DAVID NOEL, one of Trinidad and Tobago’s most outstanding professional boxers of the last decade, has signalled his intention to return to the ring after an absence of more than two years. The Tobagonian, a cousin of this country’s first ever world champion, lightweight Claude Noel, said yesterday his comeback is two-fold. “I have been watching the situation and see the sport in the doldrums. By returning, I hope to revive the sport and also to try and give something back to the sport by way of providing a role model for the youngsters,” Noel said.

Now 36 years old, Noel, a natural light middleweight (154 lbs), has spent the last two years outside of Trinidad and Tobago, on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, keeping in shape and involving himself with young aspiring boxers in London, England and New York, USA. He said those years studying the sweet science has made him a better, more experienced boxer who is now ready for a second spring. “I am now ready to execute what I have been studying,” Noel said. He said he needs about three warm-up bouts before seriously challenging for the Caribbean title. “From there we will see how it goes, If a world ranking comes along I will follow it up,” he said.

Noel is a former national champion, a two-time FECABOX middle and lightweight title-holder and has also captured the FEDA-Latin championship. The hardpunching fighter has also been ranked twice among the top ten middleweights in the world. He holds a record of 40 victories with nine losses and one draw. Noel said he has been encouraged by the response he has been getting from all those who have learnt of his intention to get back in the ring. He is counting especially on the experience and guidance of his cousin Claude who won Trinidad and Tobago’s first world championship in 1981.
“Claude will be in my corner at the Tigers Gym on Prince Street in Port-of-Spain where I will be training. My promotion will be handled by Randy Glasgow,” said Noel.

He thinks by his return, crowds will be wooed back to watch local professional cards and he also has the opportunity to project himself as a role model and the sport of boxing as a healthy alternative to the lure of the street. “I want young people to see the sport as an avenue to get out of the crime trap and make something of themselves,” said Noel. Former world champion Claude, now 55 years old, is confident that his cousin can match his words with his fists in the ring. “Boxing is about physical fitness and proper planning. I have no doubt that David has these attributes. He has enhanced his abilities and can produce the desired results,” Noel said. “At this stage in his life, he is more motivated and will give a good account of himself when the time comes,” the former world champion lightweight boxer said.

Two community organisations have formed an alliance to fight escalating crime in the Laventille area. Ammunition for the battle was obtained by the Laventille Youth Facility Advisory Board on Monday in the form of a much-needed table tennis board from Kenny’s Sports Centre. The group’s officials hope to divert the energies of the youngsters in a more purposeful direction with their latest effort. They also hope to facilitate the increasing interest in the discipline at the centre.

Under the Laventille Youth Development Organisation (LYDO), the Advisory Board has been receiving a healthy response to their action-oriented approach involving the youngsters of the area in activities which take them away from the call of the streets. Access to the facility is available to all residents. Rodney Stowe, Board Trustee, and his colleagues on the board including Carlton Neptune Jnr, Board President, aim to show that despite the crime situation, there is a brighter side of Laventille. This is evident at the facility as excited and competitive activities, including table-tennis, engage the attention of the young people which is not often highlighted by the national media.

Stowe revealed plans to branch outdoors with football and cricket competitions and clinics but lamented the current state of disrepair in which the facilities now lay. There is also an acute lack of funding to pay coaches. The competitions would lead to the forming of area teams in the different disciplines, a venture which had been embarked upon but fell victim to the same problems that still exist. With an encouraging success rate, LYDO hope that the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs will see the opportunities for reconstruction of the Laventille area through sport. This includes the Laventille Youth Facility, Upper Laventille Road, East Dry River, Port-of-Spain to other areas blighted by neglect.

CHRISTO CAVE and Cesar Ramos share the lead with three points apiece after the third round  of matches in the 30th Open Knights Chess tournament. Fourth round action would be contested from 7 pm today at the Dretchi Building, Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain. In his third round encounter last Thursday, Cave needed 39 moves to defeat Frank Yee, with Yee resigning after he failed to avoid Cave’s pawn promotion on the “e-file”.

Ramos forced his opponent Andrew Bowles to exchange his (Ramos’) minor pieces for Bowles’ pawn on the d6 square, with Bowles unable to regain momentum before his time ran out. Thirty-eight players are competing, including two women — Arlene Blackman and Aditi Soondarsingh, and two children — Zane Campbell and Satyan Maharaj. Among the sponsors for the event are Algico, Endeco Trinidad Limited, KMPG Chartered Accountants, the estate of the late Sonny Bhaggan of Himalaya Club and the main organisers Trinidad and Tobago Chess Foundation.

Round 3 Results –
Christo Cave bt Frank Yee; Cesar Ramos bt Andrew Bowles; John Raphel bt Darryl Davis; Leonard Duncan bt John Everon; Guelmo Rosales bt David Maynard; Errol Dulgar bt Nicholas Chin; Daniel Primus bt Mark Guy; Sylvan Seaforth bt Prakash Persad; Jesse Sudan bt Carl Jacobs; Brian Valentine bt Arlene Blackman; David Jones bt Ian Ramrattan; Ian Solomon bt Trevor Flower; Aditi Soondarsingh bt Everol Francois; Dev Soondarsingh bt Zane Campbell; Satyam Maharaj bt Garth Stoute (by default); Kenneth Fitzpatrick bt Patrick Anthony (by default); Louis Wiltshire bt Michael Cedeno (by default); Cecil Lee drew with Ryan Harper; Yogendranath Ramsingh drew with Mario Merritt.
Today’s Matches – C Ramos vs C Cave; R Harper vs Y Ramsingh; M Merritt vs C Lee; S Seaforth vs J Raphael; F Yee vs J Sudan; L Wiltshire vs L Duncan; A Bowles vs S Maharaj; E Dulgar vs G Rosales; D Primus vs K Fitzpatrick; D Davis vs B Valentine; D Jones vs J Everon; D Maynard vs I Solomon; D Soondarsingh vs N Chin; C Jacobs vs M Guy; A Blackman vs A Soondarsingh; M Cedeno vs P Persad; E Francois vs I Ramrattan; T Flower vs Z Campbell.
Points Tally – C Cave, C Ramos 3 pts; R Harper, Y Ramsingh, M Merritt, C Lee 2.5 pts; S Seaforth, J Raphael, F Yee, J Sudan, L Wiltshire, L Duncan, A Bowles, S Maharaj, E Dulgar, G Rosales, D Primus, K Fitzpatrick, B Valentine 2 pts; D Davis, D Jones, J Everon, I Solomon 1.5 pts; D Maynard, D Soondarsingh, N Chin, C Jacobs, M Guy, A Blackman, A Soondarsingh, M Cedeno, Prakash Persad 1 pt; E Francois, I Ramrattan, T Flower, Z Campbell 0 pt.

NEWCOMERS Montrose Government have posted their second victory in as many matches in the Scotiabank Primary Schools Cricket League,.
The most recent victory was against Arima Boys RC by 53 runs. The Montrose batsmen rattled up 115 for seven wickets off their 30 overs with Steffon Balgobin scoring 32 and Yannick Ottley, 25. They then bowled out Arima Boys for 62, with Chris Ramnarine taking three wickets for 10 runs and Ottley, two for six.

Defending champions Rochard Douglas Presbyterian recovered from their defeat by Montrose to whip Marac Baptist of Moruga by 16 runs. After totalling 111 for six wickets off 25 overs, S Badree took four wickets for 11 runs to rout Marac for 94. Mucurapo Boys RC beat Todd’s Road on a faster run rate and Clarke Rochard and Enterprise Government had to settle for one point each in rain-ruined matches.

Summarised scores:
MONTROSE 115/7 (30 overs) —- S Balgobin 32, Y Ottley 25, Joel Henry 4/20 vs ARIMA BOYS RC 62 —- C. Ramnarine 3/10, Y. Ottley 2/6.
TODD’S ROAD ROAD RC 110 —- Dean Beckley 37, Shabazz Blackman 2/12, Brandon Serrette 2/21 vs MUCURAPO BOYS RC 105/7 (25.5 overs) —- Julio Carimbocas 24, Joseph Marquis 2/23, Mario Francis 2/18.
Mucurapo won on faster run-rate.
ROCHARD DOUGLAS 111/6 (25 Overs) —- K Sirju 23, V. Maraj 18 VS MARAC BAPTIST 94 (23.1 overs) —- Sean Cooper 19, S Badree 4/11.
CLARKE ROCHARD vs ENTERPRISE —- Match abandoned.  Teams awarded one point each.
Current points standings: MONTROSE 6; CLARKE ROCHARD, ENTERPRISE 4; MARAC BAPTIST, ROCHARD DOUGLAS, MUCURAPO 3; ARIMA BOYS, TODD’S ROAD 0.

Some of the major players listed to appear on the Arima Race Club “Friday Evening Lime” card at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, were out yesterday brushing up their acts for engagements in the nine-race programme. And the manner in which some serious contenders worked on the ground conditions made sloppy by early morning showers, it seemed as though they knew something special was about to happen. They are preparing to impress both turfites and members of the Australian and West Indies cricket teams who will be in attendance. Cold Risk, who was a loud whisper to get the job done in a sprint last week, showed that he is still in top shape. The Bertram Dookeran inmate paced the backstretch before quickening from the top of the straight to register a fiery 23.31 seconds for the 400 metres run.

Bon Voyage, who has been a model of consistency this term, came out soon after and gave his younger stablemate Sweet  Laura Lee a lesson in speed at the higher level. Working on the inside of the three-year-old filly, she did just enough to encourage his  companion, the pair covering the same ground between the top turn and winning line in 23.39 seconds. Maximus, another member of trainer Maniram “Boboy” Maharaj stable, seemed more at home on the yesterday’s conditions. The four-year-old, entered to contest the opening event on tomorrow’s card in, relishing the surface, had plenty in hand over the same acreage in 25.71 seconds. Honor Bound, Mandela, Running Trick, Red Hill, Fresh Mandate and Bound To Dot Com and Little Maniram showed their well-beings over 600 metres. My Son John, working over 800 metres, went at a fast clip early only to slow down close home in 50.36 seconds.

Following are yesterday’s recorded gallops.

400 METRES: Cold Risk – 23.31, good. Bon Voyage and Sweet Laura Lee – 23.39, good. Magen – 24.62, good. Invincibility – 29.56, pacing. Top Of The Class – 27.05, handily. Sunny – 29.99, pacing. Joint Venture – 29.86, pacing. Green Light – 28.98, pacing. Renaissance Man – 26.20, easy. Hot Way – 28.87, pacing. Saratone – 28.30, pacing. Maximus – 25.71, handily. Lazar Wolf – 29.00, pacing. Indian Decision – 28.01, pacing. Hyarima – 25.50, handily. Restless Renegade – 28.56, Tora Bora – 27.77, pacing. Fortunate Flag – 27.80, pacing. Bajan Connection – 25.35, handily.

600 METRES: Mandela – 36.70, good. Honor Bound – 39.20, handily. Little Maniram – 37.25, good. Running Trick – 37.81, ridden out. Fresh Mandate and Bound To Dot Com – 39.02, handily. Cash Reward – 38.68, handily. Living In Hope – 42.33, pacing. Van Nistelrooy – 42.18, pacing. You’ve Got Mail – 44.93, pacing. Richie Rich – 44.96, pacing. Beautiful Mind – 42.11, pacing. Ula – 39.40, handily. Full Of Promises – 44.90, pacing. If Only – 42.77, pacing. Under Influence – 39.67, handily. Red Hill – 38.85, handily. Western Double – 44.96, pacing Sea Spider – 41.56, handily. Poetry – 41.62, handily. Stormy Season – 41.71, handily. Preffered Share – 44.25, pacing. Copy Cat – 43.78, pacing.
800 METRES: My Son John – 50.36, good. Groomsman – 52.62, easy. Nando – 56.65, pacing. Touch Wood and Peace Consort 59.15, pacing. Tactical Bid – 59.37, pacing. Travel Agent – 56.12, pacing. Song Of Freedom – 59.20, pacing.

1000 METRES: Sweet Tempo – 1:07.38, handily. Honey Belle – 1:14.00, pacing. Baggy Green – 1:11.33, pacing. Naturelly Classy – 1:12.25, pacing. Finest Gem – 1:10.05, pacing. Belmont Valley – 1:10.83, pacing. The Chairman – 1:10.13, pacing.

1200 METRES: Entertainer – 1:29.98, pacing. Joan Of Arc – 1:25.87, pacing. Life In Russia – 1:26.03, pacing.