Sports

The Anguillian visited the beautiful Temenos Golf Club on Tuesday, July 31 to speak with its directors about the junior golf programme that is coming to a close. All three golf instructors, PGA Professional Hale Kelly, PGA Apprentice Josh Shepard and Bernie Morgan were wearing their Anguilla Junior Golf shirts and were very much enthused about the final day as it was a chance to recognize the children for their hard work as well as see them compete. The Troon Golf Staff, under the direction and leadership of PGA Professional Dana Schmid, implemented a structured player development program for the duration of the month long camp.

On an afternoon of fun and entertainment, sportsmanship reigned over the competing teams of the first ever CCB Trendsetters Domino Competition. Opposing teams such as the Police and Stars both fell victims to the Lions who made quick work of their opponents.

The recently-concluded Volleyball Business League has been marked with the award of trophies to the winning teams.

Flag Luxury Properties/St. Regis presented the Road Primary School with a check for US$14,600 from the first annual Road Primary School Golf Tournament. These funds will all go towards the Flag/St. Regis and Road Primary School partnership we have created to improve their overall learning environment.

Digicel, the Caribbean’s leading mobile provider, and the West Indies Cricket Board, announced today that it will enter a new extended partnership arrangement until September 2012 that will provide the support that West Indies cricket needs to further establish their position as a dominant cricketing force.

The Anguilla Pony Baseball Team left Wallblake Airport on Tuesday afternoon for Puerto Rico to participate in competitive matches there with other teams.

A Domino Tournament played just around the corner and across the road from Ev’s Oven Restaurant at South Hill and involving four teams – the Police, the Warriors of Stoney Ground, the Stars of North Side and the St. Maarten team-came to an exciting finish last Sunday, July 8. The Champion Cup was won by the Bute Hotel Boys of St. Maarten.

On Saturday, June 23rd, Temenos Golf Club hosted the first annual Road Primary School Golf Tournament. The tournament attracted 95 players for a wonderful day of golf. The Road Primary School students started off the day with the National Song for all the golfers. Throughout the day, the teachers, students and parents of the school assisted the Temenos & Zurra staff with Breakfast and lunch set-up, serving and clean-up. They were all so excited to be a part of the event that they spent the entire day at the golf course thanking the golfers for the generous donations. The Golf Tournament raised US$14,600 for the school and the check will be presented to Teacher Ornette and the entire campus next week. These funds will all go towards the Flag/St. Regis and Road Primary School partnership we have created to improve their overall learning environment.

The Anguilla Swarming Fire Ants are on their way to Cuba. The Anguilla U-20 female footballers defeated the St. Kitts Sugar Girls by a score of 2 goals to 1 in the return leg of the CONCACAF U-20 qualifying competition. In a thrilling and keenly contested encounter the Fire Ants stunned the large crowd, at the New Town Playing Field, when Kennisha Xavier struck home the first goal as early as the 12th minute. St. Kitts equalized 10 minutes later to send their enthusiastic supporters into ecstasy. At half time the score was dead lock at one goal each with St. Kitts enjoying the better part of the half.

At a press conference held at the cricket pitch in Blowing Point on Wednesday, June 20 at 8:30, Mr. Mitchell Lake spoke about plans to build sports facilities in the Blowing Point Community. Mr. Lake is the founder of the Anguilla Tennis Academy, which is currently nearing completion. Heavy equipment was brought in for the removal of the various trees on the six acres of land acquired by Government. On this land, there will be a cricket field, football field, a basketball court and a community centre located underneath the stands.

The sixty plus children (ages 5 – 13 years old) who attend the Sunset Homes –Roaring Lions Youth Training Program and their coaches were enthused as they received their new football uniforms this month. This youth training initiative is a partnership between the sponsor Sunset Homes and the Roaring Lions Football Team which provides the coaches to run the program.

At the Telecoms House, the building which houses the corporate offices of Cable and Wireless Anguilla, a briefing was done on Tuesday, June 26, to announce that Cable and Wireless will once again be the Platinum Sponsor of the famed John T Memorial Race. Mrs. Avon Carty, Corporate Communications Manager, presented the check to members of the Anguilla Amateur Cycling Association in the amount of USD $5,360. As the CEO of C&W, Mr. Sutcliffe Hodge, was off island, Mr. Larry Stott spoke in his stead, “Cable and Wireless is proud once again to be affiliated with the John T. Memorial Race. We are committed to sponsoring this event for some time in the future as we understand that cycling is one of the sports that a lot of people like to come out and enjoy and we anticipate that this year’s race will be an exciting one as we have riders coming in from many countries to participate.”

Wartsila Caribbean made a significant contribution to the completion of the Anguilla Tennis Academy (ATA) on Wednesday, June 27th. Vice President of Wartsila, Mr. Rodney George, said this contribution came about as a result of the company’s association with ANGLEC. In 2000 they were contracted to install two 3.1 megawatt generators at the Corito Power Station. On successful completion of that contract, the company donated US$15,000 to a worthwhile social project. A second project was undertaken in 2006 and at completion Wartsila decided to make another community contribution. The end result of this association was that the ATA would be the recipient of a cheque in the amount of US$13,325.00. Mr. George said that the donation was in keeping with Wartsila’s Corporate Policy of supporting worthwhile social projects in the communities where business is conducted throughout the Caribbean.

Last week, Brian Bosché, a 16 year old junior tennis player arrived in Anguilla with his family to enjoy the sun, the sand, and the sea. Yet, part of their vacation was to take part in the Anguilla Tennis Academy’s after school program. Brian, an impressive young man as well as an extremely capable tennis player wanted to get involved with the efforts of the ATA and he was able to do so in more ways than one. First, due to his own non-profit organization called Get Racquets, he donated 18 pristine rackets to the ATA. Get Racquets is an organization that works to provide donated tennis racquets to junior tennis players who are in need of them. They collect tennis racquets that all experienced tennis players have and redistribute them around the world to juniors who would love to put them to good use. Tennis has become an increasingly costly sport, with all the travelling, equipment costs, lessons, etc. As a result, people may turn away when they can’t afford many of these luxuries.

Having served as a volunteer coach for the International Coaches week at the ATA summer camps in 2004 and 2005, British tennis professional Will Edmonds returns to Anguilla after a two year hiatus to help direct the inaugural summer tennis camp at the new state-of-the-art ATA tennis facility at Blowing Point. As well as his work in Anguilla, Will has coached tennis in several countries, including England, Greece, the Czech Republic, the United States of America and Spain. At the age of 17 he coached Ned Boone to win the British U’13 National Championship. As a coach, Will has represented the Southern Section in the US Zonal Championships at both U’14 and U’12 levels, winning every competition and posted a 22-0 record on route. During his short but successful career, Will has coached at the Club, High School, and College level, taking his ladies’ teams to promotion in every flight, his High School team to their first ever post-season appearance, and as assistant coach at Cumberland University, he took an unranked team into the top 20 in the NAIA national polls.

On Tuesday, June 19, members of the crew of the RFA Wave Ruler competed against the Anguilla National Team in a friendly game of football at the James Ronald Webster Park. It was a great experience for both parties involved as it was a way for the members of the crew to get some exercise and time away from the ship. It was also beneficial for the Anguillian footballers who got some added experience and an opportunity to sharpen their skills. The game began at approximately 5 pm and was officiated by Inspector Allan Carty. It was a regular 90 minute competition and was officiated properly with three referees. Although the final score was 9-1 in favour of Anguilla, it was an exciting game.

On June 3rd, two cricket matches were held at the James Ronald Webster Park.

In a further effort to promote and development hard ball cricket in the primary schools, two teams were formed (Red vs Blue) of which a ten over match sponsored by Scotiabank Anguilla Limited was played.

The Pre-ohn “T” Memorial Race (Warm-up) took place on Sunday June 10th, 2007, with a large group of spectators. Some 17 cyclists from Anguilla and one from St. Maarten took part in this annual cycle race.

Sponsor Responds to Request from Team Management to Help Improve Fielding Performance

Monday, June 4th, 2007 – Kingston, Jamaica – Digicel, proud sponsors of West Indies cricket, is financing the cost of an experienced fielding coach to join the West Indies cricket team on a full time basis for the current England tour. Former baseball player and cricketer, Julian Fountain will now join sport psychologist David Scott as part of additional support for the Windies team funded by Digicel at the request of the team management and coaching staff.

Two Anguillian athletes, Mr. Gary Gumbs and Nashane Johnson, traveled to Barbados over the weekend to participate in the Austin Sealy track classic. The event featured several local Barbados teams and squads from St. Kitts, St. Lucia, Dominica, Nevis and Anguilla.