Sports
Athletes head to Mexico to fly flag for Cayman
(CNS): The Cayman Islands Olympic committee said a national sports team will be leaving Cayman this weekend to compete at the Veracruz 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games (CAC) in Mexico. Some 15 athletes and swimmers as well as the men’s and women’s rugby seven’s teams will be taking part in the Central American and Caribbean Sports Organisation multi-sport event. The sports delegation is headed up by the Chef de Mission Trent Christie and his deputy Janet Sairsingh. Athlete include Ashleigh Nalty, Carlos Morgan, Kemar Hyman and Ronald Forbes along with their coaches and managers while Olney Thompson and Keith Higgins will compete in beach volley ball and Tafari Ebanks (left) will take to the boxing ring.
Alexander Frazer, Cameron Stafford, Julian Jervis, Marlene West will be hoping to get a good result in squash while Andreas McDermot, Florence Allan and Jesse Jackson will be hoping its smooth sailing. Catriona MacRae is the only swimmer heading to Mexico from Cayman but both the men’s and women’s rugby seven’s teams will be ‘trying’ for some medals.
For pictures and up to date information on the Cayman Islands delegation and weekly competitions, please visit the website http://www.caymanolympic.org.ky/ or Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/CaymanIslandsOlympicCommittee
Local football champions compete in New Zealand
(CIFA): Reigning Champions of Cayman Club football, Bodden Town FC departed Grand Cayman, Tuesday, bound for New Zealand to participate in the inaugural Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) President’s Cup.The team began a grueling two day journey from Grand Cayman to Auckland, New Zealand upbeat about their chances against two clubs from Oceania, two from Asia and Fiji’s National U-20 team, tuning up for the FIFA U-201 World Cup. “Just being invited to this tournament is a huge achievement for Cayman football,” said Bodden Town FC President Mark Scotland.
“Bodden Town has been trying its best to put our forward its best for Cayman football in the past few years. We have measured our success not so much on the local scene but how we can compete internationally.”
Bodden Town was one of a handful of English Speaking Caribbean clubs to compete in the CFU Club Championships this year, but missed a spot in the prestigious CONCACAF Champions League, the premier club competition in the region.
However, Scotland believes the international exposure will assist the team lift their standard of play and achieve personal milestones.
“Many of our players aspire to play professionally. When we played in Puerto Rico back in March, we had a couple of calls for players there as teams expressed interest in our players. That again incentivizes them, to look at this and say if we get looked at by a couple of teams over there and get a couple calls the players would look at this as a successful trip in addition to playing well on the field.”
Bodden Town will face strong opposition in Group A, against reigning Oceania Champions League winners Auckland City FC (New Zealand) and the Singapore U-23 team. In Group B are Amicale FC (Vanuatu) Fiji U-20 and Busaiteen FC (Bahrain).
With Cayman’s leading goal scorer Theron Wood and emerging striker Ricoh Brown in attack, Bodden Town opens the tournament against Singapore U-23 on Wednesday, 19 November.
Scotland added, “We have prepared for this since August and looking forward to making Cayman proud, Bodden Town and in this instance CONCACAF as well.”
Bodden Town FC is the current Premier League winner and holder of the Charity Shield and will represent the Cayman Islands, the Caribbean Football Union and CONCACAF in the six team OFC President’s Cup tournament which runs from November 17-23 at the Trusts Arena in Auckland.
The Oceania Football Confederation governs the sport played in the national federations of American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Tahiti and Tonga.
Tournament and Live Streaming Website: -http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/
Serpell wins U16 team spot for Jam show jumping leg
(CNS): Two of Cayman’s young show jumpers went head to head for a place on the Cayman Islands’ team headed to Jamaica this month for the final round of the 2014 Caribbean Equestrian Association’s Junior Show Jumping Competition (“CEA JSJC”). Phoebe Serpell (14) (left) and Isabelle Smith (15) put themselves forward to trial for the place in the under 16 category. Over the course of two rounds, Smith knocked one fence down resulting in four faults. However, Serpell rode both rounds clear giving her the win over Smith and the U16 place on the Cayman Team for the Jamaica leg.
Riders are required to jump 1m height courses overseas on borrowed horses. Although only 14 years old, Serpell elected to compete in this higher height category. The selection process established by the Cayman Islands Equestrian Federation (CIEF) to select the team member involves both riders riding two jump courses of 1m fence heights; one course on their own horse, and the second course on each other’s horse. The idea being that this assesses to the extent possible, riders’ competence in a borrowed horse situation.
Having secured her place Serpell will be joined by Chloe Fowler as the U14 team member. Fowler put herself forward for selection and was uncontested for the place. The duo will head to Jamaica this month for the final round of the CEA JSJC. Cayman is currently lying joint first with Jamaica, who will have the home advantage in this title deciding competition.
Mary Alberga of the Equestrian Centre will accompany the Team as the National Coach.
The CIEF’s next competition in Cayman is on Sunday 16 November and is the first of the national dressage shows for the 2014/15 season. Experienced dressage coach and judge, Cindy Thaxton of High PointFarm, Georgia, has long supported Cayman’s dressage riders and will be coming to the island to judge the competition and offer clinics to riders to improve their performance, the federation stated in a release.
The competition will be held in two venues for the first time, in order to maximize the number of entries and the make the competition available to as many riders as possible. The first half of the competition will take place at the Equestrian Centre, off the Linford Pierson Highway in George Town from 8am until noon and the second half of the competition will take place at Cayman Riding School on Hirst Road in Savannah from 2pm – 6pm.
Awards for the entire day will be presented at Cayman Riding School at 6pm. Both sections of the competition are free entry for the public and support is welcome. Refreshments can be purchased on site.
Red Bay’s U11s win thriller in Bodden Town
(CUC-PFL):With the resumption of the CUC Primary Football League (PFL) Saturday, Nov 8 following the mid-term break, PFL history was nearly made during the thrilling Group B Under 11 match-up between Bodden Town Primary and Red Bay Primary at the Bodden Town Primary School Field. With the final score of 5-3 in favour of Red Bay Primary, three hat-tricks were almost recorded – two by players from Red Bay Primary and one from Bodden Town Primary. For Red Bay, Elder Ebanks secured his hat-trick in the 26th, 36th and 45th minutes while in response, Bodden Town’s prolific goal scorer Jacoby Tugman scored in the 9th, 42nd and 57th minutes.
Red Bay’s, Alejandro Holness fell one short of his hat-trick by scoring in the 41st and 51st minutes.
In the Under 9 encounter between the two schools, Red Bay secured a comfortable 4-0 win with Dequan Messam and Isaac Peart each scoring twice in the first half in the 4th, 11th, 14th and 16th minutes. Bodden Town Primary put up a valiant fight in the second half to subdue the rampant Red Bay forwards.
Red Bay rounded off a perfect day when their girls defeated Bodden Town’s young ladies 4-1 with Keissy Zuniga blasting a hat-trick in the 4th, 13th and 29th minutes and Tatiana Ebanks rounding off the scoring in the 21st minute. Chloe McClemont answered for Bodden Town Primary in the 34th minute. Bodden Town’s girls were only able to field eight players but what they lacked in numbers, they made up for with heart and determination.
Other PFL results in Group B included Cayman Prep 6 vs. Prospect Primary 0 (Under 9); Cayman Prep 6 vs. Prospect Primary 0 (Under 11); Triple C 1 vs. NorthEast Schools 2 (Under 9); Triple C 1 vs. NorthEast Schools 1 (Under 11). Cayman Brac were unable to travel on Saturday morning to play South Sound Schools’ Under 11s. In Group B games in the CUC Girls’ Primary Football League (GPFL) it was Cayman Prep 4 vs. Prospect Primary 0 and Triple C 0 vs. NorthEast Schools 4.
In Group A of the PFL, it was Savannah Primary 5 vs. Sir John A. Cumber 3 (Under 9); Savannah Primary 1 vs. Sir John A. Cumber 0 (Under 11); Cayman International School 0 vs. Truth For Youth 2 (Under 9); Cayman International School 0 vs. Truth For Youth 1 (Under 11); George Town Primary 0 vs. St. Ignatius Prep 2 (Under 9); and George Town Primary 0 vs. St. Ignatius Prep 6 (Under 11).
In Group A of the GPFL it was Savannah Primary 0 vs. Sir John A. Cumber 6 and George Town Primary 0 vs. St. Ignatius Primary 6. The 2014/2015 CUC PFL and GPFL regular season continues on Saturday, November 15 with games at Savannah Primary, Bodden Town Primary, Prospect Primary, Cayman Prep, Old Man Bay Field and the Annex Field.
Breeze Fusion on the home stretch
(Radio Cayman): We’re heading down the home stretch to The 8th Annual Breeze Fusion Walk/Run thisSaturday, November 1st. Walkers will start off from Smith’s Cove at 6:30am, with runners setting out at 6:45am. This family event is now a more competitive 5k or 3.1 miles and, for the first time, includes a separate children’s race. Part proceeds go to the National Council for Voluntary Organizations (NCVO), adding to its recent fundraising Radio/Telethon this past weekend and John Gray High School’s “Helping Hands Program”.
As the countdown begins in earnest to Radio Cayman’s & Breeze FM’s signature event, Deputy Director Paulette Conolly-Bailey says, “Just like Radio Cayman, the Breeze Fusion Walk/Run has a special place in my heart because of what it represents to our community and the lives it touches from the funds raised. I’m delighted that the event is growing every year and we have reached our 8 year milestone. Rain or shine it’s going to be another superb family event for our charitable causes.”
Principal of John Gray High School, Lyneth Monteith, is also enthusiastic, “JGHS is grateful to Radio Cayman for selecting the school’s “Helping Hands” Project as a recipient. Our students face many challenges and to be able to support them in overcoming these challenges, will lead to them being able to achieve success at school, as they work to be the best that they can be.”
Major sponsors include Cayman National, ROMA United Sports Club, Maedac Supply Company/WATA and Grand Old House, with numerous Associate Sponsors providing cash as well as gift certificates.
Registration is $15.00 for adults, $10.00 for students under sixteen and is ongoing at radiocayman.gov.ky and caymanactive.com/breeze, on October 31st at Grand Old House, 5:00 until 8:00pm. Final chanceto register is at 6:00am at the event. All participants receive an event t-shirt & goodie bag. Trophies go to the overall male & female finishers in the run, along with medals & prizes to the top competitors in each age category for both the run & walk. Random prizes will also be up for grabs. Breeze Fusion is organized by Radio Cayman/Breeze FM and the Phoenix Athletic Club, assisted by Coach Jerry Harper and service club volunteers.
Registarion still open for annual radio fun-run
(CNS):The 8th Annual Breeze Fusion Walk/Run takes place this Saturday, 1 November and there is still time to sign up for what is becoming a mixed competitive and fun run over 5ks (3.1miles). Walkers will start off from Smith’s Cove at 6:30am, with runners setting out at 6:45am and for the first time there is also a separate children’s race. Registration is $15.00 for adults, $10.00 for students under sixteen. Competitors can sign up at radiocayman.gov.ky and caymanactive.com/breeze, and on Friday at Grand Old House 5pm until 8:00pm. The final chance to register is at 6:00am at the event.
All participants receive an event t-shirt & goodie bag. Trophies go to the overall male & female finishers in the run, along with medals & prizes to the top competitors in each age category for both the run & walk. Random prizes will also be up for grabs.
Radio Cayman’s Deputy Director Paulette Conolly-Bailey said the stations’ signature event, said part of the proceeds go to the National Council for Voluntary Organizations (NCVO) and John Gray High School’s “Helping Hands Program”.
“Just like Radio Cayman, the Breeze Fusion Walk/Run has a special place in my heart because of what it represents to our community and the lives it touches from the funds raised,” she said. “I’m delighted that the event is growing every year and we have reached our 8 year milestone. Rain or shine it’s going to be another superb family event for our charitable causes.”
Principal of John Gray High School, Lyneth Monteith said the school was grateful to the station for selecting its programme as a recipient. “Our students face many challenges and to be able to support them in overcoming these challenges, will lead to them being able to achieve success at school, as they work to be the best that they can be,” she said.
Major sponsors include Cayman National, ROMA United Sports Club, Maedac Supply Company/WATA and Grand Old House, with numerous Associate Sponsors providing cash as well as gift certificates. Breeze Fusion is organized by Radio Cayman/Breeze FM and the Phoenix Athletic Club, assisted by Coach Jerry Harper and service club volunteers.
Riders take part in international jump on home soil
(CNS): Isabelle Smith on Edson Arantes became the first rider to take the championship trophy when the Cayman Equestrian Foundation hosted the FEI’s World Jumping Challenge for the first time. Smith entered the contest with four other local riders Alexandra Rado on Larkin, Polly Serpell on Calidad, and Amara Thompson on Rumour Has It. The competition is designed for riders who cannot easily travel to international shows because they live in remote locations. As well as getting individual placing within their geographic zone, the best three riders constitute the Cayman Team and are given a ranking alongside other teams in the region.
After all the horses had passed the vet jog, the riders competed over the first course. Rado was first to go and had one knock down posting four faults. Thompson and Smith followed her and did the same, each posting four faults, whilst Serpell clipped two fences, finishing round one on eight faults.
In the second round of the day, Smith posted the first clear round of the day, with Rado and Serpell both having one knock down resulting in four faults each. Thompson had three knock downs and an additional penalty for cantering in the compulsory trot section, finishing round two on 16 faults.
In the first round of the second day, the third round of the competition, Smith and Thompson posted four faults, each having one knock down and Rado posted eight faults for two knock downs. Unfortunately for Serpell, her horse refused the same fence twice resulting in her elimination.
The final round was a ‘jump off’ of sorts, with time coming in to play in the event of a tie on overall faults for the winning place. Rado finally got the clear round she coveted along with Smith and Serpell. Thompson finished the day with fifteen faults in the final round.
After the faults from all four days were tallied, Smith was declared Champion, Rado Reserve Champion and Thompson was placed third. These three ladies now form the Cayman Team for the competition.
Sharon Hinds, president of the CIEF said for many years it had been a goal to host this contest locally and she added, “It gave the four riders who entered some great competition experience on FEI designed courses and a ranking in the region for themselves and for the team.”
Local swimmers head to Qatar for international meet
(CIASA): The Cayman Islands Amateur Swimming Association (CIASA) has announced the athletes who will represent the Cayman Islands at the 2014 FINA World Swimming Short Course Championships taking place in Doha, Qatar, December 3rd-7th, and at the FINA Youth Programme, taking place December 2nd – 7th, also in Qatar. Athletes representing the Cayman Islands in the World Swimming Short Course Championships are: Lara Butler, Lauren Hew, Brett Fraser and Geoffrey Butler. The team will be accompanied by CIASA Technical Director Bailey Weathers who will serve as Team Manager and Head Coach.
The Team was selected by CIASA using a power point system which ranks each swimmer's best long course times from the previous 12 months and then assigns them a ranking based on points earned. With two slots for women and two slots for men to be filled, the top two ranked swimmers – female and male – earned spots on the team.
Because the athletes live in different places (in the Cayman Islands, USA or UK), they will travel to Doha separately – with departure dates dictated primarily by school concerns – arriving on either Nov 30th or December 1s.
Also taking place in Doha, Qatar, is the FINA Youth Programme, running concurrently with the World Swimming Short Course Championships, Dec 2 – 7th. The youth program, designed to be an educational experience, a cultural experience and motivational experience for young swimmers will provide Cayman’s two young swimmers with great experience and inspiration.
To be selected for this Youth Programme, swimmers needed to be born in 1998 to 2000 and may not be participating in the World Championships. CIASA selected Cayman’s two athletes – one female and one male – using a power point system and are sending Catriona MacRae and Jonathan Key. Travelling with MacRae and Key will be Team Manager Ms. Claire Critchley.
FINA provides financial support for this trip and schedules, and pays for, the participants’ flights; and attendance at both these events is made possible by CIASA, in partnership with FINA* (Fédération Internationale de Natation, in English this is the International Swimming Federation).
Haines jogs through ‘fair city’ for 5th marathon
(CNS): Cayman’s veteran marathon man completed Dublin’s annual 26-mile plus street race Monday, marking his fifth marathon in his challenge Six4hospice. With a lingering ankle problem, Derek Haines jogged round the course in a respectable four hours and fifteen minutes just days after his 66th birthday. The veteran distance runner has already completed a staggering challenge, having run five marathons so far this year — but it’s not over yet. Haines has one final pavement pounder to complete on home turf in December, when he hopes he will have raised the $1 million to build a local hospice facility.
Speaking from Dublin Tuesday, Haines told CNS that his Dublin time was a tad slower than he had hoped. At the half way mark he was on target to get under four hours but the effects of an infected ankle and the medication took its toll after 18 miles or so.
“No complaints though and I enjoyed the day,” Haines said. “The crowd was great and old friends now living there cheered me on along with my wife Helen. The celebratory pint of the City's famous product with sponsor Peter Kandiah was fortifying afterwards. The fund is now very close to 800K and I am hoping for a surge in support as the final marathon in the challenge on 7th December in Cayman gets closer.”
Some 14,000 runners took part and the men’s race was won by Kenya’s Eliud Too in a time of 2:14:48. His fellow countrywoman, Esther Macheria, edged out last year’s winner Maria McCambridge to claim first place in the women’s race in 2:34:15. First across the line was wheelchair participant Patrick Monaghan in a new record time
Since beginning his amazing feat in Paris back in April this year, Haines has completed marathons in London, Pamploma, San Francisco and now Dublin, and will be completing his challenge with the local marathon, where Haines may find he has one or two supporters in the crowd to help carry him round.
Anyone wishing to donate to the local hospice challenge or see more information visitthe website:six4hospice.com/
CIrider clinches 2nd in Puerto Rican contest
(CNS): Phoebe Serpell, one of two Cayman riders who entered the Federacion Puertorriquena de Deportes Ecuestres (FPDE) came away with the reserve trophy after two days of jumping competition. Hannah Fowler, came in fourth. Normally a local contest to allow riders to compete on their own horses, the Cayman Islands Equestrian Federation plans to host the competition for the first time next year but as Serpell and Fowler will be too old then the girls decided to gain overseas competition experience by borrowing local Puerto Rican horses for the San Juan competition.
Fowler and Serpell chose to enter the Bronze Tour and jumped four different courses over two days, with fence heights set at 1m. Both riders were delighted to jump a clear round on the first course, despite wet and soggy conditions. In the second round, both collected four faults. Fowler for a knock down and Serpell for a refusal. At the awards ceremony, Sophie Uldry of Puerto Rico took first place with two clear rounds, Fowler placed second, Daniela Vargas of Puerto Rico third and Serpell came in fourth.
On the second day, Fowler was first into the arena in brighter conditions but caught two fences leaving her with eight faults. Serpell posted a clear round putting pressure on the local talent. In the final round, both Fowler and Serpell went clear. For the day this placed Serpell first, with locals Uldry and Vargas second and third, respectively, and Fowler in fourth.
As the results were calculated for overall positions, Uldry was named overall Champion with Serpell winning the overall Reserve Champion trophy, Vargas was placed third and Fowler fourth, who also won the Best Presented Horse award in the Vet Jog.
Secretary-General of CIEF, Pamela Fowler, who attended the competition with the riders, said they were competing against riders riding their own horses and so both did really well.
“As a Federation, we hope to be able to organize this competition in Cayman in 2015 so our riders can ride their own horses at home. It will be another welcome milestone in our development as a Federation; hard work, but worth it for the opportunity it affords our pool of young riding talent. Having said that, it is always great for development when our riders can gain overseas experience on borrowed horses, and we know both girls really enjoyed the experience and are eagerly looking for their next opportunity to compete overseas,” she added.