Nazhir Smith successfully defended his Digicel Junior National Squash Championships crown, but not before he had been given a fright by Dylan Muldoon.

Muldoon pushed Smith all the way in a thrilling five-game Boy’s Under-19 final that went down to the wire, with Smith eventually emerging victorious 11-7, 5-11, 8-11, 12-10, 14-12.

In the consolation final, meanwhile, Beckett Simmons beat Kion Knights 11-9, 7-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-6. Knights had been one of the favourites to win the event in his final year of eligibility as a junior.

Muldoon did take one title yesterday at the Bermuda Squash Racquets Association courts, comfortably beating Jacques Deverteuil 11-7, 11-4, 11-8 in the Boys’ Under-17 final.

Like Smith, Emma Keane will end her time in the junior ranks as a champion, winning the Girls’ Under-19 title for a fourth time with a relatively easy 11-5, 11-2, 11-5, victory over Susanna Armano.

Tiye Williams, who lost to Armano in the semi-finals of the Boys’ Under-19 contest on Monday, beat Madeleine Rose 13-11, 11-3, 8-11, 11-7, to take the Girls’ Under-17 title.

In yesterday’s other boys’ matches, Dylan Pratt beat Taylor Carrick 11-9, 11-5, 11-8 in the Boy’s Under-15 final, while there were wins for Charlie Riker and Greg Mwangi in the Boys’ Under-13 and Under-11 finals.

Charlotte Toogood took home the Girls’ Under-15 title with a 11-6, 3-11, 11-5, 11-7 win over Abigail Brewer, who won her Under-13 contest against Lauren Dietz 11-3, 11-1, 11-0. Isabella White beat Eden Smith 11-5, 11-5, 11-5 in the Boy’s Under-11 final.