A record number of entries took part in the Bermuda Junior National Squash Championships which started at the weekend.

More than 60 children took part in the event in the hope of becoming the Island's top player.

The tournament, held at the Squash Racquets Association on Middle Road, was divided into five divisions in the boys' event and four in the girls.

James Stout, currently schooling in England, was the top seed in the Boys Under 19 division with Stephen Smith seeded two.

Stout played for Bermuda in the Rosebowl Championships and is currently the Caribbean Under 17 junior champion.

Andrew Robinson was the top seed in the Boys Under 17 division with Michael Shrubb the top seed in the Boys Under 15 division. Shrubb recently returned from the UK.

Favourite to win the Boys Under 13 title was Robert Maycock. He has been playing in the Junior Squash Programme in recent years and is tipped as one of the Island's future stars.

The Boys Under 11 division was billed as a close contest between the two top seeds, Jeffrey Olsen and Jeffrey Counsell.

Laura Robinson was the top seed in both the Girls Under 17 and Under 13 divisions. At only 12-years-old she is also tipped for great things.

Morgan Lightbourne was the top seed for the Girls Under 15 division.

The Girls Under 11 division was contested between sisters Rachel and Kelly Barnes.

After the first day's play on Saturday there were few surprises with the match of the day going to Robinson and Stephen Smith in the Boys Under 19 division. Smith, seeded two, battled to get going early on and lost the first game 9-6. He fought back to win the second 10-8 but lost the third 9-5.

With the score at 6-7 Robinson looked like he might be about to cause an upset. However, nerves and a gutsy performance from Smith enabled him to win the fourth game and then take the match 9-2 in the fifth.

In the girls event, Kelly Barnes, playing in three divisions, the Under 11s, Under 13s and Under 15s, played the match of her life to beat Adrienne Smatt 9-6 in the fifth.

A report on yesterday's matches will appear later.