Sports

The weather could not have been more perfect for the start of the 10th Annual Optimist Triathlon on Sunday, April 20, sponsored by Cable and Wireless and Flag/Temenos Anguilla. At least fifty people in total registered for the competition in various categories. Swimmers in both the serious and fun categories all began the meet at Meads Bay while the cyclists patiently waited for them to get out of the water. The running segment started at Cable and Wireless with the finish line at Elodia’s Beach Bar and Restaurant.

A large crowd of spectators and players alike were on hand for the official opening of the Anguilla Female Football League (AFFL) on Sunday, April 20 at 3:00 pm. Five teams lined the field at the James Ronald Webster Park for the opening ceremony chaired by Mr. Colin Johnson, a member of the AFFL Committee and the Director of the AFFL. Mr. Johnson made brief remarks in which he said to the athletes, “Play hard, play well and may the best team win.”

The Anguilla Pepper Steppers (Anguilla’s Premier Skipping and Rope Demonstration ) Team, were in Tortola from Friday 4th to Monday 7th April, attending a Skipping and Rope Demonstration Workshop.

Maroon House emerged winner of the 2008 Cable and Wireless-sponsored Inter-House Athletic Competition held by the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School at the Ronald Webster Park on Thursday, March 27.

The Royal Anguilla Police Sports Club has made a donation of EC$3,216 to the Shoddaz Basketball Club to finance the purchase of jerseys as part of the uniform outfit for its members.

Over 500 people from all over the Caribbean were in Anguilla this past weekend for the 32nd year of the Caribbean Customs Sports and Cultural Tournament. With 14 islands represented, many activities were held such as a welcoming ceremony at the agricultural grounds, sports competitions, a beach jam and an opening ceremony and dinner.

The kids are a lively bunch, full of beans just like children everywhere should be.

Big things are about to happen at the Anguilla Youth Sailing Club!

The Club’s new Instructor, Canadian William Ferguson, has unveiled plans for the immediate future which are certain to set tongues wagging all over the island.

Jeff’s dedicated spirit, commitment, passion and love for his country’s National Sport, boat racing, were celebrated on Sunday February 24th, when family and friends made the event in memory of him the success it was.

The Valley was ablaze with a rainbow of colour as the annual Ashley and Sons road relay race got started on Sunday 24th February. Present were the six primary schools, the five houses of the Albena Lake Hodge Comprehensive School and hordes of supporters. The Primary School bicycle road relay was the first event and the supporters cheered all athletes. However, there could only be one winner - the Road Primary School in both the male and female categories.

Cycling filled the streets of Anguilla on Sunday 2nd March, as the first official race of the season got off to an auspicious start. Participants for the races came from the Dragon Boys, Stingers, Link Cycling Clubs of Anguilla and VCJ cycling club of St. Maarten.

Twenty junior sailors from the region competed this past weekend in the Second Annual Anguilla Opti Regatta. The regatta was organized by the Anguilla Youth Sailing Club (AYSC) and the Anguilla Sailing Association (ASA). Children from St. Barths, St. Martin and Anguilla competed in a series of six races at Road Bay starting at 10:30 am on Saturday, February 16.

The East End Sports and Cultural Club hosted the Anguilla Cricket Stanford 20/20 Pro Team on Sunday, February 17, at a wind ball cricket match on the playing field at Pond Ground. It was a well-attended event which provided much interaction among the sports persons and many members of the public.

Since 2001 the Roaring Lions Football Club has been conducting a grassroots football training camp for children to help cultivate home-grown talent. The Club’s venture has been made possible through the kind sponsorship of Sunset Homes. Sponsorship ranges from US$2000.00 US$2500.00 whenever materials are procured for the group. Items that are normally purchased include balls, cones, children and coaches’ uniforms and shoes for deserving athletes.

On Saturday February 9, almost 200 children filled the James Ronald Webster Park for the second annual JW Proctors Track Classic. In terms of athletics, this event if the first on the calendar of track and field activities for the 2008 season and also serves as the precursor to the CARIFTA games that will be held in St. Kitts in March.

This weekend, players from the Anguilla Tennis Academy participated in the Oyster Bay Tennis Tournament in Sint Maarten. The two-day event began the morning of Saturday, January 27, and ended late afternoon on Sunday, January 28. The annual event, sponsored by the Oyster Bay Hotel, was held at the Raoul Illidge Sports Complex. Les Brown was the tournament director and organizer.

On December 9, eight professional and eight amateur tennis players competed in a charity tennis tournament at CuisinArt Resort and Spa. All the proceeds went to benefit the Anguilla Tennis Academy’s children’s programme. The tournament began with the inauguration of the new tennis courts at CuisinArt. This addition is coupled with the nearly finished Spa which is set to open early next year.

Telecommunications provider Digicel, one of the contributors to the novice cycling event which took place on Sunday December 2nd is partnering with the Link Cycling Club to promote healthy living.

The curtains came down on an exciting finish to the 19th Annual National Bank of Anguilla-sponsored Primary Schools Football Tournament on Saturday, December 1, at Coronation Park.

Anguilla junior athletes distinguished themselves well in the 2007 St. Martins Day Road Relay on Sunday 11th November. A record number of 45 teams lined up for the 20th running of this annual event which started at 7:00 am sharp from the Raoul Illidge Sports Complex through to the French side ending back at the complex for a distance of just over 20 miles.