley, who was third in the Men’s A Draw; and Lewis Walters will represent Jamaica at the World Team Squash Championships which are scheduled for December 15-21 in Washington, DC.

Binnie was also named as one of five nominees for this year’s RJRGLEANER Sports Foundation’s Sportsman of the Year Awards, along with long jumper Tajay Gayle, discus throwers Fedrick Dacres and Traves Smikle, and springboard diver Yona Knight-Wisdom.