05032017 sports

SPORTS SECTION E

WEDNESDAY, MAY 3, 2017

Olympic swimmers claim they are being ‘ignored’ over funding

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

M

inister of Youth, Sports and Culture Dr Daniel Johnson said it seems letters written by the Bahamas’ three elite swimmers over their funding is politically motivated because all they have to do is simply apply to Tim Munnings, the director of sports.

But after writing their letters to Prime Minister Perry Christie, Dr Johnson, Munnings and the Bahamas Olympic Committee months ago, Olympic swimmers Vereance ‘Elvis’ Burrows, Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace and Joanna Evans said they are disappointed that they are being ignored.

“Since July, our federation has been going back and forth with the ministry, trying to get answers or follow up and to get meetings, but they have been ignored,” Burrows said. “It wasn’t until October that the federation emailed all of the swimmers and informed us what was going on and they were working on it and they encouraged us to continue training.”

After they waited and still didn’t get any answers, the 28-year-old Burrows, who is still in training to compete, said they were advised by the federation to take a personal approach and contact the ministry to find out for themselves what was happening.

“A lot of us wrote our own letters in emails and again all of us got ignored,” Burrows said. “At Carifta, Arianna was there supporting the youth and after she spoke with Dr Johnson, a meeting was set the next day and he never showed up.”

With the type of résumé that Vanderpool-Wallace possesses, Burrows said he couldn’t believe that the minister stood her up. He said after he saw the treatment she

OLYMPIC swimmers Vereance ‘Elvis’ Burrows, Joanna Evans (action) and Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace claim that they are being “ignored” over their funding. got, he decided to write his letter to the Prime Minister.

“I wrote it myself, I put it out and until I get some answers, I will continue to write about this problem,” he said. “I know a lot of athletes in other sports are also complaining, but they are not prepared to do what we are doing because they are in fear of losing their subvention.

Burrows said he’s also written to Munnings and Rommel Knowles, the secretary general of the BOC, but none of them have responded.

He said he’s written to Knowles about the scholarship funding and he’s not heard anything from him.

Vanderpool-Wallace, in her letter, questioned why the ministry has refused to pay the subventions owed to the swimmers this year.

“The Bahamas Swimming Federation was trying to alleviate that problem by funding us out of their own funds, but they have ran out of money,” she said.

“So we’re asking for the ministry to repay the federation the money that is owed and to continue our subvention. I didn’t realise that there was a problem until we were informed by our president (BSF president Algernon Cargill).”

Vanderpool-Wallace, who is back at Auburn University where she is now employed (see story below), said they have been working hard to represent the country and she doesn’t think it’s fair that they are not receiving their funding to assist with their training.

“I’m very blessed with the fact that I’m sponsored by BTC, so I didn’t feel the effect as much as others like Joanna Evans, who is in college,” she pointed out.

“I know that there are other swimmers and even athletes who are affected because that is the money that they rely on every month. So I know they are feeling it financially.”

While home for the Carifta

Games over the Easter holiday weekend, Vanderpool-Wallace said Dr Johnson insisted that he would meet with her on Tuesday morning at the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex.

But the 27-year-old said she’s not sure if there was a miscommunication or not, but she waited for about three hours at the pool and he never showed up.

“I think it’s a bit of a slap in the face not to fund us anymore and there was no reason given,” she said. “They couldn’t say that we were not performing very well, or the federation wasn’t making any progress.

“I think we’ve improved drastically over the last five years and so I just wanted someone to tell us the reason why we were not being funded. No one was telling us why. So I was hoping that I would have gotten the response from the

SEE PAGE 4

Vanderpool-Wallace lands her first full-time job

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net THE most accomplished Bahamian swimmer, Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace, has returned to her alma mater, but she’s not in the mood to be doing any swimming right now.

Not officially retired yet from the sport that has enabled her to break a number of barriers for the Bahamas, Vanderpool-Wallace has secured her first full-time job as the Director of Operators for the Auburn Tigers’ swimming and diving teams.

“It wasn’t my intention when I came back here to pursue my masters degree, but the person who held the position ended up leaving within the first couple of months,” Vanderpool-Wallace told The Tribune.

“So I applied for it and I got it.

That’s what I’ve been doing. I’ve been training, but I’ve been keeping a low profile since the Rio Olympics (last year) because I was mentally exhausted, so I’m tak-

ing a year off to get my head on straight and to fall in love with the sport again.”

The 27-year-old, who also represented the Bahamas at the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games, 2014 Commonwealth Games, 2007 American Games and 2006 and 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games, was scheduled to participate in the FINA World Championships this summer, but she opted not to make the trip.

As for the time frame for her return, Vanderpool-Wallace said she’s not certain.

“It’s undecided. I’m taking it day by day,” she said. “Whenever I’m ready, I will get out there and compete. I’m just not sure when, but I’m not retired yet.”

In the meantime, VanderpoolWallace said she’s excited about returning to make another contribution to Auburn University where she starred on their swim team where she was an NCAA champion, under coach Brett Hawke.

“It’s a lot of work, but I’m enjoying it,” said Vanderpool-Wallace, who takes care of all of the logis-

VANDERPOOL-WALLACE tical works that is associated with their team travel and team gear and equipment.

“I am enjoying it and I enjoy giving back to Auburn. They led me to where I am today, so I’m happy that I can come back and work with coach Brett, who was my coach at the London 2012 Olympics.

“So it’s nice to be back and working with him.”

As for not competing, being around the pool watching the swimmers in training, Vanderpool-Wallace admitted that she doesn’t miss it at all.

“I think I have enough competition under my belt to last me for years of being out of the sport and getting up on the blocks to compete,” she said.

The first Bahamian to make a final at the Olympics in 2008 in London said she will definitely be back and hopefully then she can make up for the time she missed.

Vanderpool-Wallace still holds the Bahamas national record in the women’s 50 metres (24.31 seconds), 10-0m free (53.73), 50m fly (25.53), 100m fly (58.87) and 200m fly (2:21.67).

She also shares the 200m free, 400m free, 800m free, 200m medley and 400m medley relay records with a combination of swimmers, including Alicia Lightbourne, Ashley Butler, Ariel Weech, Alana Dillette, Teisha Lihtbourne, Jenna Chaplin and McKayla Lightbourn.

EQUESTRIAN

Nationals, Pg 8

YOUTH NATIONAL JUNIOR BOWLING CHAMPIONS SPOTLIGHT

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

FOLLOWING in the footsteps of her mother, national champion Driskell Rolle, P’Anté Rolle joined ‘one handed bandit’ Kenteeno Francis, all-around athlete Sarah Penn and Clarence Sargent as the four champions of the Youth National Junior Bowling Championships.

The quartet clinched their respective junior and senior girls’ and boys’ titles as the seven-week long tournament came to a close on Monday at Mario’s Bowling and Family Entertainment Palace.

The Ministry of Education, the Bahamas Bowling Federation and Mario’s Bowling jointly organised the tournament.

Despite the fact that they didn’t perform as anticipated, tournament organiser Angie Smith said the two finalists in each division will go on to represent the Bahamas at the Junior Tournament of Americas July 23-29 at Strikers Lane in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

“The selection was very good. I’m sure that they are going to do a great job once they get into Florida and get on the lanes to get a feel for it,” she said. “ P’Anté Rolle, a student of Queen’s College, secured the junior girls’ title as they out-pinned Chante Bain of SC McPherson 129-108 in the final showdown.

Jodeyn Newton of SC McPherson, Beyonce Stuart of HO Nash and Rose Curry of LW Young rounded out the top five.

“It feels good, but I felt my performance was definitely not the best,” said Rolle, who has been bowling for a couple years after watching her mother perform. “I got a gutter (in the sixth frame), I was missing a couple of spares, but I managed to pull it together.

I knew that I would win it.

It feels great to have won it.”

Leading from start to finish, Rolle said her mother really inspired her and she was appreciative of the support she got from her.

Francis, given the nickname the ‘one-handed bandit’ after he suffered an injury to his left hand and had to have it placed in a cast, said he wasn’t going to let his disability get the better of his performance.

“I feel good, great,” said Francis, who picked up a spare on his final frame to secure his junior boys’ win 103-101 over Sion Coleby

SEE PAGE 4

TRAE SWEETING AND TROJANS WIN CAROLINAS BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net CENTRE fielder Trae Sweeting helped the top-ranked University of Mount Olive win the 2017 Conference Carolinas Baseball Championship with a 5-4 walk-off victory over Belmont Abbey College Monday afternoon in Elon, North Carolina.

Mount Olive, after falling in the opening round, won five straight elimination games to win the Trojans 14th Conference Carolinas Championship.

Sweeting, who went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored,

TRAE SWEETING

singled up the middle to drive Tony Salvaggio in to put the Trojans on the scoreboard with a 3-1 deficit in the bottom of the fifth.

Zach Mozingo then gaveMount Olive the lift it needed as he tied the game with a home run to left centre and the game was knotted at three.

Then in the bottom of the ninth, Gunner Tolston came up with one away to pinch hit and quickly got on base with a single through the right side.

Bradley Ragan came into pinch hit and worked out a walk to move Tolston to second.

Sweeting then scored Tolston from second on an RBI-single

through the left side and tied the game at four.

Mozingo then continued the inning by working out a walk to load the bases and force a Belmont Abbey pitching change.

Ricky Surum, with a 3-1 count, waited for the delivery from the Crusader pitcher and watched ball four fall out of the zone allowing Ragan to score from third and UMO walkedoff with the 2017 Conference Carolinas Baseball Championship.

Mozingo (3-0) was credited with the win in relief as the senior pitched the final inning al-

SEE PAGE 4

PAGE 2, Wednesday, May 3, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP AT A GLANCE (Team’s world ranking) Group A

Switzerland (6) Senegal (17) Bahamas (48) Ecuador (21)

P 3 3 3 3

W 3 2 1 0

L 0 1 2 3

F 18 25 7 6

A 13 7 14 22

Pts 7 6 3 0

P 3 3 3 3

W 3 2 1 0

L 0 1 2 3

F 25 11 15 7

A 11 11 20 16

Pts 9 4 2 0

P Paraguay (9) 3 Portugal (1) 3 UAE (10) 3 Panama (28) 3

W 2 2 2 0

L 1 1 1 3

F 12 12 6 4

A 8 6 6 14

Pts 6 5 4 0

W 3 2 1 0

L 0 1 2 3

F 20 13 15 12

A 8 11 17 24

Pts 9 6 3 0

Group B

Italy (4) Iran (5) Nigeria (24) Mexico (12) Group C

A SPECTACULAR effort on goal from Brazil during their 9-3 victory over Japan yesterday, which ensured they topped Group D.

The final eight

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net AFTER six days of competition, the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Bahamas 2017 is down to the final eight teams - Portugal, Tahiti, Paraguay, Brazil, Senegal, Iran, Italy and Switzerland and the quarter-final match ups on Thursday known.

Today is an off day as teams regroup and prepare for the knockout stages with another rest day on Friday before the semi-finals on Saturday and final on Sunday.

The intense competition continued yesterday at the National Beach Soccer Arena at Malcolm Park with the final group phase matches and teams jockeying for their spots in the quarterfinals.

Defending champions Portugal survived a close encounter with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the second place finishers out of the AFC Championships, needing extra time to score the winning goal after a 1-1 draw after normal time.

“It was very difficult to play against these teams.

The final match was quite difficult because they know us. Some of our players play in their national league,” said Madjer, Portugal’s team captain. “It was one of our hardest matches, but now we can rest for the next match.”

That will be played on Thursday, when Portugal will have their hands full against Brazil, the Group D winners with maximum points from their three games.

“One more game. If you want to be champion, you can’t choose your opponent,” Madjer said. “We have to go into that match with the same mentality to win. We can’t take any team lightly.”

Although they lost, UAE gave the Portugese a run for their money. While some of their players left the field dejected, veteran Ali Karim was elated.

“They are the defending champions and they only beat us by one goal. They should be ashamed of themselves,” said Karim, who booted in their goal. “They have so many good players, but they had to hold on against us. In the next round, they are gone, bye, bye.”

In a highly spirited performance, the Brazilian team delighted their fans as they knocked off Japan 9-3, with Rodrigo scoring five times.

Their captain Xavier Bruno admitted that while the four times champions are still alive, they still have some more work to do if they intend to get into the championship match here.

“This is a very difficult one. This is the World Cup and there is no easy games,” said Bruno, whose team are hoping to improve on their fifth place finish in 2015.

“We don’t expect to pass through without any difficulties.”

Group D Brazil (3) Tahiti (7) Japan (8) Poland (15)

P 3 3 3 3

Group phase Thursday April 27 Group A: Ecuador 0 Senegal 9, Bahamas 2 Switzerland 3 Group B: Iran 3 Mexico 2, Nigeria 6 Italy 12 Friday April 28 Group C: Portugal 7 Panama 0, United Arab Emirates 3 Paraguay 2 Group D: Japan 9 Poland 4, Brazil 4 Tahiti 1 Saturday April 29 Group A: Switzerland 9 Ecuador 5, Senegal 10 Bahamas 1 Group B: Italy 5 Iran 4, Mexico 4 Nigeria 5 (after extra time) Sunday April 30 Group C: Paraguay 5 Portugal 3, Panama 2 United Arab Emirates 2 (UAE won on penalties) Group D: Tahiti 4 Japan 3, Poland 4 Brazil 7 Monday May 1 Group A: Switzerland 6 Senegal 6 (Switzerland won on penalties), Bahamas 4 Ecuador 1 Group B: Italy 8 Mexico 1, Nigeria 4 Iran 4 (Iran won on penalties) Tuesday May 2 Group C: Paraguay 5 Panama 2, United Arab Emirates 1 Portugal 2 (after extra time) Group D: Tahiti 8 Poland 4, Brazil 9 Japan 3 Win - 3 points Win after extra time - 2 points Win on penalties - 1 point Top two teams in each group qualify for knockout stages Thursday May 4 Quarter-finals 3.30pm: Paraguay v Tahiti 5pm: Brazil v Portugal 6.30pm: Switzerland v Iran 8pm: Italy v Senegal Saturday May 6 Semi-finals 3pm: Paraguay or Tahiti v Switzerland or Iran 4.30pm: Brazil or Portugal v Italy or Senegal

TAHITI celebrate qualifying for the quarter-finals of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup yesterday after beating Poland, for whom the 40-year-old Boguslaw Saganowski played his final match.

Bruno, however, said they are enjoying their trip to the Bahamas and even though the time was short for them to take in the sights of New Providence, they hope to enjoy it on Monday when the tournament is complete.

“We have to improve a lot. We played quite good, but we also made a few mistakes, which we normally don’t do,” he said. “It shows us that the level of the game is very high, so there’s no weak team.

“Every team here is strong and they showed that they deserve to be here. So we have to improve a lot and we will improve so that we can go through.”

After their disappointing loss, Japan’s captain Ozu Moreira said they can take comfort in the fact that they played their ninth World Cup in the Bahamas.

“This is such a beautiful place,” he said. “The people are very nice, the stadium is wonderful, but I’m so sad that we won’t be leaving here with first place. I expected us to go a little further, but it didn’t happen.”

Moreira, however, said he hoped that he can make a return trip in the future to enjoy the amenities with his wife.

Also yesterday, Tahiti made sure of their place in the last eight with an 8-4 win over Poland. Tahiti,

the runners-up from the 2015 World Cup, were the top seeds coming out of the Oceania region.

Paraguay pulled off a 5-2 win over Panama, the CONCACAF champions after their tournament christened the new stadium here a month ago.

Paraguay, the second place finishers out of South America, are making their third appearance in the World Cup and already they surpassed their previous best performance of ninth in 2013 by making the quarterfinal for the first time.

Paraguay and Tahiti will kick things off on Thursday in the first quarter-final at 3.30pm followed by Brazil v Portugal at 5pm.

At 6.30pm, Switzerland will meet Iran and in the last tie at 8pm, it will be Senegal v Italy.

Sixteen teams started the tournament last Thursday, including the Bahamas, who made their debut as hosts of the first World Cup to be staged in the Caribbean.

After losing their first two games to Switzerland and Senegal, the Bahamas rocked the stadium on Monday night with their 4-1 win over Ecuador. Unfortunately, it was not enough as the Bahamas joined Ecuador, Japan, Nigeria, Mexico, Poland, Panama and UAE on the sidelines.

Sunday May 7 3pm: Third place match 4.30pm: Final

PARAGUAY celebrate reaching the quarter-finals of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup for the first time after victory over Panama yesterday.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, May 3, 2017, PAGE 3

Five aspiring basketball players are offered scholarships at 15th Darell Sears Showcase

By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net THE Darell Sears Showcase continues to be a staple on the Bahamas’ basketball calendar and gains recognition by showcasing the best talent the country has to offer.

The 15th edition of the event concluded Sunday at the St George’s Jaguars Gymnasium in Grand Bahama and a record five participants were offered scholarships by representatives of visiting programmes.

Approximately 60 players participated in the camp, which featured scouts, coaches, and representatives from 25 high school and collegiate coaches in the United States, ranging from JuCo to Division I. The showcase hosted coaches from Southern Mississippi University, Arkansas State, Stetson university, Arkansas-Little Rock, University of Louisiana-Monroe, Stephen F. Austin, Texas A and M Corpus Christi, St Petersburg Junior College, Miami Dade Junior College, Paris Junior College and Edward Waters University. There were also four high schools out of the US and a representative from a Canadian college in attendance.

In addition to the players to receive offers, an additional 10 drew strong interest and are on the fast track for future opportunities if they are unable to capitalise immediately.

This year’s tournament also had another new addition as a pair of former participants signed their letters of intent to attend institutions in the United States.

Shaquillo Fritz signed on to join the Arkansas State Red Wolves while Qyemah Gibson made it official with the Miami Dade Sharks.

Fritz said it was fitting that his basketball journey came full circle and he was able to sign at the St George’s campus.

“I’d like to thank my parents and this programme for helping me to get to this point. I’m very excited to be a Red Wolf and this is a perfect day. It’s great to see the family come out and support me because my sup-

SIGNING DAY: Shaquillo Fritz (left) signed to join the Arkansas State Red Wolves while Qyemah Gibson made it official with the Miami Dade Sharks. port system has helped me to be a better person,” he said. “I advise the guys at the showcase to keep working, keep focused, believe in your self and chase your dreams. You just have to make the most of your opportunity when you get the chance.”

Gibson added: “It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity and I don’t take it for granted. I want to make the most of it and I’m very thankful for it.”

Sears, the longtime coach of the Jaguars, began the practice of travelling with his players to the United States to gain exposure for his players in the late 1990s.

Since then, he has been able to forge a network of connections that now affords a greater number of players those same opportunities by showcasing their skills at home. Over the course of the weekend, players engaged in individual skill development, as well as scrimmages.

Sears talked about the improvements he has seen in the event since its inception. “My eyes are a bit diff so I always look for the little things. The coaches and the kids had a wonderful time and I think our people had a great job. There are improvements we can make and I think that I am learning more and more that if one child gets the opportunity at the next level then it’s a success,” he said.

“The thing that the coaches have spoken to me about is the guys’ athleticism. What they are excited about, especially for the

ones that have been coming the last two, three years and what they have recognised is that the skill set and IQ of the game has improved.

We know we have guys that can attack but in years past one of the knocks has been guy’s wouldn’t know when to pull up or when they get to the rim they wouldn’t know the appropriate move, now they recognise defences better and their games have improved.”

The age bracket for the showcase ranged from 9th grade to unattached. It also featured current Bahamian junior college players looking to progress into division I. “Hopefully we can reach a bigger audience and reach even more programmes in the future, particularly for those coaches who can not attend,” Sears said.

Showcase alumni includes some of the most recognised names in Bahamian basketball over the past 15 years.

Some of the past participants in the showcase includes professional players Magnum Rolle, Kadeem Coleby, Kentwan Smith, Garvin Hunt and current division I players Buddy Hield, Lourawls Nairn Jr, Kentwan Smith, Prince Cooper Jr, Travis Munnings, Nathan Bain, Kenneth Taylor, Andre Sands and Dwight Coleby.

Several of those players were afforded an opportunity to join the Sunrise Christian Academy Eagles programme in Wichita, Kansas.

Sunrise head coach Luke Barnwall was on hand once

ABOUT 60 players participated in the camp, which featured scouts, coaches, and representatives from 25 high school and collegiate coaches in the United States, ranging from JuCo to Division I. again at this year’s edition, scouting future talent.

“Darell always has the best kids here. There is a lot of good young talent, I was talking to one of the Division I coaches, and I would say that the players are getting better, their skill level is getting better and I would say the talent level is better and it’s good to see,” he said.

“This process, it works for them. We have had a lot of them come through our programme that have come

through here and went as high as Buddy, Tum and Travis. They get a chance to play for us, then go on to Division I.” Scores of other players have received scholarship opportunities to join high school, junior college, division II and division III programmes across the United States. “I saw a lot of talented kids, a lot of kids ready to join a programme to go and play basketball. It’s my first time here so I’m really excited about being here,”

said Paris Junior College assistant coach Michael Scott.

“I’m looking for some guys ready to work hard, looking to stay in the gym and get ready to play. This event is huge because I think kids here need an opportunity to understand what it takes to come over to America and play basketball. A lot of it is a basic fundamental, just understanding how to play and if you can do that you can play at our level.”

Coach Maycock impressed with CARIFTA performances

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net WITH five members from his Blue Chips Athletics Club on the 2017 CARIFTA Games team, coach Corrington Maycock watched as they returned from Willemstad, Curacao, with four medals over the Easter holiday weekend.

As a two-year-old club headed by veteran coach Ronald Cartwright, Maycock said he was very pleased with what he saw from his members on the 65-member team that represented the Bahamas.

“You preach it all year and one of the principles in my club is that you don’t train for national teams, but you train for college scholarships,” Maycock said.

“I coach them with the idea that national team is just a bonus. They work and continue to work for scholarship opportunities. But to be there to watch them compete can only make you happy as a coach.”

Laquell Harris, a freshman at the University of the Bahamas, won a silver medal in the under-20 girls’ discus as she closed out her CARIFTA career with a personal best of 50.42m (165-5).

Latia Saunders, a native of Harbour Island, picked up the gold in the under-18 girls’ javelin with her toss of 45.29m (148-7). Saunders is a 16-year-old 11th grader at St Augustine’s College and a Carifta rookie.

Acacia Astwood, an 11th-grader at St Anne’s High School, was a late addition to the team, but she rose to the occasion with a

bronze in her debut as well in the under-18 girls’ discus with 39.40m (129-3). She’s a former sprinter who made the transition to the throws.

Michaelangelo Bullard moved from playing baseball to throwing the javelin where he won the bronze in the under-18 boys’ division, also posting a personal best 63.84m (209-5) behind compatriot Sean Rolle’s silver with 65.51m (214-11).

Jordan Lewis was 13th in the under-18 boys’ shot put with 14.03m (46-0 1/2) as fellow Bahamian Jalon Dames was 10th with 15.00m (49-2 1/2).

“I was looking for more, but we are home next year, so hopefully we could do it then,” Maycock said. “I’m looking for some better performances.”

Maycock, a medallist in his lone Carifta appearance in the under-17 boys’ division where he won a silver medal in the shot put in 1986, gave a lot of credit to Cartwright, who taught him a lot of things under his tutelage.

“But transferring from his club to my club, I wanted to make sure that these athletes push themselves, not only in the classroom but out there on the field,” he said.

With the Commonwealth Youth Games as the next major international meet to be held here at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium July 19-23, Maycock said six of his athletes have already qualified, but they will have to perform at the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ Junior Nationals in June.

They are Lewis, Saunders, Bullard and Astwood.

COACH Corrington Maycock with Blue Chips team members Acacia Astwood, Jordan Lewis, Laquell Harris, Latia Saunders and Michaelangelo Bullard.

“Just based on the numbers and how well they perform, they can and should all make the team,” Maycock projected.

“I’m keeping my fingers crossed that they will all make it.

Also in the summer is the IAAF World Youth Championships in Nairobi, Kenya (July 12-16) and the same four Blue Chips members - Lewis, Saunders, Bullard and Astwood - are in a position to make it, along with

Dachye Stubbs.

Additionally, there’s the Pan American Junior Championships (July 21-23 in Lima, Peru) with Harris qualifying at Carifta.

She joins Serena Brown, a freshman at Texas A&M, who qualified in one of her collegiate meets.

Based out of Queen’s College, the Blue Chips Club has a total of 20 members, but Maycock said he’s only interested in coaching those throwers who seri-

ously want to improve.

“If the kids want to make this happen, it’s easy,” he said. “The two senior members in the club are Jordan and Laquell, who is now being coached by Bradley (Cooper, coach at the University of the Bahamas).

“I’ve been working with them for about a year and they went to Carifta and medalled. So it’s not like it’s hard. You just have to work hard. A lot of people don’t realise it, but we do

everything like all athletes do – run short and long distances, jump and throw in their offseason workout.”

From August 7-12 at Queen’s College, Maycock will be holding his second annual Blue Chips Athletic Throwers Camp when he’s expected to have a couple of college coaches come out and hold the sessions.

Interested persons can contact Maycock for more details.

Maycock said the camp will be important this year as he will be concentrating on the throwers who will have to be making the transition now that Carifta has reverted to the under-17 division to go with the under-20, starting next year here.

“That messed up about five of my athletes,” said Maycock of Saunders, who is from SAC, had the possibility of breaking the under-18 record, but she will now have to go up to under-20.

“I understand what they are doing because Carifta was losing the interest of the girls in the under-20 division. But now the under-17 will be lacking for a year or two. A lot of kids who had the potential to make the team will not make the team. A lot of people will knock them out.”

With the throwers, they will also have to use different size increments from what they are accustomed to, moving from the under-17 to under-20 division.

Maycock said they will have to work harder and, as a coach, he will have to ensure that he does the same to get them prepared for the challenge.

PAGE 4, Wednesday, May 3, 2017

SPORTS NOTES

OLYMPIC SWIMMERS CLAIM THEY ARE BEING ‘IGNORED’ OVER FUNDING FROM PAGE 1 minister.”

Dr Johnson, the outgoing minister, said he was at the Carifta swimming when he spoke with VanderpoolWallace and invited her to his office for a meeting.

He denied that the meeting was to be held at the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex because he would have had to attend Cabinet that same day.

“I want to apologise for any misunderstanding with the meeting, but for the subvention, they will have to apply to the ministry and if they are in compliance, they will be accepted.

“But I don’t do subvention. That’s done by the Director of Sports and he has a committee that is directly involved in the final selection and approval.”

With this being the height of the election season, Johnson said it appears that the issue is politically motivated, but there’s nothing that he can realistically do right now.

“Anybody or any association or federation who feels they have been left out, can write to the ministry,” Johnson said. “But to try to take me to task in the media, it won’t work. They won’t get any response from me. Not right now. If they don’t like it, I apologise, but there’s nothing I can do right now.”

Johnson said he takes exception to any association or federation who claims that he treated them unfairly because he felt he went beyond the call of duty to assist every organisation, including swimming.

“I think they are just trying to be mischievous,” he said.

THE TRIBUNE

HIGH school bowling champions (l-r) Clarence Sargent, Sarah Penn, P’anté Rolle and Kenteeno Francis.

JR BOWLING NATIONALS FROM PAGE 1

from SC McPherson.

“It was a close game. I just didn’t want to lose. It’s an amazing feeling to be the champion. My right hand didn’t let me down.”

Thamari Rolle of Nassau Christian Academy; Elvardo Johnson of CH Reeves and Raymond Adderley of CH Reeves were the next three finishers.

Another close encounter took place in the senior girls’ division where Sarah Penn of CI Gibson held off Padesha Kelly 160-147 for the title.

“It was good, but it was a lot of pressure. I’m just glad I got through it. It feels good to win,” said Penn.

“I don’t think I bowled the best I could, but it was okay, but it feels great to be the champion.”

And in the senior boys’ division, Clarence Sargent missed a spare at the end of his match and sat on “pins and needles” as he waited for

TRAE SWEETING FROM PAGE 1

lowing one batter to reach base on a walk and not allowing a hit.

Mozingo and Sweeting both led the team with two RBI performances at the plate.

Following the game, Sweeting, Austin Hutchinson, German Reyes and Drew Ellis were all named to the Conference Carolinas AllTournament Team.

Mozingo was also named Most

Nickbert Emepue from CR Walker to complete his final frame.

“I felt my heart pumping after I missed the spare,” Doris Johnson’s 12th grader said. “It was good. I was kind of relaxed until I got to the ninth frame and then I felt the pressure.

“But my coach (Doris Ramsay) told me to just calm down and go for it. It feels good to have finally gotten through it and to pull it off.”

Robert Coakley and Stefon Wilmore, both of Government High, and Johanthan Dames of CR Walker, completed the top five field.

Smith, the coordinator of the tournament, said despite the fact that the bowlers didn’t perform up to their expectations in the final, they still ended on a high note.

“All of the bowlers turned in some good scores from the tournament started,” said Smith of the initial event that took off on April 26.

“The scores were not what we expected, especially from P’Anté, but she did very well from day one.

I think all of the bowlers who won were expected to win. They were the top seeds at the end of the tournament, so there wasn’t any surprises.”

Having pricked the interest of the bowlers in the high school system, Smith said the federation is looking at the possibility of staging a mother-daughter and father-son competition on Mother’s and Father’s Day respectively.

And during the summer, she said they intend to stage a boot camp in July for those bowlers who will be interested in continuing in the sport.

Smith publicly thanked the Ministry of Education and Sports Director Evon Wisdom, Mario’s Bowling and Entertainment Palace and the coaches and bowlers from all of the schools that participated.

Raymond Adderley, Tara Culmer, Tara Johnson and Byron McClain all assisted Smith in ensuring that the bowlers were properly instructed on how to play the game.

Outstanding Player of the tournament.

As a catcher/out fielder, Sweeting played in 41 games for the Trojans with a .313 batting average. In his 128-plate appearance during the season, he ripped 40 hits, including five doubles and a home run.

Sweeting, who stands at 5-feet, 10-inches and weighs 180-pound junior, had a total of 14 bases on balls (walk), was hit by a pitch 11 times, strike out 21 times, had 11

runs batted in (RBI), scored 32 times and stole 19 bases, while got caught stealing twice.

The son of Bahamas Baseball Federation president Teddy Sweeting, who transferred from Georgia State, is majoring in business management.

Mount Olive will now wait for their seeding in the 2017 NCAA DII Southeast Regional Tournament to be held May 18-22 at a site to be determined.

TENNIS GTC MEMBERS TOURNEY THE Gym Tennis Club Members’ Tournament played a series of games yesterday at the club in Winton Meadows. The results were as follows: Men's Singles B2 RR Rod Newbold defeated Patrick Brown 6-1, 0-6 and 6-1.

Men's Singles B1 RR Anthony Burrows def. Billy Albury 6-2, 5-5 ret.

Men's Doubles Terry North/Mickey Williams def. Dallas Roberts/ Brent Roberts 6-1 and 6-0.

Men's Doubles D. Fisher/E. Munroe vs J Issacs/H Saunders 7-6 (11), 3-0 suspended due to darkness.

The tournament continued on Tuesday. Results were not available up to press time.

CITY BOWLING LEAGUE Byron McClain was voted the MVP of the competition on Monday night. McClain, of Carib Construction, toppled the pins for a 636 high three game set.

The runner-up was Lee Davis of the Ten Back Strikers with a 611 second high set.

Davis also tied the second high game of 233 with Alfred Burrows of TK Falcons. The high game was a 234 from Ryan Davis of the Ten Back Strikers.

Tara Culmer of Island Game Strokers was the leader of the ladies’ category with an impressive 220 high game and a 555 high three game set.

Driskell Rolle of TK Falcons followed with a 554 second high set. Camille Burnside of Telco Enterprises downed the pins for the high game of 209.

The team scores of the evening were as follows: Island Game Strokers 2, Bahamasair Flyers 1; Carib Construction 2, Ten Back Strikers 1; CDM Knights 2, Telco Enterprises 1; NUA Crusaders 2, E&U Watercooler 1; BEC Shockers 2, TK Falcons 1; Checker’s Café 2, Giga Tech 1.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, May 3, 2017, PAGE 5

Celtics beat Wizards in OT, take 2-0 lead

By JIMMY GOLEN AP Sports Writer BOSTON (AP) — Isaiah Thomas scored 53 points — the second-highest total in Celtics playoff history — to help Boston beat the Washington Wizards 129-119 in overtime last night and take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semi-finals.

Fiddling with the mouth guard he began using after losing one of his front teeth in Game 1, Thomas had nine points in overtime, when the Celtics outscored Washington 15-5.

He is the fifth player in the history of the NBA’s most-decorated franchise to score 50 or more points in a postseason game, missing John Havlicek’s team record by one point. It was also a career

playoff best for Thomas.

“What else is there to say?”

Celtics coach Brad Stevens asked.

“There was a point today where he was not feeling good at all. He’s had a tough day and I thought he was going to really have to gut this one out. Not only guts it out, he ends up with 50. Pretty impressive.”

John Wall had 40 points and 13 rebounds for the Wizards.

The series moves to Washington for Games 3 and 4 on Thursday and Sunday.

“It’s the playoffs. Everybody’s going to come and play a very tough game,” Wizards coach Scott Brooks said. “They took care of their home court the first two games. We’ve been very good on our home court all year with great fans.”

CELTICS guard Marcus Smart (36) drives under the reach of Wizards centre Marcin Gortat (13) during their secondround playoff series last night.

(AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Rockets’ 22 3-pointers dismantle Spurs, 126-99 in Game 1

By RAUL DOMINGUEZ Associated Press SAN ANTONIO (AP) — The Houston Rockets were willing to take whatever the Spurs gave them in Game 1 of the Western Conference semi-finals.

Houston ended up with a record-setting offensive performance, a huge boost in confidence and homecourt advantage.

Trevor Ariza scored 23 points, James Harden added 20 points and 14 rebounds, and the Rockets

stormed past San Antonio 126-99 on Monday night, the Spurs’ worst loss in a series opener under Gregg Popovich.

“Just taking what the defence gives us,” Harden said. “Last series (against Oklahoma City) was a more grind-it-out. We weren’t really making a lot of 3s. We had to figure a way to get paint points and in this series so far they gave opportunities to shoot 3s.”

The Rockets were 22 for 50 behind the arc, the most 3s attempted and made

against the Spurs in their long postseason history.

Houston had six players in double figures, including 20 points and 13 rebounds from Clint Capela.

“They came out ready, they outplayed us tonight,” said Spurs forward LaMarcus Aldridge, who was held to four points. “They made most of their shots. Guys competed, but I thought we made mistakes early. They took advantage of it. Once they had offensive rhythm they were rolling. And we never really found ours.”

Game 2 is 9:30pm tonight in San Antonio.

Houston led by as many as 39 points, including a 30-point lead in the first half, in the opener of the first series between the rivals since the Rockets’ victory in the 1995 Western Conference finals. While the hot shooting wasn’t completely unexpected from the explosive Rockets, the defence was. Houston was active in rotating to San Antonio’s shooters and had both defenders stay on Kawhi Leonard on screens.

Leonard had 21 points, fighting his way to 5-for-14 shooting.

Tony Parker added 11 points and Jonathon Simmons had 10 for the Spurs.

“Obviously, we are really happy with our defence and what we did,” Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said.

“Knowing that this was kind of abnormal, they are not going to miss shots like that.”

Houston led 69-39 lead in the first half, the Spurs’ largest halftime deficit under Popovich.

“They came out hot tonight and we just have to do a better job defensively,” Leonard said. “We kind of got stagnant there a little bit. I give my hats to them, they played a great game.”

Popovich called a timeout 80 seconds into the game, berating David Lee for a missed defensive assignment that led to a 3-pointer.

It didn’t help.

Houston hit 12 3-pointers in the first half, the most San Antonio has allowed to a playoff opponent in the opening two quarters.

Calling All High

SCHOOL STUDENTS

Every year in August THE TRIBUNE publishes a popular Back to School supplement as a guide to the following academic year.

In the supplement we feature the profiles of high school students across the Bahamas and Family Islands.

We want profiles from as many schools and students as possible to make this guide essential and informative.

Profiles must include 1. Name 2. Age 3. School 4. Grade 5. Parent name or names 6. Goals and aspirations, prizes won and honours awarded

7. Name of college they will be attending (if attending) Plus a suitable photograph in .jpeg format (graduation or any other image).

How to submit profiles Email to back2school@ tribunemedia.net with ‘Back To School’ in the subject field and photos in .jpeg format.

By post to Back To School, The Tribune, Shirley Street & Deveaux Streets, PO Box N-3207, Nassau.

By hand to The Tribune office The deadline for the profiles is June 30, 2017 and there is no cost involved. For any questions please contact Tribune Features at 5022380 or 502-2391.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, May 3, 2017, PAGE 7

Ronaldo leads Madrid to 3-0 win over Atletico in Champs League semis

By TALES AZZONI AP Sports Writer MADRID (AP) — Another impressive performance by Cristiano Ronaldo has left Real Madrid on the verge of another Champions League final.

Ronaldo scored a hat trick to reach 400 goals with Madrid and lead the defending champions to a commanding 3-0 win over city rival Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final yesterday.

He scored with a header in the 10th minute, with a strike into the top corner in the 73rd and a close-range shot in the 86th to give Madrid a comfortable lead going into next week’s second leg at Atletico’s Vicente Calderon Stadium.

Monaco hosts Juventus in the first leg of the other semi-final on Wednesday.

“We played a great match,” Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said. “It’s not easy to score three times against such a difficult opponent and keep a clean

sheet.”

The result left Atletico close to yet another disappointing elimination against the crosstown rival, following defeats in the Champions League in the last three seasons.

“We’re going to try and do something practically impossible next week,” Atletico coach Diego Simeone said. “We’re Atletico Madrid and maybe, just maybe, we can do it.”

Madrid, which is looking to reach its third final in four seasons, was in control from the start at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium and took advantage of Ronaldo’s impressive form. He had scored five in the two legs of the quarter-finals against Bayern Munich, including a hat trick in the second leg at the Bernabeu.

“The team was amazing, it was a complete match,” said Ronaldo, who reached the 400-goal milestone in his 389th game with Madrid. “We played well from start to finish.”

He opened the scoring on Tuesday after Atletico’s

on, controlling possession and causing problems for Atletico’s defence with set pieces taken by midfielder Toni Kroos. Madrid had 11 attempts against only one for Atletico in the first half alone. It ended with 16 against four for Atletico.

“Our first 30 minutes were fantastic, we started with great intensity,” Zidane said. “And in the second half we were very effective. We didn’t have as many chances, but we still scored twice.”

The visitors improved in the second half, keeping Madrid from threatening as much, but they still were not able to create many scoring chances. “We had the ball in the second half but didn’t create anything and they exploited the spaces well,” Simeone said.

Atletico’s best chance of the match came in the 17th minute, when forward Kevin Gameiro received the ball inside the area but wasn’t able to clear Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas in a one-on-one situation.

The crosstown rivals are

CRISTIANO Ronaldo scored a hat trick to reach 400 goals with Real Madrid and lead the defending champions to a commanding 3-0 win over city rival Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final yesterday.

(AP Photo/Francisco Seco) defence failed to fully clear a cross into the area. Midfielder Casemiro sent the ball back in with a bouncing shot and Ronaldo got ahead of defender Stefan Savic to nod it past Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak.

Ronaldo, Madrid’s alltime scoring leader, added to the lead after Atletico defender Filipe Luis lost the ball in a challenge with the Portugal star, who entered the area and fired a

right-foot shot past Oblak into the upper corner.

He scored his 10th Champions League goal of the season with a low shot from inside the area after a pass

by Lucas Vazquez. Ronaldo now has 103 goals in the Champions League, not counting one he scored in the qualifiers, which is three more than Atletico has scored since the new format was created in 1992.

Madrid dominated early

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

TODAY

ORLANDO

High: 88° F/31° C Low: 66° F/19° C

TAMPA

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

Partly sunny with a shower; warm

Patchy clouds

Pleasant with more sun than clouds

Partly sunny and warm

A morning shower; partly sunny

Mostly sunny and nice

High: 86°

Low: 74°

High: 88° Low: 75°

High: 91° Low: 73°

High: 87° Low: 71°

High: 86° Low: 71°

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

96° F

77° F

95°-82° F

100°-76° F

93°-74° F

93°-71° F

The exclusive AccuWeather RealFeel Temperature® is an index that combines the effects of temperature, wind, humidity, sunshine intensity, cloudiness, precipitation, pressure and elevation on the human body—everything that affects how warm or cold a person feels. Temperatures reflect the high and the low for the day.

N

almanac

E

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High: 79° F/26° C Low: 75° F/24° C

6-12 knots

S

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 75° F/24° C

6-12 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE

FREEPORT

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 77° F/25° C

N E S

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WEST PALM BEACH

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uV inDex toDay

TONIGHT

High: 92° F/33° C Low: 73° F/23° C

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 73° F/23° C

MIAMI

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 77° F/25° C

4-8 knots

Statistics are for Nassau through 2 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 84° F/29° C Low .................................................... 73° F/23° C Normal high ....................................... 83° F/28° C Normal low ........................................ 70° F/21° C Last year’s high ................................. 87° F/31° C Last year’s low ................................... 75° F/24° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.00” Year to date ................................................. 2.74” Normal year to date ..................................... 6.28”

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 74° F/23° C

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2017

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 76° F/24° C

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KEY WEST

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 78° F/26° C

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 74° F/23° C

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6-12 knots Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

tiDes For nassau High

Ht.(ft.)

Low

Ht.(ft.)

Today

2:23 a.m.

3:01 p.m.

2.9 2.4

8:56 a.m.

9:10 p.m.

Thursday

3:27 a.m.

4:06 p.m.

2.7 2.5

9:58 a.m. 0.0 10:18 p.m. 0.2

Friday

4:28 a.m.

5:06 p.m.

2.6 2.5

10:54 a.m. 0.0 11:19 p.m. 0.2

Saturday

5:24 a.m.

5:58 p.m.

2.6 2.7

11:45 a.m. -0.1 ---------

Sunday

6:14 a.m.

6:44 p.m.

2.5 2.7

12:14 a.m. 0.1 12:30 p.m. -0.1

Monday

6:59 a.m.

7:26 p.m.

2.5 2.8

1:02 a.m. 0.0 1:11 p.m. -0.2

Tuesday

7:40 a.m.

8:05 p.m.

2.5 2.9

1:46 a.m. 0.0 1:49 p.m. -0.2

0.0 0.1

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

6:33 a.m.

7:41 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

1:31 p.m.

2:01 a.m.

Full

Last

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May 10

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May 25

Jun. 1

ANDROS

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 79° F/26° C Low: 75° F/24° C

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 75° F/24° C

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High: 82° F/28° C Low: 75° F/24° C

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LONG ISLAND

insurance management tracking map

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The higher the AccuWeather UV IndexTM number, the greater the need for eye and skin protection.

CAT ISLAND

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meeting for the fourth consecutive time in the top European club competition.

Madrid defeated Atletico in the final last season and also in 2014, and eliminated Simeone’s team in the quarter-final in 2015.

Madrid, which won its record 11th-title last year, is trying to become the first team to win back-to-back Champions League titles since the competition’s new format began. No team has had a chance to defend its title since Manchester United in 2009.

Atletico, the third force in Spanish soccer behind Madrid and Barcelona, is trying to win its first title and avenge the heartbreaking losses to Madrid in a penalty shootout last year and after extra time in 2014.

Atletico also lost the final in 1974, to Bayern Munich.

Tuesday’s loss at the Bernabeu was the first for Atletico in 16 away games.

Simeone’s team had kept nine clean sheets in its last 13 games in all competitions, conceding only four goals.

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 75° F/24° C

6-12 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 82° F/28° C Low: 76° F/24° C

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS RAGGED ISLAND High: 79° F/26° C Low: 76° F/24° C

High: 80° F/27° C Low: 75° F/24° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 83° F/28° C Low: 77° F/25° C

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marine Forecast ABACO ANDROS CAT ISLAND CROOKED ISLAND ELEUTHERA FREEPORT GREAT EXUMA GREAT INAGUA LONG ISLAND MAYAGUANA NASSAU RAGGED ISLAND SAN SALVADOR

Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday:

WINDS NE at 6-12 Knots ESE at 8-16 Knots NE at 6-12 Knots ESE at 4-8 Knots E at 7-14 Knots ESE at 6-12 Knots ESE at 4-8 Knots E at 7-14 Knots ENE at 6-12 Knots SE at 7-14 Knots ENE at 6-12 Knots ESE at 7-14 Knots NE at 6-12 Knots ESE at 6-12 Knots NE at 4-8 Knots ENE at 6-12 Knots SW at 4-8 Knots ESE at 7-14 Knots ESE at 7-14 Knots ESE at 7-14 Knots NE at 4-8 Knots SE at 6-12 Knots N at 4-8 Knots ESE at 6-12 Knots NE at 6-12 Knots ESE at 6-12 Knots

WAVES 3-5 Feet 3-5 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-2 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 3-5 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-3 Feet 4-7 Feet 3-5 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet

VISIBILITY 8 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 8 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 8 Miles 8 Miles 8 Miles 8 Miles 8 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 8 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles

WATER TEMPS. 76° F 76° F 80° F 80° F 77° F 77° F 78° F 78° F 73° F 73° F 76° F 76° F 78° F 78° F 79° F 79° F 79° F 79° F 78° F 78° F 76° F 76° F 79° F 79° F 75° F 75° F

PAGE 8, Wednesday, May 3, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

1ST PLACE WINNERS: Lyford Cay International School team with the winners’ trophy at the Bahamas National Interschool Equestrian Championships at Camperdown Equestrian Centre.

Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

First ever Interschool Equestrian Nationals ‘a resounding success’ EQUESTRIAN sport exploded onto the interschool sporting scene with the success of the first ever Bahamas National Interschool Equestrian Championships, held over the weekend at Camperdown Equestrian Centre.

The competition was held under the auspices of the Bahamas Interschool Equestrian League (BIEL) through Equestrian Bahamas, the national federation for equestrian sport.

It featured 24 riders representing seven different school teams Lyford Cay International, Lucaya International, Queens College, St Augustine’s College, St Andrew’s, Windsor Preparatory and a combined team of Tambearly School and homeschooled athletes.

The show was judged by Dayle Eldredge, a licenced USEF, USHJA and IEA judge from Ocala, Florida.

Teams were eligible to enter one representative into each of eight events, with riders earning points toward a final team total.

Some teams were larger than others, ranging from the LCIS team (seven athletes) to the SAC and Windsor teams (two athletes).

Despite disparities in team size, QC and LCIS entered the final class of the event tied for points, with St Andrew’s close behind.

Riders and spectators enthused about the exciting, team-based format of the event, a first for equestrian competition in the Bahamas.

“This type of competition is new for our riders in two ways,” said Mrs Catherine RamsinghPierre, president of Equestrian Bahamas.

“First, these young people are accustomed to competing on an individual basis. This is the first time they have been given the opportunity to ride in a team setting, to represent their schools.

“Second, they are accustomed

YOUNG RIDERS in action Saturday during the first ever Bahamas National Interschool Equestrian Championships at Camperdown Equestrian Centre. to riding their own horses, or the horses that they regularly ride in their lessons. At this competition we employed a horse-draw format, in which horses are randomly selected and riders are therefore required to compete on horses they have never ridden before.

This has important implications in preparing our riders for collegiate competition, which follows the same horse-draw format.”

“We are thrilled to have had the participation of so many riders and schools, especially the riders of

THE FINAL RESULTS 1ST PLACE - Lyford Cay International School – 36 points 2ND PLACE - Queen’s College – 31 points 3RD PLACE - St Andrew’s School – 27 points 4TH PLACE - Lucaya International School – 25 points 5TH PLACE - THS (Tambearly/Homeschooled) – 17 points 6TH PLACE - St Augustine’s College – 15 points 7TH PLACE - Windsor Preparatory School – 9 points

Lucaya International School who flew in from Grand Bahama to compete,” said Ramsingh-Pierre.

“Our hope is that this event can serve as a springboard to introduce equestrian sport to the public schools, through public-private partnerships.”

At the opening of the show, Evon Wisdom, director of the Ministry of Education’s Sports Unit, spoke to the assembled crowd about the importance of diversifying sport at the interschool level and providing all young athletes with scholarship opportunities. There are currently 23 NCAA Division I and II equestrian athletic programmes.

In addition, the vast majority of horse showing at the collegiate level is done through the 418 member schools of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA), many of which offer grants and scholarships for riding.

Members of the Bahamas Olympic Committee were on hand to show their support. Wellington Miller, BOC president, congratulated EB on the success of the event, and affirmed the BOC’s commitment to developing equestrian sport in the Bahamas.