British Virgin Islands Duff WIns 22nd International Optimist Regatta

June 25, 2014 by
Rayne Duff in St Thomas

Rayne Duff in St Thomas

Shifting strategies to match wind speed and direction, staying out in front of the fleet and remaining calm provided successful strategies for 11-year-old Rayne Duff. Duff won the 22nd International Optimist Regatta (IOR) hosted out of the St. Thomas Yacht Club, St. Thomas, USVI, from June 20 to 22. At the conclusion of Sunday’s final two races, the Tortola, British Virgin Islands based sailor continued to lengthen his lead and comfortably finished with 33 points separating him from his closest competition. That’s quite a feat considering the keen level of competition in the 59-boat Advanced Optimist fleet and wind conditions blowing a brisk 10 to 15 knots, plus higher in gusts.

“I still need to work on my starts,” says Duff, who along with his other team members will be representing the BVI in the Optimist North American Championships, in Riviera Nayarit, Mexico, July 9 to 16. “But being consistent, in the top three in every race, is really what helped.”

Duff not only won the overall championship, but also the 11- and 12-year-old Blue Fleet. The BVI had a total of 7 sailors in the competition.

BVI Coach Rob Lind said “the BVI team sailed really well and we were very proud of all of them, especially of course Rayne Duff”. 

Nathan Haycraft came second in the 10 and under White Fleet – 35th overall. Thad Lettsome in 11 and 12 year old Blue Fleet was the 2nd best BVI Boat and 19th overall. Sam Childs finished 25th overall, James Dawson 36th overall and Amelie Clark 39th. Anya Reshetiloff competed in Green Fleet.

In the 13- to 15-year-old Red Fleet, it was 13-year-old Teddy Nicolosi, from St. Thomas, USVI, who finished first in spite of poor scores at the beginning of the regatta.

“The first day I was too nervous, I couldn’t think straight,” says Nicolosi, a member of the USVI National Team that will also compete in the Optimist North Americans in Mexico. “The second day I relaxed and told myself I didn’t care about the results, that it was just practice. Then I started sailing better.”

The USA’s Stephan Baker won the age 10 and Under White Fleet. “I played the left side of the course. That’s what my coach recommended and he has a lot of experience here. It really paid off,” says Baker. Baker is coached in Miami, Florida, by Antigua native and former BVI coach, Omari Scott.

The trophy for Top Girl was awarded to 11-year-old Isabella Casaretto from the USA. Casaretto also finished an impressive 7th overall.

“I sailed here last year and didn’t do well,” says Casaretto. “This year, I got clean starts, clear air and kept up with the top of the fleet. I like it that there’s a lot of wind here.”

Twenty-two junior sailors competed in the Green or Beginner Fleet, which bodes well for the future of the sport. In the end, it was 9-year-old Caroline Sibilly from St. Thomas, USVI, who emerged victorious.

“My strategy was to get away from the others and into clear air so I could go fast,” says Sibilly.

“I was very impressed with the level of skill here especially in the top sailors,” says David Campbell James of Southampton, UK, who served as the IOR’s Principal Race Officer.

A total of 81 sailors competed in the Advanced Red, Blue and White Fleets and beginner Green Fleet. The Advanced Fleets completed 10 races and the Green Fleet a total of 18races over the three days of competition. Sailors hailed from 10 nations – Antigua, Argentina, the British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Germany, Puerto Rico, Spain, the Netherlands, U.S.A, and all three USVI.

The IOR is organized under authority of the Virgin Islands Sailing Association and it is a Caribbean Sailing Association-sanctioned event.

The week started off with the Sea Star Clinic, run by local coaches and coaches from OptiSailors.com, and included the one-day Sea Star Team Race. The BVI team sailors were Rayne Duff, James Dawson, Thank Lettsome and Nathan Haycraft. They won 3 of their 5 heats qualifying for the semi-finals; they ended up with 4th place.

The team race was won by STYC 1, made up of Teddy Nicolosi, Christopher Sharpless, Mateo DiBlasi and Robert Hunter.

The BVI would like to thank their Sponsors Moorings, Nanny Cay and Nagico Insurances without whom the weekend would not have been possible.

 

Filed Under: Sailing Tagged With: , , , ,

Curacao overcome BVI in NACRA Championship

June 25, 2014 by

By: BVISports.com

South Zone League

South Zone League

In the final round of the South Zone Cup League Curacao and St Lucia came away with bonus point victories which allowed the two teams to finish 1-2 in the four team pool.

Curtleyson Martis struck for three tries including two first half efforts while fullback Tjakko Breuer had a brace as Curacao rolled over the British Virgin Islands 42-12 to take top spot in the South Zone Cup League title on Saturday. Thomas Chapman and Rory Thorton responded with second half tries for the BVI with Thorton converting his own effort.

St Lucia got a pair of tries from Lenford Eugene with solos from Ervin Joseph and Imran Williams, along with three Colvis Samuels conversions to win 26-22 over St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Kicking was the difference as St Vincent got two bonus points in the loss as Philip Alvis got two tries along with five pointers from Justin Joyles and George Kruger. Alvis only hit for one conversion from four attempts as St Vincent lost by less than 7 points and scored four tries. St Lucia finished 2nd in the South Zone Cup League with 6 points in the table and a 2-1 record while St Vincent, with a 1-2 record, ended with 5 points in the table including 3 bonus points.

As a result of this round, Curacao will take on the third place finisher in the South Championship League, which is 0-2 Barbados, while Bermuda (0-2) will take on Mexico in the other relegation promotion match. These games are scheduled to take place in September at the respective top place finisher, AOS home field.

Filed Under: Rugby Tagged With: ,

Islanders conclude season unbeaten

June 24, 2014 by
Akeem Hendrikson heads home a first half equalizer for the Sugar Boyz. Photo credit: Charlie E. Jackson


Akeem Hendrikson heads home a first half equalizer for the Sugar Boyz. Photo credit: Charlie E. Jackson

Islanders F.C. duly completed an unbeaten Premier League Season with a 3-1 win over the Ballstars on Sunday, whilst the Sugar Boys overcame a battling Wolues 3-2 to cement third place in the standings and give themselves a shot at finishing second.

The Islanders have already been crowned Champions following One Love forfeiting last Wednesday nights top of the table clash found themselves a goal down inside the first five minutes when stand in goal keeper, Fitzroy Daley made an elementary handling error inside his own box to gift the Ballstars a free kick, which was deflected by Ranalie Caine past the flapping Daley and inside the near post.

Just two minutes later though, the Islanders were level when McTair James was brought crashing down in the Ballstars box and Avondale Williams powered his spot kick straight past Troy Caesar.

The Islanders then went 2-1 up, in the 20th minute, following a long run by Noel Isaac, who slid the perfect ball into the path of Andy Davis and who, in turn, expertly chipped the ball over Caesar and into the empty net.

The second half saw the Islanders squander a lot of chances with several players guilty of over elaboration in front of goal and a lack of composure, but eventually Caines made it 3-1 in the 70th minute when presented with the simplest of tap ins.

The Wolues then played the Sugar Boyz and caught their defense still getting organized when Xavier Arnau Gili slotted home the opening goal in the second minute.

The same player had a chance to double the lead moments later, but his flicked effort went agonizingly wide of the far post.

However for much of the remainder of the first half it was a sea of Orange in the Wolues half as the Sugar Boyz piled on the pressure. Derol Redhead latched onto a through ball and should have at least hit the target. Wolues Keeper, Nick Messum, made a couple of flying saves from Jeunick Mingo, Roger Roberts and Redhead, but even he was powerless to prevent the equalizer in the 32nd minute when a pinpoint cross from Terry Nanthan was met with a bullet header by Akeem Hendrikson.

A sublime touch and first time pass from Nanthan put Roberts through on goal early in the second half and he made no mistake in sliding the ball past Messum to make it 2-1 to the Boyz.

Then a Robin Van Persie like looping header from Graeme Willis in the 47th minute made it 2-2, but 15 minutes later Roberts scored his second to restore his teams lead at 3-2.

As time ran out Redhead should have made it 4-2, but opted to pass rather than shoot and at the other end Jose Jiminez squandered an opportunity to give the Wolues what would have been a deserved point,

On Wednesday night, June 25th, One Love play the Ballstars in a Premier League encounter on the A.O. Shirley Ground at 7pm.

Filed Under: Football Tagged With: , , , , ,

VI’s Nanjing 2014 athletes announced at Olympic Day celebrations

June 24, 2014 by
Olympic Day celebrations at Tortola Sports Club

Olympic Day celebrations at Tortola Sports Club. Photo: BVIOC

The BVI Olympic Committee (BVIOC) announced the 7 athletes who will be representing the Virgin Islands at the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games in swimming, sailing, and athletics. The announcement and a special presentation of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games Participant’s Pin were part of Olympic Day celebrations hosted at the Tortola Sports Club on Saturday, June 21.

In his remarks Mr. Ephraim Penn, President of the BVIOC, said, “2014 is a busy year for the BVIOC. In addition to the Sochi 2014 Winter Games that took place in February, there are no less than 4 global games and competitions coming up in which the Virgin Islands expects to participate. These include the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games which take place July 23 – August 3 in Scotland, the Nanjing 2014 Summer Youth Olympic Games which take place August 16 – 28 in China, and the Vera Cruz 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games which take place November 14 – 30 in Mexico. We then have the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada and the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games which will take place that summer in Brazil.”

“It is an exciting period for the BVIOC Executive board as we continue to see up and coming young athletes make the mark and join the roll call of competitors who have represented the Virgin Islands at major games,” added Penn.

The Nanjing 2014 competitors from athletics include sprinter, Nelda Huggins; 100m hurdler, Deya Erickson; Long Jumper, Kala Penn; 400m intermediate hurdler, Kyron McMaster; and triple jumper, Akeem Bradshaw who all qualified for the second Youth Olympic Games during the 2014 Carifta Games held in April in Martinique.

Sam Morrell will be representing the Virgin Islands in sailing following his success in the 2014 Byte CII North American Championships to become the first VI sailor to qualify for the Youth Olympic Games.

In another first for the VI, Amarah Phillips will be competing in swimming.

Chef de Mission for Nanjing 2014, Mrs. Stephanie Russ-Penn, who announced the athletes said: “These kids will get the opportunity not just to go and compete, but they will have an opportunity to develop themselves because these games are nothing like any other games. It’s completely designed to give them both a cultural, educational, as well as competitive experience.”

Mr. Lloyd Black, Secretary General for the BVIOC, reiterated Stephanie’s remarks by recognising the hard work, diligence and perseverance of the athletes required to make the qualifying marks.

The programme of events continued with the presentation of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games Participant’s Pin to Peter Adam Crook, the VI’s half- pipe skier. Mr. Paul Hewlett, Deputy Director of the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports, representing the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports presented the pin to Adam.

Mr. Rey O’Neal, Past President of the BVIOC provided an overview of the Olympic history of the VI which had made its Olympic debut with speed skater, Errol Canute Fraser in the Sarajevo 1984 Winter Games. Adam is the territory’s second Winter Olympian.

Drawing events to a close, Ephraim Penn, President of the BVIOC read out the Olympic Day message from Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee. He then invited the gathering of over 90 participants of all ages to join in the symbolic Olympic Day run through Road Town before returning to the sports club to collect their Certificate of Participation.

The afternoon set up at the sports club included information desks run by the National Federations for Swimming, Sailing, and Athletics, and the VI branch of the Regional Anti-Doping Organisation (RADO).

The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force, and Lifeline BVI, a privately owned, ambulance and EMT service, ensured the safety of the runners and walkers. Roadtown Wholesale distributed Dasani water and Powerade to participants along the route and at the sports club. Ice and coolers were provided by MBs Ice.

Cleave Farrington, Executive Director of the BVIOC and lead, event organizer, acknowledged several individuals from the community who had volunteered their time to assist with the set up, registration, and marshaling of the event.

Earlier in the day, an Olympic Day run was held in the Valley, Virgin Gorda while the BVI Tri Federation held a children’s triathlon event at Smuggler’s Cove, Tortola.

Olympic Day Message – IOC President, Thomas Bach

Today, people all over the world are celebrating Olympic Day. I am pleased to have this chance to greet you. Because today, together,we are sharing a success story. Like you, millions of other people in their own countries are taking part, regardless of age, sex or sporting ability.

On this day, we remember the creation of our modern Olympic Movement. We are demonstrating the Olympic values of friendship, excellence and respect. For this reason, today is not just about having fun through sport and physical activity. Olympic Day is more than that.

We invite everyone, everywhere, “to move, to learn and to discover”—through sport and beyond sport. It is especially good to see more and more young people taking part. Make full use of all the sporting and cultural opportunities in your community and neighbourhood. Invite other people to join in.

Because that is what is so special about Olympic Day: It doesn’t really matter how you celebrate it, so long as more and more people get to move, learn and discover. That way, we can all help to make our future a better place to live. That is the Olympic ideal.

I wish you all a happy Olympic Day 2014!

Filed Under: Athletics, BVI Olympic Committee, Skiing, Swimming Tagged With: , , ,
« Previous Page