03 May Record Numbers for BCQS Masters Squash Tournament
BCQS International is proud to be the main sponsor for the upcoming Barbados Masters Squash Tournament to be held at the Barbados Squash Club at Marine Gardens, Hastings from the 7th to 12th May.
This year’s tournament will be the largest Masters Squash event in the Caribbean since the annual tournament started 13 years ago with 136 entrants registered for the competition. There are 96 overseas entries, of which almost half are from the UK alone. We also expect to see players from USA, Canada, Denmark, Norway, St. Vincent, Jamaica, Germany, Tortola, Trinidad and Tobago.
The event is getting a lot of press, see what the Nation News had to say here
Formal Press Release
British Invasion for BCQS International Masters Squash Tournament
The United Kingdom has 47 entries in this year’s BCQS International sponsored Barbados Masters Squash Tournament to be held at the Barbados Squash Club at Marine Gardens, Hastings from the 7thto the 12thMay.
This year’s tournament will be the largest since the annual tournament started 13 years ago with 136 entries. There are 96 overseas entries, of which almost half are from the UK alone, including Ian Bradburn and Chris Harland who are former British Masters champions. This is the second time they’ve entered this tournament, and on their first visit they were reigning champions in their prospective age categories. Players are also expected from the USA, Canada, Denmark, Norway, St. Vincent, Jamaica, Germany, Tortola, Trinidad and Tobago.
There are 5 age categories available, these include men’s 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65 and over, as well as ladies’ 35 and over. In the Men’s 35-44 category, Barbados National Squash Champion Shawn Simpson is seeded at 1, with local compatriot national player Don Benn at 2. In the men’s 44-54 section UK’s Andrew Budgen, a coach by profession, is seeded at 1, and local Andy Gill, a former Barbados National Champion is seeded at 2. In the 55-64 category last year’s winner Mark Sealy will be defending his crown, just returning from the USA Masters after missing out on winning his age group. Second seed will be Allan Barwise from the UK. In the over 65 category the perennial former Barbados National player Errol Pilgrim will be defending his crown. Geoff Redfern from the UK is the second seed in that category. In the Ladies group, Andrea Santamaria is seeded at 1 while Lilianna White, a Barbados National Ladies player, is seeded at 2.
Tournament co-coordinator Frank Jordan who has been managing this tournament from its inception, under the auspices of the Barbados Squash Club, has welcomed the growth of the tournament over the years. It has become a sports tourism partnership with several hotels, eating establishments, and tour/cruise companies benefiting from the tournament.
Sanjay Amin, who is the Director of BCQS International, the main sponsors says that “ this is now probably one of the largest Masters tournament in the Caribbean and we are delighted to be sponsoring this event since its start in 2006”.
The tournament has grown from strength to strength and the organisers noted that this year the men’s 45-54 and 55-64 sections were oversubscribed. This meant bringing the tournament forward to Tuesday 7thMay 2019 with the official start day being 8thMay. Play starts from 4:00pm on Tuesday 7thMay at the Barbados Squash Club and with daily games to watch till Sunday 12thwhen it culminates with a catamaran cruise.
The main sponsor for this event is BCQS International, other sponsors include Roberts Manufacturing Inc, Ganzee Island Shops, Ocean Fisheries Ltd, Courtesy Rent-a-Car, DG Leacocks.
