RED HILL and Living In Hope were allotted top weight of 56.5 kilos in the two handicaps on the Arima Race Club Day 30 programme at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, on Saturday.

In the case of Red Hill, he will tote topweight against nine rivals in the 1200 metres Restricted Handicap framed for West Indian-bred three-year-old winners and imported three-year-olds. The sprint carrying a purse value of $21,000 will see the Edmund De Freitas-trained four-year-old handing out from one kilo to Honor Bound to 10.5 kilos to bottom-weights Bajan Connection and Rhythm Divine. And Living In Hope has been asked to head the handicap in a 1100 metres event on the turf course. In this dash, the Harriram Gobin four-year-old will be conceding a minimum one kilo to V For Victory and  maximun 9.5 kilos to Harold Chadee’s Finest Gem at the bottom of the handicap. Alternative weights were also allotted to the full complement of 12 runners in the turf race, should the stewards be forced to shift it to the main course Should this speed event  be switched to the sand, Classy Kim will shoulder the topweight of 56.5 kilos. The Stephen Jardim-trained chestnut will then be followed in the weights by Gettesburg 55.5 kilos and Fantastic Lad 54.5 kilos respectively. Living In Hope and V For Victory who are separated by one kilo on the grass, have been handed 54 kilos on the sand.

Following are entries and weights for both races: 
RACE 7: RESTRICTED HANDICAP – W I BRED 3 Y.O & OVER WINNERS AND IMPORTED 3 Y.O & OVER – PURSE $21,000 – 1200 METRES.
(1) RED HILL – 56.5, (2) HONOR BOUND – 55.5, (3) BITE D BULLET – 53.5, (4) SPLITTING IMAGE – 52, (5) BAZODEE GAL – 51.5, (6) RUBY RICH – 51.5, (7) BEAUTIFUL MIND – 51, (8) NATURELLY CLASSY – 48, (9) BAJAN CONNECTION – 46, (10) RHYTHM DIVINE – 46.
RACE 8: W I BRED 3 Y.O & OVER NON-WINNERS OF THREE RACES IN CAREER – PURSE $19,000 – 1100 METRES (TURF).
(1) LIVING IN HOPE – 56.5 (54), (2) V FOR VICTORY – 55.5 (54), (3) MIR ON FIRE – 54.5 (51.5), (4) FULL OF PROMISES – 54.5 (48.5), (5) CLASSY KIM – 53 (56.5), (6) GETTESBURG – 53 (55.5), (7) MILLENIUM REIGN – 52 (50), (8) FANTASTIC LAD – 51.5 (54), (9) FIRST TIME – 50 (48.5),  (10) HATRICK – 50 (50), (11) UPSET ALL – 46.5 (47.5), (12) FINEST GEM – 47 (47).

JOCKEY Jody Arneaud has lodged an appeal against a five-day ban slapped on  him by Arima Race Club stewards.

Arneaud drew the suspension for what was described as “careless riding of a major nature”  aboard Beautiful Mind in the Angostura 1919 Rum Handicap, fourth race on the Royal Oak Derby Day, Republic Day, Wednesday last at Santa Rosa Park, Arima. The Glenn Mendez-trained three-year-old was first past the post in the 1200 metres sprint ahead of Naturelly Classy but was relegated  to second after an objection. Arneaud whose suspension was to begin on October 4,  paid a $500 fee to lodge his appeal with the Trinidad and Tobago Racing Authority yesterday. Among Arneaud’s grounds of appeal was that he never intimidated any rider in the race, but was instead intimidated by jockeys Rajpaul Rajkumar aboard Affirm Decision and Sheldon Rodrigo on Naturelly Classy at the start of the event, which could be clearly seen on the video replay.

Arneaud claimed his mount was always clear of Naturelly Classy and was at the head of affairs when he made his bid. He said no objection was made with the Clerk of the Scale, and the only inquiry he knew of was when the stewards summoned most of the jockeys riding in the race regarding an incident leaving the start. Arneaud is adamant he kept a straight course from the top of the straight “and maintained my lane two position to the finish line.” He said he recalled passing both Naturelly Classy and Francesca approaching the 400-metre pole,  and “at no time did my horse interfere with either horse.” Arneaud claimed there was sufficient room on the rails for Naturelly Classy to pass but he never responded. He is contending the suspension was harsh, “and I strongly believe from the words of the stewards that I was not judged on my actions in nthe race but of my past sentence.”

Arneaud  who recently served a three-day ban for careless riding said: “In the circumstances, my grtounds of appeal give a clear indication of my innocence anbd look forward to an early hearing.” Meanwhile, trainer Glenn Mendez said he reviewed the running of the race and believes stewards have erred. And the man who became the first trainer to saddle two triple crown winners, Carnival Messiah (2001) and Top Of The Class this year, expressed his intentions to protest the stewards’ decision to relegate his horse, and hopes to reclaim the winner’s purse.

Former West Indies vice-captain Deryck Murray will formally announce his candidacy for the president of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) today at Guardian Life’s Head Office in Westmoorings. By throwing his hat into the ring, Murray will put himself at odds with the succession process already in place at the TTCB.

The TTCB will host their annual general meeting on October 25 at which a new president will be elected. Current president Alloy Lequay will step down on October 14 but will retain the position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO). He has reportedly hand-picked first vice-president Ellis Lewis to replace him and the executive is widely expected to support this move.  With the latest development cricket officials were yesterday reaching for their calculators in an attempt to line up the votes in anticipation of a close battle for the top job in local cricket. Murray, a manager at Guardian Life, was unavailable for comment yesterday. Lequay, just back from St Lucia where he attended the Venue Summit for the 2007 World Cup to the staged in the West Indies said he would rather not comment.

Murray after his retirement from international cricket joined the TT Diplomatic Corps and was posted in New York, USA before returning home two years ago. He was asked by Lequay to head the Sir Frank Worrell Cricket Academy at Balmain, Couva and held the position of director. But earlier this year he asked Lequay and the TTCB executive to void his three-year contract on the grounds that his appointment as a Guardian Life vice-president, Group and Affinity Marketing, will engage most his time. As a result he said, he would not be able to concentrate on his job with the NCC. Murray was granted his wish and his contract was made void in March.  He was then made a consultant until June when the second class at the centre was about to graduate. After that Murray wanted to continue as the director without pay but Lequay and the executive thought that it would be better to have others take charge. Since then Lequay, national coaching director Baldath Mahabir and West Indies Cricket Board Territorial coaching administrator Kumar Rampath have been taking care of affairs at the Centre.

Murray’s bid is the second consecutive bid made to wrest power away from the Lequay-dominated organisation. In 2001, sports administrator Anthony Harford made an unsuccessful bid to unseat Lequay who has been at the helm since 1981. Harford, a former airline pilot who is also a radio personality  withdrew at the last hour and Lequay retained his position. On October 24 the candidates will be vying to capture the better of 43 votes to claim the presidency. The votes will come from the Executive – 11; National League Committee – 6; Nominated Members – 3; Women’s Cricket Board -2; Umpires Council-2; Secondary Schools – 2; Primary Schools-2; Five Zones – 15. The 60-year-old Murray made his Test debut for the West Indies in 1963  against England. He played 62 Tests scoring 1,993 runs at an average of 22.90. He also held 181catches. In limited overs cricket he played 26 matches scoring 294 runs at 24.50. He has also served as president of the West Indies Players Association and also as an International Cricket Council Match Referee for three One-Day Internationals.

GROS-ISLET: Delegates who attended Saturday’s Venue Summit One, put on by the Venue Assessment Team (VAT) of ICC Cricket World Cup (CWC) West Indies 2007, left on Sunday motivated to develop their bids to stage matches when cricket’s most prestigious competition is held in the region in the next 43 months.

“I’m impressed with what was presented. Based on what they are saying it is difficult for any venue at the moment to be qualified to stage World Cup 2007,” President of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Chetram Singh told CMC. The Guyanese cricket chief said he was hopeful Guyana would stage matches, while announcing that a new stadium will be built to assist the country in its bid. “Our president was in India recently and had some contact with the Indian government which promised to actually build a stadium for Guyana. As we are talking now, three Indian experts should be in Guyana looking at a feasibility study. By the time we go home we will have talks with them to ensure we start,” Singh added. Singh said Major General Norman McLean chairs the committee and that the people of Guyana were optimistic about the World Cup. “We are not looking at a final or semi-final. We are looking at the preliminaries or quarter-finals, because we are very conscious of the fact that we do not have the amount of accommodation needed for a final or semi-final, so we are trying to live within our limitations,” Singh admitted. The City of Lauderhill of Broward County, Florida also intends to submit bid documents to the 2007 World Cup host committee to host a portion of the World Cup. Mayor Richard Kaplan headed their delegation, which has the former West Indies bowling great Lance Gibbs as chairman of their committee.

Kaplan said many issues were addressed during the day-long summit. “It was interesting how they presented many of the issues and requirements. We have quite a few people in our delegation knowledgeable about cricket and enjoy the sport. We have many people in South Florida who are followers of cricket. They have worked diligently with us, supporting the creation of tournaments and games. It has progressed quite significantly over a relatively short period of time,” Kaplan told CMC. He noted that the people of the city predominantly come from Caribbean islands. “They are really supportive of the action that we are taking and they are looking forward to some positive responses from us as they hope to see some of the games played in their area,” Kaplan added. Former Trinidad and Tobago player Theo Cuffy, who for several years has been involved in cricket development in the Cayman Islands, attended the summit as that country’s Technical Director. He described the day as absorbing and said a lot of doors have now been opened. “Even those countries that are prominent in the West Indies and their representatives must have seen something they haven’t seen before. It was an intensive day,” he said.

As was the buzz all along Maracas Beach prior to the start of the 2003 Hyundai Open Water Classic on Sunday, John-Stanley Littlepage did not disappoint as he swam to victory.

Littlepage took the crown left vacant by last year’s winner Nicholas Bovell. Young Bovell, brother of Pan Am triple medallist George Bovell III opted out of the race in preference to training for next year’s Olympic Games. The prompt 11 am start of the 3,000 metre aquatic chalenge on Sunday in the  choppy Maracas Bay waters saw Littlepage seize an early lead at the eastern end of the course which he retained till the end. He surfaced to loud cheers and  applause from an appreciative crowd in a time of 38 minutes 44 seconds. On his tail was the pair of Matthew Houllier and Sebastien Paddington who fought tooth and nail in the final sprint for second place. Houllier claimed that position, diving past the line in a time of 40.35, a mere second ahead of Carrington who returned a time of 40.36. The women’s event began ten minutes after the men and they made good time with the first of their bunch, Ayeisha Collymore coming in before some male swimmers. Melanie Charles followed a short while after and Zahra De Four made it into the third place to enthusiastic applause at the finish line.

Among the masters Amanda de la Rosa beat Ayana Gloudon into second while Sebastien Paddington was the first male to cross the line in the 25-29 age group. In the 30-34 age group for women, Eva Neemar finished ahead of Clare Morall while Andrew Kirby emerged the top male. Parandai Ramdait was the top 40-45 female followed by Wendy Ammon and Anna Clairon; Keith Rocke was king of the hill in the 35-39 category and Raul Viera was the top male in the 40-44 category. Barbadian swimmer Johnathan Morgan topped the men in the 45-49 group and Patricia de la Rosa was the top woman; Peter Gibbs also of Barbados took the 55-59 crown and Dana Pollard was the top 50-54 female; Gordon Ward topped the 65-69 group and Kenny Hosein took the 70-74 crown. Ikenna Ward, a 12-year-old put up a strong showing as he raced to top the juniors followed by the determined Christopher Buffong and Christian Homer.  Chloe Mc Millan was the first female junior out of the water and to the finish line with Nirmala Ramkhelawan and Alexandria Lewis in tow. Special awards were presented to Kimberlee John-Williams and Johnathan Fabio who competed in the 8 and Under age group and Christian Homer and Khadija Thornhill who were 9-10 competitors. The day was full of good, clean fun and competition and sponsors Hyundai should be commended for the level of professionalism with which they guided the day’s proceedings.

Following are the top ten finishers in the 3,000 metre swim:
8 & Under: Male— Johnathan Fabio, Female— Kimberlee John Williams.
9-10: Male— Christian Homer, Female— Khadija Thornhill.
Under-13 Male— 1. Ikenna Ward, 2.Christopher Buffong, 3.Christian Homer.
Under-13 Female— 1.Chloe Mc Millan, 2.Nirmala Ramkhelawan, 3.Alexandria Lewis.
Open Male: 1.John-Stanley Littlepage, 2.Matthew Houllier, 3.Sebastien Paddington, 4.Orlando Thom, 5.Kyle Affoon, 6.Joel Sankar, 7.Stuart Gillette, 8.Christian Flook, Joseph Ryan and 10. Anthony Schamber.
Open Female: 1.Ayeisha Collymore, 2.Melanie Charles, 3.Zahra De Four, 4.Chantal Redon, 5.Donna-Marie Wickham, 6.Odessia Charran, 7.Megan Charles, 8.Sharntelle Mc Lean, 9.Amanda de la Rosa and 10.Clare Morall.
Masters:
35-39: Male— Keith Rocke, Female— Amanda de la Rosa.
40-44: Male— Raul Viera, Female— Clare Morall.
45-49: Male— Johnathan Morgan, Female— Jacqueline Jodhan.
50-54: Male— Geoffrey Ferreira, Female— Parandai Ramchait.
55-59: Male— Peter Gibbs, Female— Patricia de la Rosa.
65-69: Male— Gordon Borde, Female— Donna Pollard.
70-74: Male— Kenny Hosein, Female— Doyle Swan.