SPORTS SECTION E
REGATTA
TUESDAY, JULY 11, 2017
Andros, Page 2
After wrong turn, Chad Albury wins the Cycling Nationals By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net CHRIS Curry didn’t have time to celebrate his first thrill of victory as a Bahamas Cycling Federation National Independence champion when it was all turned into an agony of defeat after a protest revealed that he inadvertently took a wrong turn on the gruelling, 77-mile road race. The race wrapped up a twopart series of the 44th annual nationals, which included a 16-mile time trials held on Saturday in the western end of the island that was clearly won by Commonwealth Youth Games representative Liam Holowesko. Curry, along with runner-up Jay Major, apparently made a wrong turn during the first two laps of the race, but was able to ride with the front pelaton until they came through the finish line in a sprint
in front of the Clifton Heritage parking lot in three hours, 27 minutes and 46 seconds ahead of Jay Major. However, upon review, the final decision had Chad Albury in first place with Anthony ‘Biggie’ Colebrook second, Curry third and Major fourth. “It is definitely bitter-sweet and one of the hardest things I have ever had to do,” said Albury about lodging the protest. “As you know, Chris, Jay and all of the guys that were in the chase group are very good friends of mine. “And while I know that their course deviation was not intentional, it still happened and was the means by which they made up the three-minute lead (after 40 miles) that Anthony and I had worked so hard to achieve.” Albury, who is en route to Bahrain where he works, said once he and Colebrook made their break away, they knew there was no way
COMMONWEALTH YOUTH GAMES REPRESENTATIVE LIAM HOLOWESKO CAPTURES 16-MILE TIME TRIALS
CHAD ALBURY that the rest of the pack could have made up the difference in that short space of time. Colebrook, who headed back to Grand Bahama where he works, couldn’t agree more. “I felt good about it, but I didn’t have enough mileage and training to prepare for it,” he said. “But I’m glad that
I came. Me and Chad had about a three-minute gap and there was no way we felt they could have caught us. “It turned out to be a heartbreaker for a few people, but it was good for me and Chad because we both worked so hard to get the breakaway.” A dejected Curry, however, said the decision was unfair. “I am extremely upset about the decision,” he said. “We would have caught them anyway. I wasn’t aware of any wrong turn. The official on the scooter was with us and said nothing to us about the turn so I just feel it’s unfair.” Major, however, was quite content with the ruling and the final outcome. “I think it’s fair. It’s not all on us, but due to the circumstances, I think it’s fair because
we did cut the course and that helped us in some sort of a way,” Major admitted. “I feel it’s fair under the circumstances. But I just feel that the federation needs to do better next time and not allow this problem to happen. There wasn’t no official on the corner. When we saw the official turning the corner, that was when we went.” Albury lodged a formal protest with the federation after the race. After investigation along with the cooperation of the International Cycling Federation’s technical director, federation president Roy Colebrook said they had to overturn the decision. “I’m grateful to Jay, who came
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Champions crowned MVPS, ALL-STARS NAMED ON FINAL DAY OF BASKETBALL WITHOUT BORDERS AMERICAS
NASSAU, Bahamas – The final day of the 9th Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Americas 2017 closed with a flourish as the top 66 boys and girls from 16 countries and territories competed in playoff games and a pair of All-Star games in front of cheering local Bahamian fans on Saturday. Action got underway in the morning as the four boys’ teams played in semi-final, consolation and championship games. The two girls’ teams played a single championship game. The boys’ champion was the Hawks, which defeated the Spurs in the title game. The Hawks were coached by Atlanta assistant coach Darvin Ham, Wayde Adderley and Derek Cummings. The Hawks roster was Zion Jones (US Virgin Islands), Jeriel Zayas (Puerto Rico), Francisco Farabello (Argentina), Lucas Zibecchi (Brazil), Jermaine Miranda Perez (Puerto Rico), Tyrece Thompson (Jamaica), Addison Patterson (Canada), Kai Jones (Bahamas), Jaden Bediako (Canada) and Kofi Cockburn (Jamaica). The girls’ champion was the Sparks, who beat the Fever in an exciting overtime finish, capped by a sudden-death basket. The Sparks were coached by FIBA coach Ronald Cass, Varell Davis and Felix Musgrove. The Sparks roster was Piper Doo (Canada), Diondrea Nixon (Bahamas), Rebeca Morones (Mexico), Lesiriam Pagan (Puerto Rico), Emily Martindale (Canada), Ellanis Armenteros Gelabert (Cuba), Esmery Dahiana Martinez (Dominican Republic), Thiare An-
LADIES ARE OFF TO THE CENTROBASKET By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net THE Bahamas women’s national basketball team, with seven players returning from the CentroBasket championship team in the British Virgin Islands two years ago, are off to the 2017 CentroBasket Tournament. The team, coached once again by Yolett McPheeMcCuin and assisted by Donnie Culmer and Terrance ‘Red Eye’ McSweeney, left town on Independence Day for St Thomas, Virgin Islands where the tournament runs July 12-16. The Bahamas will be
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WILL JONQUEL START IN ALLSTAR GAME?
WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS: The boys’ champion was the Hawks (top), who defeated Spurs in the title game. The girls’ champion was Sparks (above), who beat Fever in an exciting overtime finish, capped by a sudden-death basket. Photos: Bahamas Visual Services tonella Garcia Gutierrez (Chile), Karla Alejandra Martinez Hidalgo (Mexico), Solmilena Arias (Dominican Republic) and Marcela
Gutierrez (Uruguay). At the conclusion of the games, the boys’ and girls’ All-Star teams were announced, and in the after-
noon, the camp was opened to the general public for the two camper All-Star Games. • See column on page 3
By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net JUST hours remain before we learn if Jonquel Jones is selected as a starter of the WNBA All-Star game and her Connecticut Sun continue to draw attention as one of the hottest teams in the league. The Sun overcame a 22-point third quarter deficit and rallied for a 96-92 win over the Washington Mystics at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, on Saturday. Jones scored 22 points and grabbed nine rebounds - both team highs - as the Sun won their fourth consecutive game and moved
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‘Final touches’ for Commonwealth Youth Games guests By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net WITH the Bahamas getting ready to host the biggest sporting event ever in just one week, Rommel Knowles, managing director of the CYG Association, said they are busy putting on the final touches for their guests. “Plans are progressing,” said Knowles, who also serves as the secretary general of the Bahamas Olympic Committee. “All of them will be completed or have their final touches done by Wednesday or Thursday. “Some of the officials and teams are expected to start arriving as early as Tuesday (today) where they will be staying at four different Games Villages.”
Around 1,300 athletes between the ages of 14 and 18 will be in the Bahamas to participate in the games in nine different disciplines that will be held at three locations with the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre as the main hub of activities. • Tennis will be staged at the National Tennis Centre • Rugby seven-a-side will be at the original Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium. Athletics or track and field will be at the new Thomas A Robinson National Stadium from Thursday, July 20 to Sunday, July 23. • Aquatics or swimming will be at the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex from Wednesday, July 19 to Saturday, July 22.
• Beach volleyball will be staged at the Malcolm Park Beach Soccer Facility for women and men from Tuesday, July 18 to Saturday, July 22. • Beach soccer for boys and girls will be at the Malcolm Park Beach Soccer Facility from Wednesday, July 19 to Saturday, July 22. • Boxing will take place at the Kendal Issacs Gymnasium from Monday, July 17 to Sunday, July 23. • Cycling at the Clifton Heritage Park on Wednesday, July 19 and Sunday, July 23. • Judo will take place at the Kendal Isaacs Gym from Monday, July 17 to Wednesday, July 19. • Rugby Seven-A-Side will be
staged at the original Thomas A Robinson National Stadium from Wednesday, July 19 to Friday, July 21. • Tennis will be staged at the National Tennis Centre from Wednesday, July 19 to Sunday, July 23. Beach soccer and volleyball as well as judo are three new sports being introduced to the games this year. They have replaced archery, lawn bowls, weightlifting and squash, which have been dropped. Cycling will be making a return to the games this year. Although some of the athletes have been named already, Knowles said the LOC plans to officially name the athletes selected to represent the Bahamas on Wednesday. He indicated
that based on the list they have receivedit should be a very competitive team. Derron Donaldson, a first vice president of the BOC, will serve as Team Bahamas’ Chef de Mission. The games, which got started in 2000 in Edinburgh, Scotland with 15 countries in eight sports and 7,673 athletes participating, was awarded to the Bahamas in 2016 after St Lucia withdrew in 2015, citing financial difficulties. A colourful opening ceremony is being planned for Tuesday, July 18. The closing ceremony is set for Sunday, July 23. Both ceremonies will take place at the new Thomas A Robinson Stadium. Tickets will be available online at http://www. bahamas2017cyg.org/ and onsite provided by “ETix.”