URGED on by a good-sized and raucous gathering at the National Raquette Centre on Woolford Avenue on Saturday Evening, Nicolette Fernandes and Daniel Ince proved that age is just a number as they won the Women’s and Men’s National Elite titles respectively.

The 42-year-old Fernandes beat 31-year-old Mary Fung-a-Fat 11-8, 11-0, 11-5 in a clinical display of Squash, while 35-year-old Daniel Ince beat his 21-year-old cousin, Samuel Ince-Carvalhal, 12-10, 11-4. 12-10 in an epic battle.

The Men’s Elite final climaxed an exciting 2025 Enet Senior National Championships, which showcased several new talents.
The Ince clan, which included their grandfather, Carl Ince, proudly watched both English-born Guyanese, Daniel and Samuel.

Coach Ince is Guyana’s most successful Junior Coach, with 12 consecutive Junior CASA titles from 1994-2016. He added his 13th title this year in the Cayman Islands.
Daniel, who first represented Guyana in the 2022 Senior CASA in Jamaica, showed his maturity.

Samuel, 14 years younger than Daniel, demonstrated high-standard Squash. With the score 10-11 in favour of the elder cousin, the pair engaged each other in a 30-shot rally before Daniel took the point and the game.

Daniel dominated the second game, winning 11-4, before Samuel showed he was not going down without a fight.
The pair engaged in long rallies and executed well-placed drop shots. Both players matched each other point for point, resulting in the game going to match point at 10-11.
However, Daniel would win the last point to capture his first National title.

The gathering rose in a standing ovation as the cousins, who reached the final unbeaten, embraced on the Court as Coach Ince rushed out to hug his grandsons, who provided wonderful entertainment for the large gathering.

In the Women’s Elite final, Fernandes, who won Guyana’s only gold medal at the 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games in Colombia, proved too good for Mary, who has played on the professional circuit.

Fernandes became the first Guyanese to win a World Master’s title when she secured a gold medal at the World Master’s Championship in Poland, and is ageing like good wine.
This is her 12th National title, and in 2010, Nicolette won both the Women’s and Men’s titles.
Robert Hiscock gave brief remarks on behalf of the sponsors, E-networks.

results:
Men’s Open Draw
[1] Jonathan Antczak (Demerara-Mahaica) def. [6] Demetrius De Abreu 13-15, 11-9, 8-11, 11-6, 11-3
Men’s Open Draw
[5] Miguel Wong def. [8] Zachary Persaud 11-6, 11-9, 15-13
Men’s Open Draw
Nathan Rahaman def. Nijad Bacchus 11-4, 9-11, 11-8, 11-6

Men’s National Draw – Elite
Regan Pollard def. Jonathan Antczak (Demerara-Mahaica) 11-9, 11-9, 11-7
Men’s National Draw – Elite
Nicholas Verwey def. Louis Da Silva 11-13, 11-6, 8-11, 11-4, 11-7
Women’s National Draw – Elite
L. M. Gabby Fraser def. Akeila Wiltshire 8-11, 11-4, 11-8, 11-3
Women’s Open Draw
Maria Munroe def. Talia Fiedtkou 11-5, 11-6, 7-11, 9-11, 11-4
Men’s Open Draw
[1] Jonathan Antczak (Demerara-Mahaica) def. [5] Miguel Wong 11-5, 11-4, 11-9
Women’s Open New Ladies
Mechaela Hohenkirk def. Paula Stevens 11-5, 11-4, 11-4
Women’s Veterans Over 40
Maria Munroe def. Tian Edwards 11-6, 11-6, 11-6
Women’s Open New Ladies
Tianna Da Costa def. Nakita Hicks 11-6, 3-11, 11-7, 11-7
Men’s National Draw – Elite
Alex Arjoon def. Jason-Ray Khalil 11-6, 11-4, 11-8
Women’s Open Draw
Tehani Munroe def. Zoey McDonald 11-8, 11-3, 4-11, 16-14
Men’s Open Draw
[2] Javid Rahaman def. [7] Ryan Rahaman 12-10, 11-2, 11-3
Women’s National Draw – Elite
Nicolette Fernandes def. Mary Fung-A-Fat 11-8, 11-0, 11-5
Men’s National Draw – Elite
Daniel Ince def. Samuel Ince-Carvalhal (Altrincham) 12-10, 11-4, 12-10