BVI Lose to Martinique In Away Match of ScotiaBank Caribbean Cup

March 24, 2016 by
Photo courtesy of BVIFA

Photo courtesy of BVIFA

By BVIFA

The BVI went down 3-0 to Martinique in their first Group 7 game of the Scotiabank Caribbean Cup on Wednesday 23rd March, 2016 at the Stade Pierre Aliker in Martinique.

Martinique, playing at home, opened the scoring in the 12th minute of play against the British Virgin Islands, when Kevin Parsemain netted. Yuan Aquino made it 2-0 in the 68th minute, while Steven Lange scored Martinique’s third and final goal in the 84th minute.

“Although we lost, we didn’t allow Martinique to play their usual game or run away with things” commented Troy Caesar, “In fact at times we silenced the crowd and even their players were getting frustrated”.

“They were technically good and very fit” stated Asst. Coach John Riley.

“It was tough conceding two late goals” noted Team Manager, Wendell Nichols. “The game was also tough against a very strong team, full of players from France, but now we have to regroup and get ready for Dominica.

The next game, a must win encounter against well known foe in Dominica, is scheduled for Saturday 26th March, on the A.O. Shirley Grounds at 4pm.

“We are looking good, strong and disciplined” stated Riley.

“We have been coming here for a few years now” commented Dominica’s Coach, Shane Marshall.  “We hope as always to make our fans here happy. The BVI team has changed a lot and these days they send for players from England and elsewhere, but we have a good combination of youth and experience. Our preparation hasn’t been the best, but we are ready to go”.

The last time the teams met was in the World Cup qualifier in 2015, which ended as a 0-0 stalemate and a result that gives the BVI plenty to be positive about in terms of securing all 3 points.

The full squad includes:

Goal Keepers: Daniel Barker, Ben Chapman, Vesquever Frett.

Defenders: Ryan Dicker, Troy Caesar, Karl Espley, Joshua Fines, James Quinn, Gregory James, Vanquever Frett.

Midfielders: Jordon Johnson, Peter Monks, Kristan Javier, Lewis Jones, Gladstone Burke, Christopher Telemaque, Robert Green.

Forwards: Trevor Peters, Allon Williams.

Avondale Williams is the coach, John Riley the Asst. Coach and Sheldon Harry the Physio.

Fans are encouraged to come out early as their will be plenty of excitement pre-match with a “Fan Village”, food, refreshments and of course a chance to grab the best seats in the house.

The game time has been arranged to suit those coming from Virgin Gorda and of course all those who will be heading back to Virgin Gorda to enjoy the Easter Festival Celebrations.

Entrance to the game is just $5 and all Boys and Girls Under 12 get free entry.

Filed Under: Football Tagged With:

Ian Walker Joins BVI Youth Sailors Training Session

March 24, 2016 by
Photo by RBVIYC

Photo by RBVIYC

By RBVIYC

The Royal BVI Yacht Club youth sailing programme was treated to a special guest this week when world renowned sailor Ian Walker dropped by to join Tuesday’s training session.

The winning skipper of the 2014/2015 Volvo Ocean Race and double Olympic silver medalist visited the sailing centre at Nanny Cay and went out on the water with the team.

Walker skippered Abu Dhabi to victory in the 2014/2015 edition of the Volvo Ocean Race, his third circumnavigation with the race having skippered Abu Dhabi in 2011/2012 and Green Dragon in the 2008/2009 races.  At the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, he won the silver medal in the 470 class before switching to the Star and picking up another silver in 2000.  In 2004 he coached Shirley Robertson’s team to gold at the Athens Olympics in the Yngling.

The fleets of Optimists and Lasers headed out after a quick briefing onshore just like a normal Tuesday session but with an extra pair of coaching eyes analysing their performance.

Walker observed the first races from the coach boat, jumped into a Laser with Dawson van Zoost to run through some finer tuning points and then, for the final race of the session, he took on the race team in an Optimist – a far cry from the 300 tonne boat he was skippering just last week!

Giving the team a run for their money in the pre-start build up and on the start line he suffered slightly from lack of boat speed giving Team BVI the win.

Back ashore, at the debrief, he chatted with the race team about starting strategies, downwind techniques and rules, emphasising the importance of sail set up, practice and learning to be fast through the water. The questions poured forth from the young sailors, keen to hear more on topics ranging from watch systems on the Volvo Ocean Race and prize money to the theory of apparent wind.

A huge thank you from the Royal BVI Yacht Club to Ian for taking the time out to join the sailors and to Nanny Cay Hotel and Marina for your support.  Ian, you are welcome back anytime!

Filed Under: Sailing Tagged With:

Patrick Harrigan Gets Carifta Games Starting Role

March 23, 2016 by
Patrick Harrigan starting during the National Jr. Championships PHOTO: Dean "The Sportsman" Greenaway

Patrick Harrigan starting during the National Jr. Championships PHOTO: Dean “The Sportsman” Greenaway

By BVI Milesplit

When U.S. and British Virgin Islands athletes begin lining up behind their blocks in the 45th Carifta Games in St. Georges, Grenada on Saturday morning, many will hear a familiar voice saying; “on your marks.”

The BVI’s Patrick Harrigan is the official starter for this year’s edition of the games in which the territory began participating exactly 40 years ago.

“Much surprised,” Harrigan said. “I said ‘well look what it took for me to get to the Carifta Games after all these years.’ So I’m very much surprised.”

Harrigan said since the passing of the IAAF Regional Development Center Director in Puerto Rico, Lenford Levy, he hadn’t heard anything following a series of starting seminars he attended there and in Jamaica. He said he knew they were being prepared to start at Carifta and other competitions.

“But, there was nothing else,” he said. “I’m still wondering who made the nominations up to now. I was hoping that I would go to Jamaica for the Boyd and Girls Championships since we worked there and Teddy McCook was telling me he wanted to get me down there to start, so I wasn’t expecting it to be this quick and I wasn’t expecting it to be at Carifta.”

He said he must thank whoever made the nomination and felt it was worthwhile to have him going to Grenada to start. “I started in Grenada some years back just before the Hurricane came in and destroyed the stadium,” he explained. “I have a little knack of what Grenada is like, but it’s about trying to do a good job.”

Harrigan said he has been starting since he began teaching in the mid 1970s and had been at it for 38 years. Before becoming a starter, he was a member of the BVI Athletics Association and was into athletics on a whole.

“I didn’t compete much because I had a crazy injury trying to run the 100m so from then, the only thing I ever did was Shot Put and Discus Throw,” he pointed out. “But, I was always around athletics. It was as if there was a team working as officials, so after I started teaching I would start for the Primary School events so it just carried on from there starting every meet we had.”

What is he looking forward to in the starting role at the Carifta Games?

“Doing a good job,” he said heartedly. “Making sure that everyone that I start gets a fair start. During one of the workshops I attended, I told them that the meet isn’t about the officials and the guy running the workshop agreed. At the end of the meet, everyone leaves and don’t remember who the starter was, so it means that things were good. I’m looking forward to having a good time, everyone gets a far chance and hopefully, be able to start at Carifta wherever it is again.”

Filed Under: Athletics Tagged With:

21 To Represent BVI At Carifta Games

March 22, 2016 by

Source: BVI Platinum

Athletes to represent BVI at the 45th Carifta Games in St. Georges, Grenada over the Easter Weekend. Photo: Dean "The Sportsman" Greenaway

Athletes to represent BVI at the 45th Carifta Games in St. Georges, Grenada over the Easter Weekend.
Photo: Dean “The Sportsman” Greenaway

Some 40 years after making its first trek to the Carifta Games in Nassau, Bahamas in 1976, during a media briefing on Monday, the BVI Athletics Association officially announced a team of 21 athletes to represent the Territory at the 45th Carifta Games in St. Georges, Grenada over the Easter Weekend.

Competition starts on Saturday morning and runs through Monday night.

The bulk of the delegation, which is home based, will depart the Territory on Thursday.

Some 19 of the 21 athletes have recorded a personal best mark this season while five athletes have established six outdoor National Records and three have met IAAF World Jr. Championships qualifying standards.

“The coaches have worked tirelessly to make sure that the athletes are prepared for the Carifta Games,” Chief Coach Dag Samuels said during the press briefing. “I am grateful that we have such a team that can represent the territory. I can pledge one thing to the territory, that we have on our team—finalists. We will be finalists in every event that we do and that will make any country proud.”

Samuels thanked the athletes for putting out their best and said when they get to Grenada the BVI will show the rest of the Caribbean, that they hail from the BVI and will always be a force to reckon with.

“On behalf of the coaches I say thanks to the athletes and we will move forward with a positive and trustworthy goal to do great at the Carifta Games,” Samuels said.

During Monday’s media briefing, the four members of the first Carrifta Games delegation from 1976, joined the 2016 delegation, to mark the 40th anniversary since the first group left the shores. Johnny Hassan who was president at the time, was joined by athletes Rose Phillips Adams, Ephraim Penn and Dean “The Sportsman” Greenaway.

Also making up the first Carifta Games delegation were coach Theda Bucknor-Forbes and athlete Delores Barzey.

The 2016 team comprises:
U18
Girls: Beyonce DeFreitas, 200m; Arianna Hayde, Javelin Throw, Long Jump; Z’Niah Hutchinson, High Jump, Xiomara “Gia” Malone, High Jump: Judine Lacey, 400m, Shaniyah Caul, 400m and Akira Phillip, Javelin Throw.
Boys: Djimon Gumbs, Shot Put and Discus Throw; Joshua Hill, 800m; Rackeel Jack, 400 and 800m; K’Cei Moses, 200 and 400m; Rikkoi Brathwaite, 100 and 200m.

U20
Girls: Tarika Moses, 400 and 800m; Nelda Huggins, 100 and 200m; Britney Peters, Javelin Throw; Lakeisha Warner, 400m Hurdles & 800m; Deya Erickson, 100m Hurdles; L’T’Sha Fahie, 100 and 200m; Kiwanna Emmanuel, Discus Throw.
Boys: Akeem Bradshaw Long and Triple Jump and Ronique Todman, 200 and 400m.

Filed Under: Athletics Tagged With: ,

Harrigan-Scott Reaches 4th Straight IAAF World Indoor 60m Semi-finals

March 22, 2016 by
Tahesia Harrigan-Scott, left and Ashely Kelly at the 15th IAAF World Indoor Championships. Photo BVI Milesplit.

Tahesia Harrigan-Scott, left and Ashely Kelly at the 15th IAAF World Indoor Championships. Photo BVI Milesplit.

By BVI Milesplit

Veteran sprinter Tahesia Harrigan-Scott advanced to her fourth straight IAAF World Indoor Championships 60m semis on Saturday night, during the championships held in Portland, Oregon.

Harrigan-Scott ran 7.30 seconds in her prelim and was fifth but her mark was the third best among the six fastest losers advancing. A 2008 finalist and bronze medalist, as well as a 2010 finalist placing seventh with only three races that season, who narrowly missed the 2014 finals by .0001, was fifth in her semi in 7.23 the 15th best mark of the meet.

Harrigan-Scott said she can’t complain about the championships and had a good time. “I executed my start really well in the semifinals,” she said. “But, what I’m having a problem with is at the end of my race, I’m losing my body position which I’ve been able to correct as of lately. The fact that I got out so fast (in the semis), faster than I normally do, I had a hard time getting everything in front of me. The first part of my race is where I want it to be now I have to take it a step further and execute the transition of my race.”

She said confidence-wise, indoor has set her on track for outdoors but there are some things she still needs to work on. “Mentally, I’m where I want to be,” she pointed out. “I know if I execute the race I’m supposed to run, then I will have a good season. I’m feeling way better than I did last year and I ran better times than I did last year when I ran 11.14. If I can continue to capitalize on that and stay healthy, I should have a good season.”

Ashley Kelly got the ball rolling on Friday night in the 400m where she finished third in her heat after running 54.95 seconds, then later learnt her time was the 13th best of the field as the first 12 advanced.

“It wasn’t one of my best (races) and surely nothing I’m proud about,” Kelly said. “I have to learn to react better in different situations.”

Hammer Throw record for Gumbs

Coming off winning the National Jr. Colleges Weight Throw crown in record fashion, Tynelle Gumbs opened her outdoor campaign by taking down twin sister Trevia’s Hammer Throw record with a huge personal best at the Willie Williams Classic in Tucson, Arizona.  Tynelle placed fifth in Hammer Throw throw with a 48.87m heave, to take down Trevia’s 47.66m mark of a year ago. Her previous best was 44.99m. Trevia finished sixth with a 47.37 effort and placed eight in the Shot Put with 12.75m.

Tynelle was fifth in the Javelin Throw with a 36.92m effort and settled for 12th overall in the Discus Throw after reaching 40.97m.

In Jamaica, Nelda Huggins, representing St. Jago High School, was second in the Class I Girls 100m in 11.67-the second best mark of her career. She ran 11.85 to win the prelims and 11.75 for second in the semis.

Competing at the Carolina Spring Break Classic in Puerto Rico, Deya Erickson won her heat of the 100m Hurdles with the day’s third best mark of 14.17 seconds.  Kala Penn debuted with 17.04, then leapt 5.53m to finish fifth in the Long Jump.

Shaniyah Caul won her 400m heat in 58.34 seconds. Ronique Todman had a 49.59 seconds mark for second second in his 400m heat, while Tarique Moses ran 50.77, in another segment. Todman ran 22.38 for fourth in his 200m heat.

Akeem Bradshaw was second in the Triple Jump with a 14.57m measurement.

Jonel Lacey finished second in the 400m Intermediate Hurdles, in 1:02.99, while Lakeisha “Mimi” Warner finished sixth in her heat in 1:04.89.

Shaquoy Stephens ran 11.06 seconds in his 100m debut while Johnt’a Charles had a time of 11.53 in his heat.

Mariah Christian finished seventh in the 1500m in 5:23.70, a mark that’s No. 5 on the All Time List.

Filed Under: Athletics Tagged With: ,

Team BVI in Martinique for first match of 2016 Caribbean Cup

March 21, 2016 by

By BVIFA

2016 Caribbean Cup National Virgin Islands Team. Photo: Provided

2016 Caribbean Cup National Virgin Islands Team. Photo: Provided

The Virgin Islands’ national football team left the Territory on Sunday 20th March, 2016, bound for Martinique for their first match of the 2016 Caribbean Cup.

The Group 7 game is scheduled for 22nd March and then the BVI team will return home to face a second group game against Dominica on Saturday 26th March, on the A.O. Shirley Ground at 4pm.

Fan favourite, Troy Caesar, back in the squad having missed the World Cup qualifiers in 2015 due to College obligations, is looking forward to reuniting with his old team mates and also players new to him. “Well first of all I have to give thanks to God who help give me life to see a next tournament, and after missing the world cup qualifier I realized how much I’m a integral part of the team, I also know being a part of the new look of the team is going to a challenge but as players we have to adjust as fast as we can because this is my second time playing against Martinique and I know they a very good it’s just for the team to work hard and follow our coach tactics and I have confidence we can move on to the next round after how we played Dominica last March,” said Caesar.

Joining Caesar will be a couple of his college team mates, Josh Fines and James Quinn. “Well after meeting them for the first time I could tell that their knowledge of the game and the way they played set them aside from most of my other teammates. Then playing alongside Josh Fines, James Quinn and Lewis Jones we built trust, but being together on and off the field, I know they are going to help the team greatly,” added Caesar.

Caesar is also well aware of what could be a large fan base of people with Dominican ties here in the BVI and that several of the team such as Trevor Peters, Chris Telemaque, and Ceasar himself have family from Dominica. “Well all the names you call are very talented players and playing with them for a number of years, I know their potential.  But again, all the names you call have blood from Dominica but our birthplace is the BVI and I’m very excited to come back home to play even more against a country I always wanted to play. Before I left to come to the US, a lot of local players and spectators know how good I am and how great I can become and encourage me to play so coming back to play at home is an awesome feeling and to see my family and friends. But I just want everyone to come out and give their support because this team is going to change the way people look at BVI football”

The full squad includes:
Goal Keepers: Daniel Barker, Ben Chapman, Vesquever Frett
Defenders:Ryan Dicker, Troy Caesar, Karl Espley, Joshua Fines, James Quinn, Gregory James, Vanquever Frett
Midfielders: Jordon Johnson, Peter Monks, Kristan Javier, Lewis Jones, Gladstone Burke, Christopher Telemaque.)
Forward:Trevor Peters, Allon Williams.

Avondale Williams is the coach, John Riley the assistant coach and Sheldon Harry the physiotherapist.

Filed Under: Football Tagged With: ,

Lettsome 3-Peats As ESHS Inter-House Champions

March 21, 2016 by

By BVIAA

O'Neal House's Rikkoi Brathwaite completes the 17 & Under Boys sprint double in 22.37 seconds after joining a short list of school boys dipping under 11.00 with is 10.92 time. Photo: Dean "The Sportsman" Greenaway

O’Neal House’s Rikkoi Brathwaite completes the 17 & Under Boys sprint double in 22.37 seconds after joining a short list of school boys dipping under 11.00 with is 10.92 time. Photo: Dean “The Sportsman” Greenaway

Sitting on a splinter lead of just two points-the narrowest margin going into the annual Elmore Stoutt High School inter-house sports day after pre competition events-defending champions Lettsome House made a surge that resulted in a 68.5 points end of Day I lead over Flemming House, who was breathing down their neck.

Lettsome with strong showing in the sprints High Jumps and Shot Put, took their slim 327-325 points advantage over Flemming to end Day I on 590 to Flemming’s 521.5, en route to a 3-peat championship their eighth overall.

At the end of Friday’s second day, Lettsome had amassed 832 points. Flemming hanged on for second as they were three points better than Carlisle, 709-706. O’Neal rounded out the scoring with 645.

“The two points lead was an achievement for us because basically, last year we came into sports day in last place and we did it,” assistant House Master Nahassie Chalwell, pointed out. “This year, coming in with a two points lead we were a little more confident because we already knew that in certain races, we were going to do very well with the athletes we already have. So, it was a motivation to be in the lead and we know we had to maintain the lead and just wrap up the title.”

By taking control after all the 100m races, Chalwell said they didn’t realize the type of athletes they had until they saw them in action. “We were to have run off but only heard about these athletes and had never seen them. After seeing them in these races, we know we have something special going on,” he said.

Among the meets highlights was O’Neal House’s Rikkoi Brathwaite winning the 17 and under Boys 100m in 10.92 seconds joining a short list of school boys to accomplish the feat. He pulled off the sprint double by winning the 200m in 22.37 seconds.
Teammate L’T’Sha Fahie ran the 20 and Under Girls equivalent in a personal best of 11.80 seconds, shaving her best from 11.85. Her time also met the IAAF World Jr. Championships qualifying standard.

Lettsome’s athletes won three of the eight division titles at stake including a sweep of the three top places in the 15 and Under Boys Class. They also had five second place class finishes.

Carlisle Houses’ Xiomara “Gia” Malone, was the Girls 13 and Under Division champion with 48 points and Lettsome House’s Antwon Robison took the Boys crown with 40.

Flemming’s Zara Brown was two points better than teammate Shauliqua Fahie, 40-38, in the 15 and Under Girls Division. Lettsome’s Tyrique Bradshaw and J’Quaan Bodkin led a sweep of the Boy’s side with 38.

Teammate Arianna Hayde toped the 17 and Under Girls Class with 50 points.  Carlisle’s Jelani Norman sealed the boy’s segment with 38.

Flemming’s Sha’Kida Lavacia topped the U20 Girls with 48 while Carlisle’s Akeem Bradshaw and Lettsome’s Adriano Gumbs shared the boys segment with 40.

Lettsome’s Arianna Hayde was the Victrix Ludorum with 50 points. There was a three way tie for the Victor, between, Carlisle’s Akeem Bradshaw and Lettsome’s duo of Adriano Gumbs and Antwon Robinson, with 40.

Filed Under: Athletics Tagged With:

Visiting Student Breaks Blenheim Trust 5k Record In Carrot Bay

March 21, 2016 by

By BVIAA

Samuel Goldstein, 154, Reuben Stoby, 205, Julius Farley, 170 & Guy Williamson, 28, preparing to break away from the field in Saturday's race. Photo: Dean "The Sportsman" Greenaway

Samuel Goldstein, 154, Reuben Stoby, 205, Julius Farley, 170 & Guy Williamson, 28, preparing to break away from the field in Saturday’s race. Photo: Dean “The Sportsman” Greenaway

Samuel Goldstein, a student at Ashville, a prep boarding school in North Carolina, will remember his 2016 Spring Break visit to the British Virgin Islands – his fourth trip here – joining his family who have been coming to the territory since 1976.

Goldstein laid off the pace, then surged past early leader Reuben Stoby to win Saturday’s Blenheim Trust 5K Carrot Bay Classic in a course record time of 16 minutes, 50.1 seconds. For Stoby who was second in 17:23, it was his second successive setback after Vincent Fourniner took the opening race of the series in Road Town.

“It was a great race and he took it out hard and was giving me a little fear,” Goldstein said. “I passed him after the hill-a bigger hill than I thought I would be-the grade coming back was not as bad as I expected it and I was able to get on top of it really well and I was able to push to the finish.”

Goldstein thanked his coach John Smith for preparing him over the winter. “This was a great opener,” he said. “Now, I have to start preparing for track.”

Before the race, Stoby said Goldstein told him that he was a sub 17 minute runner over 5K. “I knew I was going to be up against some competition,” Stoby said. “It’s a pity I wasn’t able to go with him to push myself a little bit more, but I wasn’t in top top shape. I think I may have taken it out too hard trying to set the pace. I wanted to go hard, see if I could make a break away but he didn’t bite that one.”

Women’s winner Rosmond Johnson who’s recovering from the flu and ran 22 minutes even, said it was a challenging race.  “At one point I thought I wouldn’t pull through but I did, thank God,” she said. “On the hill coming back, I felt a little shortness of breath so I stopped, caught my breath and then I went again. I pulled through and I won.”

The race was something Vanessa King always wanted to do, but as a new mommy she decided to use the race to get back in shape. “I always wanted to do it so I decided to take an item off my bucket list,” she said. “It was tough for me as a newbie but I enjoyed it. I liked that the course was by the water and you had the sea breeze and it wasn’t hot. I also liked that we had the challenge of a hill and it wasn’t just flat and I liked the spirit of the runners. They cheered you on.”

Final Results.
Men: 1. Samuel Goldstein, 16 minutes 50.10 seconds. 2. Reuben Stoby, 17:23.5.  3. Julius Farley, 18:44.5.  4. Guy Williamson, 19:07.8. 5. Jeremy Zuber, 19:44.4. 6. Alex Dale, 19:59.5.  7. Paul Hubbard, Simon Cook, 20:10.5.  9. Antony Spencer, 20:29.5.  10. Martin Trott, 20:49.3. 11. Guyp Dubois, 21:00.9.  12. Adrian Dale, 21:05.5.  13. Emrol Amsterdam, 21:12.7.  14. Reu Rymer, 21:42.5. 15. Chris Berlet, 22:12.8. 16. Dave Pettigrew, 22:23.2.  17. Gabriel Obregon, 23:07.3.  18. Luka Chalwell, 23:37.3.  19. Claudius Rhymer, 24:14.8.  20. Aaron Gardner, 24:22.2.  21. Zebalon Mclean, 25:28.5.  22. Barry O’Lane, 25:30.1.  23. Dennis Versoza, 25:43.7.  24. Richard Morgan, 27:28.7.  25. Howard Moore, 29:35.6.  26. Dennis Delacruz, 29:38.6.  27. Teejay Torres, 29:57.1.  28. Shane Donovan, 29:59.3.  29. Marvin Flax, 30:04.5. 30. Jim Cullimore, 30:30.0.  31. Ravenol Santos, 31:29.5.  32. Barry Leon, 34:55.2.  33. Robert Williamson,36:15.8.

Women: 1. Rosmond Johnson, 22:00.5.  2. Melissa Brunner, 22:29.2.  3. Lauren Julien, 23:14.2.  4. Juliane Potgieter, 23:51.5.  5. Kay Reddy, 23:52.2.  6. Gillian Plaxton, 24:32.1.  7. Philomena Robertson, 25:27.4.  8. Simone Gribble, 25:29.9.  9. Melisande Rowe, 25:49.5.  10. Brodie Faragher, 26:00.5.  11. Jude Holmes, 27:27.5.  12. Clair Burke, 28:00.0. 13. Cayley Smit, 28:00.0.  14. Zoe Bickerton, 28:26.4.  15. Vanessa King, 30:43.9. 16. Nedy Ador Dionicio, 31:11.7. 17. Simpa Ganadillo, 31:38.8.

Walkers: 1. Adenike Sicard, 51:52.1.  2. Belinda Dabbs, 56:10.5.

Youth 1 Mile: 1. Sammy Potgieter 8.20.    2.  Charlie Potgieter, 8.55.   3. Sebbie and Xavier Morgan, 10.49.  5.  James Tucker 14.45.

Filed Under: Athletics Tagged With: , , ,

The sun shines on Team BVI sailors in Miami

March 16, 2016 by

By RBVIYC

Team BVI (L-R) Rayne Duff, Nathan Haycraft and Ryan Lettsome. Photo: Provided

Team BVI (L-R) Rayne Duff, Nathan Haycraft and Ryan Lettsome. Photo: Provided

Rayne Duff once again stood on the podium in Miami, claiming the red fleet victory and third overall at the 2016 Sunshine State Championships held in Miami from 12-13 March.

Three Team BVI Sailors traveled to Miami for the regatta, Duff, Nathan Haycraft (blue fleet) and Ryan Lettsome (white fleet).

A fleet of 195 boas descended on the Key Biscayne Yacht Club and the competition was fierce. Entries, whilst dominated by the USA, also included sailors from the BVI, USVI, St Lucia and Canada.

In the White fleet, Ryan Lettsome sailed a solid regatta to finish in ninth place, an excellent achievement at his first major regatta out of the region. A black flag in Race 3 for crossing the start line early sets the theme for the weekend for the Team BVI sailors but fortunately was one Lettsome was able to discard.

Nathan Haycraft had a challenging weekend with three starting penalties that cost him dearly in the overall results. Only able to discard one score, Haycraft was forced to count an additional 145 points to an otherwise consistent series of race scores.

The red fleet, for sailors aged 13 to 15 went down to the wire for Rayne Duff who also fell victim to the black flag but, finishing on a high, he pulled out a bullet in the final race to secure his position and third overall.

Team BVI congratulate Mia Nicolosi from St Thomas who took the overall victory, securing five bullets from the seven race series.

Team BVI Results
Position – Skipper
3 – Rayne Duff (1st Red fleet)
57 – Nathan Haycraft (30th Blue fleet)
111 – Ryan Lettsome (9th white fleet)

Full Results

Filed Under: Sailing Tagged With: , ,

Harrigan-Scott, Kelly In IAAF World Indoor Championships – A First

March 16, 2016 by

By the BVIAA

Tahesia Harrigan-Scott, Coach Winston Potter and Ashley Kelly at the NACAC Championships Photo: Dean "The Sportsman" Greenaway

Tahesia Harrigan-Scott, Coach Winston Potter and Ashley Kelly at the NACAC Championships Photo: Dean “The Sportsman” Greenaway

The Lone Ranger is not alone anymore. For the first time in its history, the BVI will have two athletes competition at the IAAF World Indoor Championships.

Veteran Tahesia Harrigan-Scott, a 2008 bronze medalist, is in her fourth championships and will contest the 60m dash will be joined by Ashley Kelly, who will see action in the 400m.

The 15th edition will be held in Portland, Oregon, March 15-17. Kelly will see action on Friday and Harrigan-Scott get into the blocks on Saturday.

Harrigan-Scott said she’s excited about having Kelly at World Indoors as she has been the lone ranger. “I know our county has the talent and the athletes to qualify, so to see it starting to happen at this level, it’s the start of something great and something that’s going to continue happening on a consistent basis,” she predicted. “This is just the first of many. The door was opened up and I think Ashley is going to have a phenomenal season. She has been running really spectacular and I think we are going to go out there and have a great showing.”

Harrigan-Scott said this year is more about fun and not focusing on indoors as her major goal is outdoors with indoors being a bonus and her training has been going extremely well. “I’ve been working on the different phases to transition to the 100m because that’s my optimal race and so far, so good,” she said. “It has been one of my fastest indoor seasons for the last two years and I feel very confident about it. My strength level is definitely up, I think I can handle the rounds and it’s just to make sure I execute.”

She’s taking a 7.20 seconds season’s best into the meet and said her competitions this year have been really spread out unlike in past World Championships, where she raced consistently indoors. This time around, she has four competitions under her belt.

“I feel really good and I’m feeling really strong,” Harrigan-Scott stated. “I think everything is going to come together during the World Championships. I’ve been training really well and gearing up towards it, everything should work out really well. I’m at peace with myself.”

A 2008 bronze medalist, a 2010 finalist, she ran 7.17 seconds in 2014 – the same time as Jamaica’s Veronica Campbell-Brown who got the eighth and final spot. From that experience she said you can’t leave it up to the clock but have to put yourself in the position. “Once there’s an opportunity for someone else to choose another person, then you basically took yourself out the equation,” she noted. “This year, I’m going to ensure I give it my all and make sure there’s no second guesses whether I should go to the next round.”

Kelly said her main goal is to perform well and do what she has been doing in practices. “My goal is to take each round one at a time and do what I have to do to get through each round,” she stated. “Then hopefully, what I want will happen, so I’m looking for a good performance.”

Kelly has run personal best over 60, 200 and 400m this season and said with no school to concentrate on and she has been getting adequate rest and meet her different Doctor’s appointments. “I’m trusting the people I have around me and they really have my best interest,” she said.  “Some of the things I’ve done-personal bests so early-has been a surprise. I wasn’t expecting much. I was just going out and attacking different parts of my race, so focusing on certain things really did help me in getting personal bests so I’m really happy.”

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