Trinidad and Tobago’s Kerry Baptiste, ex- national striker Kerry Noray and Under-23 defender Serginho Sandy have left Trinidad and Tobago to pursue scholarships at the Lindsey Wilson College, Kentucky, United States. Baptiste, who is also a member of the national U-23 squad, and Noray were members of the league champs CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh while Sandy played club football for “the Stallions” Caledonia AIA.
MARAC, Village Olympics debutantes in the Victoria East region have begun campaign in the community competition by mowing down all opposition including defending champs Tableland. They are now set to extend the dominance on the national level. Running undefeated in their region, the young cricket team has made an impression and caught the attention of Member of Parliament for Ortoire/ Mayaro Franklin Khan who now sponsors them. MP Khan, who is also the Minister of Works and Transport has provided the team with uniforms and support since their formation.
As a result, the team has expressed its appreciation to him for supporting its efforts. A team representative yesterday also noted that the minister has always shown an interest in the game and sports in general and sees the initiative taken as an example all other MPs should emulate. Marac seems poised for greatness, coming off their last win over Talparo, as they head into a quarter-final match up with Gran Couva today.
The Air Bon Sonics Athletic Club will host a keep fit programme on Sunday September 14 at the Bon Air Primary School Grounds, Phase One, Bon Air from 8 am to 1.30 pm. The Sonics Club has been in existence for over five years, and they have developed many budding young athletes who have represented Trinidad and Tobago. Among their top athletes are Nicholas Graham, Justyn Julien, Henderix Foncette, Isle Winter, Sabrina Albert, Kevon Solomon, Zoe Clarke, Leseli Eastman, Kelliann Smith and Victor Eastman. Despite being the track and field off-season, the young athletes from Under- 9 to Under-20 are kept busy with aerobics, hikes and cross-country runs. The club not only focuses on developing the athletes’ track skills, but also their all-round ability in the social and intellectual spheres.
Air Bon has also invited motivational speakers such as AP Toussaint to speak to their athletes. The president and head coach, Earl Bourne has also expressed the desire for the club to help develop Bon Air as a tightly-knit community. “The main aspect of the club is to develop the athletes’ full potential. We are looking to produce athletes to represent Trinidad and Tobago at the highest level. “We aim to be part of the Pen-relays (World Junior Track and Field meet in Pennsylvania, USA), and we also look to forge a link with with a track and field club in Maryland. “We also include lectures from role models to help the young athletes develop as all round persons,” Bournes said. Persons interested in assisting Air Bon or attending the Health and Fitness Seminar can contact Earl Bournes at 642-4445 or Allison Julien (secretary) at 642-2913. The club has also set up an account at First Citizens Bank at Arima, No 1193000 and welcomes donations.
TACTICAL BID made light of his six rivals to win the feature Mr Solo Restricted Handicap at the Arima Race Club “Friday Lime” at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, yesterday. Jockey Brian Harding broke the Cyril “Greypatch” Arneaud-trained filly smartly in the 1300 metres event, but allowed Bajan Connection to go by after 200 metres. The Russell Ramsammy-owned filly took over again 400 metres out and after that it was all over bar the shouting, as Harding only had to use hand and knees to get her home a comfortable three-and-a-half-length winner. Groomsman, winner of the 1999 Royal Oak Derby, returned to form to land the Intense Too Optional Claiming over 1300 metres under the urging of Panamanian jockey Nobel Abrego. Speedy Crimson Tower opened her local account with a smooth victory in the day’s opener, the Roughneck Handicap over 1150 metres, while My Aphrodite came with a resolute stretch run under the strong driving of Haniff Emamalie to shed her maiden tag, winning the Matrix Conditional Maidens event over 1200 metres. Victory for Emamalie, president of the Jockey’s Association, gave him his 300th career winning ride. Yesterday’s seven-race programme, the second Friday Lime this year, was co-sponsored by Carib and featured all races named after powerboats in the Carib Great Race scheduled for August 23. Both Harding and Abrego booted home doubles on a day which could have been called Favourites Day as six of the seven events were won by favourites, with the lone surprise win coming in the final race won by Super Grey. As a result, tote, trifecta and superfecta dividends were moderate throughout the day.
The inaugural Newsday Cycling Classic will ride off on Wednesday September 24 (Republic Day). The programme is sponsored by Newsday newspaper and cyclists will compete on a circuit around the King George V Park, St Clair for more than $7,400 in cash and medals up for grabs. Organisers of the races are Phillip Promotions, headed by former national track champion Michael Phillip. The day will feature six events beginning with a one-lap sprint followed by a four-lap race for unregistered competitors. Then the juniors and veterans will do five laps. The main event is a gruelling 30-laps around the park. In addition there will be a special event designated for children ranging from six and under to 14 and under in which the first three finishers will receive medals. Registration for the seniors is $30 while Veterans and suniors can register for $20. Children and unregistered participants will have to pay $10.
For more information call 622-9862.
Avengers All Fours club defeated Sprangers 61-42 in the latest round of matches in the Nationwide Sports League/ Teachers Scotch Whiskey All Fours tournament. Avengers were led to victory by R Rooplal and N Balchan who won 14 games on their table. Also in winners row were Ah Tell Yuh who whipped Believe It or Not by the margin of 61-59.
ALL FOURS RESULTS
Paramin def D’Settlers 61-39; Ah Tell Yuh def Believe It or Not 61-59; Delhi Dynamics def Executives 61-54; Aven-gers def Sprangers 61-42; D’Grandmasters def Kroisee Boys 61-44; Superstar def Musketeers 63-61; Brave Hearts def Eureka 61-53; Brothers United def Super Sports 61-40; Supersonics def Young Leaders 61-56; Rambo-12 def Moruga 61-45; Pharoah def Ah Tell Yuh 61-59; Believe It of Not def Uprising 61-49; D’Grandmas-ters def Nick ‘N’ Cut 61-37; D’Bulls def Kroisee Boys 61-57; Sprangers def X-Terminators 61-59; Avengers def United Drillers 61-53; Brothers United def Wreckers 61-59; New Recruits def All Apaches 61-59; West Side def Super Sports 61-57; New Age Outlaws def Paramin 61-48.
France-based professional Dexter St Louis and his step-daughter Rheann Chung, will arrive in today to join up with the national team for the Caribbean Senior Table Tennis Cham-pionship. The Trinidad and Tobago government have funded their trip from across the Atlantic. St Louis, a former Carib-bean champion, and Chung, will join Cuba-based Aleena Edwards, the national wo-men’s triple champion, as the three overseas players in the eight-member senior team for the tournament, which serves off in King-ston, Jamaica, on Saturday and concludes on August 23.
TT Squad:
Men — Dexter St Louis, Reeza Burke, Anthony Brown, Curtis Humphreys.
Women — Rheann Chung, Aleena Edwards, Nicole Motilal, Shelly Ann Parris.
The Strugglers didn’t live up to their name as they easily beat Youth Achievers 5-2 as action continued in the Croisee Football League. Strugglers also got the better of Simple Touch with a 1-0 victory. In the other match played the California Westars played to a one-all draw with Simple Touch. In the Croisee Supermarket Under-16 League St Mary’s United are virtual winners topping the standings with nine points. St. Mary’s have only one defeat in four games with an overwhelming 16 goals for and only five goals against. Second place Ajax FC and Cap Off Youths, who are third, each have a match each in hand. They will need to score an improbable 16 goals each to displace St Mary’s United at the top of the standings.
ROCHESTER: Trinidadian golf star Stephen Ames had a fragile start to the US PGA Championship and ended in joint 145th position when the first round ended on Thursday evening. In hot and tough playing conditions at the Oak Hill Country Club, Ames carded a 12 over-par 82, a whopping 16 strokes behind American Phil Mickelson and Rod Pampling of Australia, the first round leaders. The left-handed Mickelson and Pampling both carded 66s to lead by a stroke over Billy Andrade, with Mike Weir and Lee Janzen a further shot behind in joint fourth.
World number one Tiger Woods faces the prospect of ending the season without a grand slam victory for the first time since 1998 after he shot a disappointing four over-par 74 to enter yesterday’s second day in joint 58th position. Woods is chasing his ninth major but his first since last year’s US Open. Ames, rated 96th in the world, needed a very efficient round yesterday to avoid missing the cut.
Archie Leiba is no longer the Shuko-Kai International representative for Trinidad and Tobago. The new president is Indira Ramlogan, and the general-secretary is Keshni Sookram. Shuko-Kai Trinidad and Tobago is represented by the Trinidad and Tobago Karate Alliance (T&TKA). Branch instructors include Curtis Carrera, Dwayne McLean Parris, Helen Jack, Andy Pierre, Keith Taylor, Anthony Persad, Shiraz Mohammed, Sheila Mohammed and Lynette Bachoo. Shuko-Kai is also expanding in the Caribbean region. Next April, the first Caribbean Shuko-Kai conference will be held in Trinidad and Tobago. Shihan Kunio Miyake will be here to conduct technical seminars and workshops for Caribbean instructors.
For more information call 761-7480 or email: trinbagokarate @yahoo.com
