The match got off to a shaky start for Binnie who only won two points while losing a lop-sided first game. However, the Jamaican quickly regained form to dish out a decisive beating to his Guyanese rival.

The victory was sweet revenge for Binnie who took the senior CASA title in 2009 but lost it to Chin the following year.

Personal triumph

“This win is a personal triumph for me because one of my goals for this year was to take back my Caribbean men’s title which I had lost to Richard in 2010,” Binnie said.

“Last year, I didn’t win a single game when Richard beat me and this time around I got off to a nervous start when I lost the first game, but I just kept my head and stayed focused, and there was no looking back after that,” he added.

The Caribbean Championship caps off a dream year for Binnie who has been steadily adding local and international titles to his resume. In February, he won the deciding game which secured a 13th straight US National College Championship for his school, Trinity College. At the end of the college season he was named most valuable player by Trinity and was also listed among the All American College Squash Players and the All Academic American College Players for 2010-2011.

And just last month, Binnie won the All Jamaica senior men’s championship without dropping a game. The 21-year-old is now looking to join the men’s professional circuit once he finishes university next year.

The 2011 CASA senior championships is now under way in Grand Cayman. Focus now shifts to the team competition which started yesterday and ends tomorrow.

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This is a dream come true,” said an elated Alicia Ashley yesterday, as she savoured her Saturday-night victory over Texan Christina Ruiz, at Hunts Point in the Bronx, New York. Jamaican-born Ashley defeated Ruiz by unanimous decision in the 10-round fight to take home the World Boxing Council (WBC) super bantamweight title.

Ashley, whose record is now 17 wins, nine defeats and one draw, made an unsuccessful challenge for the title on August 20, 2009, when she dropped a controversial majority decision to Marcela Acuna, in Argentina. Since then, she said, her goal had been to take this particular title home.

“The WBC title is the one most highly regarded, and that is why I wanted to win it. For me, this is mission accomplished.”

Her opponent, Ruiz, who entered the ring with a 6-3-1 record, with four knock-out victories, was seen as a dangerous power puncher. Ashley said that she was aware of this, and, as a result, was wary when the fight started.

Things turned quickly during the fight.

“The strange thing is that when she caught me, I did not have any problem absorbing her power punches, but after I landed some solid left hooks and an uppercut early in the fight, I could see that she was hurt, and backed away. She became very cautious after that, and I did not have any problems with her. I used my quickness to good advantage and she could not find any answers. She just could not catch me with anything solid, and I think that she only won one round,’ Ashley said.

The judges agreed with her, as one judge scored the fight 100-90, another 99-91 and the other 98-91, a clear indication that Ashley was the superior fighter on Saturday night.

When asked what was next for her, she said, “Other people want to go to Disneyland, I want to go to Jamaica. I have not been home for a while and I want to get there very soon. The next dream to be fulfilled for me is a title fight in Jamaica.”

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Binnie played No. 4 for the Bantams and went 3-0 in the CSA National Championship Tournament including the national-title-clinching, 3-1 win to give Trinity a 5-4 victory against Yale in the CSA Finals. Binnie was 18-2 record this winter, which tied him for second on the squad in wins and winning percentage, and won two matches to advance to the CSA National Singles Championship Quarterfinals. Binnie was ranked as the No. 13 player in the nation at the end of the year. He finishes his squash career with a 52-5 record, and a Malloy Championship Trophy won at the CSA Singles Championships in 2008-09. Binnie, who will continue to play soccer for the Bantams in the fall, was the U-19 National Champion in his native Jamaica. A graduate of Campion College, he is the son of Gill and Ray Binnie.

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TRINIDAD and Tobago advanced to the boys’ team final when the CASA (Caribbean Area Squash Association) Junior Championships continued Wednesday night in Guyana.

This country’s girls went down against the hosts in the semi-finals, but the boys edged Bermuda 3-2 to reach the title match against the powerful Guyanese.

The big three players were responsible for T&T’s triumph as the Britain-based Kale Wilson and Patrick brothers, Mandela and Nku, won their matches.

Wilson, who was crowned Caribbean under-19 champion during the individual finals on Sunday night, came from behind to edge last year’s champ Micah Franklin 10-12, 11-9, 8-11, 11-2, 11-4.

Mandela was also forced to battle from behind, but his recovery was far more dramatic as the national under-17 champ lost the first two sets before roaring back to deny D’Vario Thompson 8-11, 5-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-4.

Mandela had also edged Thompson in five sets en route to a runner-up under-17 final in “individuals” Sunday.

Nku, who was beaten in the Caribbean under-15 final as the top seed, cruised past Kion Knights 11-1, 11-5, 11-5, but under-19 player Ryan Bayne and national under-13 champ Jonathan Blanc lost the other two matches in straight sets.

Heavy title favourites Guyana crushed a Jamaican squad, which had lost 3-2 to T&T in the group stage, 5-0 without even dropping a set in the other semi-final.

The final was in progress after press time last night, along with the Jamaica/Bermuda clash for third place.

T&T girls were given no chance against defending champions Guyana and did not even win a match.

National under-19 champ Charlotte Knaggs had upset Victoria Arjoon in the shock of the tournament last Sunday for the Caribbean under-17 title. But the four-time CASA champ gained revenge in a pulsating five-setter 11-8, 9-11, 10-12, 11-9, 11-9.

National under-17 champ Angelique Jackson and national under-19 runner-up Emily Bones, on vacation from studies in the United States, lost the under-19 matches, while Faith Gillezeau and Gabriella Scott, the national under-15 and 13 champs, respectively, also failed to win a set.

The T&T team were back in action yesterday morning and lost against a three-member Cayman Islands squad for third place.

Knaggs and Scott won by default, but Bones, Jackson and Gillezeau were beaten again.

Then the Guyanese went on to retain their title with anther clinical performance to overwhelm the Jamaicans 4-1.

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Stacy Ann King and Kirbyina Alexander helped Trinidad and Tobago’s cricket women hammer Wales yesterday by 194 runs to extend their win streak on their tour of England.

At the Newport International Sports Village at Spytty Park in Newport, King bashed 108 runs off just 55 balls, and was well supported by Kirbyina Alexander, who finished unbeaten on 92 off 78 balls after T&T chose to bat.

Amanda Samaroo (41) and Lee Ann Kirby (32) also contributed with the bat, as T&T finished on 339 for seven at the end of their 50 overs.

Gamma Mumby was the only Welsh bowler to finish with more than one wicket, with good figures of three for 41 from her ten overs.

Wales never got going in their turn at the crease, with Stephanie Davis’s 37 being their topscore, while Amy Rees also chipped in with 19.

The main reasons the Welsh failed to mount a challenge were the miserly figures of Gaitri Seetahal (two wickets for nine runs in 7.2 overs) and Anisa Mohammed (two for 13 in nine overs). Wales were dismissed for 145 in 46.2 overs.

Alexander and Samaroo also took a wicket each.

T&T had previous defeated Sussex Ladies by four wickets on the weekend and a combined Gloucestershire/Wiltshire team by 119 runs on Monday.

Summarised scores:

T&T 339/7 in 50 overs (Stacy Ann King 108, Kirbyina Alexander 92 n.o., Amanda Samaroo 41, lee Ann Kirby 32; Gamma Mumby 3/41, Naomi Williams Wadley 1/14, Fiona Cartwright 1/48, Stephanie Davis 1/62, Gwen Davis 1/35) vs Wales 145 all out in 46.2 overs (Stephane Davis 37, Amy rees 19; Gaitri Seetahal 2/9, Anisa Mohammed 2/13, Janelle Samuel 1/36, Nicole George 1/19, Kirbyina Alexander 1/23, Amanda Samaroo 1/24)

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Trinidad and Tobago’s rugby women produced a savage effort, hammering a Caribbean Select team 92-0 at the 2011 North America and Caribbean Rugby Association (NACRA) 15-a-side Championships in the Cayman Islands, on Sunday.

T&T’s Jade Ramjag started the demolition of their opponents with the first try in the opening minute, which was converted by Juliana Straker. Straker then converted an Alesha Bruce try and another from Taliah Wilson, before scoring a try herself.

Trinidad and Tobago went into the break with a 51-0 lead thanks to further tries from Bruce, Jenilee Limada and Ayana Skeete.

Straker had three tries in the second period and Taliah Wilson two, while Jordon Brown and Nicolette Panter each had one to keep up the intensity of the first half.

T&T were scheduled to be in action last night in their second affair against Jamaica.

T&T women’s team:

Latoya Edwards (captain), Jenilee Limada (vice-captain), Juliana Straker, Tenisha Samuel, Dalia Jordan Brown, Kwanieze John, Jade Ramjag, Sojouner Hyles, Abigail Roberts, Ayana Skeete, Merlin Blackford, Tramaine Andrew, Ebony Young, Ria Lewis, Makeba Edwards, Alesha Bruce, Antonia White, Taliah Wilson, Crystal Thomas, Kerdesiah Cooper, Nicolette Pantor

Joy Rodney-Wilkes (physio), Kitty Andrews-Nero (coach).

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The Jamaican national team got a goal in the 32nd minute from Colorado Rapids forward Omar Cummings on Sunday night and went on to a second consecutive Digicel Caribbean Cup with a win in penalty kicks over Guadeloupe in Fort-De-France, Martinique.

Cummings scored his sixth career goal with the Reggae Boyz through a twisting shot from the six-yard line after a header from teammate Luton Shelton drifted across the goalmouth.

Cummings logged a full 90 minutes, plus both extra-time periods, but did not take shot in the penalty shootout, which Jamaica eventually won 5-4 after a 1-1 draw during regulation to clinch their third tournament title in five years. Both teams will compete in the CONCACAF Gold Cup next June.

Sporting Kansas City defender Shavar Thomas captained Jamaica in the title game and played the full 90 minutes, while New York Red Bulls midfielder Dane Richards also went the full 120. Houston’s Lovel Palmer came on in the 68th minute.

Sporting Kansas City midfielder Stephane Auvray played the full 90 minutes for Guadeloupe.

Auvray’s Sporting teammate Craig Rocastle also played the full 90 minutes in the third-place match for Grenada, but Cuba came away with a 1-0 win. New England’s Shalrie Joseph was not on Grenada’s roster for the tournament.

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The region’s top international tournament, the Digicel Caribbean Cup (DCC), was officially launched here at a glittering press conference at the Hyatt Regency Hotel on Thursday.

The Digicel Caribbean Cup 2010 kicks off in Puerto Rico on October 2 and then travels to St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and the Dominican Republic to complete the first stage of the tournament.

In the second round, higher ranked teams — Cuba, Guadeloupe and Trinidad and Tobago — are seeded and will join the tournament in the qualification stage playing across host countries Grenada and Antigua and Barbuda.

The top two teams from each of the groups in Stage Two will join champions Jamaica and hosts Martinique, to make up the eight teams for the finals set for November 26 to December 5 in the Dutch territory.

To be played over nine weeks, a total tournament of 55 matches will be played across eight countries culminating in what is sure to be another thrilling Digicel Caribbean Cup final.

The champions for 2010 will walk away with US$120,000, runners-up will US$70,000 and third and fourth place winners take home US$50,000 and US$30,000, respectively.

The top four nations will also advance to the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup in the United States.

Also, tens of thousands of football fans are expected to attend the games with millions more set to watch on TV worldwide.

To ensure the Digicel Caribbean Cup is brought to as many people as possible, the cellphone giant has invested heavily in the TV production to broadcast the games across the Caribbean and outside the region.

All 39 qualifying group games will be aired in full across the region on an “as live” basis and all 16 games of the finals will be broadcast live worldwide by satellite. In addition, ten thirty30-minute highlight shows will be produced and broadcast regionally and internationally, courtesy of Digicel.

President of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU), CONCACAF president and FIFA vice-president, Jack Warner, said he was particularly pleased with the rapid growth of the championship, which will be run by the CFU.

“It’s amazing to think that just six years ago the tournament was only one week long with 16 matches. Today, we have a tournament that can stand alongside some of the biggest football tournaments in the world with 23 nations from across the Caribbean competing over nine weeks in 55 matches,” he said.

Digicel group marketing operations director, Kieran Foley, said: “This has been an exciting year for football in the Caribbean with the Digicel-sponsored broadcast of the FIFA World Cup, the Digicel Kick Start Clinics and now the Digicel Caribbean Cup 2010. With the launch of a massive marketing campaign entitled “23 Nations. One Goal”, this year’s DCC promises to be even bigger and better.”

Digicel announced its initial four-year sponsorship of the Digicel Caribbean Cup in May 2004 and, in June 2007, extended its contract until 2011.

First Stage

Group A (October 2-6 in Puerto Rico)

Puerto Rico, St Martin, Cayman Islands, Anguilla

Group B (October 6-10 in St Vincent and the Grenadines)

St Vincent and the Grenadines, Barbados, St Kitts and Nevis, Montserrat

Group C (October 13-17 in Suriname)

Suriname, Guyana, St Lucia, Netherlands Antilles

Group D (October 13-17 in Dominican Republic)

Dominican Republic, British Virgin Islands, Dominica

Second Stage

Group E (October 20-24 in Grenada)

Grenada, Guadeloupe, winner Group A and Winner of Group B

Group F (November 2- 6 in Trinidad and Tobago)

Trinidad and Tobago, Haiti, Winner Group C and Runner-up Group C

Group G (November 10-14 in Antigua and Barbuda)

Antigua and Barbuda, Cuba, Winner Group D and Runner-up Group D

Finals

Group Stages (November 26-December 1)

Two groups of four teams – top two teams qualify to semi-finals

Semi-finals (December 3)

Third Place Play-off (December 5)

Final (December 5)

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Unless a willing host is found soon, next year’s CARIFTA Games could be cancelled for the first time in its near 40-year history.

There have been concerns in the regional track and field circles after St Kitts, who were to host the regional championships held over the Easter weekend, withdrew and Jamaica, who was being mooted to replace them, is not able to.

The championships that has been the first international exposure for Caribbean track and field stars since 1972, is traditionally held over the Easter weekend and due to the late observance of the Christian holiday in 2011, it would prove to be too much for the Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association (JAAA) to host the up to 30 countries.

The meet will be held April 22-24 next year and Howard Aris, president of the JAAA told the Observer recently that the close proximity to the Jamaica International Invitational (JII) an IAAF Area Permit Meet, would prove too much for his organisation.

The JII meet is held on the first Saturday in May and is slated to be held on May 7 next year and Aris says trying to plan and organise both meets at the same time, could be more than what the JAAA would be able to take on.

The Catherine Hall multi-purpose stadium in Montego Bay had been touted as the likely venue.

Jamaica has hosted the event six times, the latest in 1996 and the other times being 1974, 1979, 1982, 1988 and 1990.

Bermuda is down to host the event in 2012, while the Bahamas had made a bid to host the IAAF World Youth Championships in 2013.

Eleven different countries have hosted the championships.

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Jamaican 400-metre runner Bobby-Gaye Wilkins has been banned for two years for using a performance-enhancing substance, a track official said Thursday.

Wilkins tested positive for the banned substance andranine at the indoor world championships in Doha, Qatar, in March and will be barred from competition until April 2012, said Warren Blake, a vice-president of the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association.

Also, Blake said the penalty may be reduced for Olympic and world 100-metre champion Shelly-Ann Fraser, who was provisionally suspended by the IAAF in June after a positive test for a painkiller she claims she took to alleviate a toothache.

“Circumstances exist for a reduction in ban and that’s something the IAAF agrees with,” Blake said. “We’re hoping that this will happen this week.”

Fraser tested positive for the prohibited substance Oxycodone at a meet in China on May 23, but her manager said a physician gave her the medication to alleviate pain from a dental procedure. She has been facing a penalty as severe as a two-year ban from competition.

Wilkins was a member of the Jamaican 4×400 relay team that won a bronze medal at the indoor worlds in Qatar.

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