CARIBBEAN volleyball queens Trinidad and Tobago have been drawn in Group B for this year’s fourth edition of the Caribbean Volleyball Tournament. The Trinidadians are grouped with Netherland Antilles, Aruba and Antigua in a round-robin phase. Hosts Martinique, Barbados, Bahamas and Jamaica will meet in Group A of the tournament which serves off on July 20. The Martiniquans, Trinidad and Tobago, Aruba and newcomers Dominica will match up in Group A in the  men’s category, with defending champs Netherland Antilles, Bahamas, Jamaica and Barbados contesting in Group B. St Lucia, the dominant force in the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and Suriname, the 2001 hosts, will miss the tournament which is scheduled to close on  July 27.

ASPIRING young golfers between the ages of five and 18 will have the opportunity to learn the rudiments of the sport at the Chaguaramas Golf Course during the July-August school vacation. The Chaguaramas Golf Club, in collaboration with the Trinidad and Tobago Professional Golf Association (T&TPGA), will hold their annual summer golf camp from July 7-18, July 21-31 and August 4-15. From teeing off to putting, the golfers will have a chance to improve their knowledge on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8.30 am — 11.30 am. Cost of participating in any two-week session is $350 per child with golfing equipment provided while a grand tournament, with prizes for every competitor, will conclude each of the fortnightly programmes. For more information call 766-3940 or 634-4364 extension 302.

TINY Ornella George showed she was an allround athlete in the making, striking gold in three Under-11 events at this year’s National Gas Company “Right On Track” Programme at the Hasely Crawford Stadium. And Kafi Brathwaite emulated George’s feat in the Under-15 age group by claiming the gold also in three events, while among the boys Selwyn Russell  showed his talent by taking the gold in three events at  Saturday’s Demonstration Meet. George romped to victory in the 80 metres and 150 metres, then out-leapt her rivals in the long jump, while Brathwaite captured the 60 metres hurdles, 150 metres and javelin. Russell captured the gold in the 100 metres, 200 metres and discus among the boys Under-15, while Christian Benjamin triumphed in both the 60 metres hurdles and long jump in his age group. Also turning in some excellent performances were Under-13 Lisa James who was second to Brathwaite in the 60 metres hurdles but took gold in the shot putt. National Gas Company teamed up with Phoenix Park Gas Processors Limited, Fruta,  Unit Trust Corpora-tion and Express to stage the “Right On Track” programme aimed at fostering development in potential athletes. There were approximately 51 young aspiring athletes who showcased their talent at the meet.

Here are some results: Girls Under-13 60m Hurdles: 1.Kafi Brathwaite, 2.Lisa James and 3.Candace James.
Boys Under-13 60m Hurdles: 1.Christian Benjamin, 2.Atwell Gomes and 3.Jamerson James.
Boys Under-9 Cricketball Throw: 1.Stephon Kerr (34.30m), 2.Micah Goddard (19.75m) and 3.Kyle St.Clair (19.25m)
Girls Under-9 Cricketball Throw: 1.Breanna Gomes (30.50m) and 2.Calysha Ovide.
Girls Under-13 Javelin: 1.Kafi Brathwaite (23.51m), 2.Shakira Thompson (22.27m) and 3.Lisa James (15.97m).
Boys Under-11 Long Jump: 1.Christian Benjamin (4.39m), 2.David Collis (4.19m) and 3.Khadeem Hackshaw (3.65m).
Girls Under-11 Long Jump: 1.Ornella George (3.31m) and 2.Sherrice Modeste (2.44m).
Girls Under-13 Shot Putt: 1.Lisa James (7.09m), 2.Shakira Thompson (6.84m) and 3.Darcel Sade Sylvester (5.65m).
Boys Under-13 Shot Putt: 1.Shawn McFarlane (9.35m), 2.Sheldon Sankersingh (8.31m) and 3.Darren Reason (7.85m).
Girls Under-15 100m: 1.Isabel Dennis, 2.Maria Neverson and 3.Victoria St.Louis.
Boys Under-15 100m: 1.Selwyn Russell, 2.David Duncan and 3.Ranies Lewis.
Girls Under-9 80m: 1.Breanna Gomes and 2.Calysha Ovide.
Boys Under-9 80m: 1.Yaharvey Asing, 2.Ranako Daniel and 3.Jarrel Guevara.
Girls Under-11 80m: 1.Ornella George and 2.Sherrice Modeste.
Boys Under-11 80m: 1.Keil Hamilton, 2.Brandon Benjamin and 3.Khadeem Hackshaw.
Girls Under-13 150m: 1.Kafi Brathwaite, 2.Aquana Jones and 3.Darcel Sade Sylvester.
Boys Under-13 150m: 1.Sheldon Sankersingh, 2.Shawn McFarlene and 3.Darren Reason.
Girls Under-15 High Jump: 1.Nikiesha Harris (145cm), 2.Isabel Dennis (130cm) and 3.Victoria St.Louis (120cm).
Boys Under-15 Discus: 1.Selwyn Russell (24.32m), 2.David Duncan (19.90m) and 3.Raenies Lewis (17.59m).
Girls Under-15 200m: 1.Maria Neverson, 2.Isabel Dennis and 3.Teri Gloudon
Boys Under-15 200m: 1.Selwyn Russell, 2.David Duncan and 3.Raenies Lewis
Boys Under-19 Long Jump: 1.Jeremy Balgobin (2.72m), 2.Jarrel Guevara (2.59m) and 3.Brent Patrick.
Girls Under-9 150m: 1.Breanna Gomes and 2.Calysha Ovide.
Boys Under-9 150m: 1.Stephon Kerr, 2.Jeremy Balgobin and 3.Prince Brent Patrick.
Girls Under-11 150m: 1.Ornella George and 2.Sherrice Modeste.
Boys Under-11 150: 1.Dave Collis, 2.Zavion Navarro and 3.Jerome Eastman.

HORSES were out in their numbers on the exercise course at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, yesterday, among which were several three-year-old fillies for whom subscriptions were paid for the Oak Stakes, one of two feature events on Emancipation Day, August 1. Reign Of Fire, who ran a corker late last month behind Affirm Decision after being indoors for two months, looked to have come on since. The Kurt De Freitas-owned and trained daughter of Vandross/Fire And Fury who broke her  maiden in March, was sent in company with the speedy Finest Gem over 600 metres. And the pair went neck and neck for most of the way before Reign Of Fire poked her head in front close to the finish to record 36.6 seconds on the clock. Lady Rossie, another Oaks entrant who have not seen competition for some time, was sent to re-acquaint herself with the boxes. The Terrence Bates inmate showed some spark in the backstretch, posting 37.65 seconds between the 1200 and 600 metre markers before her fractions began falling away. Firestorm continues to impress in her preparations leading up to next month’s 2000 metres event. The Jack Debideen trainee was out very early in the morning before heavy showers changed conditions from good to sloppy. Working with raceday rider Ricardo Jadoo in her saddle she registerd 49.83 seconds over the last 800 metres of the course. Millenium Dancer was the other to have caught the eye. The progressive daughter of Kimafoutiesa/Early Dancer, for whom a penalty of $1600 was paid to be among the Oaks field was strong throughtout her spin over 1000 metres timed in 1:03.89 seconds.

Following are yesterday’s recorded gallops:
400 METRES: Napoleon – 29.17, pacing. Squeezed Moment – 29.99, pacing. Due Dilligence and Fresh Mandate and Bound To Dot Com – 26.31, handily. Running Trick – 25.72, handily. Chief of Staff – 28.75, pacing. Ex Safety Deposit and Ex Silicious – 27.86, pacing. Ex Honey and Ex Guest Appearance – 24.03, good. Tribal Place – 28.78, pacing. Panama Belle – 27.77, pacing. Ex Bora Bora – 28.65, pacing. Ex That Mass Dancer – 29.97, pacing. Bazodee Gal – 24.31, good. Dunsborough – 23.95, good. Joint Venture – 25.15, handily. What Left – 26.89, handily.
600 METRES: Balthazar – 39.98, handily. Cat Woman – 44.86, pacing. Bound To Fly – 44.70, pacing. Indian Decision – 42.18, pacing. Bite De Bullet – 44.97, pacing. Kay Gee Bee – 41.84, pacing. Skye – 44.19, pacing. Alex – 39.14, ridden out. Lovely Pearl – 38.87, handily.
Finest Gem and Reign Of Fire – 36.06, good. Isle Be There – 43.89, pacing. Regent Boy – 38.00, handily. Super Grey – 40.66, easy. Sweet Tempo – 41.16, easy. Touch Wood – 43.93, pacing. Ex Up Tempo and Ex Lets Get Cracking – 44.98, pacing. Mary Magdalene – 40.58, handily. Shezabute – 43.12, pacing. Lady Rossi – 37.65, handily (Boxes). Tora Bora and Ex Her Majesty Rose – 41.46, handily. Storming Wind – 39.67, handily. Ex Hullaballo – 38.23, good.
 
800 METRES: Firestorm – 49.83, good. In Swinger – 59.93, pacing. Invincibility – 57.96, pacing. Pile Of Cash and Lady Croft – 52.99, handily. Sir Vidia – 49.43, good. Francesca – 49.87, good. Honor Bound – 54.06, handily. Sera’s Trick – 51.59, ridden out. Dottie’s Way – 53.92, handily. Gold Conveyor – 51.58, handily.

1000 METRES: Once On A Lifetime – 1:08.03, handily. Duchess Trembly – 1:08.73, handily. Game High – 1:01.66, good. Millenium Dancer – 1:03.89 handily. Mutola – 1:10.94, pacing. Splitting Image – 1:03.31, good. Undisputed and Naturelly Classy – 1:04.03, handily.

1200 METRES: You’ve Got Mail – 1:23.40, pacing.

The Racehorse Trainer Association thinks that Sunday racing is the impetus to take racing forward. And they have communicated their findings to Minister of Trade, Enterprise and Development, Ken Valley. In a letter dispatched to Minister Valley and Sport Minister Roger Boynes, RTA president Shaffique Khan referred to the Second Schedule of the Gambling and Betting Act 22 of 1963 Chapter 11.19 imploring them use their influence in seeking an amendment in order for the industry to come on par with other countries. The letter stated in part: “Although this act has been amended on several occasions subsequently, no one has seen it fit to recommend the opening of Betting Offices so as to facilitate horseracing on Sunday. “This I regard as an oversight, since, it has long been successful in England, United States, France, Italy and many other third world countries.” Khan thinks this bold  move is necessary to revamp the sport still heavily  dependent on the coffers of the Betting Levy Board for survival.

“At this time when procedures are being established to take the sport forward and to eliminate anomalies within the indusrty, it is imperative that all considerations be given and none be spared in the plight of resurrecting the sport at home,” Khan said. Khan is positive that the various racing bodies and the entire racing fraternity would join in this call, stating the provision in the amendment to the Act, if amended, would mean that horseracing would enjoy the same stature of the casinos which attract betting without constraints. “The recent success of the Friday Evening Lime was a clear indication that Sunday racing would encourage families out, thereby maximising their income base,” Khan added. He is also of the opinion that additional revenue will be derived with Sunday racing, which could drastically reduce the strain on the Betting Levy Board, which contribute $165,000 to the payment of stakes each race day.

National champions Rahul Rampersad (Under-19) and Vicki Singh (Under-17 and 19) will be at the forefront of Trinidad and Tobago title-chase at the Caribbean Regional Badminton Confederation (CAREBACO) championships. The annual regional championships will be contested in two phases at the Jean Pierre Complex, Mucurapo, over a nine-day period. TT, ranked fourth among the juniors, will be depending on Rampersad and Singh to finally overcome Suriname, Jamaica, Barbados, Puerto Rico and Guatemala in the team events which get underway next Friday from 9 am. There will be competition in four age groups — Under-19, Under-17, Under-15 and Under-13. But the TT Junior team will comprise mostly Under-19 and   Under-17 players. In the team event, there will be boys and girl’s singles, boy’s doubles, girl’s doubles and mixed doubles competition. Sessions will be from 9 am to 1 pm and from 6 pm to 10 pm daily for three days. Daily admission is $10, which will allow one entry while the season ticket is $40 and will allow the holder to witness seven days of exciting action up to and including the semi-finals of the International Section. The finals and closing ceremonies will cost $25 per person.

While Rampersad of Central Smashers captured the Boys Under-19 singles, doubles and mixed doubles title at this year’s Solo-sponsored National Junior Championships. He reached remarkable improvement, composure and by reaching the semi-final of the National Senior Championships. His mixed doubles partner Nichesha Blake is also on the team, which has been training assiduously under the guidance of former national champion David Lee Kim. Siu, like Rampersad’s feat in the Under-19 category, also experienced similar success at the National Senior Championships. He copped the Boys Under-17 singles, doubles and mixed doubles titles at the National Junior Championships. In the Under-17 boys’ doubles, he will be partnered by National Under-17 doubles partner Earnesto Dean. Narin Bhagwandin and Keeron Garcia were named among the male juniors. Vicki Singh, the Girls Under-17 and 19 singles champion, will team up Kelly-Ann Sampson, Kimberly Clarke, and Kerian Quan Chee. The RC Edge-sponsored TT seniors, ranked number two to Jamaica, will be led by national triple crowned champion Anil Seepaul, former champion and Cuba-based Darron Charles, Canada-based Glendon Thomas and talented Kerwyn Pantin. Among the women are eight-time champion Sabrina Cassie and her national senior doubles partner Zeudi Mack (10th time champion), former junior champion Nadine Julien, Kesma Bonito, Kimberley Lovero and Stephanie Mitchell. World ranked players from Japan, Germany, Canada, Spain, Portugal, Finland, Brazil, USA, Iceland, Peru and Iran have entered the International Section, which also promises to be very exciting. International players will get valuable points for the qualification for the 2004 Athens Olympics Games. These Championships have been upgraded by the International Badminton Federation (IBF) to a Grade “A” competition which allows the world’s leading exponents to participate and enhanced their chances of making it to the world-ranked premier events.

Schedule of Events for the 2003 CAREBACO Tournament are:
July 11-13: Team Events (CAREBACO members only).
July 14: Technical Meeting for Officials.
July 15: 19 International Open Individual Championship
July 15: 19 — Junior Individual Championships (CAREBACO Members only).

FOR THE second time in the season, W Connection’s Under-17 football team made light work of their Defence Force opponents in the T&T Pro League. Following up on their 3-0 win on the season’s opening day May 3, the Southerners inflicted a 4-0 beating on the Army-Coast Guard combination at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, on Saturday. While Connection’s Under-17s recorded their eighth straight win, the Under-15s saw their run of seven victories snapped in the first match of the double-header, with the Teteron boys holding Connection to a 1-1 draw.

The Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya, was the scene of the Joe Public-San Juan Jabloteh fixtures, with the “Eastern Lions” prevailing 2-0 in the Under-15s while Jabloteh won the Under-17s by a similar scoreline. South Starworld Strikers are third in both divisions, after 3-0 (U-15s) and 2-1 (U-17s) victories over North East Stars, who are yet to win a match this season, at the Sangre Grande Recreation Ground. And Arima Fire had a comfortable 3-1 triumph over South West Institute of Football (SWIF) in their U-15 contest at the Palo Seco Recreation Ground, while their U-17 squads battled to a 1-1 draw.

STANDINGS —
Under-15

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
W Connection	8	7	1	0	25	5	22
San Juan Jabloteh	9	5	0	4	12	15	15
Starworld Strikers	8	4	1	3	14	10	13
Joe Public	9	3	2	4	12	11	11
Arima Fire	6	3	1	2	10	8	10
Defence Force	7	2	4	1	10	8	10
SWIF	9	2	1	6	7	18	7
North East Stars	6	0	0	6	1	17	0
Under-17
	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
W Connection	8	8	0	0	20	1	24
Joe Public	9	6	1	2	18	8	19
Starworld Strikers	8	4	0	4	10	8	12
SWIF	9	2	4	3	15	15	10
Defence Force	7	2	2	3	7	12	8
San Juan Jabloteh	9	2	2	5	14	20	8
Arima Fire	6	1	3	2	9	11	6
North East Stars	5	0	0	5	1	16	0

Trinidad and Tobago football team coach Stuart Charles-Fevrier has bemoaned the lack of quality midfielders, especially the TT Pro League. Charles-Fevrier made that point during a post-match interview, after Trinidad and Tobago footballers held Venezuela to a 2-2 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, on Thursday. “When we came back from southern Africa (where the team engaged in a three-week tour), I mentioned that our midfield is definitely our key area of weakness,” he said. “We had two youngsters in our midfield, (national Under-23 players) Silvio (Spann) and Kerry (Baptiste) and one experienced player Dale Saunders. It is a position of concern,” he conceeded. The St Lucian-born tactician stated that the technical staff, including assistants Jamaal Shabazz, Ross Russell and Brian Williams, “are still looking to see who else we can get to fit into this role but we have to work with what we have.” “What I’m hoping for is an improvement in the Professional League which could assist those players,” he noted. “We have no choice. We have to work with these players and try to improve them and hopefully they can get to the level we want.” Charles-Fevrier was modest about his team’s overall display on the night.  “For me personally, I think it was a fair match. I still feel we need to work on getting a better share of possession, but generally speaking, I was pleased with the performance of the team,” he said.

TOBAGO defeated 2002 league kings Rhema in a penalty shootout 3-1 as the 28th season of the Full Gospel Churches’ Football League opened at the Aranguez Savannah recently. The teams had earlier played to a goalless draw after full-time in the season’s opening contest. The lads from the sister isle overcame Deliverance Ministries (DM) Lions in one semi-final clash while Rhema knocked out Genesis, winners of last year’s opener. For their success, the Tobago squad received a cooler, a football and a case of energy drink from the league’s official drink Excel while the Rhema team took two footballs and a case of Excel with Genesis and DM Lions each collecting a case of Excel. Fourteen teams are participating in the league, which got underway on Saturday.

Trinidad and Tobago netball coach Veronica McDonald is very confident her Calypso Girls are ready to do Trinidad and Tobago proud at the 11th Cable and Wireless World Netball Championships in Kingston, Jamaica. The 1979 joint world champions will play hosts Jamaica, the Sunshine Girls, first at the new netball facility erected for the tournament at Independence Park, west of the National Stadium on Thursday. Action in the championships opens Wednesday with eight matches. Caribbean teams Barbados, St Lucia, Grenada, Cayman Islands and St Vincent are scheduled to take the court. McDonald lamented the fact she did not have the 12-member squad “for about a year.” She spoke on Friday afternoon at the Jean Pierre Complex, Mucurapo while the team was being put through a final training regimen by team trainer Sheldon Joseph. McDonald, a “deadeye”  ex-national goal-shoot said: “I believe my team is ready to go and do what we have to do. It is a good team which is much improved from the time when I was appointed coach.” She was named coach of the Calypso Girls only six weeks ago, after the incumbent Grace Parkinson-Griffith was forced to resign as players refused to turn up for training sessions under her guidance. McDonald pointed to her defence as the weakest area when she took over. “I have worked on it, and now they are up to par,” she said. “The centre court is strong and the shoots are good, but you know with shooting it can always be better,” McDonald said.

The national coach said the Calypso Girls netballers played several matches against Soul City and El-Bar-San men teams “to toughen them up” in preparation for the tournament. And McDonald, in an attempt to get her girls ready for their tight schedule of matches, has put them through matches of three quarters of 20 minutes each against one men’s team and immediately after another similar stint against the other men’s team. “The girls are focussed. They are fit and determined to do their country proud,” McDonald said. But McDonald expressed disappointment at not being able to play practice matches against nearby Caribbean teams like Grenada, Barbados, St Vincent and St Lucia in the build-up to the championships, because of lack of finance. Added to this, the Trinidad and Tobago Netball Association could not afford her video tapes of the recent three-Test series between Jamaica and Australia nor the series against England both played in Kingston. She said she only viewed videos of the last World Championships played four years ago in New Zealand. McDonald is hopeful that after the championships she can keep the squad together in continuous training leading up to next year’s Caribbean Netball Association  Championships to be held here. Following their match against Jamaica on Thursday, the Calypso Girls netballers take on a qualifying team on Sunday, then face eight-time World Champions Australia on Monday July 14. And after playing another qualifier on July 15, they will square off against South Africa, on July 16.

Trinidad and Tobago have slipped down the world netball rankings from sharing the championship title with the Aussies and New Zealand in 1979 when the fifth World Championships were held here, to eighth at the end of the 10th edition of the championships four years ago. But McDonald is determined to put an end to that slide and is confident her team will move back up the rankings. Despite McDonald’s optimism, Trinidad and Tobago are drawn in tough Group “A” along with the Aussies, the host Sunshine Girls (Jamaica) and South Africa. Trinidad and Tobago are currently eighth behind champs Australia, New Zealand, England, Jamaica, South Africa,  Fiji and Cook Island in that order. Opening day fixtures on Thursday: Samoa vs Antigua; Sri Lanka vs Cayman Islands; Barbados vs St Lucia; Scotland vs Hong Kong; Canada vs Grenada; Northern Ireland vs Nuie; Wales vs St Vincent; USA vs Bermuda. The Calypso Girls contingent for the championships is: Jenelle Barker, Anastascia Wilson, Simone Morgan (shoots); Lystra Solomon (capt), Carlette Nurse (vice-capt), Tricia Liverpool, Stacy Sparks, Denesha Moses (centre court); Anika La Roche, Glenis Hall, Sojourner Hyles, Rhonda John (defenders). Coach Veronica McDonald, assistant-coach Althea McCollins, manageress Donna Cox, conference delegates TTNA president Martha Archer and secretary Beverly-Ann Cruickshank.