The Blinds Design All Jamaica Senior Squash Open defending champions Julian Morrison and Mary Mahfood prevailed against stiff competition in the finals, but stayed the course to retain their respective titles at the Liguanea Club in Kinston on Saturday.

Playing to a full house, Morrison defeated Ashante Smith 3-1 (6-11, 11-4, 11-8, 11-8) in a best-of-five match that tested both players in terms of fitness, shot selection and mental strength. Morrison was the better overall player but was tested by Smith who was coming off a long lay-off in competitive squash.

“It was a very tough match mentally and physically. I started off a little bit nervous because I am playing one of my close friends and I am in the final trying to defend my title against somebody who I know could take it from me. I lost the first game solely because he just played and beat me out of the way and then I had to regroup. I spoke to my dad [Dave] and he gave me some good words and I came out and surprisingly, I did what I needed to do and I got the trophy,” said Morrison.

Smith, meantime, was pleased despite the defeat.

“I can only say I am pleased with it [the results], having come back after years of a hiatus. I was playing on and off but not really training and getting prepared for any competitive squash. [I] was just trying to enjoy the sport again so I was looking forward to playing squash regardless of the outcome. I just love playing a high level squash so I can only be pleased with my performance,” he said.

The ladies’ champion Mary Mahfood gave a display of high-level speed and power on the court to dominate cousin Lauren Mahfood, to retain her championship in straight sets. The scores were 11-3, 11-5, 11-5.

Reacting afterwards, the victorious Mahfood said: “It feels really good to come home and to just perform at the top level that I am capable of doing. I think all the pieces came together, my fitness, my squash, my mental game, all of it came together in the right moment and that’s what I did this weekend, I just showed up to play.”

The other Mahfood took away the positives even though she finished second best.

“I really enjoyed coming out. I came in as an unseeded player [as] I just started playing [again]. I had no expectations when I came in the tournament [as] came in as an unseeded player and made it to the final, so I am really proud to be there and playing against Mary,” she noted.

President of the Jamaica Squash Association and recently elected vice-president (Caribbean) on the Panam Squash board Karen Anderson was pleased with this year’s Open.

“It’s been great. What you want to hear is the feedback from the players and the spectators who have said that it has been a great tournament. They have enjoyed it. It was run on time, great camaraderie, and so it has been wonderful to just see how everybody have just come out and we’ve seen some spectacular squash as well which is even more important,” she stated.

Ten-time national champion Chris Binnie, who retired recently, watched the finals from the stands and was pleased with what he saw on court.

“I think it was great squash. I think that the things that are happening in Jamaica are good for the game. Julian, he owns the Caribbean juniors along with Ashante who both were in the finals and to see them now playing in a national senior final is great.

“And Mary also, and Lauren Mahfood who has been away from the game a bit, now she is back. Mary has been training a bit in the States while also doing her career. I think having younger people playing and getting people back into the sport has been great,” Binnie said.

The six-day All Jamaica Senior and Junior Squash Open was in the Men’s B, Men’s C, Over 40, Over 50, Juniors U13, U15, U17, and U19 categrories.

The Men’s B winner and runner-up were Jerazeno Bell and Kyle Gregg, respectively; the The Men’s C winner and runner-up were Yasir Anwar and Jamieson Daley.

The Over 40 winner and runner-up were Jerazeno Bell and Bruce Levy, while the Over 50 winner and runner-up were Bruce Levy and Dave Morrison.

Championships sponsors were Blinds Design, Wata and the Liguanea Club.