Charles Pyne and Gareth Henry led Jamaica’s charge at the Caribbean Regional Badminton Confederation (CAREBACO) International which started yesterday in Barbados, as they both got first-round byes then won their second round singles matches.

Pyne, a 3/4 seed, defeated Damien Howell (Barbados), 21-3, 21-6, while Henry, one of the four 5/8 seeds, defeated Cesar Rosa (Puerto Rico), 21-12, 21-18.

Another Jamaican, past national champion Bradley Graham, was defeated fairly comfortably by Virgil Soeroredjo (Suriname) a 5/8 seed, 21-12, 21-14, after also receiving a bye in round one.

Pyne will play his third round match against Greg Padmore (Barbados) at 5:00 pm today, while Henry will take on another Barbadian, Kevin Wood, at 5:40.

For the ladies, Jamaica’s junior champion Mikaylia Haldane lost to Sabrina Scott of Barbados, 21-9, 21-16.

Two other Jamaicans, Geordine Henry and Ruth-Ann Williams, got first-round byes and will have their first singles action this evening at 7:00.

In ladies doubles, Haldane and Henry had a 21-13, 21-9 win over Kamasha Roberston (Trinidad& Tob.) and Claudia Campbell (Barbados) and will play a Puerto Rican pair later today.

In mixed doubles, the brother — sister pair of Gareth and Geordine Henry had two wins to move into the quarter-finals of that event. They first defeated Puerto Ricans Cesar Rosa and Saribel Caceras, 21-13, 21-15, then Redon Coulor and Aranxa Llahibaks of Suriname, 21-13, 21-18.

The CAREBACO Junior Championships are running concurrently with the seniors event. Gerald Isaacs and Romone Robinson each had two wins in the Under-19 boys singles to move into the semi-finals of that event.

Similarly, Mikaylia Haldane won her two Under-19 girls singles matches to also make the semi-finals.

Another Jamaican, Jozanne Suckie lost her U19 girls singles to Lisa King (Barbados), 21-19, 21-11.

Samuel Ricketts, a bronze medallist for Jamaica at the recent Pan Am Juniors held here in Kingston also had two wins to move him into the semi-finals of the Under-17 boys singles.