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Source: www.guardian.co.tt

The England-based duo of senior men’s national hockey players, Kwandwane Browne and Mickel Pierre and their Canterbury club managed to avoid automatic demotion to the English Hockey League after some last day heroics earlier this month. Canterbury, which only gained promotion to the ten-team Premier Division last year  escaped the drop by edging fellow promoted club. Brooklands MU 2-1 in their final league match of the season thereby condemning their opponents to the drop. It was the ultimate battle as cellar placed Canterbury hosted ninth placed Brooklands MU. The match was always likely to be a closely contested fixture and so it proved with Canterbury requiring a last gasp winner from Michael Farrer to record their third win of the season—and the double over Brooklands—to earn a stay of execution and enter the EHL Promotion Tournament. Last gasp might even be an understatement as, with the whistle blown for full time, Canterbury completed their penalty corner routine which ended in a goal for Farrer. 

It meant Brooklands were not even afforded the slightest chance of restoring parity; it will have come as a bitter blow as a draw would have sufficed for Brooklands to avoid immediate demotion. Tom Butt had opened the scoring for Canterbury in the eighth minute, a lead which was held until the 43rd minute when David Seddon equalised through a penalty corner strike prior to the late winner. Canterbury will now contest the four-team promotion playoffs with Men’s Conference East champions Southgate, Conference West winner (University of Exeter) and North champions, University of Durham. The play-offs are used to help determine which teams are promoted and relegating in the  EHL.

The winners of the three conferences (North, East and West) and Canterbury, ninth in the Premier Division will now meet in a round-robin playoff series with two places in the top Divison up for grabs, the bottom team in the Premier Division having automatically been relegated. Southgate (42 points) finished the season on a high with a 5-1 home win over Harleston Magpies, ending four points ahead of Old Loughtonians. Indian Gymkhan, the club of local player Terrence Baptiste was joint sixth with Wimbledon and Oxted, each with 22 points. Durham’s (39 points) triumph was much more dramatic, as it claimed the title on the final day with a 7-1 whipping of Harbone to end three points ahead of Sheffield Hallam which drew  3-3 with  Belper while Doncaster (33) was beaten by Olton & West Warwicks.

FIXTURES

EHL Promotion Relegation Tournament
April 30—Men
Durham University vs Southgate
Canterbury vs v University of Exeter
May 1—Men
Southgate vs Canterbury
University of Exeter vs Durham University
May 2—Men
University of Exeter vs Southgate
Canterbury vs Durham University

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Dwight YorkeDwight Yorke admits there were more than a few raised eyebrows when he told his footballer friends he was running the London marathon. "Every current footballer I've spoken to, and all the ex players, said, 'You've got to be a crazy guy to do this.' All of them said they would never do it which is really astonishing."

The former Manchester United striker will be joined by ex-footballers Muzzy Izzet and Chris Perry, although neither of those are aiming for the lofty target of running 26.2 miles in three hours. Sat among a group of former Olympians taking on the challenge – from rowers Matthew Pinsent and James Cracknell to athletes Iwan Thomas and Jamie Baulch – Yorke shifted in his seat as they guffawed at each others' chances of finishing anywhere near the three-hour mark. But then none of them have a distance running pedigree like the 39-year-old.

"I've always been a decent long-distance runner," says Yorke. "I've always been able to run. When they've put on running sessions in football I've always come out on top. The furthest I ever ran before this would have been half a marathon at school, but I wouldn't be here if I had doubts. I'm confident."

Yorke, who retired from football in 2009, still looks incredibly fit despite having started his marathon training only two months ago, in stark contrast to the former athletes alongside him. "I've always been one of those people who has kept themselves reasonably fit. I don't feel like I've let myself go totally, I just needed to put some time in. From what I know about sport I think I've put in enough to run a decent time."

He admits that the training – sustained running being so different to the stops and starts of football training – took some adjusting to. "I don't think anything I've done is as hard as this has been. When I first set out to do the training all my bones were aching and the constant pounding on the road is not what your body is used to. But I feel better each time I go back doing it."

"My longest run has been 16 or 17 miles and I've heard that the next 10 miles is all about the adrenaline and the atmosphere of the occasion. Having been in that sort of surrounding as a footballer I know the kind of energy you can get from people shouting and encouraging you."

Yorke says the decision to run the marathon was about fulfilling a lifelong ambition, but also raising money and awareness for the charity Vision that helps blind and visually impaired children. Yorke's son, Harvey, whose mother is Katie Price, suffers from septo-optic dysplasia, a disorder that affects the optic nerve.

When Yorke talks about the eight-year-old Harvey he does so tenderly and with some melancholy as he admits that his relationship with Price has soured. On hearing that she has pulled out of the marathon with a knee injury he looks relieved. "I wouldn't have been running alongside [her] anyway I can assure you. I haven't spoken to Kate in five years, I have no information as to her whereabouts so that's music to my ears."

Does Harvey know what his father is doing? Yorke looks distant. "I'm sure he will be aware that the reason I'm doing it is because of his troubles. But whether he understands it is a different thing."

Yorke estimates that his efforts will bring in around £15,000 for Vision – the largest donation of which came from his old gaffer Sir Alex Ferguson. He will follow Manchester United's progress in the FA Cup t as a TV analyst and admits his former team-mates will be equally curious to know how he gets on on Sunday morning.
"That's the part I'm dreading most," he says with a grin. "Not the run, but that if I don't come in within the time I've said I'll really get it."

In the women's elite race the defending champion, Liliya Shobukhova, takes on the former winner Irina Mikitenko and the Olympic champion Constantina Dita, while in the men's race Tsegaye Kebede of Ethiopia is the favourite against the accomplished – but out of form Kenyans – Martin Lel and James Kwambai.

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

Story by Clayton Clarke

Jehue GordonReigning world junior 400m hurdles champion Jehue Gordon recorded his first win of the year with a 50.11 clocking on the opening day of the tenth Tobago Falcons Games on Saturday at the Dwight Yorke Stadium, Bacolet. Gordon finished strongly to pass Puerto Rican Eric Javier Alejandro after the last hurdle, securing the victory. Alejandro took an early lead in the race from lane six with Gordon on his inside. He seemed set to upset the national champion but the local runner dug deep and edged ahead with less than 40 metres left.  Alejandro was second in 50.28 seconds with Gordon’s Memphis clubmate Brandon Benjamin claiming the bronze in a personal best of 53.93. Gordon’s time was slower than his 49.65 victory in the same event last year.

Following the race, Gordon shared that he was happy with the win after he was still testing his feet after undergoing surgery late last year. In the women’s 400m hurdles, Kernesha Spann (Neon Trackers) sped to gold in 1:00.04 ahead of Gabriela Cumberbatch (Memphis) 1:00.34 and Barbadian Sade Greenidge (1:03:41). Spann’s time was 0.21 off her personal best of 59:83 which she established in winning at the Carifta trials last month. Cumberbatch was also second on that occasion. Benjamin, Spann and Cumberbatch are all members of T&T’s 66-member Carifta team for this weekend’s regional games in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

Another Carifta selectee, Rueben Walters took the boys Under-17 event. Carifta athletes also won the boys’ and girls’ Under-17 800m races. In the boy’s event, Nicholas Landeau (Air Bon Sonics) raced to the gold in 2:00.64 ahead of Toco’s Akeem Marshall (2:01.81) and Runako Sherwood (Petrotrin Palo Seco) 2:04.76. Lateifa Sylvester (Quantum) claimed the girl’s U-17 two-lap event in 2:29:11 beating Kervelle Baird (Petrotrin Palo Seco) 2:30.81 and Athonise Barker (Memphis) 2:38.93. Carifta champion Quincy Wilson (Health Olympians) topped the field in the men’s discus with a throw of  54.39 m ahead of Carifta-bound Akeem Stewart (Jaguars) 47.03 m. Dawyne Herbert (Dovers) followed up his win at the last weekend’s Southern  Games by claiming gold in 7.36 m; while QRC’s Charisse Bacchus took the women’s long jump (5.94 m).

Adel Colthrust (Southern Athletics) continued his fine form taking the boys U-13 200m in 25.95. The Southern Games double sprint champion beat Zenith’s Tyreke Gordon (26.87)  and Jamaul Andrews of Petrotrin Palo Seco (27.58). T&T’s Carifta hopefuls, Zakiya Denoon (Zenith) 25.14 and Shirnel Etteinne (La Brea) 26:04 had to settle for second and third, respectively, behind Dominica’s  Luan Gabriel, who sped to a new Dominican girl’s U-17 record in 24.67.  T&T’s Carifta-bound squads were in action in the relays with the boys U-20 outfit of Jonathan Holder, Moriba Morain, Ayodelle Taffe and Jamol James, blazing to victory in the men’s event in an impressive 40.44. The girls U-20 quartet of Breanna Gomes, Michelle Lee Ahye, Gabriela Cumberbatch and Onika Murray clocked 46:65 seconds to also win. Also in winners’ row was the girls U-17 outfit (48:18). However, their boy’s counterparts had to settle for third after fumbling their baton exchanges in the U-20 race in 43.80 behind Zenith (43.05) and Concorde (43:19).

Source: www.thecgf.com

Malyasia's Prince Tunku Imran receives his International Honorary Doctorate awarded by The United States Sport Academy in Alabama. (Dated photo- zimbio.com) Malaysia's Prince Tunku Imran is to stand for election to be President of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), he has announced and claims already to have the backing of Asia.

Prince Tunku, a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), is currently the vice-president and now wants to succeed Jamaica's Mike Fennell in the top position.

Fennell has led the CGF since being elected at Victoria in 1994 but has not declared publicly whether he plans to stand again at this year's elections, due to be held at the CGF's meeting at St Kitts and Nevis from November 11 to 13.

"Fennell had voiced his intention to step down after the New Delhi Commonwealth Games last year, after holding the post for 17 years," said Datuk Sieh Kok Chi, the secretary of the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM).

"If Tunku Imran wins, he will become the first International Olympic Committee (IOC) member elected as the CGF president, which will give a new height to the Federation."

Prince Tunku, 63, who has been a member of the IOC since 2006, is a former Malaysian squash champion and was President of the International Squash Rackets Federation from 1989 to 1996.

A graduate of Nottingham University, he is a qualified barrister and he has been President of the OCM since 1998.

The launch of Prince Tunku's candidature is due to be formally announced during the CGF's Executive Board meeting in Kuala Lumpur next month.

"We hope that the federation, made up of 71 members of the former British empire, will unanimously support Tuanku Imran," said Chi.

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

Sport and Youth Affairs Minister Anil Roberts. www.guardian.co.ttSports and Youth Affairs Minister Anil Roberts is expected to give the feature address at the opening of this year’s Thinking Sports symposium for students of secondary schools on Monday at the Cascadia Hotel. The four-day mentorship programme, which is in its 12th year, is entitled Inspiration,  and will be attended by over 200 students from schools across the country. It   ends on Thursday. National cricket captains Daren Ganga (men) and Merissa Aguilliera (women), as well as motivational speaker, Don La Foucade, will facilitate the first day’s session which starts at 8 am with registration and breakfast for  participants. The official programme starts at 9.15 am.

Tuesday’s second session will be facilitated by junior world 400 metres champion, Jehue Gordon, national calypso monarch Karene Asche, and former West Indies fast bowler and current UTT coach, Anthony Gray. Fifa vice-president Jack Warner will lead Wednesday’s third-day session and he will be followed by junior Olympic gold medalist Christian Homer. The session ends with senior Olympic swimming champion George Bovell 111. Students will be rewarded for their efforts on Thursday in a ceremonial ending with certificates and prizes, following addresses by Minister of the People and Social Development Glenn Ramadharsingh and and Miss Universe 1977 Janelle “Penny” Commissiong.

Please click below to see the schedule of the sessions:

pdf Sport Desk Program 2011

pdf Sport Desk Program 2011 page 2

Source: By Matt Cutler

Rugby World Cup Limited chairman Bernard Lapasset. getty images Rugby World Cup matches will be aired in 3D for the first time later this year after Auckland-based 3DLive was installed as the official 3D broadcaster of the tournament in New Zealand.

3DLive will deliver a special feed of the semi-finals, third-place match and the final, with the action set to be carried in cinemas and at big screen events across the host country and Australia. The 3D feed will also be available to global broadcast partners.

Rugby World Cup Limited chairman Bernard Lapasset hailed the news as “a significant development” for the tournament and said that it illustrated the International Rugby Board’s “commitment to ensuring that rugby fans around the world are able to enjoy the latest broadcast technology”.

“Over four billion television viewers enjoyed the last Rugby World Cup,” he added. “In a sport where innovation and tradition go hand in hand we will give rugby fans a new viewing dimension that will enhance their experience of a tournament that continues to reach out to more men, women and children through all media platforms.”

Sky New Zealand has already said they intend to offer the available matches in 3D. Sky New Zealand CEO John Fellet told ONE Sport: “While we are still working through the technical and operational requirements it is our intention to offer these 3D matches to Sky subscribers.”

3DLive director Ronel Schodt added: “3D technology offers a stunning new perspective to traditional 2D rugby coverage. You really do feel as if you're in the front row of the stadium. It's an experience that's as close as you'll get to being at the live match.” The tournament will run from September 9 to October 23.

Source: www.olympic.org

Prof. Arne Ljungqvist. source: getty imagesThe 2011 IOC World Conference on Prevention of Injury and Illness in Sport came to a successful conclusion on 9 April in Monaco.

The meetings, described by some as the most constructive yet for researchers in the field, were attended by 940 delegates from 85 countries and included 5 keynote lectures, 21 symposia, 39 workshops and 64 oral presentations.

The Conference was the first organised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and was attended by IOC members HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, IOC Medical Commission Chairman Prof. Arne Ljungqvist, and Dr Robin Mitchell.

Experts exchanged the latest news and advancements in the prevention of illness and injury in athletes; and several symposia on the implementation of the field’s current knowledge showed that the message and penetration are improving.

“Without fit and healthy athletes there would not be any exciting Olympic Games,” said Professor Ljungqvist. “They are our most cherished assets. It is, therefore, a top priority for the IOC to keep the athletes as healthy and as fit as possible.

“Thankfully, the number and quality of experts working in this field are impressive, and we can all see that we are making major strides in many areas. This all bodes well for athletes everywhere.”

A three-day Advanced Team Physician Course preceded the main Conference and was attended by 140 participants from 48 countries. The goal of the course was to provide knowledge and insight on sports medicine to National Olympic Committee (NOC) physicians.

One day was devoted to the work being undertaken by International Federations (IFs) and their chief medical officers, and the IOC was pleased to learn that the transfer of knowledge between the IFs is vibrant and transparent.

In addition, the Medical and Science group of the IOC Medical Commission held a half-day meeting to discuss their strategies for the protection of athletes and the use of sport to improve people’s health.

While there are many health benefits that can be derived from sport, there is also an inherent risk of injuries, especially at elite level. The IOC has initiated and supported research on various topics related to the health of athletes, with the ultimate goal being a significant reduction in injuries and illnesses.

The IOC records and analyses all athlete injuries and illnesses that occur in competition and/ or training at the Olympic Games to gain further knowledge about the effectiveness and weaknesses of existing prevention programmes.

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

Sinead Jack, 17, left, middle blocker of AZS Bialystok and countrywoman and club-mate, outside hitter Channon Thompson, 17, right, with an unamed player after a training session with their Polish club. www.guardian.co.ttFrance-based national captain, Krystle Esdelle heads a list of six overseas players are in a squad shortlisted by national women’s volleyball coach Francisco “Panchee” Cruz to continue training for three major tournaments this year. The T&T women who captured the Caribbean Volleyball Championship title for a third straight year in Suriname last July and fourth overall are in training to compete at the Pan American Cup in Chihuahua, Mexico (June 29 - July 9), Norceca Continental Championship in Caguas, Puerto Rico (September 10 - 18) and the Continental Olympic Qualifiers carded for December 10 to 18 at a venue to be decided.

In addition to Esdelle who plies her trade with Quimper Volley in the Third Division of the French Women’s Volleyball League, the other overseas player in the squad are teenaged Poland-based duo, Sinead Jack and Channon Thompson of AZS Bialystok, Jalicia Ross (Indonesia), Darlene Ramdin (St John’s University, USA) and Renele Forde (Florida International University, USA)

After enjoying a break for the Christmas holidays, the team now ranked 29th in the world by the FIVB resumed training on February 7 under the guidance of the Cuban-born Cruz and his assistants Nicholson Drakes, Daryl Davis and Esseil Seecharan. Since then the 12 locally-based players have been hard at training six days a week at the Southern Regional Indoor Sport Arena, Pleasantville; University of T&T Corinth Campus, and the Eastern Regional Indoor Sport Arena, Tacarigua.  over a six day a week period.

T&T women’s v-ball squad

Rheeza Grant, Courtnee-Mae Clifford, Shurvette Beckles, Delana Mitchell, Abigail Gloud, Abby Blackman, Cabbrini Foncette, Andrea Kinsale, Cherese Sampson, Marisha Herbert, Phylecia Armstrong, Kelly- Anne Billingy, Krystle Esdelle (Quimper Volley, France), Sinead Jack ( AZS Bialystok, Poland), Channon Thompson ( AZS Bialystok, Poland) Jalicia Ross (Indonesia), Darlene Ramdin (St John’s University, USA) Renele Forde (Florida International University, USA)

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

April 2008

By Shari John

Valantino Singh (centre), Symposium Cordinator and Editor of the T&T Guardian Ag, share a light moment with Brian Lewis Honorary Secretary of the T&T Olympic Committee (right) and Deryck Murray (left) President of the T&T Cricket Board during the eighth Thinking Sport Symposium held at the Trinidad Guardian. In keeping with it’s objective of creating intelligent sport leaders and citizens the Sport Desk, kicked off it’s Thinking Sports Symposium, at the Trinidad Guardian, last Saturday.

Largely geared at Secondary School students, it is the eight in the Thinking Sports series put on by the Sport Desk. Its aim is to impart on present and future sporting leaders of T&T, a greater understanding of the role that sport can play in the development of life.

Speaking first, The T&T Cricket Board (TTCB), President delivered his presentation, on ‘Sport and Education- The Right Mix’, highlighting the importance of education as an integral part of sport development.
It is Murray’s belief, that sport and education go hand in hand and as a society, we therefore need to find a way balance both.

“All teams are characterized as possessing an abundance of natural talent, but lack mental fortitude.” He lamented the fact that today’s society is such that young upcoming athletes are made to choose between sport and education. Sport he explained, is often seen as simply a form of recreation that should only be pursued if it leads to scholarships.

“There is a self fulfilling prophecy that teams will not have too many bright people playing for them, what then does that do for the self esteem and mindset of players?” Murray questioned.
Looking back, he demonstrated that it was the premier schools such as QRC, St Mary’s, Fatima etc. who produced some of the best athletes of that time, while still managing to maintain an academic standard. This he said was due to the structure of the school system which included P.E (Physical Education) and Sport within the school day in addition to the personal attitudes of the players. Admitting that times have changed, Murray believes that as a society, we must adapt.

“It (balancing sport with education) has been done in the past, and can be done in the future.” He said
The past West Indies Wicketkeeper/batsman also touched on the issue of having a sports academy in the Caribbean. “Often we depend on the WICB (West Indies Cricket Board) to put things in place, but as individual territories, we need to do more.” He went on, “While things are being done in T&T, they can be a lot more structured.”

Murray explained however, that cricket, as well as all other sports, should not be isolated from one another. “The cricketer, can learn something from the footballer, tennis player etc and vice versa, so that everything should be done on a harmonious level.”

Following where Murray left off, was Brian Lewis, Honorary Secretary of the TTOC (Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee), who do extremely well at keeping the attention of the eager participants. His topic, ‘The Olympic Ideal’, further reiterated the point that as a society, we expect everyone to excel academically.

“We continue to put forward the myth that if you’re not bright, you will end up in YTC, we cannot develop an Olympic athlete in an environment that does not encourage participation in sport.”
“God did not intend for T&T to have 1.3 million lawyers” Lewis went on.
Lewis pointed out that as a society we often brand individuals as failures because they are not academically inclined. “There is an abundance of talent in YTC and Remand Yard, but when we call a child ‘duncee’ and brand him a failure at the age of 10 or 11, he believes that he has nothing to live for in life and dying at the age of 18 way the barrel of a gun becomes an accepted way of life.”

The last speaker of the day, Don La Foucade, delivered his presentation of ‘Success and Failure’. Showing off his most intriguing ability of playing with words, his topic was well delivered.

“You get in life what you are, not what you want”, was just one of his ‘one line’ inspirational quotes.
The Author illustrated the ups and downs of success, or mountains and valleys as he put it across. “Be the change that you want to see in the world.” He challenged.” If greatness is possible, excellence is not enough.”
La Foucade challenged all participants to make a unique impression on the world, as it is his believe that even as individuals, we can make instrumental in change.

“When faced with a worsening situation, do not cast blame in any direction, after all, the next action is dependant upon your reaction.”
The symposium continues next Saturday with cyclist- Michael Phillips, National footballer- Denzel Theobald, West Indies All-rounder- Dwayne Bravo and Professional Volleyballer- Mark-Anthony Honore and Tim Nafziger, Marketing Consultant.

Source: www.guardian.co.tt
Story by: Nigel Simon

T&T’s men’s pair of Fabien Whitfield and Daneil Williams ended in tenth spot out of 18 teams when the  Gatorade Beach Volleyball Tournament in Guatemala, the second stage for the Norceca Circuit ended at Campo Marte, Guatemala on Sunday. On Friday when the tournament served off, Canada-1 with Christian Redmann/Benjamin Saxton downed Whitfield/Williams, 21-11, 21-15 in their Pool A opener in their only match of the day. However, the Toco-born duo rebounded and swept past Carl Steadroy Collins and Kemoroy Percival of St Kitts/Nevis 21-6, 21-16, to finish second in the three-team group and advance to the second round main draw knockout phase.

However, with a chance to secure a place in the quarterfinal round on Saturday, the T&T team went under to Canada-2 team of Maverick Hatch and Samuel Schachter 20-22, 15-21, to end in tenth spot. The local women’s team of Elki Phillip and Pauline Woodroffe did not fear any better as they ended 13th out of 17 teams. In their Pool B matches, Phillip and Woodroffe, playing as a team for the first time this year on tour were beaten by Canadians-2 Jamie Broder and Kristina Valjas (21-8, 21-13) and Mexico-1 (Martha Revuelta with Diana Estrada) 21-15, 21-6, before losing to USA-2 Grin Grey and Jennifer Snyder in the second round main draw knockout, 21-6, 21-12. Last month at the first-leg tournament at Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, the T&T pairs of Ayana Dyette/Phillip and Whitfield/Williams also failed to finish among the medals after being dumped at the first knockout stage

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

Story By: Nigel Simon

George Bovell IIIT&T Olympic bronze medal swimmer George Bovell III will defend his title against a field of some of the world’s best when the second annual JAX 50 Sprint Dual Challenge comes off at the Bolles High School’s Uible Pool, Jacksonville, Florida from tomorrow until Sunday. Tomorrow’s schedule will feature long course competition in each stroke at 100 metres and the 200 IM while Saturday’s morning session includes 50m races of each stroke with the top-two men and women swimmers in the 50m freestyle advancing to the main event on Saturday evening.

In the main event, the four qualifiers will join the group of elite swimmers to participate in a round-robin 50m freestyle competition. The Saturday evening session will feature heats of only two swimmers at a time, racing head-to-head, for a chance to advance to the final. On Sunday, a four-hour swimming clinic will provide the opportunity for the participants to meet and learn from the guest athletes. This is a rare chance to interact with so many of the world’s elite swimmers and will certainly mark a highlight in many young swimmers’ careers.

Last year’s edition of the event was supported former Bolles swimmer Seun Adebiyi who is in need of a bone marrow donor after being diagnosed with lymphoblastic lymphoma and stem-cell leukemia. In addition to Bovell, several Olympians and internationally ranked swimmers, including Bolles alumni, have committed to participate. They include Arianna Vanderpool Wallace (Bolles ’08), Kara Lynn Joyce, Amanda Weir, Fred Bousquet, Nicolas Nilo, and Adam Brown.

Also slated to appear are world record holder Jessica Hardy, and NCAA Champion and World Championship medalist Josh Schneider. The swimmers will also be attending a “Dinner with the Stars” event at the Jacksonville Marriott tomorrow evening, including a photo and autograph session. Bovell III, who is nursing a sliced left big toe is coming off an 11th place finish in the men’s 50m freestyle (23.12) at the seventh Swim Cup Eindhoven, Netherlands on Sunday. This came on the heels of a successful defence of his 50m freestyle title at the Spanish Spring Nationals where he won gold in 22.38.

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

T&T junior netballers had little problems in dealing with St Vincent and Grenadines (SVG), as they carved out an uncomplicated 38-24 victory to record their second triumph of the day Jean Pierre Under-16 Championship in Basseterre, St Kitts. Goal shoot Jameela McCarty led the Trinidadians with 23 goals from 27 attempts while Kalifa McCollin shot 15 from 22, as they led 9-7 at the end of the first quarter and 19-12 at half-time. T&T extended their lead to 28-20 at the end of the third quarter before closing out the fourth quarter safely. For SVG, goal shoot Meshanda Creese scored 13 from 20 attempts while goal attack Carlene Douglas got 11 from 19.

It was the second win of the day for T&T who had earlier beaten Dominica 51-16 while it was the second loss of the day for the Vincentians after they went down 40-18 to Barbados 40-18 in the morning session. St Lucia installed themselves as frontrunners to take title when they upset title favourites Barbados on day three of the tournament on Monday. Buoyed by previous victories over T&T and St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Lucia produced a strong fourth quarter performance to emerge with a 27-24 victory. The loss was Barbados was their first after successive wins over Dominica and SVG on Sunday and Monday respectively.

And it seemed as if this trend would continue when they started the fourth quarter with a 19-16 lead. However, they were limited to just five goals while St Lucia rattled off 11, to remain unbeaten in the tournament. Goal attack Ianna Hippolyte led St Lucia with 20 goals from 22 attempts while goal shoot Jo-Ann Anderson supported with seven from 13 attempts. For Barbados, goal shoot Shonic Wharton scored 23 from 30 attempts. St Lucia took an early 8-5 lead but Barbados hit back to whittle the advantage down to one goal, 13-12 at half-time. The Barbadians then out-scored St Lucia 7-3 in the third quarter to set up an interesting final stanza. St Kitts’ good form continued as they crushed Anguilla 43-10, with goal shoot Onika Boyce starring with 28 from 31 attempts. (CMC)

SCORES

(Morning session)

T&T defeated Dominica 51-16

T&T – Jamilla McCarty 44/57

DOM – Sara Baptiste 12/23

Barbados beat St Vincent & the Grenadines 40-18

BAR – Shonic Wharton 32/40

SVG – Carlene Douglas 12/19

(Evening session)

Bermuda beat Guyana 29-19

BER – Danielle Onyia 22/27

GUY – Kirsty Roberts 11/13

St Lucia beat Barbados 27-24

SLA – Ianna Hippolyte 20/24

BAR – Shonic Wharton 23/30

T&T beat St Vincent and the Grenadines 38-24

T&T – Jameela McCarty 23/27

SVG – Meshanda Creese 13/20

St Kitts beat Anguilla 43-10

SKN – Onika Bloyce 28/31

AGU – Kalysha Richardson 8/15

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

Newly appointed national cycling coach Desmond Dickie, left, poses for a photo with president of the T&T Cycling Federation Rowena Williams during the launch of the Easter Grand Prix at Mike’s Bikes on Ariapita Avenue in Woodbrook yesterday.Some 150 cyclists from 13 countries will gear up to compete in this year’s Easter Grand Prix, which will take place at the Arima Velodrome from April 22-23 and Skinner Park, San Fernando on April 24. This was announced during a press conference at Mike’s Bikes on Ariapita Avenue, Woodbrook yesterday. T&T’s best riders will be going up against opponents from Argentina, Barbados, Canada, Columbia, Guyana, Austria, Suriname, Germany, Denmark, Jamaica, USA and Venezuela. Last year’s Grand Prix’s top international cyclist Njisane Phillip will return from his training base in the USA to defend his title against an international field lead by German Mathais Stumpf, who won the match sprint during the Southern Games in Guaracara Park over the weekend.

Other locals on the card will include Pan American gold medallist Christopher Sellier—currently ranked 20th in the world in the kilometre—Haseem McLean, brothers Joshua and Adam Alexander, double Pan Am Junior silver medallist Quincy Alexander, Kwesi Browne and Varun Maharaj. In all there will be 15 male and 14 female international races, seven category-one races and six races each in the category two, category three, category four, Veterans Over 40, Over 50 and Over 60, Junior, Junior, Juvenile and Tinymites. Newly appointed coach of the national cycling team Desmond Dickie said  he was looking forward to seeing how T&T’s talent fared against their international opponents.“I think the Grand Prix is very important because we have a young group of cyclists who are excited to get involved in international competition, following in the footsteps of men like Roger Gibbons, Gene Samuel and Michael Phillips.”

President of the T&T Cycling Federation Rowena Williams added that the organisation had decided to stage the event in two venues so that fans from different areas of the country would have an opportunity to witness top-level cycling. Phillip, then 19, won the Blue Ribbon Match Sprint, 2000m and 1000m races during last year’s Prix to gain the top award. Other winners in their respective categories included Team Trek’s Phillip Clarke (category one), Petrotrin’s Thireef Smart (category two), Humming Bird’s Rocky Hosein (Over 40), Sonics’ Kent Luces (Over 50), Southcline’s Godfrey Cline (Over 60) Madonna’s Quincy Alexander (Juniors) and Arima Wheelers’ Joy Abbigail John (Junior Women). The event will be held in honour of the late former President Sir Ellis Clarke, a long-time supporter of the sport of cycling.

Source: www.insidethegames.biz

By Duncan Mackay

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) today reacted to the Caster Semenya affair by becoming the first international sports federation to approve the adoption of new rules and regulations governing the eligibility of females with hyperandrogenism to compete in women's competition.

Hyperandrogenism - a rare condition involving overproduction of male sex hormones - came to prominence after Semenya claimed an emphatic victory in the women's 800 metres at the Berlin 2009 World Championships.

The South African subsequently faced questions over the legitimacy of her gold medal because of doubts over her gender.

The IAAF demanded she undergo gender verification tests to prove her sex and the 20-year-old athlete was forced to stay out of competition for 11 months before finally being allowed back on the track at the end of last year.

The IAAF Council's decision at its meeting in Daegu today is the culmination of an 18 month-long review by an IAAF expert working group who have studied issues relating to the participation of female athletes with hyperandrogenism in athletics and worked closely with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Medical Commission, who last week unveiled new eligibility guidelines.

The guidlines, which will officially come into force on May 1, include the fact that female with hyperandrogenism who is recognised as a female in law shall be eligible to compete in women's competition in athletics provided that she has androgen levels below the male range - measured by reference to testosterone levels in serum - or, if she has androgen levels within the male range she also has an androgen resistance which means that she derives no competitive advantage from such levels.

A pool of international medical experts has been appointed by the IAAF to review cases referred to it under the regulations as an independent expert medical panel and to make recommendations in cases to decide on the eligibility of female athletes with hyperandrogenism and there will be a three-level medical process to ensure that all the relevant data is made available.

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

Wayne Legerton, centre. zimbio.comT&T international Wayne Legerton carried his season tally to 22 goals in the Holland Field Hockey Premier Division when he netted twice in a 5–0 blowout of HCM on Sunday. The goals by the 26-year-old Legerton, who plays locally for 2010 national double crowned champion Petrotrin, helped his club end a run of three straight losses to cement its hold on the fourth spot with 28 points from 15 matches, one ahead of Shinty.

At the top is Huizen with 40 points from 14 matches, while Temp ‘41 is next with 34, three ahead of Eelde, which defeated the Rabbits as Hattem are called, 3–1 last week with Legerton also on target. Next up for Hattem will be a match against seventh placed QZ on Sunday (April 17) followed by clashes with fifth placed Shinty (April 22) and joint cellar-placed club, Ede, May 1.

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

Brian Wickham, head coach of T&T Carifta Swimming Team believes his athletes can achieve a hat-trick of wins when they compete in Bridgetown, Barbados from April 23 to 26. Two years ago in Aruba, the local swimmers dethroned the Combined French Islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe after a five-year drought and last year, T&T made a successful defence in Kingston, Jamaica with a whopping haul of 94 medals  (46 gold, 31 silver, 17 bronze) for 1,011 points to beat Guadeloupe (707) and Bahamas (603) into second and third spot respectively. And, although T&T is carrying a team of 32, four less than the maximum allowed, head coach Wickham is confident that the team has what it takes to lift the title.

“While we do not have the maximum swimmers for the meet, the depth and abilities of the team are quite varied and there are significant areas of strength that we can capitalise on to retain the title. The swimmers and officials are also highly motivated and believe strongly that we would be retaining the title. Guadeloupe was the closest challenger last year but we do expect competition from Bahamas and Martinique.” The team has been training together since March 30 and Wickham said the sessions are progressing well thus far and would redound to the success of the team. He added that although swimmers train primarily with their clubs, the chemistry of the team thus far had been extremely encouraging and positive. Wickham is no stranger to national team duties and while this is his first stint as Carifta head coach, he has served on many teams since 1998 including Goodwill, Carifta and Caribbean Islands Swimming Championship.

At the Goodwill  level, he was the first coach to bring home the title for T&T and has previously coached at Abbey Aqua Lads and Lasses Swim Club, and Tidal Wave Aquatics. He has also attain the Level Five Qualification of the America Swim Coaches Association (Age-Group designation). “Although this is my first stint as Carifta head coach, I am very honoured to have two very experienced coaches in Franz Huggins and Ronald Corke working with me. “Technical Director Hazel Haynes who was also head coach of last year’s winning team, also adds to the dynamic team with her years of experience and knowledge.” The coaching staff has collective six decades of experience in the sport. Huggins is the coach of last year’s “Club of the Year” Marlins, and Corke has been coaching for 18 years, the last 11 of which was coach of Torpedoes club. Haynes was appointed National Head Coach last month and has 22 years experience as a coach. She is currently Head Coach of Tidal Wave Aquatics.

Story by: Nigel Simon

George Bovell IIIT&T swimmer, George Bovell III seemed to bothered by his injured left toe when he placed 11th in the men’s 50m freestyle at the seventh Swim Cup Eindhoven, Netherlands on Sunday. The 27-year-old Bovell III, competing in the morning preliminaries in the 11th and final heat touched the wall in 23.12 seconds for fourth spot behind Sweden’s Petter Stymne (22.55), Javier Noreiga (22.85) and Jason Dunford (22.91).
However, another Swede, Stefan Nystrand (22.21) and  Sergey Fesikov (22.46), Jasper Aerents (22.73), Alexandre Agostinho (22.81) and Sebastien Verschuren (22.82) all went faster than Bovell in the previous heats to qualify for the finals with Jasper Van Mierlo (23.07) and Petter Timmers (23.08) the two reserves ahead of Bovell III.

In the final, Nystrand (22.01), Fesikov (22.35) and Stymne (22.58) were the top three finishers again.
Fourth was Noreiga (22.65) followed by Dunford (22.71) Aerents and Verschuren, both with 22.79 timing and Agostinho (22.93). Bovell III’s participation on Sunday at the four-day meet organised by the Eiffel Swimmers was in doubt after he split his hallux (big toe) prior to his departure from Madrid, Spain where he won gold in the 50 metres freestyle (22.38 secs) at the Spanish Spring Nationals Swimming Meet.
However, with the help of medical personnel in Holland the Athens Greece Olympics, Olympic bronze medal swimmer was able to compete.

In the 100m freestyle final, Verschuren,  fell just shy of the Dutch cut for Shanghai, when he won gold in 49.04 while  Fesikov clocked (49.34) and Nystrand (49.35) followed by Joost Reijns, the last man inside 50sec, on 49.44. The meet in Holland was  a qualification for the World Championships to be held in Shanghai in July. Bovell is next listed to compete at a meet in Jacksonville, Florida on Saturday and Sunday, but due to the injury his involvement is now uncertain.

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

By Brian Lewis

Everything is a collection of smaller pieces. And the deeper you dig, the smaller the pieces get. We are all just the sum of our parts. Sport provides human drama. It makes us cheer and cry. Great teams and individuals lift our spirits. Greatness, however, is easier talked about than achieved. Great champions in sport tend to be those who do not fear losing. More often than not sporting greats—individuals and teams—that capture and hold our imagination and affection are those who focus on doing their best and playing to the very edge of their talent, skill and potential. A win is not just about how the team played on the day or how effectively the learned tactics and strategies have been applied. Winning is a process that starts with the creation of a culture. To create a culture, the first quality is the team itself and then there’s team unity; this is about the team becoming a family and it is the physical and mental pressures and growing through these pressures that really brings them together.

Thirdly, it’s about passion—because with passion comes enjoyment and then finally, discipline—this relates to having a work ethic. Creating a culture of excellence in sport is also about leadership and setting standards, as a benchmark for the future. Those standards are physical and mental; they’re not just about one thing. When standards are set and protocols put in place, the athletes, in particular, have to buy into it themselves. Leadership. How do you know it? Some will say it is defined by the willingness to take full responsibility for your thoughts, actions and the results they produce.

In the world of sport, the outcome cannot be manipulated. Many have tried and failed. There is no gray area or technicality. Sportsmanship and the integrity of sport and fair play are principles that are still very much part and parcel of sport, even though the highly competitive and high stakes nature of professional sport or sport at the elite level may display a different ethos. The concept of fair play remains very much alive. Many over the years have paid the ultimate penalty for trying to be overly clever. Negative tactics generally produce negative outcomes. Those who are placed in positions of leadership have the ultimate responsibility to rise to the occasion and practice what they preach—don’t say one thing but do something else. In this respect emotional intelligence is as important, if not more important than intellectual intelligence. To be able to do the right things everyday requires emotional intelligence. To be authentic requires emotional intelligence.

To earn a reputation as a trustworthy leader requires emotional intelligence. It is not about competence or knowledge. People will tolerate honest mistakes, but if you violate their trust you will find it near impossible to regain their confidence. People don’t follow leaders they don’t respect. They follow leadership they respect. Good leaders can see the big picture while others see the narrow view.

The essence of sport is respect for rules and laws of the game; ethics, fair play and honesty, excellence in performance, respect for self and your opponents. Sport is unforgiving, things that you get away with in everyday life, sport will expose. Invariably the results don’t lie. Many over the years have paid the harsh penalty for attempting to use sportsmanship and gamesmanship interchangeably. Sport is about competing and performing to the very best of your ability.

Brian Lewis is the Honorary Secretary General of the T&T Olympic Committee http:// www.ttoc.org. The views expressed are not necessarily those of the TTOC.

100% Belief

100% Determination

100% Dedication

100% Respect

100% Commitment

100% Knowledge

“Sport is part of every man and woman’s heritage and its absence can never be compensated for.”

—Pierre de Coubertin

Source: contact@ttrfu.com

The 2011 International Rugby Board(IRB) North America and Caribbean Rugby Association(NACRA)  region  15 a side rugby championships got under way on Saturday with two first round games.

Mexico defeated USA South 25-9 in Mexico.While British Virgin Islands got past St Vincent and the Grenadines 25-13 in St Vincent.

Mexico now  await the winner of Saturday 16 April Cayman Islands vs Jamaica match in South Sound,Cayman to determine who their next opponent will be.

The winner of the Mexico vs Jamaica/Cayman Islands clash will join Bermuda and Bahamas in the final round of matches in the NACRA North zone. Bermuda(#3) will play Bahamas(#4) in Hamilton Bermuda on Saturday 30 April.

Meanwhile in the  NACRA South zone , British Virgin Islands will meet the winner of the Barbados vs St Lucia match up which will be played at the Garrison Savannah, Barbados on Saturday 16 April.

The winner of the British Virgin Islands vs Barbados/St Lucia game will play defending champions Trinidad and Tobago(#1) and Guyana(#2) in the NACRA North final round.
Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana are scheduled to clash on Saturday 28 May in Port.of. Spain,Trinidad.

The winner of NACRA South and NACRA North will meet to determine the 2011 NACRA 15s rugby champions with the highest ranked team hosting the final.

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

Eight new faces will represent T&T in the 11-12 age group at the Carifta Swimming Championships in Barbados from April 23-26. They are among ten representatives in this age group who will be anxious to contribute to T&T’s medal haul as the team seeks to win its third consecutive Carifta. Jewel Mulrain, Tariq Lashley, Revash Ramtahal, Amira Pilgrim and Gwillym Watkins are among the medal contenders. 

Asatt has selected the best performers in this age group despite some not achieving the qualifying times. According to a release from Asatt, the idea behind this is that these swimmers are still in transition from junior to senior and this would allow them a fair opportunity to develop before the stringent qualifying times are enforced. Ramtahal and Mulrain were both finalists in last year’s Carifta. Chelsea Bynoe Sawyer and Mulrain were finalists at the Caribbean Island Swimming Championships in Cuba. Aaron Acres, James Gillette, Lashley, Pilgrim and Watkins have represented T & T previously at the Goodwill Swim Meet. Gillette and Pilgrim are first year 11-12s. Pilgrim established a national record in the 9-10 50 fly last year and has made a qualifying time in her first attempt at Carifta. 

Che Rel Edwards is also a first year 11-12 and this is her first national team ever. Lashley, who has migrated to Canada, has returned home to represent T&T in his debut at Carifta. Dave Ann Alves is in her first Carifta and she is the first athlete ever from the Point Fortin Community Swim Team to make a national team. While Asatt has made team selection easier for the 11-12s, their automatic selection on teams does not nullify their potential to medal.

At least two other current team members who have now progressed in age were non-qualifiers in 11-12 and brought home precious metal. In Aruba in 2008, Bryanna Duncan who is now in 13-14 won a bronze medal in the 100 butterfly. One year prior in Jamaica in 2007, Kareem Baptiste who is now in 15-17, won bronze in the 200 freestyle. With history on their side, the T & T 11-12s are going with an attitude that anything is possible. T & T last year boasted of the top 11-12s in the competition in Tyla Martin and Jabari Baptiste. Syriah David, who became a dominant force in T & T swimming last year was also a medallist.

Team

Girls

Amira Pilgrim,

Dave Ann Alves,

Che Rel Edwards,

Chelsea Bynoe Sawyer,

Jewel Mulrain

Boys

Aaron Acres,

Gwillym Watkins,

James Gillette,

Revash Ramtahal,

Tariq Lashle