Sports

With West Indies cricket recently threatened by the possibility of another "whitewash" and even more recently by frequent "washouts", the West Indian fan can be excused for feeling somewhat downhearted by the way things have been going of late, but if we were to look at what has been happening during the past couple of weeks in Zimbabwean cricket, then perhaps we might just consider ourselves to be not too badly off after all - and at least we did have the benefit of Brian Lara's timely 400mg shot in the arm just as we were all about to descend into a cricketing coma.
In strife-torn Zimbabwe, however, cricketing problems recently reached a haiatus when fifteen of its international squad withdrew themselves from availability for selection after complaints concerning the unacceptable methods of operation by the Board of the Zimbabwe Cricket Union and the subsequent firing of captain, Heath Streak.

The Easter Monday holiday in Anguilla was marked by various social events held by church and community groups in several parts of the island.

Anguilla hosted the 7th Annual Inland Revenue Games, over the Easter weekend, which attracted a large number of Caribbean nationals.

The Anguilla Sailing Association (ASA) hosted a well attended cocktail party at the Pumphouse Bar & Restaurant, Sandy Ground on Saturday evening March 27th. The purpose of the gathering was to acquaint individuals and businesses in Anguilla with the ASA and its projects as well as updating everyone on the planning progress for this year’s Anguilla Regatta which takes place in Road Bay May 7th – 9th.

When WICB President, Teddy Griffith, was elected to that prestigious office in 2003, he stated that it would be his Board's intention to put the West Indies senior cricket team back into the top three Test playing countries in the ICC World Cricket Rankings by the end of the year 2005. Certainly nobody could begrudge him those positive and optimistic remarks when taking over his difficult office and at a time when West Indies cricket was at a generally low ebb. Realistically, however, it was already barely feasible - even if the West Indies had won every Test series between that point in time and the end of 2005.

In a surprisingly one-sided semi-final match against England at Dhaka the West Indies Under 19's cruised through to the World Youth Cup Final where they will meet co-finalists, Pakistan on Friday.

The Leeward Islands drift into Round 6 of the 2004 Carib Beer Series this week without a win under their belt since the tournament began in early January. They seem to be drifting even further off course this year and as they go into St. Thomas for what is a home game against table-toppers Barbados, they are like a ship without a rudder and with all their sails aflap.

The Anguilla Tennis Academy, in association with the Anguilla Tourist Board, will be launching a dedicated “Buy a Brick Campaign” in support of the new, state-of-the-art facility to be built in Blowing Point.

A nine hole pitch and putt golf course was opened last weekend at Sandy Ground, opposite to the Roadwell Café that is to be the club house. Governor Peter Johnstone teed off the first ball to declare the course open.

The Managing Director of Fair Play Group of Companies including NAGICO Insurance, Quincy Gumbs, said he and his colleagues were delighted to be the sponsors of the Leeward Islands cricket tournament of one day matches.

All of the racing boats are making their final preparations for the August season in Anguilla. These boats will be racing for five consecutive days starting Sunday until Friday and then followed by the Champion of Champions Race on the upcoming Sunday.

President of AXA ITF Tae Kwon-Do in Anguilla, Second Dan, Mr. Gregory Permuy, has returned from the 13th World Senior Tae Kwon-Do Championships and Congress in Warsaw, Poland. The Championships were held from June 12-15th with the Congress convening on June 13th. Secretary General, Master Tom MacCallum of Vienna introduced Mr. Permuy to the Congress and recognised Anguilla as the newest member country of the International Tae Kwon-Do Federation.

A magnificent double -century by Brian Lara was undoubtedly the highlight of the final days' play in the first Test against Sri Lanka in St. Lucia, but in many ways the mature batting under pressure of Anguilla's 20-year-old all rounder Omari Banks, who stroked his first Test fifty, was, in its context, equally commendable. With the irrepressible Lara going great guns at one end, the West Indies batsmen did not have it all their own way at the other as they chased the psychological advantage of gaining first innings lead. Off spinner Muralitheran, with his tail up, grabbed two quick wickets when he had Marlon Samuels stumped and Ridley Jacobs palpably trapped in front.

FIFA Developmental Officer, Keith Look Loy announced at a press conference held on Tuesday, June 17, that Anguilla has been accepted to be a part of the GOAL Project, a FIFA programme committed to the infrastructural development of football around the world.

Once again young persons in Anguilla will have the opportunity to learn the game of tennis and improve their skills. The two-week camp for children aged 7-17 years starts on July 14. It is being organized by Mitchelle Lake with several coaches from the USA visiting Anguilla for the occasion.

After weeks of speculation and rumour, England captain, Manchester United hero and world superstar, David Beckham has been transferred to Spanish super-club Real Madrid for a fee of 25 million pounds sterling.

The Second Annual Fun Day of the Island Harbour Pre-school, held on the pond fill on Whit Monday, attracted a large crowd which saw Red House maintain its championship with a score of 63 points, followed by Yellow House with 51; and Green House with 42.

The West Indies have dropped into the very bad habit of losing series here in the Caribbean. At one time this was something they only did on a regular basis when playing on foreign soil, but now their home fans are being consistently disappointed on their own grounds.

Anguilla won three golds, three silvers and five bronze medals at the Eleventh Annual Leeward Island Youth Championships held in Antigua over the weekend. St. Kitts emerged as the overall winner for the seventh year in a row.

It was good to see Bankie Bankx sitting in the stands at the ARG for the last Test match against Australia proudly supporting his son who rose to the occasion with a long-to-be-remembered performance.