Sports
Caymanians make clean sweep in rugby awards
(CRFU): New Zealand rugby legend Doug Howlett took to the stage in Cayman at the weekend as the guest speaker at the 44th Annual Players Dinner of the Cayman Islands Rugby Union. The night was a chance for local clubs and national squads to cap off a successful season in the style of a black tie event at the Marriott. Howlett celebrated the players on their performances for club and country with an awards presentation. An extremely encouraging sign for the future of rugby in Cayman and its aspirations to continue to grow and succeed was that six out of the six players awards were awarded to young Caymanian players.
Voted by peers, players and coaches the awards went to the following people:
Robbie Cribb Jr. (Men’s player of the year),
Mark Soto (Men’s most improved player),
Shenel Gall (Women’s player of the year), pictured right
Jenna Richards (Women’s most improved player of the year),
Jodie McTaggart (Women’s players’ player of the year)
Angel Hawkins (Junior player of the year) pictured above
Local sprinter breaks Bolt record at the CAC juniors
(CNS): Local sprinter Jamal Walton not only won gold over the weekend at the Central America and Caribbean Junior Championships in the 400m he also broke the meet’s record previously set by none other than Usain Bolt. Walton won the Under-18 400-metres with a time of 47.01 seconds, breaking Bolt’s previous mark of 47.12 seconds. Walton already holds Cayman’s senior and junior national record for the event and is set to compete in the IAAF World Junior Championships and the Youth Olympics later this year. Meanwhile, Tiffany Cole was the next Cayman team member to make a mark at the games when she took fourth in both the Under-20 1,500 and 3,000-metre runs.
Results for the Cayma Islands team at the CACjunior meet
Jamal Walton
1st 400-metres 47.01
12th 200-metres 21.45
Tiffany Cole
4th 1,500 5:27.53
4th 3,000-metres 12:28.12
Tahj Lewis
9th 800-metres 2:07.75
9th 1,500 4:39.54
Daneliz Thomas
6th Javelin 39.02 metres
Lacee Barnes
7th Shot Put 13.2 metres
Kiara McLaughlin
DNF 1,500 –
Summer touch rugby XI kicks off in style
(CRFU): Summer is here and a festival of summer Touch Rugby starts at the Cayman Rugby Football Union. Bigger and better than ever, Summer Touch-Rugby XI boasts a record number of teams taking part this year. The sport is proving so popular with men and women alike that it’s a job and a half just to squeeze in all the games needed to allow everyone to play. Touch has a number of differences from the more traditional forms of rugby and is loved for its simplicity. Very little equipment is needed, the rules are easy to learn rules and with no tackling the risk of injury is much less. Teams are mixed with three guys and three girls on the pitch at any one time. The basic principles are simple – run forwards, pass backwards and each team attempts to advance the ball up the field to score a try.
When an opponent touches you (on any part of the body, clothing or ball) you have to stop and start the next phase, you get six touches and if a try isn’t scored then the ball gets turned over and the opposition have a go.
This year there is a different format as the usual three Divisions have been condensed into two larger Leagues. There is a Competitive League for all those high octane types that love a real challenge and a Social League for those who take the game less seriously or are new to the sport. Each league will consist of 16 teams and with 14 players in a squad that nearly 450 people actively participating in the sport over the summer. Take that Sun Lounger and Couch, here come Sweat and Effort!
Last year’s Division 1 Champions Island Air will be looking to fly high once again as they renew their battles with rivals old and new. SteppingStones are back looking for sweet revenge and Delta has recruited well over the last few weeks and look to be a strong candidate for top spot. Captain Jyoti Choi is like a cross between Don King and Del-Boy Trotter in his ability to wheel and deal and bring together a myriad kaleidoscope of touch-stars.
The full rota for the Competitive League is Island Air, SteppingStones, Delta, PwC, Alphasoft, Broadhurst, KPMG1, Village Greenies, Walkers Blue Iguanas, KPMG2, Genesis Trust, OFSCL, Deloitte, Maples, DART and Team Guru.
The newly titled Social League is for those that are either new to the game, of which there are many, or those that take things a little easier and so can play at a pace that suits all. That’s not to say that the games won’t be challenging as with touch rugby there is a level for everyone. As the teams jostle for league position there usually emerges two or three sides that vie for the top spot.
Social league will host Maples Mavens, Rawlinson & Hunter, Walkers Hatchlings, UBS, DMS, Grant Thornton, Baraud, GCM, Conyers Dill Pearman, Appleby, BDO, LIME, Trident, Zolfo Cooper, Harmonic and Queensgate.
It’s going to be a busy summer down at the South Sound Rugby Ground so get down early for a view of one of the fastest growing sports in Cayman.
Cayman swimmers compete in Barbados
(CNS): Two young local swimmers, Katie Klein and Catriona MacRae travelled to Barbados for the Caribbean Islands Swimming Championships or “CISC” last month and returned with some results worth boasting about. The girls both competed in open water and pool events and Catriona who competed in the 10k event was second female overall and first in her age group, winning the gold medal. Katie, who will be attending Baylor School in Tennessee in August, was the youngest open water swimmer and showed that age is not a limit for open water.
Head Coach of the Trip and CIASA’s Technical Director, Bailey Weathers was there for the competition. “We are proud of both swimmer’s achievements at CISC. The key to success in open water is gaining experience. The more open water races, the better the swimmer becomes. Weare looking forward to continuing the development of all of our swimmers,” he said.
CIASA’s President Michael Lockwood. Said it was a pleasure to see them compete in an open water race showing off the skills that they honed in Cayman.
“Open Water Swimming is very different from the pool because no two race-routes will ever be the same. Gaining open water experience internationally will supplement the experience they get here at home and will contribute to their overall development in the sport,” said CIASA’s President Michael Lockwood who added his thanks to the Cayman Islands Olympic Committee for providing the funding.
Karate kids graduate with flying ‘belt’ colours
(CNS): The Cayman Islands Purple Dragon dojo’s latest grading event resulted in a 100 per cent pass rate among its students. Professor Don Jacob, the founder of the Purple Dragon Don Jitsu Ryu System and world champion, who judged the young martial arts learners said the 100 per cent pass rate showed determination and skill among the local Purple Dragon students.“In total we graded 91 students and were very pleased to say they all passed their individual tests and each went on to the next level of competency,” the professor said. “Grading is very important for Don Jitsu Ryu martial arts students because it allows them to progress by earning the next grade belt colour.”
He explained that each grading is a test of the students’ physical abilities as well as their mental determination. “I’m impressed by the standards achieved here at the Purple Dragon dojo in Cayman,” Jacob added.
Sensei Floyd Baptiste said the grading started with 13 students who went from Brown belt Third Kyu to the next level of the Brown belt Second Kyu, while two students went from the second level of Brown belt to Brown Belt First Kyu. For these two students the next stage is preparing for the coveted Black belt,” Sensei Floyd said.
In addition, there were four new Red belts moving up from Purple belt, six students went from Blue belt to Purple belt and fourteen students went from Green belt to Blue belt and one even earned the title of Elite Warrior. There were also two Orange belts that went to Green belt and one White belt that went to Yellow.
The second day of testing focused on beginners, with fifteen young students moving from White belt to Yellow belt, and nineteen Yellow belts moved up to Orange belt, with one earning the title of Orange belt Elite. Fifteen Orange belt students also made it to Green belt.
“We are delighted that each of our students worked so hard to reach their personal goals,” Sensei Floyd said. “Don Jitsu Ryu martial arts training is extremely demanding on students and they have to work very hard to achieve progression within the system. We congratulate all 91 students and we thank Professor Jacob and Sensei Tarick Bowrin for taking the time to grade our students in this way.”
Jet Ski races return to Seven Mile Beach
(CNS): The 2014 Hydrocross Jet Ski competition is returning to Grand Cayman and its famous stretch of beach this coming holiday weekend. The Cayman Islands Watercraft Association said the annual event will be at Royal Palms Beach Club and spectators are being promised a”tremendous tournament”. Staring at 10am until 4pm it will feature 21 riders competing for island glory in three divisions; Beginner, Amateur and Pro. Event Organizer, Pablo Rousseau of Wet ‘n Wild Water Sports said the contest would provide local young riders with a great chance to show off.
“We’re very excited about the 2014 Hydrocross Jet Ski Race. Cayman has a rich watercraft culture, and we decided to step up and organize the event this year to give some of the youngsters the ability to compete and demonstrate their talents. We are catering the event to the fans and spectators across the island, with Jetpack demonstrations, prizes and parasailing throughout the day,” Rousseau added.
Eight riders will compete in the Beginner Division including: Anthony Logan, Ryan Vanderbol, Matt Panton, Nathan Ebanks, Shemaiah Grant, Justin Rankin, Cline Gidden and Kelsey Rae Smith. The largest division of the competition, the Amateur group will feature riders: Kaleb Ebanks, Mark Rae-Smith, Ryan Harding, Frank Watler, Nicolas Hydes, Javier Medina, James Foster, Jeremy Thompson, Darren Mclean, and Jordon McLaughlin. The Expert division featuring the top competitors will showcase the talents of Seth Watler, Paul Rousseau, and GJ Whittaker.
Spokesman for the Cayman Islands Watercraft Association Vincent Ramgeet offered his full backing to the competition which it will be managing.
“The approach to the Hydrocross event, is exactly what the association mandates were formed around. We are fully on board and will be sanctioning, governing and providing race day management support of the race. We are hoping to see more local race promoters emerging and CIWA can take its rightful place as the sanctioning and governing body of PWC racing within the Cayman Islands and step back from race promoting. This was started with Jet Around Cayman and the East End Surf challenge which were the legacy races.”
The Hydrocross take places beach side at Royal Palms Beach Club on 7-mile beach, Saturday, July 5th from 10 A – 4 P. Spectators are encouraged to arrive early to secure their place on the beach. For more information on the 2014 Hydrocross event, contact Event Coordinator, Pablo Rousseau at 938-9751.
Sponsors include to assist with the event including, Sea Farer Adventurers, Comfort Suites, Royal Palms, A.L. Thompson, Wet n Wild Watersports, Fat Fish Adventures, Paddleboard Cayman Style, C.I.R.E.B.A, Mobile Tire Services, Tony’s Toys, Vibe 98.9 FM, Spin 94.9 FM, and Monster Media.
Haines crosses line in 3rd hospice marathon race
(CNS): In what is turning out to be an amazing challenge for the local veteran marathon runner, Derek Haines finished his third marathon of the year this weekend in Spain. Haines crossed the finish line in the debut Pamplona marathon which he ran with his daughter Lizzy in a l4 hours, 12 minutes. Although Haines was recovering from a cold and found this marathon tough, having his daughter by his side, who also happens to be a doctor, he kept on going and finished marathon number three in his six race challenge to raise $1million to build an impatient care facility for the local hospice.
Talking about the race Haines said: "Lizzy and I collected our running bibs on Saturday morning and were made very welcome. Our photographs were taken and used in an article in the local paper on Sunday morning. Race time came all too soon and we set off with a firm breeze blowing. The remnants of my head and chest cold played havoc for the first 10 miles with breathing painful and difficult. Doc. Lizzy was quite concerned but kept a morale boosting banter going as I thought that our pace was slow," he said.
Nestling at 1600 feet in the foothills of the Pyrenees, Haines said that Pamplona is a beautiful city .
"The course was mildly undulating but very pretty as it took us by the sites of the city and looped into the surrounding countryside with a long stretch by the river. At 12 miles I was hit by Montezuma's revenge. After that we got into a better pace and started to overtake. Our halfway was slow at 2.07 but we were never overtaken after that and moved up the places. Darkness brought drizzle and I felt the cold but we kept it going with good support from the locals and our support team who made it to several places on the route.
"The last 5 miles called for strength from the depths but with great encouragement from Lizzy and the crowds the historic Bullring came into view and we finished in 4.12,"he added.
With the pledged total running at close to $600,000 at the half way point there are high hopes that the figure will soar towards the million in the coming weeks after both of Cayman’s local telecom market leaders have created a way for cell phone customers to donate money directly to the cause by texting ‘Derek’ to GIVE (4483) to donate $5.
With the Spanish marathon behind him the 65 year old veteran distance runner will get just a few weeks rest before he will be pounding the pavement in San Francisco on 27 July for another gruelling 26 plus mile race.
For more information and to make a donation go to www.six4hospice.com
Haines passes half-way mark ahead of 3rd marathon
(CNS): With another $100,000 pledged for Derek Haines’ six marathon challenge for Cayman Hospice, the veteran distance runner has soared passed the halfway point on the road to his $1million target as he limbers up for his next 26 plus mile slog. Haines will be in Pamplona, Spain, this weekend pounding the pavement with his daughter Lizzy who will be keeping her dad company as he takes on his third marathon in the six that he hopes to complete before the year end. So far he has clocked up runs in Paris and London but Hanes will continue to wear out his trainers as long as donors keep pledging the cash to help build the Hospice’s much needed inpatient facility.
“I am looking forward to the race, particularly as I have my daughter Lizzy running with me,” haines said ahead of the race this week. “Also good support from Cayman with wife Helen, Chris and Merja Johnson together with Peter and Julia Kandiah coming along; although as a major donor Peter is probably making sure I run.”
The Cayman Islands Real Estate Brokers Association (CIREBA) was the latest organisation to pledge a significant donation after offering $100,000 which has pushed the donation level to more than $577k.
“This is a tremendous boost and will certainly put an extra spring in my step when I run the Pamplona marathon,” Haines said. “It promises to be a fun weekend but the generous pledge from CIREBA makes it so much better. Knowing we are over 50% of the way to our $1million goal by the halfway point in races to be run gives me a fantastic feeling.
"CIREBA are part of our community and this is a huge effort by the members for all of the Cayman population. It is wonderful news and I am very grateful to all of them; as I am to all of our donors whatever the contribution" he added.
For more information on Haines' challenge or to pledge money visit the dedicated website: http://six4hospice.com/
Security firm backs cops’ cricket club
(CNS): The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service Cricket Club will be able to keep up its batting average thanks to the support of a local security firm that has renewed its all important financial support. The Club’s President, Inspector Pearson Best, said the police CC promotes a healthy lifestyle within the RCIPS and strengthens camaraderie. Earlier this year, RCIP-CC in partnership with the officers of George Town Police Station successfully introduced the first ‘WinBall’ cricket competition involving all shifts based at the GTPS. “The goal “, according to Best, is to have a tournament involving the entire police service.
A stalwart within local cricket, the RCIPS CC has been on the increase for four decades and the club is open to young people and civillians. Best said the Club is particularly proud of offering international exposure to Cayman’s talented youth players on its overseas tours to England and Barbados.
However it can’t do any of it without cash and the Security Centre Ltd renewed its sponsorship of the Club for a fourth successive year.
Stuart Bostock, the firm’s CEO, said it was “alert to the pressures of our hardworking policemen and women and our continued sponsorship demonstrates the Security Centre Ltd.’s commitment to a healthy police service and a safer Cayman Islands.”
Thanking the firm, the police commissioner David Baines said, “These partnerships between businesses and the RCIPS are fundamental to the effectiveness of community- based policing. A company like the Security Centre Ltd is very aware of the daily intense pressure of protecting and meeting the needs of the Caymanian community.”
Girls encouraged to get out on the pitch
(CNS): As preparations get underway for another regional development football tournament in Cayman this summer, organisers were spreading the word on the benefits of football for girls as well as boys in the country’s schools. Cayman will be hosting the CONCACAF Girls’ U-15 Championship in August and the Local Organising Committee chair Sharon Roulstone told high school students about the importance of football in shaping lives and encouraged more girls to part in the sport and to come out and support the female teen team during the tournament which is set for 6-17 August.
“I hope that the school visits will create an awareness amongst our young ladies that football is not just a beautiful game, but that it actually helps build important life skills,” Roulstone said after officials addressed over 500 girls at schools across the Islands. “I hope our visits and the CONCACAF Girls’ U-15 Championship this summer will evoke new interest in the sport and that in time, Cayman will develop strong and vibrant girls' and women's teams that will be the envy in this region.”
The Under 15 Girls’ competition follows the Boys’ Under 15 tournament that was hosted in the Cayman Islands last year and was won by Honduras. This championship features teams from 16 countries within the confederation.
“CIFA hopes that by promoting national representation that more girls will want to be involved in football and aspire to be part of our national program and represent the Cayman Islands,” said CIFA Vice President Bruce Blake. “This is an opportunity for the students to meet and interact with the young ladies that will be representing the Cayman Islands at the upcoming CONCACAF Girls’ Under 15 Championship scheduled for August 2014 in the Cayman Islands. We thank the schools for accommodating us in their busy exam and graduation period,” added Blake.
The Cayman Islands will contest Group A against Curacao, Bahamas and the British Virgin Islands.