Sports

After much inquiry by the general public, the Anguilla Tennis Academy will begin its adult programmes starting next week on Monday, September 15. Although the ATA specializes in the teaching of children, it recognizes that in order for it to be truly a community effort, the adults and parents must also take part.

A large number of young men from the Valley, one of the largest populated areas of Anguilla, have come together in a show of unity and peace to share in an Annual Football Tournament in memory of Orlando Johnson of North Side, who was a noted sportsman.

Almost 200 screaming, energetic and enthusiastic young children descended upon the Anguilla Tennis Academy over the past three weeks for what has been hailed as a smooth and successful Summer Tennis Camp 2008.

To conclude the Anguilla Tennis Academy’s 2007-2008 After School Programme, Digicel sponsored a “Fun Day” event this past weekend that began on Friday, June 27 and finished on Sunday, June 29. All of the children who participated in the After School Program throughout the year were invited to attend. In all, there were around 100 participants ranging from age three to seventeen.

Members of the press and the Executive Committee of the Anguilla Amateur Cycling Association met at Telecoms House on Tuesday, June 24. The purpose of the meeting was to officially announce that Cable and Wireless, for the third consecutive year, would be contributing in a big way to the 9th annual John T Memorial Race.

MARIGOT—The 5th Annual Course de L’Alliance will take place from Friday November 28 to Sunday November 30 2008 organisers have announced.

A pensive hue consumed the O.A Shirley Track and Field Complex in Tortola as athletes from the Caribbean warmed up for the BVI Track and Field Invitational Classic. Many athletes sat beneath the pavilion enduring the relatively warm conditions and pondering the potential outcome of their event. Present at this meet was Anguilla’s own Denvil “Skywalker” Ruan.

The National Bank of Anguilla Tennis Invitational was a monumental success according to the Organizing Committee Chairman Mr. Mark Phaup. The tournament was designed to compliment the opening of the Anguilla Tennis Academy’s facility on May 23. The tournament itself was mostly finished on May 25 but due to people travelling, some of the adult categories had to be finished at later dates.

Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Wave Ruler’s volunteer football team tried hard to win against Anguilla’s National Team on Tuesday 17 June, but it was a doomed dream. The average age of the British team was considerably more than that of the Anguillian players and the final score, twelve to one to the home team, reflected the age difference.

Last weekend Arthur Ward and Denvil Ruan traveled to Puerto Rico to compete in the Caribbean Scholastic Invitational at the Carolina Track and Filed Stadium. Arthur competed in the triple jump and Denvil competed in the long jump and 100meter dash.

There is much excitement in table tennis among school children and adults in Anguilla. This followed the recent competition held for children as well as adults by the Sports Department, an arm of the Ministry of Social Development.

The AFFL season came to an end on Sunday June 8, with the Super Stars winning the Knockout tournament. It was an extremely exciting game in which the League Champions, The Shining Stars, led the entire game until their opponents scored with only one minute to go.

All those interested in having their children play in the 2008 ATA Summer Programme are encouraged to visit www.anguillatennis.com and register their children’s names online. This will mark the second year that the Summer Programme will be held at the new facility in Blowing Point.

The doors of the Anguilla Tennis Academy finally opened on Friday, May 23 at 6 pm. To kick off the opening, the very first tournament was held that night and throughout the weekend in which many players from Anguilla and Sint Maarten participated. The opening ceremony was carried live by Radio Anguilla and Kool FM and many turned out for the momentous celebration.

The AFA Anguilla National Football Team (Senior Male) is on a high after its commendable performance against El Salvador at the FIFA Qualifying World Cup Match held in Washington DC last month.

They’ve raised the money and are going!
Three young sailors from the Anguilla Youth Sailing Club (AYSC) will be representing Anguilla at the 2008 Scotiabank International Optimist Regatta in St Thomas, in June. Excitement amongst the AYSC students is high!

By Penny Legg

Last year’s West End Cup Champions, Temenos, took on newcomers CuisinArt Resort and Spa, in a thrilling race that had spectators cheering along Rendezvous Bay beach as each team, on board the spectacular 12 metre racing yachts, battled it out to win the coveted trophy.

The Anguilla Eels Rugby Football Club played with grit and determination but were no match for the formidable Les Barracudas Rugby Club from Saint Barthelemy, losing 11 trys to 5 trys. Mind you, the Barracudas have been in existence for over 20 years, while our Eels are mere elvers in the Caribbean rugby scene...but from small elvers grow mighty eels.

“It went great!” says Peter Parles, President of the Anguilla Sailing Association (ASA), commenting on the Anguilla Regatta which took place over the weekend of 9 -11 May. Boats registered all over the world, from Hobart to London, took part in a series of races for Local Racing Sloops, Cruising, Spinnaker, Multihull and Open Class Yachts.

At the Skipper’s Briefing on Thursday 8 May at Roy’s Bayside Grill, David De Vries, from St Martin Yacht Club, said that the Anguilla Regatta, held at Road Bay over the weekend of 9 – 11 May 2008, ‘aimed to be a nice, friendly Caribbean Regatta.’
The Battle of the Banks, the highly anticipated race between the Caribbean Commercial Bank and the National Bank of Anguilla, promised to put this assertion to the test. Each crew, members of staff of the respective banks, was charged with enthusiasm and the will to do their best to bring home glory.