THE Toucan-Kraft Mac and Cheese Junior skill-level squash tournament heated up on night three at the Georgetown Club Squash Courts on Camp Street on Thursday night.
Safirah Sumner continued her winning ways when she beat Demetri Lowe in an entertaining match which lasted five games, while Kaylee Lowe who defeated Tiana Gomes was also among the night’s winners.

GSA’s President David Fenanades explained the importance of this tournament.
“This tournament is very important, especially for the athletes going to represent Guyana at the end of June, as it replicates the tournament environment. When they are training there is a different feel to when they are competing.

It gives them a certain buzz because they experience feelings of anxiety, of nervousness and increases their adrenalin production.
The more they can play under these conditions the better prepared they are when all of these things kick in when they compete internationally.
And for us, the coaches and the managers, it shows us where they are, and what their strengths and areas for improvement are, so we can tailor next month’s programme to work on key areas,” informed Fernandes.

Fernandes, a former national hockey player from 1989 to 1995, feels the strength of the team is the boys.
“We have a strong boys under-19 group and strong players at the bottom. We lost some players during COVID and the disruption for the middle age groups came at a crucial time
for their development, so we are working through that now and starting to see some promising results, but we have a lot of work to do.
Our strongest U15 player will not be travelling this year, which poses a further challenge for us.” said Fernandes. According to the GSA head, COVID affected the older categories for the girls and there are no U19 girls in the team.

“However, our younger girls will be stepping up and making a formidable effort to perform for us.
There are some strong players amongst them and we aim to put our best foot forward, aim high and hopefully produce solid performances from the work they’ve put in,” continued the Director of the Guyana Poultry Producers Association.

“The training is going quite well. They are in the intense phase of the programme right now as they work to peak for
the competition. It has been a unique year as it’s the first time we introduced a contract for the players to commit to attendance, training and fitness work.
The response has been good, but we have the usual challenge of academics and a couple of injuries that have set a few behind. Fortunately, that is completed now, so they will be able to put the time and effort in over the remaining weeks so they can perform to their potential next month,” Fernandes added.
Hockey Captain.
Night three results:
E – White Cheddar
Zoey McDonald def. Rafael Brathwaite 11-6, 11-3, 12-10
E – White Cheddar
[2] Tehani Munroe def. Kristian Viapree 11-6, 2-11, 11-2, 11-
5
D – Thick and Creamy
Nijad Bacchus def. Nidal Bacchus 11-6, 11-8, 11-7
E – White Cheddar
Maxwell Viapree def. Ella Fernandes 12-10, 8-11, 11-8, 11-7
D – Thick and Creamy
Matthew Daby def. Jacob McDonald 11-3, 11-4, 11-7
B – Spiral
Jeremy Ten Pow def. Ethan Bulkan 11-4, 11-5, 11-7
C – Three Cheese
Justin Goberdhan def. Malia Maikoo 11-4, 11-6, 11-8

C – Three Cheese
Kaylee Lowe def. Tiana Gomes 11-6, 11-3, 11-8
C – Three Cheese
Rylee Rodrigues def. Brenno Da Silva 5-11, 11-4, 9-11, 12-10,
11-2
B – Spiral
Safirah Sumner def. Demetri Lowe 11-6, 8-11, 11-5, 5-11, 11-
4
B – Spiral
Richard Rodrigues def. Blake Edwards 11-3, 4-11, 11-7, 11-8
F – Original
Justin Ten Pow def. Lee Fung A Fat 11-5, 11-4, 11-7