Sports
CAL backs international youth football tournament
(CNS): The Cayman airways Invitational Youth Cup is the latest tournament in the burgeoning local football action. The contest sponsored by the national flag carrier will see five international clubs for near and far compete next month in Cayman. Teams from Charlton Athletic (England), IMG Academy (United States), Real Club Deportivo España (Honduras), Harbour View F.C (Jamaica) and St Clair's Coaching School (Trinidad and Tobago) will travel to Grand Cayman for a five-day tournament to play against each other and the Cayman Islands national under 14 squad.
"Attracting high level competition to Cayman is a pillar of the Football Association's plan to build our next generation of national players," said CONCACAF and Cayman Islands Football Association (CIFA) President Jeffrey Webb. "Kudos to the organisers, West Bay Sports Foundation and Academy Sports Club along with the sponsors for their commitment to youth development. CIFA supports this and any initiative that will assist with the development of Cayman's young players."
Director of the National Youth programme Ardin Rivers added, "The line-up of teams is an impressive one and will pose a challenge for the national Under 14 youth team, but with local support, I know our boys will give their best.”
Academy Sports Club, a regular competitor at overseas tournaments initiated the contacts with the regional and international clubs and has worked with the West Bay Sports Foundation to produce a tournament, with a scope never before seen in the Cayman Islands.
Virgil Seymour, Academy Sports Club Technical Director said it was excited for the young local players to have an opportunity at this level. ”This will be a great experience not only for the players but also for the local community to have this exposure,” Seymour said. “We encourage everyone to come out to support the Cayman U14 team during the five days of the tournament. We have to also thank our generous sponsors for making this event possible.”
Fabian Whorms, Chief Executive Officer of Cayman Airways which will be providing the flights for the teams said that supporting youth sports programmes was also important to the development of sports tourism as a growing niche market. “We are particularly honored to be the title sponsor for this exciting new tournament on the sports tourism calendar in The Cayman Islands, and we wish all of the players, local and visiting, the very best of luck in their matches.”
See groups and schedule below
Group A – Charlton Athletic (UK), St Clair Coaching School (TRI), IMG Academy (USA)
Group B – Cayman Islands, Harbour View FC (JAM), Real Club Deportivo España (HON)
Match schedule:
Tuesday- May 6, 2014 (The Annex)
6 pm – Harbour View v Real Club Deportivo España
7:30 pm – Charlton Athletic v St Clair’s Coaching School
Thursday – May 8, 2014 (The Annex)
6 pm – St Clair’s Coaching School v IMG Academy
7:30 pm – Cayman Islands v Harbour View
Friday – May 9, 2014 (The Annex)
6 pm – IMG Academy v Charlton Athletic
7:30 pm – Cayman Islands v Real Club Deportivo España
Saturday – May 10, 2014 (Cayman Brac) 6pm – 3rd Place Match – 2nd in Group A v 2nd in Group B
Sunday – May 11, 2014 (The Annex) 6 pm – Consolation Game – 3rd Group A v 3rd Group B
PM – FINAL – Winner Group A v Winner Group B
Wahoos sink Sharks in six try thriller
(CTA): After Rounds 3 and 4 of the Cayman Touch Association (CTA) Women’s League it is WAHOOS who remain undefeated with a draw and a win to add to their two victories already this season. The other significant improvement came from LIONFISH who got their first points on the board going through the day undefeated. In the WAHOOS first game they came up against a feisty LIONFISH team looking to avenge two opening round defeats. In this match WAHOOS struggled for field position in the early exchanges, often dropping the ball through the early touches and LIONFISH rightly took advantage and were 2-0 up at half time thanks to tries from speedster Nicky Keogh and Emma Santiago.
Sadly for ‘FISH they couldn’t hold on to their lead as WAHOOS eventually got rhythm into their “arrows” (attacking the same point in defence over and over again). Alison Strobridge for WAHOOS was a stand-out performer. She always seems to be in the right place at the right time – an uncanny skill that allows plays to continue through several phases. Sharlee Henshaw pulled one back and then clinched the tie with another to end the game 2-2.
STINGRAYS took on SHARKS and in spite of a fine try by debutante Ruth Kelleher and an extremely fired-up Jo Remillard it was Alice Aherne and Michelle Bailey (2) that sealed the win for SHARKS. Tanya Potiyenko may sound like a new Russian starlet on the WTA tennis circuit but it is her touch skills that have everyone salivating as she put in another fine performance, the highlight of which was a scintillating run virtually the length of the pitch only to be run down by the blazing Jo Remillard. She is definitely an up and coming star of women’s touch.
If they had been stung by the LIONFISH in Round 3, WAHOOS went into overdrive against SHARKS running in four tries with only two in reply. AlisonStrobridge capped off a fine day with a score, as did Mischa Kluyver, Sharlee Henshaw and Dana Lowe. Coach Brad Stephenson asked his WAHOOS to verbalise their “arrows” which helped them focus on the task at hand – it worked, as they executed them superbly at times. Scores by Michelle Bailey and Wiki Hitchman kept SHARKS in the game through some superb passing by Emma McNamee but the stand-out performance was the improvement by Laura McGeever. Understandably nervous in her first ever game of touch in the opening match she really got it together in the second completing a number of three-ups and defending well.
LIONFISH capped off a great day with victory over STINGRAYS by 3-2. This was a reversal of the score in Round 1 and shows the improvement the team has made through their training sessions. It was that double act of Keogh (2) and Santiago that took the scoring plaudits but STINGRAYS were never out of the game. Jo Remillard added a fine double to her tally and good performances from a resurgent Anne Dolan, Jo Verbiesen in defence and attack, Laura-Jane Airey and Leena Banenji who is rapidly making a reputation as one to watch for the future.
So WAHOOS maintain their place at the top of the Women’s Touch food chain but LIONFISH pack a real sting and will have to be handled carefully if their rise up the table is to be halted.
Lionfish 2 v. Wahoos 2
Try scorers:
Nicky Keogh – Lionfish (1)
Emma Santiago – Lionfish (1)
Sharlee Henshaw – Wahoos (2)
Stingrays 2 v. Sharks 3
Try scorers:
Jo Remillard – Stingrays (1)
Ruth Kelleher – Stingrays (1)
Alice Aherne – Sharks (1)
Michelle Bailey – Sharks (2)
Sharks 2 v. Wahoos 4
Try scorers:
Michelle Bailey – Sharks (1)
Wiki Hitchman – Sharks (1)
Alison Strobridge – Wahoos (1)
Mischa Kluyver – Wahoos (1)
Sharlee Henshaw – Wahoos (1)
Dana Lowe – Wahoos (1)
Stingrays 2 v. Lionfish 3
Try scorers:
Jo Remillard – Stingrays (2)
Nicky Keogh – Lionfish (2)
Emma Santiago – Lionfish (1)
Former local pro footballer to nurture new talent
(CNS): The Cayman Islands Football Association (CIFA) has appointed Renard Moxam as director of national teams. Moxam was the first professional football player from the Cayman Islands when he signed for Toronto Blizzard In 1979 and played in the North American Soccer League. He will now oversee the design and implementation of programmes aimed at identifying the best national talent the country has and improving standards of play. Jeffery Webb, CIFA president and boss of the regional body CONCACAF, said that Moxam brings three decades of experience in nurturing and coaching local youth players.
“We are certain, that Mr Moxam’s vast experience and passion for the game will strongly benefit our aim of developing a world class national programme,” said Webb. “Mr Moxam’s achievements inspired me and an entire generation and we know he will shape the future of generations to come.”
Thanking CIFA and Webb for the official opportunity to make a positive contribution and shaping the lives of young people in the game, Moxam spoke about the challenges ahead.
“There is a need for improvements in standards of play from technical, tactical, physical and mental perspectives in order for our country to acquire equal regional recognition, as a footballing country,” he stated at a press conference Monday announcing his appointment.
“To accomplish this objective, we have to build a positive dynamic footballing culture wherein a high level of conduct consistently exists, there is an overall sense of responsibility, and a positive atmosphere for character development of our young people is prevalent,” he added.
Haines bags 2nd medal in 6 marathon challenge
(CNS): Just one week after he covered more than 26 miles of pavements in Paris, on Sunday veteran local distance runner Derek Haines took another step towards his mammoth goal of six marathons in one year. Derek Haines not only completed the London marathon, he did it in under four hours with a time of 03:57:01, despite aching legs from the previous week's onslaught. Haines may well have been inspired as more donations poured in for Cayman HospiceCare, the charity for which Haines is planning to wear out his legs around the world to raise $1 million to build an inpatient centre. Since he started the challenge in Paris last week, another $100,000 has now been pledged. Kenyan world record holder Wilson Kipsang won the race and his second title in London, finishing with a course record of 2:04:27.
The UK’s Olympic champion Mo Farah finished eighth on his marathon debut with a time of in 2:08:21.
Haines was placed 54th overall in his category of 65-69 year olds, but more than 36,000 people hit the streets of London for the race through England’s capital.
Haines will now be taking a well-earned but relatively short break in marathon running terms as he looks ahead to the next 26+ mile race, which will be in June in Pamplona, Spain, where he will be running with his daughter, Lizzy. After that, it’s San Francisco in July and Dublin in October (Haines missed the New York registration), and finally finishing on home turf in the Cayman Islands marathon in December.
Anyone who wishes to help Haines reached the goal of $1 million can donate at www.six4hospice.com.
Maples Reserves trample over Stepping Stones
(CRFU): Match Day 4 in the CRFU National Mixed Touch Rugby Championship saw two of the heavyweights of touch rugby come together in a potential league decider. SteppingStones have ruled the roost over the last couple of years with a combination of speed, guile and experience. Like an alpha rooster they have strutted and bossed the coop, with feathers preened and an air of dominance that has sent out the message that they are number one in the pecking order. However, they were well and truly knocked off their perch by a crack band of crowing young cockerels in the shape of Maples Reserves.
This merry band of bantams and chicks display all the youthful vigour that SteppingStones possessed a couple of years ago. They are simply younger, fitter, faster, stronger.
From the kick-off, Maples Reserves started so fast one wondered if they had paid a small visit to the Lance Armstrong Tour de France fun bus for some light refreshment. Such was the speed of their play and the accuracy of their execution that SteppingStones could find no rhythm whatsoever. Early tries by Riley Mullen, Dave Acutt, Neil Montgomery and Jyoti Choi were evidence of the clinical efficiency that has typified their play this season.
The ‘Stones had some early opportunities but either dropped passes, missed passes, or wrong choice of options defined their game in the early exchanges. It proved that you need to take all your chances against the ‘Reserves if you are going to trouble them. Maples Reserves make the game look easy at times, as well-drilled as a Saudi sandpit and as well-disciplined as one of Miss Whiplash’s celebrity clientele. They make the hard yards through the early touches focusing the attack at one point in the defence in order to suck in defenders or break through a defensive line struggling to get onside.
SteppingStones had no answer and seemingly no safe-word either as their pain became tortuous with little or no respite.
Emily Davies managed to grab a try back just before the half-time break but the damage was done. SteppingStones seem to be defined by slow starts and are often in need of a rallying call at half-time before an improvement comes in the second half. However, there was little they could do to stop the Maples’ juggernaut. Momentum is everything and Maples Reserves were like a snowball flying down a St. Moritz double-black run on greased-up skis. An early try from the Stones’ Rudolf Weder gave a brief glimmer of hope but Choi (twice) and Vikki Piaso stretched the lead. This contest may have been effectively over by half-time but Reserves just kept flying along.
A brief scoring cameo from Simon Raftopolous brought some consolation for SteppingStones but the final score of 9-4 was as emphatic a drubbing as SteppingStones have received for well over two years.
Rarely in touch rugby does a match get dominated by one person but when Island Air get took on KPMG it was as good a solo performance as I have witnessed in many a year. In the diminutive shape of Elaine Kerr, Island Air have a strike weapon of rare quality. Fast, nimble and able to side-step off both feet this girl has it all. She was the main reason that Island Air bombed KPMG out of the water with a comprehensive 14-0 win. Kerr was on fire. Her return of four tries, with crucially three of the first four to be scored, set up the platform for a much needed win for an Island Air side that has blown hot and cold this season. Her fourth try was simply sensational. Spinning through two would-be tacklers who were left grasping the thinnest of airs, she pirouetted between them before dashing 30 metres to score.
The crowd rightly got to their feet to applaud that one. She inspired her teammates to play with confidence and Brandon Smith, Nic Swartz and Brad Stephenson took full advantage. As Kerr took a well-deserved rest, Brid Verling took up the reins and finished the game with a well-taken hat-trick oftries, the pick of which was a length-of-the-pitch sprint that left a bunch of KPMG defenders drowning in her wake.
KPMG have had a tough season but never gave up and with players such as Kim Denison, Tanya Potiyenko, Andrew Edwards and Richard Kerr all doing well they can be proud of their attitude and contribution to the game. A final score of 14-0 puts Island Air back into the top four and more importantly into those end-of-season play off places.
In the day’s early game Heineken Brew Crew took on Maples1. In a game effected by the heat the pace was understandably slow. Eddie Westin scored a fine brace, with Alex Pineau, Biannca Johnson and Dave Bailey adding the extras for a 5-0 win. The try of the game was something that the Maples defender Paul “Barrel” Johnson will want to forget. As Heinekens’ Biancca Johnson took the ball past the Maples 5m line, Barrel clearly shouted “I have ball, I have ball”.
His confidence was inspiring for his teammates. They could concentrate on their own defensive responsibilities and leave Johnson to easily deal with the player with ball-in-hand. Or could they? What happened next will haunt Mr. Barrel for years to come because anyone knowing how Biannca plays knows that she a big fan of the dummy pass to break through the line. She knew she was going to throw the dummy, the crowd knew she was going to throw the dummy. Her teammates knew it, the Maples bench knew it, the bar staff knew it, the man with his dog walking past the ground knew it and even my lovely ol’ Mum knew it (and she wasn’t even watching)!. The only person apparently who didn’t know it was Barrel as he was left looking totally looking the wrong way as Biannca sold him the farm and went through easily to score.
In the case of “Johnson versus Johnson” it was Aussie 1 Kiwi 0.
Cayman riders top Caribbean dressage contest
(CNS): Dressage riders from Cayman took first place in a premier Caribbean dressage competition last month. The four team members clocked up 209.655 points some 3.330 more than second placed team, Barbados in the regional contest of the World Dressage Challenge. Officials from the Cayman Islands Equestrian Federation said that Phoebe Serpell rode the Children’s Preliminary Test and finished top of her division with 70.862%. Tracy Surrey also topped her division, the Adult Preliminary Test, with 69.665%. Jessica McTaggart-Giuzio was a close second in the same class with 69.136 %. Polly Serpell also rode the Adult Preliminary Test and scored 66.466%.
Every year, the horse world’s governing body, the ‘FEI’, organize the World Dressage Challenge for countries in the Caribbean where dressage is considered to be a developing sport.
The Team was picked in advance with the help of elite dressage coach, Cindy Thaxton, who has been travelling to Cayman for several years to coach local riders. Thaxton’s ‘Dream Team’ consisted of the Serpell sisters, Polly and Phoebe, riding Sundays’s Edition and Calidad, Jessica McTaggart-Giuzio riding Loris 7 and Tracey Surrey riding SonRise David. Thaxton had to assess which riders would get the highest scores but officials said that Thaxton was spot on.
“The CIEF is growing a strong group of equestrians,” said Thaxton. “It is always a difficult choice to compose a Team from such depth. As a Team competition, sometimes the selection can involve one risk for a low score from a brilliant but overly sensitive horse. That sort of decision means that the other three must be solid anchors. This year's choice was complex because of the talent and skill that is developing.
“I had the honor of choosing the strongest for this team, but there were many individuals that would have withstood the pressure of representing the Cayman Islands with brilliance. CIEF has an Olympic Team in the making, if they keep their present course,” she added.
Cayman’s win is no flash in the pan. Riders from this tiny island have won four of the last five international competitions they have entered, including last year’s CEA Dressage Competition.
The team is now back to work learning an entirely different set of Tests in preparation for the region’s next dressage competition on 1 June.
This time it is the turn of the Caribbean Equestrian Association to organize the competition. The CEA have selected US Judge, Jeanne McDonald to travel to Trinidad, Barbados, Bermuda and Cayman to judge riders from each country. McDonald hails from Turning Point Farm near Devon in Pennsylvania. She is well qualified for the job being a an FEI “I” and USEF “S” dressage judge, a USDF/USEF Dressage Sport Horse Judge and a USDF Bronze, Silver, and Gold medalist.
CAL to greet Games baton with water salute
(CNS): The Commonwealth Games baton will be arriving in Cayman Friday from Jamaica to a specially organised water cannon tribute from Cayman Airways. The baton is making its way around the Commonwealth countries of the world competing in the games which will be held in Glasgow in July. Part of the Queen’s Baton Relay celebrations the baton contains the Queen’s message to the athletes and while in Cayman it will be carried around the island in a multi-sport relay. The relay is the curtain-raiser to the Games and Cayman is sending its largest team to date to the 2014 games with athletes competing in Athletics, Boxing, Cycling, Gymnastics, Shooting, Squash and Swimming.
Aside from the watery greeting Secretary General of the Cayman Islands Olympic Committee (CIOC) Carson Ebanks, Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist Cydonie Mothersille, and Glasgow 2014 Chef de Mission for the Cayman Team Jennifer Powell will be ready to receive the baton before it starts is all island relay.
The baton will make its way to each district in Grand Cayman, with the first leg of the relay beginning with Her Excellency the Governor at her residence. She will pass the Baton on Seven Mile Beach to CIOC President Donald McLean to begin the relay through the district of West Bay. It will make its way across the North Sound, with a short stop at Stingray City before traveling through North Side, followed by East End and Bodden Town and finally making its way into the capital of George Town.
Throughout its journey the baton will travel by Jet Ski, foot, cycle, sail boat, and horse, just to name a few. It will stop at numerous historical locations such as the Turtle Farm, the Wreck of the Ten Sails and the National Museum and be carried by an impressive list of prominent Caymanians, young and old.
The CIOC is extremely pleased to announce that elite athletes Cydonie Mothersille, Ronald Forbes and Brett Fraser will all be on island to participate in the relay among numerous Caymanian athletes of all abilities.
As the first Gold Medalist for the Cayman Islands, competing in the 200m at the last edition of the Commonwealth Games held in Delhi 2010, Mothersille will carry the Baton for the final leg of the relay, arriving at Heroes Square for a short cultural reception open to the public between 4:00pm and 6:00pm at Celebration Park next to the Court House where everyone has the opportunity to see the baton and meet Caymans top athletes. There will be live music provided by Swanky Kitchen Band and a short quadrille performance by George Town Primary.
On Monday, April 14th, the baton will make its way to the sister islands of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman before its departure the follow morning to the Turks and Caicos islands.
The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving 71 teams of athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years. Glasgow 2014 will be the 20th Commonwealth Games and will be held from July 23rd to August 3rd. It will feature 17 sports in 11 days of competition with 261 medal events on show. The first Queen’s Baton Relay was staged for the 1958 Commonwealth Games in Cardiff and has been made a tradition ever since. For the first time in history, the relay will be covered by the BBC across its entire journey.
For more information on the Queen’s Baton Relay and how you can be a part of it, the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games or the Cayman Islands National Team, please contact the CIOC at:
Email: cioc@candw.ky Website: www.caymanolympic.org.ky
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CaymanIslandsOlympicCommittee.
Visit the official page for the Queen’s Baton Relay to follow its journey:
https://www.glasgow2014.com/queens-baton-relay
Ladies lead line up for international track meet
(CNS): Jamaica’s Veronica Campbell-Brown, who will be running the 100m is one of a number of female track stars that will be lining up to take part in this year’s Cayman Invitational athletics track meet next month. Campbell-Brown a seven-time Olympic medallist and nine-time World Champion medalist will be joined by Gold medal Olympians Allyson Felix of the United States and Dawn Harper , while 100m sprinter Murielle Ahoure from the Ivory Coast will also be hitting the track for the 100m and Dalila Mohamed will be competing in the hurdles.The male stars include 100m sprinter Kim Collins from St. Kitts & Nevis and Jamaica’s Hansle Parchment is also returning to Cayman to compete in the 110m hurdlers.
Jamaica’s Novlene Williams-Mills, will also return to compete at what will be the third invitaitonal Cayman Invitational. Williams-Mills is a breast cancer survivor, who managed to help Jamaica win a bronze medal in the 2012 London Olympic Games 4 X 400m relay despite the detection of the disease just before the Games.
The event will be held on Wednesday 7 May, 2014 at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex and meet director Cayman’s own world class athletics star and Commonwealth Games gold medal winner Cydonie Mothersill-Stephens was delighted to welcome the athletes. “These athletes are currently competing at the highest level and we are thrilled that they view Cayman Invitational as such an important event in the international athletics season and are therefore willing to compete here in the Cayman Islands,” she said at a press briefing last week announcing this year’s meet.
Tickets go on sale Wednesday, April 9, and can be purchased from LIME in the Galleria Plaza, Funky Tangs on Shedden Road and JN Money located on Eastern Avenue, George Town. Ticket prices vary depending on your location: $40 for the finish line, $35 for the Grandstand and $25 for the Mackie Stadium.
For more information please visit www.caymanislandsinviatational.com
Sports group aims to identify local talent
(CNS:) The committee of public and private sector members that helped to develop the National Policy and Strategic Plan last year is now working with the sports minister to implement that strategy. The Strategic Sports Advisory Group (SSAG) will be looking at the number of coaches and volunteers needed to facilitate the plan and improve the sports curriculum in local schools. It also aims to develop criteria to recognize talented athletes and sport ambassadors for transition to national programmes or elite athlete status and education opportunities through sports.
The National Sports Policy and Strategic Plan was developed on the Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) principles. It is expected that this approach to sports development will yield the greatest range of the benefits which sport can bring to the Cayman Islands including sports tourism opportunities, officials said in a release.
Among the other expected benefits of this approach in the medium to long term, is a healthier country with stronger communities, filled with national pride and community spirit. The group has therefore identified its first step as assisting National Sporting Associations to develop long-term plans for their individual sport based on the LTAD principles.
Committee members include the sports minister, Osbourne Bodden, the ministry’s councellor Alva Suckoo, chief officer from the sports ministry, jennifer ahearn, director of sports Collin Anglin, senior policy advisor for sports Joel Francis, chief officer of the ministry responsible for district administration and tourism Stran Bodden, Clive Baker from education, Bruce Blake from the Cayman Islands Football Association, Cayman rugby’s Derek Haines Andrew Moon from the local sailing club, president of the Cayman Islands Olympic Committee, Donald Mclean Richard Hew from the private sector, Jim Fraser as the parent of an elite athlete, and former national athletes Lee Ramoon and Cydonie Mothersill.
Formore information or to get a copy of the National Sports Policy and Strategic Plan, visit www.ministryofhealth.gov.ky.
European football body to work with Caribbean
(CNS): The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) for mutual co-operation towards the development of the game, officials said this weekend. The deal was signed in the Cayman Islands between the CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb and the UEFA president Michel Platini, to reinforce a mutual commitment to development in the Caribbean region, while providing for administrative and operational cooperation between the two confederations.
“The agreement is a framework to provide CONCACAF with technical assistance and support, while fostering cooperation and dialogue for the purpose of building a strong legacy with sporting, social, cultural and educational benefits,” officials said in a release after the agreement was signed at the Ritz..
"This is another important step as part of CONCACAF's new vision of integration, which aims at gathering the best know-how from each global football community to be able to customize it for the good of the development of our game," said Webb.
Platini, in his first visit to the Caribbean said, “It is the duty of us who are in the daily business of the game to join forces for the development of global football."
After his brief stop in the Cayman Islands, Platini will continue to tour the region with official visits to Grenada, Barbados and Antigua and Barbuda.
The MoU – similar in nature to that signed between CONCACAF and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in April 2013 – comes as the fruit of long dialogue between the two Confederations, the football bodies stated