Sports

They’ve raised the money and are going!
Three young sailors from the Anguilla Youth Sailing Club (AYSC) will be representing Anguilla at the 2008 Scotiabank International Optimist Regatta in St Thomas, in June. Excitement amongst the AYSC students is high!

By Penny Legg

Last year’s West End Cup Champions, Temenos, took on newcomers CuisinArt Resort and Spa, in a thrilling race that had spectators cheering along Rendezvous Bay beach as each team, on board the spectacular 12 metre racing yachts, battled it out to win the coveted trophy.

The Anguilla Eels Rugby Football Club played with grit and determination but were no match for the formidable Les Barracudas Rugby Club from Saint Barthelemy, losing 11 trys to 5 trys. Mind you, the Barracudas have been in existence for over 20 years, while our Eels are mere elvers in the Caribbean rugby scene...but from small elvers grow mighty eels.

“It went great!” says Peter Parles, President of the Anguilla Sailing Association (ASA), commenting on the Anguilla Regatta which took place over the weekend of 9 -11 May. Boats registered all over the world, from Hobart to London, took part in a series of races for Local Racing Sloops, Cruising, Spinnaker, Multihull and Open Class Yachts.

At the Skipper’s Briefing on Thursday 8 May at Roy’s Bayside Grill, David De Vries, from St Martin Yacht Club, said that the Anguilla Regatta, held at Road Bay over the weekend of 9 – 11 May 2008, ‘aimed to be a nice, friendly Caribbean Regatta.’
The Battle of the Banks, the highly anticipated race between the Caribbean Commercial Bank and the National Bank of Anguilla, promised to put this assertion to the test. Each crew, members of staff of the respective banks, was charged with enthusiasm and the will to do their best to bring home glory.

The Anguilla Tae Kwondo Club held its second bi-annual grading exams this year at the Road School on Monday 5th and Saturday 10th May 2007. The exams were presided over by Grand Master Shin. One Student Judani Hughes, the son of Dr and Mrs Franklyn Hughes, was promoted to the rank of 1st Dan Black Belt.

One of the interesting features of the Anguilla Yacht Regatta is the Second Annual West End Cup 12-metre race. The event is scheduled to begin on Saturday, May 10, at 9 o’clock at Sandy Ground, several hours prior to the Battle of the Banks competition, another component of the fun-filled regatta.

Fun Day kicked off this year with all the teams, led by Ras Bucket, paraded around the James Ronald Webster Park. Cap Juluca, The Anguilla Pro Cricket Team, Legal, Police, Cable and Wireless, Fire Department, Caribbean Commercial Bank and ANGLEC comprised the teams set to compete in many fun events throughout the day.

The second annual Central Christian School Charity Golf Tournament commenced on time Saturday, April 26 at the Temenos Golf Club. One hundred Golfers began to tee off at 9:30 a.m. and finished around 2:00 pm. As seen in many articles leading up to the event, the purpose of the tournament was to raise funds for the construction of a new primary school that will be located in The Quarter. Last year’s event raised US $57,000 and this year much money was raised.

The Anguilla Yacht Regatta, now in its sixth year, is scheduled for May 9, 10 and 11. It includes the Battle of the Banks, a keen competition involving sailing teams from the Caribbean Commercial Bank, holder of the trophy for the past two years, and the National Bank of Anguilla which is determined to regain the championship title.

The captains of both teams and some of their members, along with Matt Tremble of the Board of Directors of the Anguilla Sailing Association, held a press briefing on Tuesday, April 29, to discuss the May 10 12-metre race between the two indigenous banks.

Mr. Tremble reported that the current winning records for the banks were CCB, which pilots True North 4, three wins and NBA which pilots Stars and Stripes, two wins. “Both teams have become accustomed to their vessels and I don’t think they want to change at this time and point,” he stated. “Caribbean Commercial Bank is ahead by one race so this year National Bank of Anguilla can even the score but only time will tell. The race is scheduled for 3.00 p.m. on Saturday, May 10, so cross your fingers for good weather.”

Cleo Hamm, CCB’s Research and Advertising Officer, who filled in for Myrna Sasso, captain of True North 4, described the competition as being “friendly rivalry.” He said boat-racing was an Anguillian tradition and his bank was “very proud to be part of such an event.” He added: “Like our boat’s name that’s where we are heading – always to the top. So far we have 25 people ready to get on the boat.”

Romare Kelsick, Head of Data Processing at NBA, and captain of Stars & Stripes, commented that like his CCB opponents, “Our tactic is to win by any means necessary.” He observed that the model yacht trophy had been at CCB for two consecutive years. “It looks rather strange to me because I have not seen it for sometime so it is really time to bring this trophy home. The Stars & Stripes along with our crew at NBA will definitely be redeeming ourselves this year because, as our motto says, ‘we are more than banking’ and one thing we hate to do is to lose. We always try to be the best in everything and we will be taking that same spirit into the race.”

The three-hour race, which starts and ends at Sandy Ground, will cover a distance of 26 nautical miles. The boats, stationed in St. Maarten, are meticulously maintained on a daily basis and are among the most used pleasure vessels in the region for cruises.

Matt Tremble explained: “The boats and crews are equally matched for the banks’ challenge race and the only difference on the day of the race will be the people manning the boats, how well they pay attention, how quickly they can crank and the response time. The difference is in the crew.”

He said the route for the general yacht regatta including the banks’ competition was called the “Beach Jam Course.” That is because “it brings the boats into the western beaches where there are some of the larger hotels so visitors to the island can also be involved in the race as spectators.”

Mr. Tremble added: “We would like to thank everyone involved in the Anguilla Sailing Association which in turn raises funds for the Anguilla Youth Sailing Club. That’s why we are doing this so that we can teach the national sport in Anguilla to the island’s youth.”

The weather could not have been more perfect for the start of the 10th Annual Optimist Triathlon on Sunday, April 20, sponsored by Cable and Wireless and Flag/Temenos Anguilla. At least fifty people in total registered for the competition in various categories. Swimmers in both the serious and fun categories all began the meet at Meads Bay while the cyclists patiently waited for them to get out of the water. The running segment started at Cable and Wireless with the finish line at Elodia’s Beach Bar and Restaurant.

A large crowd of spectators and players alike were on hand for the official opening of the Anguilla Female Football League (AFFL) on Sunday, April 20 at 3:00 pm. Five teams lined the field at the James Ronald Webster Park for the opening ceremony chaired by Mr. Colin Johnson, a member of the AFFL Committee and the Director of the AFFL. Mr. Johnson made brief remarks in which he said to the athletes, “Play hard, play well and may the best team win.”

The Anguilla Pepper Steppers (Anguilla’s Premier Skipping and Rope Demonstration ) Team, were in Tortola from Friday 4th to Monday 7th April, attending a Skipping and Rope Demonstration Workshop.

Maroon House emerged winner of the 2008 Cable and Wireless-sponsored Inter-House Athletic Competition held by the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School at the Ronald Webster Park on Thursday, March 27.

The Royal Anguilla Police Sports Club has made a donation of EC$3,216 to the Shoddaz Basketball Club to finance the purchase of jerseys as part of the uniform outfit for its members.

Over 500 people from all over the Caribbean were in Anguilla this past weekend for the 32nd year of the Caribbean Customs Sports and Cultural Tournament. With 14 islands represented, many activities were held such as a welcoming ceremony at the agricultural grounds, sports competitions, a beach jam and an opening ceremony and dinner.

The kids are a lively bunch, full of beans just like children everywhere should be.

Big things are about to happen at the Anguilla Youth Sailing Club!

The Club’s new Instructor, Canadian William Ferguson, has unveiled plans for the immediate future which are certain to set tongues wagging all over the island.

Jeff’s dedicated spirit, commitment, passion and love for his country’s National Sport, boat racing, were celebrated on Sunday February 24th, when family and friends made the event in memory of him the success it was.

The Valley was ablaze with a rainbow of colour as the annual Ashley and Sons road relay race got started on Sunday 24th February. Present were the six primary schools, the five houses of the Albena Lake Hodge Comprehensive School and hordes of supporters. The Primary School bicycle road relay was the first event and the supporters cheered all athletes. However, there could only be one winner - the Road Primary School in both the male and female categories.