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Team Atlantic at CAF Squash Nationals

Men and Women’s National Squash and Badminton Tournament at CFB Borden on April 29, 2018. Photo: Avr Alevtina Ostanin, CFB Borden Imagery

Team Atlantic gets good results at CAF Squash Nationals

By Ryan Melanson,
Trident Staff

Five CFB Halifax members travelled with Team Atlantic to the 2018 CAF National Squash Championship in Borden from April 29 – May 1, competing well against top military players from around the country.

In team competition, the East Coast players came second overall, behind the powerhouse team from the Quebec region, who took 7 out of 9 matches against team Atlantic Members.

The top individual result went to two team members from 14 Wing Greenwood; Maj Jimmy Leclerc won gold in the Men’s Open competition, while MCpl Dominique Poulin also won gold in the Women’s Open.

CPO1 Stephane Gagnon of FMF Cape Scott won silver in the Masters category, while LS Ashley Fletcher of HMCS Montreal took third place in the Women’s Open after falling short in the semifinal match, and Lt(N) David Weatherall of HMCS Ville de Quebec and Lt(N) Fergus Lavelle of NFR finished sixth and eighth, respectively, in the Men’s Open.

In the under-30 category, OS Darren Mullins of HMCS Montreal came in third place after falling in the semifinal and then winning the consolation match. OS Mullins won the U30 division at the earlier Regional Championship, and impressed his teammates through the season.

“He’s only 20 years old now, so there is definitely an under-30 win at Nationals coming in his future,” said Lt(N) Fergus Lavelle.

After a better-than-average year at both Regionals and Nationals, the CFB Halifax team is hoping to keep the momentum going for 2019, and anyone with Squash experience or a desire to learn the sport is encouraged to contact PSP Halifax Fitness and Sports Coordinator Lucas Hardie at Lucas.Hardie@forces.gc.ca for information about next year.