QUEEN’S PARK Top Guns were expected to face Petrotrin Stars at the Petrotrin Pointe-a-Pierre Courts in one semi-final contest in Division “A” of the 2003 National Squash League. After the conclusion of the round-robin phase of matches, the “oil men” shared the divisional title with Queen’s Park Old Navy with 18 points while Q/Park Hard Core were third on 12 points and Top Guns fourth on 10 points. Old Navy were also listed to host Hard Core at the Queen’s Park Oval courts. Also, at the Oval, Queen’s Park Mix and Match were billed to meet Lucozade Hot Shots in a Division “B” semi-finals.

RECENT RESULTS
“A” DIVISION
QUEEN’S PARK OLD NAVY bt PETROTRIN STARS 4-1 – Paul De Verteuil bt Colin Ramasra 9-5, 9-5, 1-9, 9-3; Neil Galbaransingh lost to John Holley 1-9, 0-9, 2-9; Ryan Jagessar bt Peter Pirtheesingh 9-7, 9-5, 9-7; Nasser Abdul bt Peter Ward 3-9, 9-1, 9-1, 9-1; Brandon De Montrichard bt Roger Ache by walkover.
QUEEN’S PARK HARD CORE bt KLUB SQUASH ONE 5-0 – Mark Laughlin bt Omar De Four 9-1, 10-9, 9-2; Bob Ramchand bt William Bhola 9-1, 9-3, 9-8; Richard Hart bt Darren Laidlow 9-6, 9-8, 9-6; Andy Hopwood bt Clint Lange 9-4, 9-1, 9-6; Jeff Sanguinette won by default.
QUEEN’S PARK OLD NAVY bt KLUB SQUASH ONE 5-0 – Paul De Verteuil bt Roger Salandy 7-9, 9-1, 9-2, 9-1; Neil Galbaransingh bt Omar De Four 9-2, 9-6, 9-5; Ryan Jagessar bt Julien Henry 9-5, 9-2, 9-1; Nasser Abdul bt William Bhola 1-9, 9-1, 9-0, 9-5; Robert Wong bt Darren Laidlow 9-4, 9-1, 10-8.
QUEEN’S PARK OLD NAVY bt QUEEN’S PARK TOP GUNS 4-1 – Paul De Verteuil bt Ryan Abraham 9-6, 10-8, 9-1; Neil Galbaransingh bt Marc Pontifex 9-7, 9-7, 6-9, 10-8; Jean Marc De Montrichard lost to Brian Jackson 9-6, 5-9, 8-9, 6-9; Ryan Jagessar bt Mike Farah 9-6, 9-0, 9-2; Nasser Abdul bt Jon Davis 9-1, 9-3, 9-1.

B DIVISION
QUEEN’S PARK MIX & MATCH bt FOREST RESERVE DRILLERS 4-1 – Lewis Smith lost to Glen Massy 4-9, 9-7, 4-9, 3-9; Dean Lee Lum bt Ronald Patrice 9-3, 9-4, 9-2; Wayne Kangaloo bt Roger Gill 9-1, 9-2, 9-1; Harry Laughlin bt Victor Thong 10-8, 10-9, 9-4; Jiggs Edghill bt Winston Young Lai 9-2, 9-0, 9-1.
DEEP STROKE bt PETRO-PRES OLE BOYS 4-1 – Sean Quong Sing bt Neal Ramasra 9-2, 9-3, 1-9, 9-6; Peter Halstead bt Shiva Ramlogan 9-3, 9-0, 9-6; Paul Vilain lost to Navin Ramsingh 9-8, 3-9, 3-9, 5-9; Liesl Tom Yew Chin bt Peter Celestine 9-2, 7-9, 9-3, 9-2; Alfred Bell bt Alan Poon King 0-9, 9-5, 7-9, 9-5, 9-5.

C DIVISION
(Level One) – QUEEN’S PARK.COM bt LA JOYA RACKETEERS 4-1 – Derek Murray lost to Premraj Persad 1-9, 3-9, 10-8, 3-9; Josh Pinard bt Cindy Lee Foon 9-2, 9-3, 9-0; David Scott bt Charles McDavid 9-5, 9-6, 9-0; Colin Mowser bt Richard Breton 9-3, 9-0, 9-6; Adam Alkins bt Neil Singh 9-1, 9-1, 9-1.
(Level Two) – SNIKLA SHREDDERS bt EASTERN RACKETEERS 3-2 – Nicholai Cornilliac lost to Adrian Dyer 5-9, 1-9, 9-5, 0-9; Ingrid Lloyd bt Ajay Monjoo 9-2, 9-1, 4-9, 9-2; Nicole Currie lost to Julian Bada 9-5, 5-9, 6-9, 2-9; Tony Ramkissoon bt Brian Dyer 9-3, 9-4, 9-0; Franklyn Harracksingh lost to Abdullah Mohammed 1-9, 4-9, 0-9.
(Level Three) – QUEEN’S PARK NEX GENERATION bt PETROTRIN MERGERS 5-0 – Brandon De Montrichard bt Dexter Hive 9-1, 9-1, 9-1; Graeme Alkins bt Virgil Paray 9-4, 9-6, 9-5; Kurt Collier bt Winston Boodram 9-4, 9-5, 9-6; Johnathan Decle bt John Thompson 3-9, 9-5, 9-7, 9-7; Tony Alcantara bt Avory Sinanan by walkover.

ISLE BE THERE can continue his upturn in form for trainer John O’Brien by taking the Santa Rosa Classic, feature race  on the Arima Race Club Day 21 card at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, today. The Kdanzc/Isle Be Gone gelding reverts to sprinting today, and his preparation suggests he could play a leading role in this 1200 metres dash which holds the spotlight. This three-year-old was earmarked to be one of the leading juveniles last season but did not live up to expectations. But he has shown marked  improvement this term, landing two wins over a  distance of ground before finishing third to Top Of The Class in the CLICO Midsummer Classic. Although Isle Be There had no chance with the winner in the second leg of the triple crown, there was a lot to like about his effort since he had some quality animals behind him. And it should be noted that Isle Be There won’t be inconvenienced by the drop down to 1200 metres, given that today’s race is sure to develop into an end-to-end gallop. O’Brien seemed to be in two minds as to which race to place the Diane Scott owned gelding, having also set his sights on the 1750 Handicap in which he left in Due Dilligence, Bound To Dot Com and Fresh Mandate. But the champion trainer may have been influenced to pit Isle Be There in the sprint feature after he brightened up Wednesday morning’s gallop in a schooling session from the boxes.

O’Brien is a shrewd judge and holds his charge in some regard, and it would be no surprise to see the chestnut justifying expectations by winning the $60,000 Grade One event in the hands of the competent Nobel Abrego. Beautiful Mind is one of the speed-balls in today’s 12-strong field. He had just one race last year winning  the Nursery Stakes in pole-to-pole fashion, before injury sidelined him for the remainder of the season. His first run this term was nothing to write home about, folding up tamely when tackled by Naturelly Classy up the stretch. But his second appearance offered much more hope, finishing third to Undisputed and A Firm Relief after being bounced early. Beautiful Mind has come on since both runs and could provide the main opposition to our top choice. Dottie’s Way ran a blinder only to be edged out by Outswinger in the Indian Arrival Day Handicap. The winner has since franked the form with another gutsy display before falling away behind Millennium Reign and Phantom Bidder. Dottie’s Way has performed with distinction on both surfaces and on that form line, looks good to take the supporting Allowance race earlier

Trinidad and Tobago junior badminton stars were stunned by the power and precision of their Surinamese counterparts in the Caribbean Regional Badminton Confederation (CAREBACO) Championships opening round team competition at the Jean Pierre Complex, Mucurapo, yesterday. The South American mainland-ers won convincingly 4-1 margin, a result also achieved by the Jamaicans over their Barbadian rivals. Both rounds of matches were contested simultaneously and by virtue of their victories, Suriname and Jamaica have installed themselves as the favourites to take the Junior Caribbean Badminton team title. These two will clash tomorrow in the virtual decider at the same venue from 4 pm. Today, Trinidad and Tobago will face off with the Barbadians at 9 am at the JP Complex from 9 am while Barbados juniors will face the might of the Dutchmen also at the same time. Following the junior matches, Suriname and Barbados seniors will battle for supremacy. Admission to these matches is $10 per person. In the opening stanza of the 2003 championships, the TT juniors were given a sound lesson in superior badminton skills and excellent positional placements. Under 19 triple-crowned champion Rahul Rampersad partnered girls title-holder Vicki Singh in the mixed doubles but they were unable to withstand the power and tactical play of the Surinamese pair of  Mitchell Wong Sodekrono and Stephanie Jadie and bowed out 1-15, 2-15.

There were more disappointment as Suriname’s champion Virgil Soeroredjo, who has campaigned successfully at the Caribbean level and other international tournaments, gave Rampersad no respite and triumphed 15-3, 15-4 in the key boys singles match. TT’s Under-19 runner-up Nichesha Blake restored some pride and hope when she downed Stephanie Esajas in a thrilling three-setter, winning 11-7, 3-11, 11-1. The scoreline was now 2-1 but the local girls tandem of  KellyAnn Sampson and Kimberley Clarke offered partial resistance but succumbed to the Jadie and Esajas combination, losing 5-15, 4-15. The real fireworks were reserved for the boys doubles and TT’s Under-17 champion pair of Justin Siu and Earnesto Dean were washed away and completely dominated by the experienced Surinamese combination of Soeroredjo and Sodekrono who wrapped up a convincing 4-1 victory over the locals. They won without losing a point 15-0, 15-0. Kirk Francis and Shawekka Phillips got the better of Barbados’ male junior champion  Rene Reifer and Sherika Waite 15-7, 17-14 in the mixed doubles to give Jamaica an early 1-0 lead. And then Casif Bernard smashed out Carlos Barrow 15-3, 15-0 in the singles encounter to advance the scoreline to 2-0. But Barbados bounced back and narrowed the margin to 2-1 when their girls’ champion Shari Watson showed her class and disposed of Tracy Morgan 11-5, 11-9 in the singles clash. Morgan returned to action with Phillips in the doubles and restored Jamaica’s lead and advantage with a thrilling and nail-biting 15-11, 2-15, 15-13 victory over the Watson and Waite combination. Bernard and Francis stretched Jamaica’s lead to 4-1 when they outplayed the Reifer/Barrow pair 15-3, 15-8.

CAREBACO Junior Team Champion-ship summarised scores:
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO lost to JAMAICA (1-4).
MD: Rahul Rampersad and Vicki Singh lost to Mitchell Sodekrono and Stephanie Jadie 1-15, 2-15.
BS: Rampersad lost to Virgil Soeroredjo 3-15, 4-15.
GS: Nichesha Blake beat Stephanie Esajas 11-7, 3-11, 11-1.
GD: KellyAnn Sampson and Kimberley Clarke lost to Jadie and Esajas 5-15, 4-15.
BD: Justin Siu and Earnesto Dean lost to Soeroredjo and Sodekrono 0-15, 0-15.
 JAMAICA beat BARBADOS (4-1).
MD: Kirk Francis and Shawekka Phillips beat Rene Reifer and Shari Watson 15-7, 17-14.
BS: Casif Bernard beat Carlos Barrow 15-3, 15-0.
GS: Tracy Morgan lost to Shari Watson 5-11, 9-11.
GD: Morgan and Phillips beat Watson and Waite 15-11, 2-15, 15-13.
BD: Bernard and Francis beat Reifer and Barrow 15-3, 15-8.

TOBAGONIAN Kelly-Ann Baptiste collected the bronze medal in the girls’ 100m final last night as the third IAAF World Under-18 Track and Field Championships continued in Sherbrook, Canada. The 16-year-old nation-al junior champ, running in lane seven, crossed the finish line in 11.58 seconds, behind the Ameri-can duo of Jessica Onyepunuka, who registered a championship record time of 11.31, and Krystin Lacy, who ran 11.50. Fellow 16-year-old Trinidadian finalist Monique Cabral was eighth and last in 11.95, running in lane one. Baptiste clocked 11.94 to finish second in the first semi-final while Cabral advanced as one of the fastest losers, with a personal best time of 11.78 to finish third in the second semi. Jamil James also guaranteed a spot in the boys’ 400m final after he finished second in yesterday’s second semi-final in 47.60 seconds while CARIFTA champ Usain “Thunderbolt” Bolt of Jamaica failed to start in the first of three “semis.”

The 16-year-old James, who is the National Seniors bronze medallist, is drawn in lane six of today’s final. But Abigail David failed in her bid to qualify for today’s girls’ one-lap final. The 17-year-old was fifth in the first “semi” in a slow time of 56.48 seconds. Earlier yesterday, sprinter Marcus Duncan and national 800m junior princess Denele De Verteuil saw their gold medal hopes dashed in the heats. The 16-year-old Duncan was third in heat seven of the 100m in 11 seconds flat, failing to advance as one of the six fastest losers to today’s “semis” while the 17-year-old De Verteuil placed fifth in heat two of the 800m heats in two minutes 15.46 seconds. On Thursday night, national junior and CARIFTA gold medallist Rhonda Watkins ad-vanced to today’s final of the high jump in a personal best attempt of 1.78 metres. And Cory Gibbs qualified for tomorrow’s final of the boys’ high jump with a leap of two metres flat, equalling his personal best which he set en route to winning gold in the 2002 CARIFTA Championships in Nassau, Bahamas.

PROFESSIONAL boxing makes a welcome return to the local ring tonight with a promsing card promoted by Cosmic Boxing Club and Fine Line Kickboxing Gym from 7.30 pm at the Central Indoor Sports Facility, Chaguanas. In the main bout Trinidad and Tobago welterweight champion Floyd Trumpet comes up against Barbadian Shurwayne Marshall in a ten-round scrap. Marshall, nicknamed “The Mauler” is a late replacement for Benjamin Modeste, who reportedly suffered an injury and pulled out of the contest. However he was brimming with confidence yesterday at the official weighing-in ceremony at the fight venue saying he is not afraid of anyone and expects a quick victory. Trumpet, with a record of 11 victories in 14 fights is seeking to get another crack at the Caribbean Championship and is anxious to prove his worth against the Barbadian. “I am ready to rumble. These Bajans are too cocky. I am on a mission,” said the Cunupia postie yesterday. He last fought in mid-2002 when he was stopped by fellow Trinidadian Felix Vanderpool in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, for the regional crown. Trumpet failed to answer the bell for the fourth round and following an investigation by the American authorities was cleared of any wrongdoing.

Also in the spotlight tonight is a women’s six-round fight between Carapichaima sensation Ria Ramnarine, ranked ninth in the world, against Princes Town teenager Vicki Boodram who is making her professional debut. Ramnarine, defeated only twice in her five bouts is regarded as the most technically gifted female fighter in the ring and hopes to maintain her ranking with a convincing showing against the superby fit but untested Boodram. In an amateur grudge match Terrance Lokai, the Caribbean flyweight champion of Revival Boxing Gym in Port-of-Spain matches fists with Aaron Cumberbatch of Phoenix Gym in Princes Town. Lokai, fresh out of the Caribbean Championships in Bahamas earlier this year outpointed Cumberbatch in two practice bouts. As a result Cumberbatch, last year’s outstanding junior fighter at the regional championships is gunning for revenge and under coach Anthony Waterman thinks he can upset Lokai in their four-rounder. Two other amateur bouts will complete the boxing action: Middleweight Donald Snaggs fights Simeon Prince; and Fayium Muhammed comes up against Leroy Isadore. Both bouts are over three rounds. There will also be several kick boxing contests.

KINGSTON: Nuie, a tiny South Pacific island with a population close to  2,000 have proven to be the Cinderella team of the 11th Cable and Wireless Netball Championships which entered its second day here yesterday. And another surprise team are United States, where the sport  of netball is hardly recognised. Both teams have earned the right to play in the “big league” (Top 12) of the  Championship. Nuie showed their opening 48-39 victory over Northern Ireland was no fluke when they stunned Caribbbean team Grenada 44-42 at the new National Sports Centre yesterday morning. And the Americans outplayed another Caribbean team, St Vincent and the Grenadines, the Caribbean champions 46-33 at the same venue also yesterday. Both United States and Nuie were among the lower-ranked teams battling it  out in preliminary-round qualifying matches to compete for the trophy with  perennial champions Australia, New Zealand, England, Jamaica and South Africa. The United States next play Australia today, while Nuie take on two-time winners New Zealand, the Silver Ferns. In yesterday’s match US goal-attack Jolene Christopher was playing against   her 27-year-old aunt, Joanna Christopher, who is goal-shoot for beaten SVG. The US squad comprise 12 Caribbean-born players. The other two are an Australian and English. An elated St Lucia-born US captain Sybil Smith said: “We came here to be in the dance as we say and we have gotten into the party.” 

Other results yesterday: Samoa (61) vs Sri Lanka (33); Barbados (44) vs Scotland (33).
Thursday’s scores: Samoa (50) vs Antigua (46); Sri Lanka (81) vs Cayman Is. (18); Barbados (62) vs St Lucia (37); Scotland (53) vs Hong Kong 16);
Grenada (31) vs Canada 29);  Nuie (48) vs Northern Ireland (39); St Vincent (45) vs Wales (36); USA (60) vs Bermuda (31).
Today’s matches: Grenada vs St Lucia, 10.30 am; St Vincent vs Antigua, 10.45 am; Northern Ireland vs Scotland, 11 am; Bermuda vs Sri Lanka, 12.45 pm; Canada vs Hong Kong, 1 pm; Walses vs Cayman Is, 1.15 pm; Barbados vs Fiji, 4 pm; Samoa vs South Africa, 4.15 pm; Nuie vs New Zealand, 4.30 pm; USA vs Australia and Cook Islands vs England, 6.30 pm.