Lettsome Leads the Region at the Youth Sailing World Champs in China

December 15, 2017 by

By Royal BVI Yacht Club

Thad Lettsome representing the BVI at the 47th Youth Sailing World Championships in Sanya, China has finished in 33rd position in the Laser Radial Class. Photo: ©Jesus Renedo / Sailing Energy

Thad Lettsome, representing the BVI at the 47th Youth Sailing World Championships in Sanya, China has finished in 33rd position in the Laser Radial Class.  The Laser Radial is the largest class at the event and Lettsome faced stiff competition from 50 other competitors.

Lettsome rounded out the event with a 13th position, his best result of the championships.  “Winning the start in race 9 was amazing, I rounded the top mark in 3rd place and battled throughout the entire race with the regatta leaders,” he said.

With consistent results throughout the Championship, Lettsome was pleased with his performance.  “I have really enjoyed this event,” he told us.  “I have learned so much. The wind conditions have been tricky every day and the hardest part was definitely learning to adapt to shifty conditions.

“I feel that my downwind technique has really improved.  We have also worked a lot on windward mark approach theory and the process of putting together a winning program.

“I have made lots of new friends and we will have a really solid training group moving forwards.” added Lettsome.

The final overall position of 33rd, puts Lettsome as the top finisher in the class from the Caribbean islands. St Lucia’s Luc Chevrier was 34th, Malcolm Benn-Smith from Bermuda 35th, Tijn van der Gulik (AHO) was 38th, Mateo di Blasi (ISV) 46th and Jesse Jackson from the Cayman Islands finished 49th.

15 year old Lettsome was one of the youngest competitors in the fleet (the youngest by just a few months was friend and neighbour, Mateo di Blasi from the USVI) so his achievement is all the more impressive.

The top age at this event is 19 so many of these sailors already have a wealth of experience.  “Many of the sailors are university students!” commented Coach Watters,

“Thad puts a lot of pressure on himself in terms of results so we have worked a lot on the ‘big picture’,”  continued Watters. “Strategy, goals and the process are really important and I am really impressed with how much he has developed at this event.  He is still really young and all signs point to a really strong future in sailing.”

ENP Scholarship
Lettsome was selected by World Sailing earlier this year to receive a scholarship through their Emerging Nations Programme.(ENP) and traveled to China for a training camp a few days before the event started.  “It was very valuable coming early,” said Lettsome,

“It took us 20 hours to get here but it seemed like a lot longer, we skipped a whole day!  Getting the extra time in for training and getting used to the venue was really useful.  It has been great working with a group of sailors from all over the world, it really felt like we were a team.”

“I am very grateful to my school (Tabor Academy in Massachusetts) for allowing me to take the time off from classes.  The ENP team were brilliant and having my coach Chris (Watters) with me has been great, he has really helped me focus my goals.  I would also like to thank everyone in the BVI for their support, particularly the BVI Olympic Committee and the Royal BVI Yacht Club.”

About the event
Lettsome raced in the boys Laser Radial Class against 50 other competitors. 374 competitors from 60 nations raced across nine classes and with just one spot available to each country in each class, competition even to get selected is fierce.

The Youth Worlds is the pinnacle event in the youth racing calendar and, since the first event in 1971, a long list of sailing legends including Sir Ben Ainslie and Russell Coutts and numerous Olympic medallists have won medals at this event as they emerged onto the international stage.

Racing took place from Monday 11 to Friday 15 December in Sanya, China.

Filed Under: Sailing Tagged With: , , ,

Keanu George selected to Youth Change Makers (YCM) Programme

December 12, 2017 by

Mr. Keanu George of the Valley, Virgin Gorda was selected as one of the 80 Youth Change Makers (YCM) from across the globe for the 3rd Youth Olympic Games (YOG) to be held in Buenos Aires in 2018.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) launched the Youth Change-Makers (YCM) programme (previously Young Ambassadors Programme) for the 3rd Youth Olympic Games (YOG) to be held in Buenos Aires in 2018.

The BVI Olympic Committee (BVIOC) nominated Mr. Keanu George of the Valley, Virgin Gorda who was selected as one of the 80 Youth Change Makers (YCM) from across the globe. This is the first time someone from the BVI has been selected.

Mr. George will be part of the BVI’s delegation at the 3rd Youth Olympic Games and will be empowered to motivate and inspire our YOG athletes and ensure that they get the most out of their YOG journey.

Pre-Games, Mr. George will help promote the YOG and its values and inform the athletes about the Learn & Share activities. During Games time, he will actively facilitate the BVI’s athletes’ participation in these activities and encourage them to truly experience the YOG spirit of Compete, Learn and Share.

Post-Games, all Young Change Makers will be invited to remain engaged and actively involved with the IOC and National Olympic Committees (NOC) in promoting sport, the Olympic values and the YOG spirit.

Mr. George is a graduate of the Bregado Flax High School with Honors. He obtained an Associate Degree in Computer, Graphic Information Technology at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC). He was an athlete of the Raw Skillz Track Club of Virgin Gorda and presently works at the Wright Choice Canteen as a Manager.

In his response after learning he had been selected as a YCM, Mr. George said, “I am very honored to be selected as the YCM at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games and humbled because this will be a life changing experience. The experience I gain will be used to encourage others to do their best and go after their goals. I hope to learn as much as possible and use that to inspire others to be the best that they can be”.

Ephraim Penn, President of the British Virgin Islands Olympic Committee congratulated Keanu on his accomplishment of being selected as a Youth Change Maker. He stated, “I have no doubt that he will do his best and most importantly come back to the Territory and continue to help with the youth in development of sport in the Territory.”

The Youth Olympic Games will take place October 6 – 18, 2018 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

About the Youth Change Maker
The Young Change-Makers (YCM) Programme aims to empower young people and support them to become Change-Makers in their community, using sport for a better world. The IOC aims to create an ongoing and long-term engagement with these young talents beyond the YOG in October 2018, through regular opportunities to get active and to contribute.

Filed Under: Athletics Tagged With: , , , ,

Track & Field family to help clean up A. O. Shirley Ground

December 8, 2017 by

Source: BVISports.com

The A.O. Shirley Recreation ground suffered extensive damage from Hurricane Irma. Photo: BVISports.com

President of the VI Athletics Association, Mr. Steve Augustine has organized the Track and Field family to lend a helping hand to the ongoing clean-up of the A.O. Shirley Ground, this Saturday, December 9.

According to Augustine, the Track and Field family will be out in numbers to continue with the clean-up in order to get their new season of 2018 Development Meets underway in nicer, safer conditions.

“The Track and Field family is very large and we will have a wealth of persons out there to assist. We will have bins and 3 yard trucks on site to take care of the larger items, like the mangled stands and the smaller items that have been scattered around we are just going to tidy up, so hopefully in a few weeks-time there will be some nice grass around the edges ahead of the Development Meets for 2018,” said Augustine.

Public Works and the City Manager’s office had begun the process and put a lot of time and effort into getting the grounds back to a usable state and now the Track and Field family will add its efforts.

Augustine has also made sure the IAAF, the association’s governing body, is aware of the issues as well as other regional bodies.

President of the BVI Olympic Committee, Mr. Ephraim Penn stated that funding has been found to replace the track surface.

“We are tapping into various resources at Olympic level to see how we can help rebuild and restart many of our member sports and one thing we have been able to secure is funding from Pan Am Sports, which used to be PASO, to have Mondo replace the entire track.”

Filed Under: Athletics, BVI Olympic Committee Tagged With: , , ,

Thad Lettsome in China for 2017 Youth Sailing World Championships

December 7, 2017 by

Source: Royal BVI Yacht Club

Thad Lettsome and coach Chris Watters in Sanya, China for the 2017 Youth Sailing World Championships Dec 6-9. Photo: Royal BVI Yacht Club

Thad Lettsome will be representing the Virgin Islands at the 2017 Youth Sailing World Championship in Sanya, China, December 6 – 9 when he sails in the Laser Radial Class against 51 other competitors.

Nearly 400 competitors will race across nine classes and with just one spot available to each country in each class, competition even to get selected is fierce.

The Youth Worlds is the pinnacle event in the youth racing calendar and, over the years, a long list of sailing legends such as Sir Ben Ainslie and Russell Coutts have won medals.

Filed Under: Sailing Tagged With: , , ,

Farley and Mays win 12th Deloitte-Ogier BVI Half Marathon

December 4, 2017 by

Source: BVI News

54 runners took part in the Deloitte-Ogier BVI Half Marathon on December 3, the first race in the BVI since Hurricane Irma. Photo: Dean “the Sportsman” Greenaway

Julius Farley and Maria Mays made it to the top of the podium in the 12th annual Deloitte-Ogier BVI Half Marathon, sweeping major trophies and other prizes on the way.

Farley won the event in a time of 1.32.06 competing in the male category, while Mays stopped the clock in a time of 1.54.01 competing in the female category.

Reuben Stoby came in second behind Farley in a time of 1.38.38 and Paul Mellor, third place in 1.41.12.

Karen Figser came in at number two in the female category with 1.58.48 and Rosemond Johnson third with 2.01.29.

The event which was held on Sunday,December 3 saw runners charting a new course, beginning and ending at the Tortola Sports Club (TSC) in Pasea Estate. Runners had to go through Road Town into Sea Cows Bay and back, while the 10k race was from the gate at Sensus car park at Manuel Reef and back.

Following the prize-giving ceremony, the two top runners in the male category shared their views of the race:

“I just went out and run my normal race and managed to make it,” Farley remarked. “Today was kind of hot but we managed to complete it. Despite the hurricane and the cancellation of so many other races we were able to pull off this one today.”
He has been a participant for four years now.

Reuben Stoby also was pleased of his second place victory. “It was a wonderful race! Julius and I have been battling in Road Racing in pretty much in every way; 5k, 2 miles, 10k and the half marathon and today he was really strong.”

A total of three teams participated- KPMG 1, KPMG 2 and Governor’s Beauties.

In the 10k, Gillian Plaxton won in the female category, while in the male, Andrew Fraser won.

In  second place in the male category was Phil Nelson, and in the third was Neil Day.

In the female category, Vanessa King came second followed by Jane Thorpe.

Director of the BVI Runners, Kay Reddy says due to the 6am curfew, the race began at 7 when the sun was already up making it a hot run.

Additionally, she explained that organizers had considered scrapping the race which was the first to be held post-Hurricane Irma.

“We were absolutely delighted because this year after [Hurricane] Irma we decided not to do any formal race,” said Reddy.  “We decided to have a little home race this year, just to do it casually, just for fun, just to see how people feel. I had planned for about 30 runners and I am absolutely delighted to note that 54 signed up. So it was a great race given the circumstances. The race turned out better than anticipated.”

Reddy also promised a full racing schedule next year.

Filed Under: Athletics Tagged With: , ,

BVI in 2017 Rugby Americas North – Jamaica takes the crown

November 29, 2017 by

Source: VINO

The [British] Virgin Islands (VI) battling Trinidad and Tobago at the 2017 Rugby Americas North (RAN) Sevens in Mexico. Photo: Facebook

Jamaica Men and Mexico Women have been crowned the 2017 Rugby Americas North (RAN) Sevens Champions. Both teams have booked their ticket to Rugby World Cup Sevens in San Francisco as well as the Central American and Caribbean Sports Organisation (CACSO) Games.

French Guiana and Jamaica Women will also represent RAN at the CASCO Games. Mexico women will play in the 2018 Hong Kong Sevens, while Jamaica Men will head to the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.

The [British] Virgin Islands (VI) Team concluded day two with another victory over Curacao, 26-7, to avoid the ignominy of finishing bottom of the tables, but unfortunately finished on the wrong end of a 40 – 0 score line against Barbados and suffered a 28-0 defeat at the hands of the Dominican Republic.

Between the near-capacity crowd and the heart pounding action on the field, finals day at the Campo Marte military grounds in Mexico City was one for the record books. The women’s competition had its fair share up upsets. After going undefeated on day one, Trinidad & Tobago ended their campaign in fourth place after a 5-0 loss in the final match against Mexico. The loss, coupled with French Guiana’s 36-0 shutout over Guyana, and Jamaica’s perfect record on day two, resulted in French Guiana and Jamaica finishing second and third respectively. Guyana, Dominican Republic and Bermuda filled out the fifth through seventh place slots.

After seven injuries side lined members of Mexico’s women’s team in the last month, the squad needed to dig deep to earn this year’s RAN Sevens title, and a first-ever appearance at a Rugby World Cup Sevens. In the final versus a very physical Trinidad & Tobago team, Captain Dany Rosales used quick field awareness to tap through for the only try of the match.

In the men’s competition, the final between Jamaica and Guyana did not disappoint the roaring crowds. Both teams met after two days of going undefeated, save for Guyana’s tie with Bermuda in the first Cup match of day two. Under the setting sun both teams traded tries and possession to land tied 14-14 at the half. Guyana looked to have stolen victory late in the match with a try from Pat King, but deep into injury time Conan Osborne was the match winner with a beautiful individual effort that secured the 28-24 win and 2018 World Cup Sevens qualification for Jamaica.

Mexico pleased the hometown crowd in their final match with a 22-14 win over Trinidad & Tobago to secure a third-place finish. All four of the top finishers in the men’s competition will head to the CACSO Games. Cayman Islands beat Bermuda for the fifth-place spot.

Filed Under: Rugby Tagged With: , ,

BVI Football Association stages successful CONCACAF Women’s Day

November 23, 2017 by

Source: VINO

Participants doing drills at the CONCACAF Women’s Day Celebration on Saturday, November 18, 2017 on the new Pitch at Long Look/East End, on the main island of Tortola. Photo: Dean ‘The Sportsman’ Greenaway

The BVI Football Association (BVIFA) staged a remarkable CONCACAF Women’s Day Celebration on Saturday November 18, 2017 on the new Pitch at Long Look/East End, on the main island of Tortola.

The event was remarkable because not only did it come on the back of the devastating storms that smashed their way through the territory two months ago, but also despite the mass exodus of residents, including school aged girls, the numbers that turned out and braved the rains were well into the high 30’s.

“It’s nice to see all of you out here,” commented General Secretary of the BVIFA, Mrs Julianna Luke. “We have had some challenges, but the interest shown is a good sign.”

Mr Dean H. Greenaway aka The Sportsman, on behalf of the acting Director, Mrs Brenda Lettsome-Tye, noted it was a historic day, as it was the first time the women’s event had used the new field. Greenaway also stated the enthusiasm was wonderful and the positive energy a great sign for the future.

BVIFA President Mr Andy Bickerton addressed the girls with further words of encouragement: “It is really good that you could all turn up and although we couldn’t get the girls from Anegada here, the numbers are better than we expected. The challenges after the hurricanes are well documented, but the idea today is to introduce more of you into football as there are so many opportunities, whether it be playing, coaching or being an official. Resources will be put into your game and it won’t be long until there is a Nations League throughout the Caribbean for Ladies.”

Bickerton also confirmed that the BVIFA was working with FIFA to quickly address the damage to the field and in a short time it would be back to fully functional.

There were also brief comments given by Lilly Pierce, a highly rated youth player. “I hope everyone has a good day and really enjoy themselves.”

Jackisha Rigobert, the most recent U15 Girls Captain, encouraged all the girls to do their best and take the opportunity to show off their skills and to keep on going regardless of situations.

Filed Under: Football Tagged With: ,

Sports back on track after Hurricanes Irma and Maria

November 23, 2017 by

Source: BVI Platinum

Sports back on track after hurricanes Irma and Maria. Photo: Sherine Williams/BVI Platinum News

Despite the obvious devastation at the A.O. Shirley Recreational Grounds, the facility is once again buzzing with activity, as BVI student athletes hit the track in preparation for the track and field season, which starts in January.

Amid the damaged fixtures which lay waste all around the blue track, athletes of different ages, from various schools and local track clubs, train at different times each day.

They all have different goals and track meets to attend in the upcoming season. But all agree that Hurricane Irma and her trail of destruction were not enough to stop them from representing the BVI next year.

“We never stopped. We were back in training probably as early as a week after Irma. We are competing internationally with countries like Jamaica, the US and places in Europe, and those athletes don’t stop so we can’t stop,” said track coach Willis Todman from Sprint Tech.

He is currently preparing three female athletes from the Elmore Stoutt High School, who were engaged in a training session while he spoke to BVI Platinum News.

He explained that even student athletes at the elementary level are in training in preparation for various competitions next year.

“Track and field for us is a business. Most of these kids in the BVI will be looking to go to colleges soon, so they need to be prepared so they can be picked up by recruiters who attend these events,” Todman related.

He revealed that next year, high school students are set to compete at the annual CARIFTA games, OECS Games, World Junior Championships and some meets in the United States.

Once recruited to compete for overseas colleges (especially in the United States), BVI student athletes are paid up to $70,000 a year, to cover living expenses, tuition and books. This avenue is a lucrative one for juniors who get the opportunity to attend college free of cost, while doing track and field – something they enjoy.

Many are hoping to follow in the footsteps of 20 year-old BVI native Nelda Huggins, who was recently recruited by the University of Texas and is now ranked number 1 female junior athlete in the US for the women’s 100m event.

Kyron McMaster is also another BVI athlete who offers much hope to aspiring track stars in the Territory.

McMaster was coached locally by the late Xavier ‘Dagg’ Samuels and signed to colleges in the US before becoming the fastest 400m hurdler this year.

Todman said the BVI continues to show excellence in track, adding that a recruiter from a United States college travelled to the BVI last week, to express an interest in recruiting 16 year-old sprinter Beyoncé Defreitas, who is now under his tutelage.

“Last year she was the silver medalist at the the 200m at the Junior Commonwealth Games and that coach came down to show his face and express an interest. But it comes down to where Beyoncé will feel comfortable at the end of the day,” Todman explained.

Defreitas agrees with her coach and told BVI Platinum News that she is waiting to see the other colleges that will express an interest in her before she picks an overseas university to compete for.

She is confident that she will be ready for next season, but admits that Irma did affect her focus for a while.

Photo Credit: Sherine Williams/BVI Platinum News
“It did slow me down for the first month, a little bit, but not much. Right now we trying to perfect form and I am pretty sure I’m gonna get it down pat before the season starts,” Defreitas said with a smile.

Another athlete, 14 year-old Akrissa Eristee, said despite the impact of Hurricane Irma, she is confident that BVI athletes can still compete with top athletes in the Caribbean and the world next year.

“I am confident that we can bring it, just as hard. I feel confident that I am gonna reach my goals,” Akrissa said.

She added that the resilience of the BVI people in the aftermath of Irma will inspire her to do her best next season.

She encouraged other student track athletes to stay focused and committed to the sport, despite various challenges they may face.

“Just stay focused and know that you really have to want it,” Akrissa said.

Filed Under: Athletics Tagged With: , ,

Nelda Huggins makes her mark in USA as NJCAA’s #1 ranked 100m sprinter

November 16, 2017 by

Source: BVI News

The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) in the USA has ranked BVI sprinter, Nelda Huggins at number one for the women’s 100 metres, and at number seven for the 200 metre-dash. Photo: Provided

Local sprinter Nelda Huggins is making massive strides in the United States (US).

The 20-year-old athlete, who is in her final year at a junior college in the US, has caught the eye of a number of top-notch universities that are willing to shell out big bucks to sign her to their respective athletic programmes.

Huggins has been approached by schools such as University of Alabama, University of Iowa, and University of Oklahoma.
However, it was the nationally-acclaimed University of Texas that was successful in its bid to sign the rising British Virgin Islands track star.

“I felt it was a good decision for me because Texas is a big school for sprinting. Going there is a great opportunity and it should be a great experience… Texas was the best pick out of all of them,” Huggins said during an interview with BVI News.

Texas University has promised Huggins a full scholarship comprising tuition and boarding.

She said signing with the school comes with a number of other perks. “For athletics I’ll be provided with a masseuse, chiropractors, and a nutritionist to maintain my body weight and overall standard of a track athlete. They are offering everything that could keep my body healthy.”

As for the academics package, Huggins said: “They have offered counseling, and I have access to the things that will make me a top student.”

She is scheduled to attend university next September.

Meanwhile, the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) in the US has ranked the BVI sprinter at number one for the women’s 100 metres, and at number seven for the 200 metre-dash. “I was also the 60-metre national champion and I was the record holder for my school [at Iowa Central Community College].”

“For me, making a big name as a small island country student actually makes them see that Nelda Huggins is a hard worker and that the BVI has talent,” said Huggins who is from East End on Tortola. “Being from a small island of just 24 square miles and standing out in the United States of America feels really good because I want to help bring the island on the map,” added Huggins.

The sprinter said she plans to run all the way into professional athletics, adding that she attended St Jago High School in Jamaica primarily so she could train.

Huggins hopes to represent the BVI at the next staging of the Commonwealth games.

Filed Under: Athletics Tagged With: , , ,

BVIFA CONCACAF to celebrate Women’s Football Day

November 13, 2017 by

By the BVI Football Association

The BVI Football Association (BVIFA) in conjunction with the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) will be celebrating its third annual Women’s Football Day on Saturday, November 18, 2017.

Building on the success of the second women’s day held in 2016, in which all 41 member associations within the Confederation united to shine a spotlight on efforts to create more opportunity for girls and women to play the game, this year’s full-day event, which starts at 9am on the new field at East End / Long Look, continues the BVIFA’s on-going work to strengthen programming in order to increase women’s participation in the game.

“At this time, with so much devastation to overcome it is important for the BVIFA to provide a fun day for all our female footballers.  Additionally, given the exodus of young people the BVIFA has to create a new vibrant atmosphere to encourage new players to the sport as we continue efforts to re-establish our data bases and rebuild schools’ football programmes. This is in line with the CONCACAF aim of consolidating a solid platform for the sustainable growth of women’s football within CONCACAF,”

As the focus of the BVIFA CONCACAF Women’s Football Day 2017, on Saturday, November 18, the BVIFA will officially kick off the preparations for the 2018 CONCACAF U-15 Girls’ Championship.

Each member association has been encouraged to host an activity aimed at training its U-15 team. The CONCACAF U-15 Girls’ Championship, which debuted in 2014, focuses squarely on access to the game for girls, exposing them to the benefits of football on and off the field.

“The women’s game is in such a climate that it is critical that the world and regional governing bodies create ready opportunities for the younger generation of females to play the game,” said CONCACAF and FIFA Council member, Sonia Bien-Aime. “Encouraging free play at the earliest opportunity with young females will cast a welcome net over these eager players who will not only learn to love the game but will be the ones to grow football from the early stages to the highest level of competition.”

In addition to next year’s CONCACAF U-15 Girls’ Championship, in 2018, the Confederation prepares to host a range of important women’s events including the Women’s Under-20 and Under-17 Championships, and the CONCACAF Women’s Championship, which qualifies Confederation teams to the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

In recent years, CONCACAF has demonstrated leadership in women’s football on and off the field, with member associations from Costa Rica and Canada hosting FIFA’s 2014 tournaments for youth players – the U-17 and U-20 Women’s World Cups, respectively. In addition, the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™ drew a total attendance of more than 1.35 million, setting a new total attendance record for a FIFA competition other than the FIFA World Cup™, a championship kept in the region with the victory of CONCACAF nation United States.

Filed Under: Football
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