ST GEORGE’S: Some of the region’s top athletes are arriving here for this weekend’s XIX Central American and Caribbean Senior Athletics Championships at the National Stadium.

The championships are expected to be of high quality despite the absence of some of the Caribbean’s most accomplished athletes. Despite the late withdrawal of Trinidadian Ato Boldon the sprints will grab attention with the inclusion of Commonwealth champion Kim Collins of St Kitts, world-ranked junior Darrel Brown of Trinidad and Tobago, his compatriot Jacey Harper and Jamaican Christopher Williams.

Collins, who is ranked fourth in the world over the 100m, is highly favoured to win against the highly rated young Trinidadian Brown. Brown, who has now entered the professional circuit, will seek redemption against his hometown rival, Harper, who edged him in the 100m final of the National Championships last month. Williams, 2001 World Championship 200 metres silver medallist, should also strengthened the line-up. World-ranked quarter-miler Alleyne Francique is heading the host nation’s 30-member team which also includes NCAA 800m silver medallist Neisha Bernard-Thomas and former CARIFTA 400m gold medallist Hazel-Ann Regis.

MONTEGO BAY: Caribbean Leaders will get an idea of the readiness of the region to host the 2007 Cricket World Cup tomorrow, when Managing Director of  Windies World Cup 2007 Chris Dehring updates them.

A delegation from the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has been invited to address the Caricom Heads of Government meeting currently being held in Montego Bay, Jamaica. The delegation which is headed by outgoing WICB president Wes Hall, includes Dehring; Chief Executive Officer Roger Brathwaite and venue development consultant to Cricket World Cup 2007, Don Lockerbie. Dehring believes the meeting with the Caricom leaders is very important as preparations intensify for the 2007 World Cup. “For the Caribbean to reap the tremendous rewards that would be derived from a successful event, there must be a total regional effort spearheaded not just by cricket officials but the governments and the private sector,” Dehring said. He added that the WICB was happy with the keen interest and support exhibited by Caribbean Governments, which augurs well for the successful staging of the cricket showpiece.

KINGSTON: Veteran cricket writer and administrator, Tony Becca, is retiring from journalism.

Becca, whose career spanned more than three decades, is expected to announce his retirement today to spend more time with his wife, Celia. While he was knowledgeable in many sports Becca, who served as sports editor of the Jamaica Gleaner for more than 20 years, took special interest in cricket. Many cricket fans looked forward to his weekly column in the Jamaica Gleaner in which he commented on West Indies cricket. Becca will continue as president of the Melbourne Cricket Club, a post he has held for 15 years.

NATIONAL swimming sensation George Bovell has set his sights on climbing atop the medal rostrum during the FINA World Long Course Swimming Cham-pionships.

Bovell, who will turn 20 later this month, will compete in the 200-metres individual medley and the 200 metres freestyle at the Championships, which will take place in Barcelona from July 13-27. Son of 1969 WITCO Sports Personality of the Year George Bovell II, the six-foot-five-inch tall teenager is now at home fine-tuning his strokes in readiness for the annual event. “I can’t say if I’ll win any race, said the younger Bovell on Monday, “but I’m pretty sure, regardless of the competition, that I’ll be aiming for a medal.”

Hard at work at the pool at the Dr Joao Havelange Centre of Excellence, Macoya, Tunapuna, with his locally-based club Piranha Aquatics, Bovell has an outstanding chance of collecting a medal, after finishing fourth in the 200m individual medley at the 2001 World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, and seventh the following year in Moscow, Russia. The former St Mary’s College student as well as Boles School in Jacksonville, Florida, Bovell began his collegiate career last year at Auburn University, the school of national track and field stars Darrel Brown and Marc Burns.

Under coach Dave Marsh, he had to overcome a troublesome right elbow injury with lots of rehabilitation work but, “every time I swam, I improved on my times.” Bovell completed his inaugural season with a record-breaking performance at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships in March. In the 200-yard IM, Bovell touched the wall in one minute 42.66 seconds, a new NCAA and US Open time. He commented that “the year went well for me, it couldn’t have been any better.”

At Barcelona, Bovell will face the likes of Ian “Torpedo” Thorpe of Australia in the 200m freestyle as well as world record holder American Michael Phelps and reigning World and Olympic champ Italian Massimiliano Rosolino in his pet event, the 200m IM. The lanky swimmer was also high in praise of Piranha coach Anil Roberts, noting, “he has given a lot of his time and effort to ensure that I’m prepared for the World Championships.” Bovell is the current holder of 12 national long course records in both the boys 13-15 and 15-17 age groups, including a time of 2:01.35 in the 200m IM, which he set at Japan, and 1:55.30 in the 200m freestyle. And to show off  his good form, Bovell III smashed the 23-year-old record of 56:60 for  the 100m Butterfly set by Trinidad an Tobago’s first Olympic swimmer Geoffrey Ferreira in April 1980.

Swimming at the Flying Fish Swim Club on Friday last, in time trials organised by the Amateur Swimming Associa-tion, Bovell III recorded a time of 55:97. Coach Anil Roberts believes  this run of form has come at the right time for Bovell III, who will also be leading the National Swim Team in the Pan American Games in August. Bovell III, coach Roberts and father/manager George Bovell II will leave for Spain on July 14.

AISHA SEALY, who was adjudged “Best Setter” at the 2001 Junior Cup in Suriname and 2002 Senior Caribbean Cup in Trinidad, will lead a 12-member national girls team to the Junior Caribbean Volleyball Championships in Martinique from July 18-28.

Also included in the touring team are Kelly Ann Billingy, who was voted “Best Spiker” at both tournaments, as well as “Best Server” in the 2002 Senior Cup, and Marina Camps, “Best Passer” in the 2001 Junior Cup. Seven members of the squad were part of the national team which took the silver medal at the 2002 Senior Cup while six players were included in the gold medal winning TT squad at the 2001 Junior Cup. The players underwent a recent five-day camp at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Physical Education and Sports Centre in St Augustine, which was provided by the Centre’s Director Dr Iva Gloudon and funded by the Trinidad and Tobago Volleyball Federation.

Full team:  Aisha Sealy (capt), Kelly Ann Billingy (v/capt), Dayna Augustus, Marina Camps, Nadiege Honore, Madonna Badneoch, Jenna Ferguson, Ayana Dyette, Shanna Ferreira, Karina Moore, Q’Wanda Gloudon, Kemba Noel-London; Mascood Ali (head coach), Saleem Ali (assistant coach), and Danwantee Deonath (trainer).

THIS teenager is not only an aspiring netball star but a beauty queen in her own right.

That’s 14-year-old Raisa Thorne, the Harlem goal-shoot who was recently crowned Miss Port-of-Spain Netball League Beauty and Culture queen. The 5ft 9in daughter of Patricia Thorne beat a field of eight contestants to lift the title and a trip for two to Tobago along with $500 spending money. Raisa also got a set of jewelry from Maraj & Sons, hampers from National Flour Mills and Johnson and Johnson and a set of Sacha cosmetics. Runner-up was Angel John of Police while Melissa Holder of Jesters was third. Only on Sunday last Raisa shot the Mona Baptiste-Thomas-coached Harlem to a 23-12 victory over Mucurapo Junior Secondary in a PoSNL Barbara Burnette B2 Division knockout match.  She scored 20 goals from 27 attempts, while Atoya Adams had three from six. Las Lomas dumped Mucurapo Ex-Pupils out the Marjorie John A2 Division knockout 34-31 with Raquel Russell scoring 26 goals and sister Ayanna eight.  Giselle Norton had 17 and Donessa Wickham 14 for the losers. SWWTU Malvern ousted Netaces from the Phyllis Pierre-Walker Intermediate Division 2  knockout 23-12, with Nigella Bishop scoring 18 goals and Margaret George five.  “The Aces” got goals from Kamaria Jack eight and Sally George five.

Other results: Marjorie John A2 Division — HAMPTON JESTERS (25) Shivaughn Skeete 14, Margaret Jack 11 vs HARLEM (13) Mona Baptiste-Thomas 5, Maylin Peters 8; MALTA CARIB SENATORTS (29) Chrisarlene Murrell 17, Kimeria James 12 vs MUCURAPO JR SEC (28) Afeisha Noel 22, Nariba Grant 6.
Phyllis Pierre-Walker Intermediate Division 2 — SAN JUAN JABLOTEH (24) Semo Davis 11, Kimberly Charles 13 vs ARIMA BALL MASTERS (16) Cherelle Archie 6, Cyrstal Castillo 10; CHIPS won by default from SOUL CITY.
Barbara Chandleur B1 Division — SPARKLES (19) Jenelle Prescott 12, Cathy Ann Benjamin 7 vs HARLEM (18) Veronica Baptiste 10, Muckisha Cain 8; ZENITH (19) Petal Wilkin 11, Keisha Applewhite 8 vs PRINTERY SPORTS (13) Wendy Ann Pilgrim 9, Kinda Neptune 4; LAS LOMAS (20) Sarah Romeo 8, Emily De Leon 8, Kelly Ann James 4 vs M&M INSURANCE UPPERS (20) Samantha Joseph 20; MUCURAPO JR SEC (20) Adonis Nicholas 17, Whitney Barclay 3 vs CHIPS (19) Chrisandra Murrell 8, Joelisa Cooper 11.  
Barbara Burnette B2 Division — ARIMA BALL MASTERS (18) Candase Castle 11, Colisia Hamilton 7 vs HORIZON (6) Lee Ann Pierre 6.

RACING action at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, tomorrow is in jeapardy. Grooms of horses stabled at the centralised racing facility has threatened to withhold their labour because they feel they are being slighted by trainers.

The grooms are upset that a meeting with the Racehorse Trainers Association (RTA)planned for last month did not come off. So the grooms have decided to flex their muscles by withholding labour to draw attention to their demands for a further increase in pay. Their threat, if carried out, could have telling effect since horses entered to race are required to pass a veterinarian examination today to be eligible to participate in events on tomorrow’s 10-race programme. President of the Grooms Association Terrance Thomas claimed  the RTA reneged on  their agreement to meet with his body.

Thomas said the grooms kept their end of the bargain four months ago. He said grooms were previously paid $150 for every horse in their care and it went up to $175 on a temporary agreement, when they asked for a $50 increase which would have given them $200 per horse. Now the grooms are proposing the $200 per horse and five percent of winning stakes, an increase over the previous 2 1/2 percent.  They were hoping to have this matter discussed on June 30, when stakes in races were expected to be increased. The increase was based on a commitment given by the Betting Levy Board (BLB), to further support  the industry with an additional $29,000 every raceday from June. The promise would have seen the BLB contributions to stakes moving from $136,000 to $165,000 per raceday.

Shaffique Khan president of the RTA, disclaimed his association reneged on meeting with the grooms, but were awaiting word on the instrument of appointments to members of the new Betting Levy Board before holding such discussions with them. He said the grooms knew of the delay regarding the instruments of appointment, which he said was only given out yesterday, and felt  they should have shown the same patience as owners, who continued to pay their salaries, while absorbing other costs in the upkeep of their horses. “Everyone in the industry knows there is a stalemate with regard to increases in prizes. The delay meant no funds were being made to the ARC although racing continued,” he added. Khan also said a number of days have returned dope free, yet no prize monies  were paid to owners and felt the grooms should be more considerate in their stand. “Trainers cannot burden owners with additional expences when monies owed to them are not forthcoming,” he said. “It is also impossible to contemplate any rise in salaries when stakes are not paid on time,” he added.

Khan promised to meet with the grooms today, with the hope of planning a further meeting to air their grouses and when pending issues can be ironed out. The BLB committee, which will again be headed by  Roop Chan Chadeesingh  will comprise members Francis Joseph, Ronald Kowlessar, Wilma Primus, Dr Roger d’Abadie, Tyrone Kowlessar, Peter Wharton, Kearn Govia, Allen Trestrail, Dr Ryan Shim and Maniram Maharaj. While the issue of the withholding of labour by grooms was in the air yesterday horses were out plentiful going through their paces on the main exercise course.

Following are the recorded gallops over the last two days:
WEDNESDAY: 400 METRES: I’m No Hunter – 250.2, handily. Soca Tempo – 28.72, pacing. Duchess Trembly – 27.15, handily. Sunny – 28.97, pacing. Ex Fran Lou – 29.62, pacing. Cash Reward – 26.57, handily. Isle Be There – 29.99, pacing. Ruby Scores – 28.88, pacing. Skylite – 27.50, pacing. Skye – 29.92, pacing. Undisputed – 27.26, handily. Showmethemoney – 26.34, handily. Francesca – 29.99, pacing. Scandal Sheet – 29.92, pacing. Laura’s Boy, Java Takeover and Java In Style – 23.20, good.  Music Man – 28.14, pacing.
600 METRES: New Star – 38.65, handily. Piece of Cake – 42.56, pacing. Guatama and Magen – 37.57, good. Gold Conveyor – 44.79, pacing. Song of Freedom – 44.98, pacing. Game High – 38.92, handily. Preffered Share – 42.67, pacing. Hatrick – 42.12, pacing. Red Hill – 43.73, pacing. Squeezed Moment – 44.50, pacing. Sunday Jewel and All Set For Balttle – 42.23, pacing. Indian Game and Little Romeo – 37.58, good. Ex Not Very Nice – 44.96, pacing. Fromnowuntil – 41.59, handily. First Time – 44.71, pacing. Bajan Connection – 44.09, pacing. Golden Shufleur – 38.57, handily. Isle Be True – 44.31, pacing.
800 METRES: Outrageous Victory – 59.99, pacing. Millenium Reign – 59.96, pacing. Chanticleer – 57.93, pacing. Finest Gem – 59.93, pacing. Maid of Honour – 59.06, pacing. Kalyan – 59.98, pacing. Sera’s Trick – 59.12, p-acing. Panama Canal – 58.09, pacing. Tricky Guy – 57.19, pacing.
1000 METRES: Van Nistelrooy – 1:04.65, handily. Phantom Bidder – 1:11.36, pacing. Paula’s First – 1:08.68, handily. Once In A Lifetime – 1:11.12, pacing.
1200 METRES: Ring Dang Do – 1:20.33, pacing.

YESTERDAY: 400 METRES: Red Hill – 23.92, good. Invincibility – 28.93, pacing. Kalyan – 22.46, good. Cyber Five – 29.40, pacing. Scandal Sheet – 27.77, pacing. Ex Honey – 27.20, easy (Boxes). Joint Venture – 27.55, easy. Ex Willshewontshe and Ex Rhythmic Dancer – 28.98, pacing.  Mandela – 26.77, handily. Ring Dange Do – 29.75, pacing. Splitting Image – 27.65, easy. Maid of Honour – 26.17, easy. Groomsman – 28.55, pacing.
600 METRES: Cotonou – 35.63, good. Firestorm – 43.79, pacing. Isle Be There – 43.95, pacing. Guardian Angel – 41.57, handily. Preffered Share – 42.58, pacing. Fortunate Flag – 43.78, pacing. Phantom Bidder – 43.99, pacing. Golden Honour – 39.01, handily. Chanticleer – 42.66, pacing. Trying Something – 37.77, good. Chief of Staff – 44.37, pacing. Cheerleader – 40.08, handily. Panama Belle – 43.84, pacing.
800 METRES: Pile of Cash and Lady Croft – 55.68, pacing. Punto A Punto – 58.70, pacing. Gold Conveyor – 57.42, pacing. Bandinthong – 59.99, pacing. Hyarima – 59.93, pacing. Skye – 58.15, pacing. Fresh Mandate and Bound To Dot Com – 59.99, pacing. Not To Worrie – 53.37, handily. Squeezed Moment – 59.27, pacing. Honoured Bound – 54.53, handily.
1000 METRES: Francesca – 1:14.83, pacing. Millenium Reign – 1:09.77, handily.