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Sunday, November 18, 2018
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Stout Wins World Rackets Doubles Title
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Bermuda’s James Stout, the World Rackets Singles Champion since 2008, and his rackets partner, Jonathan Larken, successfully defended the World Rackets Doubles Title they won in 2016.
In the first leg of their defense, they defeated the challengers, Richard Owen and Tom Billings, 4-0 in the best of seven games fixture at the Racquet and Tennis Club, Manhattan. With the exception of the third game, Owen and Billings struggled to put their older opponents under sustained pressure. Stout and Larken’s wealth of experience of playing at this level more than compensated for the combined thirty years age difference with the challengers.
The third game was crucial as the challengers built up a 14-5 lead and were on the brink of getting on the scoreboard. However, steady and accurate serving by Stout together with some fiercely contested rallies enabled him and Larken to successfully defend 9 game balls, and take the game 17-14 in one hand, an outstanding recovery. The fourth game was similar to the first two, except that Stout and Larkin played with more confidence and the challengers were somewhat deflated. The game scores were 15-6, 15-5, 17-14 and 15-7. The match lasted an hour and twenty minutes.
The second leg, played at The Queen’s Club, London was, in contrast, fairly quickly decided. Stout and Larken needed to win only one game to retain the title, whereas Owen and Billings needed to win the best of seven match by four games to nil, and concede fewer than thirty-two points. What was a tall order at the start of the match became harder still when Larken, who opened the serving, built up a 6-0 lead in the first game before Billings and Owen got him out. By that stage the damage had been done. Although the challengers battled gamely, Stout and Larken won the game 15-7, and thereby closed out the match with a 5-0 whitewash. They are the first title holders to successfully defend the world title since 2003.
This was Stout’s second successful foray in Doubles Play in November, albeit in a different sport. In the Westchester Country Club Pro Doubles squash tournament, a Squash Doubles Association (SDA”) platinum level event, he partnered Switzerland’s Yvain Badan, currently ranked 5. Badan’s regular squash doubles partner Bernado Samper had to withdraw due to a family emergency. Playing together for the first time Badan and Stout defeated Adam Bews and William Hartigan 3-1 (15-6, 13-15, 15-7, 15-11) in the quarter-finals. In the semi-finals they beat Jonny Smith and Zac Alexander 3-0 (15-12, 15-6, 15-14). In the finals they saw off the top-seeded pair of Michael Ferreira and Christopher Callis 3-0 (15-13, 15-10, 15-13) in a thrilling fifty-eight minute encounter, where two games went to 13-all.
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Sunday, November 18, 2018
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Bermuda's First International Boccia Gold Medal Claimed
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www.islandstats.com brought you regular updates on Bermuda’s Boccia players competing in Argentina.
The Bermuda team competed in the Buenos Aires Regional Open, Steve Wilson competed in the BC4 Division and went through the entire competition undefeated winning 6 games and defeating Argentinian Khalil Profiti 4-1 in the Final to claim the Gold Medal and spoil the party for the home crowd.
Wilson got off to a great start throwing jack long and scoring 2 points in first end. In the second end Profiti scored one point and the score was 2-1 at the half way mark. Wilson then performed some great pressure shots and edged away from his opponent by scoring 1 point in each of the remaining 2 ends. He also defeated players from the US and Mexico on his way to reach the final. This was the first time a Bermudian Boccia player has won a Gold Medal at an International Event.
Omar Hayward and Yushae DeSilva-Andrade also competed in the BC1 class. Both players had to play each other in the opening match with Hayward narrowly defeating DeSilva Andrade 3-2. Hayward then convincingly beat Flores from Argentina 8-0 before losing final match 5-4 to Ventura from Mexico. Unfortunately due to point difference Hayward did not progress to finals however played some great Boccia to claim 2 wins. DeSilva-Andrade lost her 2nd match, by only 1 point again to Ventura from Mexico however fought hard in 3rd game and finished with a great win defeating Flores from Argentina 4-1.
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Friday, November 16, 2018
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Bermuda Boccia Players Continue in Argentina
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The BISFed 2018 Buenos Aires Boccia Regional Open continued in Argentina, Boccia Bermuda players Steve Wilson, Yushae DeSilva-Andrade and Omar Hayward were all in action.
Wilson improved to 2 & 0 after he defeated Ivan Costa from Argentina 13 – 0 in their Individual BC 4 Division match. Wilson then defeated Khalil Profiti from Argentina 4 – 1. Wilson defeated Kevin Stokes from the United States of America 4 – 2, Wilson then defeated Henry Sawyer from the United States of America 5 – 0.
In the Individual BC1 Division Hayward defeated Ailen Flores from Argentina 8 – 0. Hayward would fall 6 – 1 to Eduardo Ventura from Mexico.
DeSilva-Andrade also playing in the Individual BC1 Division went down in her second match of the tournament 5 – 4 to Eduardo Ventura from Mexico. DeSilva-Andrade would pick up her first win when she defeated Ailen Flores from Argentina 4 – 1.
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Wednesday, November 14, 2018
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Buenos Aires Boccia Regional Open Day One
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 Steve Wilson (R) IslandStats.com
Wilson started out with a 3 – 2 win over Tomas Marquez Ruiz from Mexico in their Individual BC4 Division match. Ruiz would take a 1 – 0 lead at the end of the First Period, Wilson would get 2 points in the Second Period to take a 2 – 1 lead at the break. Ruiz would get the point in the Third Period to draw the score level at 2 – 2, but it would be Wilson who would get the all-important point in the Fourth Period to earn the win.
In an All-Bermuda Individual BC1 match Hayward edged DeSilva-Andrade 3 – 2. Hayward would score a point in each of the First Two Periods to take a 2 – 0 lead at the break.
DeSilva-Andrade would get herself back into the match after picking up a point in the Third Period, both players would gain a point in the Fourth and Final Period with Hayward able to hold on for the win.
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Tuesday, November 13, 2018
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Bermuda Trio to Compete in Argentina
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 Boccia Bermuda players Steve Wilson, Yushae DeSilva-Andrade and Omar Hayward will compete in the Buenos Aires Regional Open in Argentina.
Wilson, Andrade and Hayward are hoping to gain valuable ranking points as they continue their quest to qualify for the Parapan American games in 2019 and Paralympic Games in 2020.
The trio will represent Bermuda in the competition which gets underway November 14th - 16th.
The competition is expected to attract top Boccia players from North, Central and South America.
The Bermuda's athletes will compete in the individual component of the competition.
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