Sports
Competitors and volunteers wanted for national meet
(CNS): The 2014 National Championships will be held at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex next weekend when local athletes will not only compete for national honours but to qualify for a number of upcoming international track meets. The athletic event starts on Friday, June 27 at 6:00pm and Saturday, June 28 at 4:00pm when some of Cayman’s best sporting talent will be on show. Organisers are also appealing for volunteers to help out at this important meet on the athletic calendar. Contact ciaaa.meetscommittee@gmail.com and see registration form below.
CI kids team wins top spot in regional dressage
(CNS): The Cayman Islands Equestrian Federation is celebrating more success after the Cayman Kids Dressage Team learned that they had won the top spot in the Caribbean Equestrian Association’s 2014 Dressage Competition , last week. During the Cayman round in June, in the children’s category, Thea Millward and Zafira, competing in the training level category, had the highest score of the day with 74.2%. As well as taking the top spot in the children’s team, the pair won the children’s High Point Award for the day. Millward was joined in the team by Hannah Fowler and Seligkeit who scored 71.8% with Madeleine Aqart and Smart Racer in the same category finishing a whisper behind with 71.6%.
These scores were sufficient to give them first place in the children’s category, a spot that Cayman children’s team has occupied for the last three years.
“It is a great end to a long season for our Children’s Team to retain the top title in the CEA Dressage,” said CIEF President, Sharon Hinds said,. We are really proud of the progress all our riders are making and we believe we have an extremely solid foundation of current and upcoming talented riders who have really made their presence felt in the international arena this year.”
Over the last few weeks, FEI ‘I’ and USEF ‘S’ judge, Jeanne McDonald, has travelled to Barbados, Bermuda, Trinidad and Tobago and Cayman to judge children and adult dressage athletes in the CEA’s annual dressage competition. Riders could choose what tests to ride before the judge, from a collection of dressage tests designed by the United States Equestrian Federation.
Each rider was given a score by the judge and the top three scores in each of the children and adult categories were submitted as team scores for the country.
The adult team comprised Jessica McTaggart and Loris 7 who scored 71.935% in the 1st Level Test 3, a score which secured for her the adult High Point Award for the competition. McTaggart’s team mates included Tracey Surrey and SonRise David who competed in the Training Level and scored 63.2%, and Charlotte Hinds and Monroe Carr who completed the 4th Level Test 1 and gained 60.429%. The competition in the adult category was stiff and these results took Cayman 4th place.
Aside from the top three scores for the team, Isabelle Smith and Ed came in 4th, Ashley van den Bol and Carmella came in 5th and Basil Humphries and Storm rounded off the class in 6th place.
In the adult 1st Level Test 3, Surrey and SonRise David followed Mctaggart’s first place on Loris 7, with Polly Serpell and Calidad in 3rd. Amara Thompson sported a huge smile in 4th as she brought her mare Roux back to the competition arena after a long period of recovery from injury. This left Regina Nowak and Leonora to bring up the rear in 5th place.
Phoebe Serpell and Sunday’s Edition took 1st place in the children’s 1st Level Test 3 with Anja van Genderen and Kartouche in 2nd and Fowler and Seligkeit in third. McTaggart and Loris 7 on top form took the spot again in the adult 2nd Level Test 3 with Lexi Bodden and Relation in 2nd and Polly Serpell with Partenon in 3rd and Calidad in 4th.
A National Dressage Show followed the CEA Dressage Show with lots of competition in the lower beginners’ classes. Old hand MeeganSlattery and Max took the 1st place in the USDF B Test with Eva Muspratt and Oscar in 2nd, Kayla Mannisto and Snow White in 3rd, Lara Humphries and Storm in 4th and Charlie Milgate and Amarilla in 5th. In the USDF C Test, Muspratt and Oscar took first place, with Saskia Drake and Me & My Shadow in 2nd, Basil Humphries and Storm were 3rd, Slattery and Max in 4th, Abbey Swartz and Pony Up in 5th and Leah Alberga andTwinkle in 6th.
Although the season is over Hannah Fowler and Ashley van den Bol will be representing Cayman in an international dressage competition in the US in July and Polly Serpell will be the first ever Cayman equestrian to compete in the Youth Olympics which takes place in Nanjing in August.
Civil servants boost Haines’ charity coffers
(CNS): Deputy Governor Franz Manderson and 675 civil servants walked or ran the five kilometer challenge set by the public service boss to raise money for Derek Haines’ own marathon challenge, which aims to raise $1million for the local hospice. Planning on making it an annual event to raise money for good causes and to get the civil service literally as well as financially leaner, Manderson said $12,500 was raised by the event earlier this month. Immigration won the prize for the most participants while the National Archive got the highest percentage of workers from one department taking part. Derek Haines was also there limbering up for his next major challenge in Spain.
Haines has already complete the London and Paris marathons as part of his challenge to run six marathons in one year. He will be running in Pamplona on 28 June with his daughter and will be hoping to surpass the $500,000 mark with pledges as this race will mark the halfway point of the challenge. After Pamplona Haines will head to San Fransisco in July, Dublin in October but the 65-year-old veteran runner will end his exhausting challenge on home turf when he takes on the Cayman marathon in December.
The goal is to raise $1m to build an inpatient facility for the local hospice charity.
Go to six4hospice.com to help Haines reach the $1.M target.
Flowers Sea Swim draws biggest ever line-up
(CNS): Over 960 people signed up for the 22nd Annual Flowers sea swim this past holiday weekend, setting a new record for the race, which drew Olympians and elite swimmers from around the world to compete and hundreds to watch the open water spectacle. More than $100,000 of prizes and rewards were handed out to the competitors that swam the ocean course from the Ritz-Carlton to Royal Palms in the welcomed calm conditions. The race, which is one of the most important annual sporting event in Cayman’s emerging sports tourism calendar, was won by Mateusz Sawrymowicz in 18 minutes, 9 seconds followed by Keri-Anne Payne and Jake Zakale.
Tennis Fest for 10&U coming up
(TFCI): Young tennis players will get a chance for some friendly competition next weekend at PwC's first 10&U tennis fest. The fun event will be held at the CIS courts at Camana Bay on Saturday 21 June, starting at 8am. The fest is designed for players who can hold a rally and have a little experience under their belts. The event is organised by the Tennis Federation of the Cayman Islands; director and coach is Noel Watkins. For more information, call Noel on 547-6257 or email:contact@caymantennisacademy.com
Cayman preps for big game after win in Bermuda
(CNS): The Cayman National Senior men’s rugby team posted a 24 to 3 away win over arch rivals Bermuda in their first round NACRA test match last weekend. A record win away from home for Cayman against the team, local officials said that this sets things up for the NACRA Northern final between 2013 champions USA South and Cayman in the SteppingStones Big Game 4 on Saturday. Despite the impressive score card officials said Cayman made more than their fair share of errors in the game and will need to eradicate these if they are going to beat the power of USA South. They will also have some work to do on scrummage and Line out which went well at times but also let the team down on several occasions.
Cayman pushed hard in the first half against Bermuda heading into a strong twenty knot wind which kept them pinned back and meant that they had to work hard with the ball mainly in hand to gain territorial ground. The deadlock was broken after around 10 minutes when Kes Wright fielded a kick from fly half DuPlesis to scamper between the posts for a 7 to 0 lead.
Bermuda struck back with a penalty and Cayman held on for a 7 to 3 half time lead. In the second half DuPlesis kicked a penalty for Cayman taking the score to 10 to 3 before Yohagn Regnard scored from a nicely executed line out to take the score to 15 to 3. Cayman then kept the screw turned with Heyward adding a further 3 penalty kicks for a final 24 to 3 win.
CEO Richard Adams said he was happy with the growth of the programme and the result. “
“This management team has been appointed until the 2016 World Cup qualification process so I am delighted to see the steady improvement in performance and results. The work of Brad Cowdroy, Tim Rossiter and JS De Jager is evident as is the conditioning and professionalism of Dave Clancy. Our Medical team of Sean Teeling, Al Bartice and Kate Macpherson are all making huge in roads into the professional approach of the team. They all deserve plaudits for what they are achieving.”
Adams said the CRFU has taken the steps to develop this High performance programme and the fact that the team will be ranked higher in the World than Cayman has ever been is cause to congratulate everyone involved in the success.
“There will be a lot of work to do in the week to get things absolutely right for Saturdays clash, “The said. “The staff will have to be aware that this is two hard test matches in seven days so it will not be easy. However we have a chance to make our first final right here in Cayman at Big Game 4…It will be great to hear the noise coming out of the Stadium on Saturday as our nation rises to push the players all the way through.”
In the NACRA Southern Division Guyana emerged victors over Trinidad and Tobago with a 15 to 8 home win and advance to the finals on 28 June. The Venue of the final match will be decided on Monday when the new IRB rankings emerge after the weekends results.
Cayman will move to their highest World Ranking since records began but the team will have to see if the large away win boosts them over Guyana to set up a possible home field advantage for the final, USA South however are standing firmly in the way of that potential final being in Cayman.
The game against USA South is scheduled to kickoff at 3pm at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex on June 14th. Tickets and Corporate packages for the game are still available but in limited supply at www.caymanrugby.com
Rain is no match for local swimmers
(SSC): Nature challenged them with thunder, lightning and squall but Cayman’s swimmers swam to outstanding results at the 2014 Caledonian Global Swim Meet last weekend. Friday night’s races went off without a hitch, despite the day’s earlier deluge but the start of swimming was delayed on Saturday due to lightning and swimming on Sunday started, was postponed and then resumed again at 2pm. Despite the rain, the meet was well attended with swimmers from hosts Stingray Swim Club, visiting teams Camana Bay Aquatic Club and Treasure Island; Special Olympic Swimmers; independent swimmers from Triple C School, the Brac Barracudas and Swim N’ Trim and also featured Masters Events.
Stingray’s Head Coach Andy Copley was delighted with the team’s performance at the event held at the Lions Aquatic Centre.
“All the kids were great,” he said. “Weather conditions were a little disruptive to their focus but at the end of the day there can always be circumstances which are out of a swimmer’s control when he/she steps on the blocks … the weather provided them with the opportunity to develop focus and concentration, and many swimmers had excellent swims.”
High Points Winners:
Girls: 6 & U Emily Palmer (TTI); 7-8 Veandra Robinson (BRAC); 9-10 Stephanie Royston (CBAC); 11-12 Alison Jackson (SSC); 13 – 14 Samantha Bailey (SSC) and 15 & Over Catriona MacRae (SSC).
Boys: 6 & U Phinn Ellison (CBAC); 7-8 Connor McDonald (CBAC); 9-10 Corey Westerborg (SSC) – also recognised was Finn Bishop (CBAC); 11-12 Jake Bailey (SSC); 13-14 Jonathan Key (SSC) and 15 & Over Brandon Williams (SSC).
Stingray President Amanda Roberts thanked the volunteers, parents and swimmers.
“It was certainly very, very wet on deck this past weekend. Our trusty band of meet personnel, who are all volunteers, held their positions on deck even as the weather did its worst. The technical officials and timers bravely continued to record and judge the competition despite being soaked through and struggling with soggy papers. Our supporters and swimmers… and swimmers were fabulous too and we thank our sponsor Caledonian and trust that the success of our meet this past weekend is proof positive of how incredibly devoted the Cayman Swimming family is.”
For information on Stingray Swim Club or the Summer Swim Camp visit the website www.caymanswimming.com or email stingraysec@gmail.com
Busy footy season ends with awards galore
(CNS): The Executive Committee of the Cayman Islands Football Association handed out dozens and dozens of gongs to players, coaches, and officials at the game’s annual awards ceremony at the Marriott Grand Cayman last Thursday. The event included members of the football family who participate in the association’s ten leagues for both men and women in all age categories. Over four hundred and fifty players, officials, and guests packed the standing room only celebration in a year in which the CIFA Vice President Bruce Blake said more games had been played in Cayman than ever before.
Award categories included, for each league: league champions and runners up; Fair Play Awards; Coach of the Year; Goal Keeper of the Year; Defender of the Year; Player of the Year; and the Golden Boot, awarded to the league’s top scorers. Awards were also given for Assistant Referee of the Year and Referee of the Year. Special recognition was granted to Ms. Shanelle Frederick for her outstanding performance in the women’s league, having scored 52 goals over the past four years.
Blake, commended the association on a successful season when he revealed that more games were played across all the leagues this season than at any other time in the association’s history.
He spoke about the association’s commitment to hosting international events and introduced Sharon Roulstone as the chairwoman of the upcoming CONCACAF Girls’ Under 15 Championship and Cayman’s own Girls’ Under 15 National Team and management staff. He also commended outgoing staff Damion Allen and Marcos Tinoco, who he said were instrumental in building capacity at the association.
See list of winners below
Jump league closes on a new course
(CNS): Local riders from the Equestrian Centre (EC) and Cayman Riding School (CRS) were out in force on 25 May for the fourth and final leg of the national show jumping league. The Cayman Islands Equestrian Federation (CIEF) league closer was held for the first time at the new jumping arena at the CRS and took place over four rounds. Tanya Neville-Dixon was in the judge’s seat and Juliette Forrester and Tanja Braendle kicked off the day with ponies Apollo and Harry in the 0.6m adult class. Both ladies completed solid, clear rounds, but Braendle picked up one time fault leaving Forrester to take the top spot.
In the 0.6m children’s class that followed, a few horses took time to settle in to the new arena, having never jumped in it before.
Most riders though, went clear, leaving time as the deciding factor. The top three riders were squeezed together in a time crunch. Chloe Fowler and Shirley Temple took first place, literally ‘by a nose’ as they rode home just 0.09 seconds ahead of Lea Rado and Never Ending Story who placed second. Jenna Boucher and Katrina were only 0.01 seconds behind in third place, with the rest of the pack scattered further back. Basil Humphries, making his debut at the CRS grounds, was a solid fourth on Zeus with Meegan Slattery and Max in fifth and Madeleine Aquart and Zeus in sixth.
Although Tanja Braendle was alone in the 0.7m adult class, taking first place, the 0.7m children’s class was harder to win. Like the 0.6m class, a group of junior riders fought it out for the top places.
This time, Jenna Boucher and Katrina steamed into first place ahead of Chloe Fowler and Shirley Temple in second place, both riders collecting four faults in the field. Madeleine Aquart and Zeus came in third but also clipped an unlucky rail. Home from school for the week and making a very successful debut in the competition, NJS rider Libby Galloway took fourth on Dublin’s Bay. A couple of other riders were eliminated due to refusals or falls, but both riders were unhurt and determined to come back next time and try again.
Michelle Boucher and Alex Rado were pitted against each other in the 0.85m adult class. Boucher was first to go and took one rail down finishing in a time of 88.70 seconds. Rado followed her, also clipping a rail, but knowing she had to beat Boucher on time, took a thrilling short cut across the arena, risking the approach, but bringing it off beautifully to come home 8 seconds ahead. Rado took first place with Boucher in second.
In the 0.85m children’s class, it was faults that sorted the pack with Phoebe Serpell and Sunday’s Edition coming home first with 4 faults, Libby Galloway and Dublin’s Bay in second with 8 faults and Hannah Fowler in third place with 12 faults.
There were no faults for old hands Thea Millward and Iggy Pop as they coasted to first place in the 0.9m – 1m Open Class. Isabelle Smith and Edson Arantes MB followed in second with four faults alongside Phoebe Serpell and Sunday’s Edition in third, also with four faults. Serpell and Sunday’s Edition were jumping together at this height for the first time.
In the highest class, 1m – 1.1m, eliminations for refusals for two of the three riders left Isabelle Smith with the first place ribbon after she and Ed completed the course with just one rail down.
“It is always a challenge for riders to come to a new venue and jump their horses over a course they haven’t seen before,” said Sharon Hinds, CIEF President. Obviously some horses were more confident than others but it is all great practice for our riders to come to different venues and gain experience jumping their horses where they are not familiar. This is how it is when our more experienced riders go overseas to compete. Riding in circumstances like this at home is great training for those opportunities when they come.”
Now the final leg of the league is done, the scores will be totaled and the winners of each class for the year announced at the CIEF’s Inaugural ‘Sell-Out’ Annual Dinner on 21st June 2014 at George Town Yacht Club.
Night time fun run to raise cash for National Trust
(CNS): "Light up the Night for a Brighter Future" is the theme for a new and unique charity fun-run being organised and hosted by the National Trust and CUC. The first ever glow run in Cayman is set for 21 June in George Town. The idea is that runners and walkers will be glowing in the dark in luminous outfits as they race through the capital from 7pm. Neon face-painting, biodegradable and non-toxic UV reactive paint, glow bands should help competitors light up from head to toe in their wacky running attire.
Starting and ending at Margaritaville after they follow a looped course around George Town, the race ends with a glow after party. To encourage sign ups 50 CUC water bottles will be dispersed in anonymous runners packs and a lucky winner will find a gift certificate thanks to Logic Cayman for a brand new Apple TV!
Prizes will be awarded to the top three finishers for the male, female and children's category as well as the best glow costumes. All ages and fitness levels are encouraged to show up and get glowed up to run or walk.
Participants are encouraged to arrive for registration at 6pm and take advantage of free UV neon face painting. Additional glow items will also be on sale. Participants have the option to partake in a splash of biodegradable and non-toxic UV reactive paint and powder along the route and expect to go into extreme glow as they approach KPMG “Glo Hard or Go Home” stations.
Proceeds from this community event will benefit the National Trust for the Cayman Islands and Rotaract Blue Cayman Islands. Interested participants may register online at www.nationaltrust.org.ky. For further details email marketing@nationaltrust.org.ky or call 749-1121.