-Jeffrey, only Guyanese to advance to male quarter-finals
Reigning national and St. Lucia open male champion Kristian Jeffrey won two matches on opening day of the 2008 Cellink Plus South-ern Caribbean Squash Cham-pionships, becoming the only Guyanese to survive the earlier rounds of the tournament.

At home, but alone Kristian Jeffrey (foreground) defended his home turf against Barbadian Mark Sealey last night at the Georgetown Club, becoming the lone Guyanese to advance to the quarter finals in the men’s category of the 2008 Southern Caribbean Squash Championships.

Jeffrey raced past Barbadian Kevin Bailey in the first round yesterday morning in straight games 9/3 9/2, and 9/5, a match which served as a warm-up for a more testing match against Bailey’s compatriot Mark Sealey.

The 19-year-old Jeffrey won the first game against Sealey who enaged his younger opponent in many rallies to take the match down to the wire.  In the second game, Sealey took his attack to the front court, where he employed some finesse in his strokeplay to punish Jeffrey in a close 10-8 win. Jeffrey quickly adapted though and turned the tables on his opponent, who seemed fatigued from the lengthy and entertaining rallies. Jeffrey won the other two games 9/1 9/0 to close out Sealey in commanding fashion.

Jeffrey later told Stabroek Sport that he felt no pressure as the only Guyanese remaining in contention for the men’s title and welcomed the challenge. After brushing aside Trinidadian Brian Cumberbatch in the first round, Guyana’s Reagan Pollard was sent to join him in the consolation round by another Trinidadian Colin Ramasra 9/5 9/7 and 9/0.

Runner-up in the Caribbean Junior Champion-ships Alex Arjoon was also relegated to the consolation round where he joins fellow Guyanese Oliver Downes, Nicholas Narain, Raphael deGroot, Robert Mac David and Deje Dias who was beaten by defending champion Brian Cumberbatch 9/2, 9/1 and 9/3. The numbers one and two seed in the ladies’ category, Nicolette Fernandes and Karen Meakins, respectively drew byes and are scheduled to play their first matches today.

In other results Mary Fung-A-Fat defeated compatriot Tiffany Solomon while Keisha Jeffrey defeated her twin sister Kayla.

Cherie-Ann Parris of Barbados also advanced, while debutants   Ashley deGroot, Victoria Arjoon and Alysa Xavier were sent packing early.