EIGHT-TIME former squash champion Mark Sealy claimed his second successive men's over-40 national title Friday night. He did so in the veterans'
competition of the 34th annual Barbados

Olympic Association-sponsored National Squash Championships at the Barbados Squash Club,
Marine Gardens, Christ Church.

Sealy prevailed over national teammate Marlon White in an absorbing contest. Sealy had by far the better of the exchanges in the first two games and won them in a canter at three and love.

When Sealy cruised to a 5-2 lead in the third game after only 20 minutes of play, the crowd groaned, expecting an early finish and a quick trip to the bar for drinks.

However, White had other ideas. He proceeded
to play much better, cutting out the loose shots and simple errors that had plagued his game up to that point. The rallies got longer and Sealy finally was forced off the "T" position with tight
straight drives hit to a good length and more accurate cross-court drives.

White moved from 2-5 down to eventually 7-5 up, then 8-7 game ball up. Sealy moved back into contention and held a match ball at 9-8, only for White to hammer a low percentage straight volley kill off a Sealy serve to regain the serve.

White then quickly claimed the next two points to snatch the 16-minute third game 10-9. Sealy now knew he was in an even contest and the close fourth game bore that out.

There was plenty of attacking play from both players and when White moved from 3-5 down to 6-5 up in a single hand, there was just a hint that an upset was in the offing.

Sealy put that thought out of everyone's mind
by regaining the serve and quickly reeled off the next four points in quick succession to win 9-3, 9-0, 9-10,
9-6 in 43 minutes of pulsating squash.

Of the other matches played the two most exciting were the men's over-50 plate final between Ruairidh (Rory) Mackenzie and Ronald Watson which could have gone either way.

Both players played excellent squash and Mackenzie eventually prevailed in five games 5-9, 10-8, 10-8, 8-10, 10-8 in 50 minutes, the longest match of the night. (PR)