Category: Athletics

September 3, 2022September 3, 2022

Champions crowned at 28th AID Claycourt Championships

As of Thursday, September 1, 2022

TRIPLE crown winner Scott Reddick.

#THE 2022 AID Claycourt Championships is in the history books. The tournament ended with two exciting finals.

#After capturing the Men’s Jr Vets Singles title last week, Scott Reddick clinched a second title on Monday, the Men’s Open Singles over Bobby Chen 6-0, 6-1.

#Scott would then play in another final, the Jr Vets Doubles.

#Scott and partner Wayne Thompson won over Jyles Turnquest and Marcelo Zanelli 6-3, 7-5.

#With an awesome tournament performance, Scott Reddick claimed three titles in the tournament ending as a triple crown winner.

#AID has been a proud sponsor of the tournament since its inception over 28 years ago and Harrold Watson, managing director of AID, was on hand to present the finalists with their trophies.

#The champions and runners-up of the various singles and doubles categories were as follows:

#Men’s Open Singles

#Champion: Scott Reddick

#Runner Up: Bobby Chen

#Men’s Open Doubles

#Champions: Donte Armbrister and Perry Newton

#Runners Up: Ken Kerr and Bjorn Ferguson

#Men’s Jr Vets Singles

#Champion: Scott Reddick

#Runner Up: Harrington Saunders

#Men’s Jr Vets Doubles

#Champions: Scott Reddick and Wayne Thompson

#Runners Up: Jyles Turnquest and Marcelo Zanelli

#Mixed Doubles

#Champions: Sh’Ron Saunders and Tom McDermott

#Runners Up: Richette Percentie and Bjorn Ferguson

#The Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association (BLTA) congratulates the organisers on another successful edition of the AID Claycourt Championships.

#Congratulations are also extended to the champions, the runners-up and all the participants. 00000The tournament referee was Mr Mickey Williams assisted by Mr Everette Munroe.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/sep/01/champions-crowned-28th-aid-claycourt-championships/?news

September 3, 2022September 3, 2022

Pro basketball players Smith, Knowles sign with new clubs

As of Thursday, September 1, 2022

KENTWAN SMITH

DANRAD KNOWLES

#By RENALDO DORSETT

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

#FOLLOWING their appearance in the latest FIBA World Cup ‘23 Qualifying windows, a pair of senior men’s national team players have signed with new clubs for their upcoming pro campaigns.

#Kentwan Smith progressed to a higher division in Spain. He signed with the Svendborg Rabbits of the Basketligaen – the top division in the country.

#“I’m excited for the opportunity to come and play for Svendborg Rabbits. I look forward to being a leader on the team and having a successful season with my teammates and coaches,” Smith said in a press release.

#“My goal is to help put this team in a situation where we can make a deep playoff run and hopefully come out victorious in the end. I’m looking forward to connecting with the organisation and fans and seeing what we can accomplish together this season.”

#Smith spent the last two seasons with Garonne ASPTT in France’s NM2 league. In 23 appearances, he averaged 15.4 points per game.

#In the previous season, he averaged 12.9 points per game and Garonne ended the regular season with the second-best record in the league.

#In addition to Denmark and France, Smith’s pro career has taken him to Finland, Mexico, Romania, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

#Danrad Knowles will sign with CB L’Hospitalet of Spain’s LEB Plata league – the third tier in the country. It will mark his second pro season after he spent his rookie campaign with AD Cantbasket 04 in the Liga EBA – Spain’s fourth division.

#The former Houston Cougar was selected by the Grand Rapids Drive with the 65th overall selection of the 2018 G-League Draft.

#The Grand Rapids Drive are the G-League affiliate of the Detroit Pistons. Knowles averaged 13.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game in 24 appearances.

#At the national team level, both players have been key members of Team Bahamas’ rotation that advanced to the second round of World Cup qualifiers for the first time in Bahamian history.

#In the latest window against Venezuela and Argentina, Smith averaged nine points per game on 58 percent shooting from the field and 67 percent from three-point range.

#He has also averaged nine points per game through six qualifying games thus far while shooting 61 percent from the field and 42 percent from three-point range.

#He posted a high of 17 points in a first round win over the US Virgin Islands. Knowles has appeared in five games and averaged 7.8 points per contest on 60 percent shooting from the field. He scored a high of 14 against the US Virgin Islands.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/sep/01/pro-basketball-players-smith-knowles-sign-new-club/?news

September 3, 2022September 3, 2022

Anthonique Strachan victorious in 200m

WINNING WAYS: Anthonique Strachan celebrates yesterday after winning the 200 metres at the 2022 Spitzen Leichtathletik in Lucerne, Switzerland.

As of Wednesday, August 31, 2022

#In the continuation of what has been an eventful year, sprinter Anthonique Strachan sped to victory in the women’s 200 metres at the 2022 Spitzen Leichtathletik in Lucerne, Switzerland, yesterday.

#Competing against a competitive field at the event running out of lane eight, Strachan powered back on the home stretch to take the tape in 22.68 seconds as she edged out Nigeria’s Aminatou Seyni out of lane three, who did 22.12 for second.

#American Jenna Prandini was third in 22.82 with hometown favourite Mujinga Kambundji fourth in 22.89. Egypt’s Bassant Hemida rounded out the top five in 23.05. It was Strachan’s first test at the 200m since she pulled up with an injury at the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon in July.

#“I’m very content with the performance because it was my first 200m since the Worlds,” said Strachan, who celebrated her 29th birthday on August 22, the same day she left the North American, Central American and Caribbean Championships where she was voted in as a Member-at-Large for the Athletics Commission.

#As the race got underway, Strachan came off the curve in the middle of the pack. But as she ascended down the home stretch, she was able to accelerate to surge ahead of the field to secure the win.

#“I tried to come off the curve first, but I didn’t execute that well,” Strachan said. “But once I came off the curve, I picked up more speed and I was able to hold onto whatever momentum I had.”

#With no expectations for the race, Strachan said it was just a good test to see where she’s at, coming off the injury at Worlds that prevented her from competing at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham before she participated in the 100m and on the Bahamas women’s silver medal 4 x 100m relay team at the NACAC Championships in Grand Bahama two weeks ago.

#“Technically, I didn’t compete in a 200m since the trials (Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ Nationals) before I didn’t finish the 200m at Worlds,” Strachan reflected.

#“So I just wanted to finish the race. I did that, so I’m content with that.”

#Still not at 100 percent fully recuperated, Strachan said it was good to know that the process is working and not to rush into it and reaggravate it.

#“The competition was rather stiff. I didn’t expect this to be the way it was,” she said. “I honestly thought my team would have put me in a lighter 200m, knowing that I was scared to run the 200m. I thought they would have eased me in there, but it was like they tossed me into it.

#“But in any event, they had the better vision and so I can’t complain about it. They know best.”

#Strachan, one of two Bahamians competing in the meet, is expected to participate in another event next week in Europe, but the national double sprint runner-up is uncertain yet whether or not it will be in the 100m or the 200m.

#Commonwealth Games champion LaQuan Nairn, who missed out on getting on the podium with a fourth-place finish at NACAC, produced a seventh place finish in the men’s long jump with a best leap of 25-feet or 7.62 metres on his sixth and final attempt.

#The top three spots went to Simon Ehammer of Switzerland with 26-3 (8.00m), Tajay Gayle of Jamaica with 26-2 ¼ (7.98m) and Miltiadis Tentoglou of Greece with 26-0 ¾ (7.94m).

#All three performances came on their final attempts in a classic showdown at the end of the competition.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/aug/31/anthonique-strachan-victorious-200m/?news

September 3, 2022September 3, 2022

Judoka Johnson at Cadets World Juniors

As of Wednesday, August 31, 2022

XAVION Johnson and coach Cynthia Rahming at the Cadets World Junior Championships.

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemdedia.net

#AFTER getting stopped in his only match at the Cadets World Junior Championships in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bahamian judoka Xavion Johnson said he’s even more committed to making it on the international level.

#Johnson, 16, travelled to the championship with Cynthia Rahming, the top Bahamian judoka, as his coach. He fought Arslan Mulalic of Bosnia, but got stopped in less than two minutes in the first round because of penalties in the under-60 kilogram class.

#“I was disappointed because I felt I could have performed much better than I did,” said Johnson on his return home. “But I am even more determined because of the loss to continue to compete in the sport. This loss has inspired me to want to go out there and continue to work harder.”

#The championships, according to Johnson, was very competitive. It ran from August 24-26.

#“There was over 500 competitors there. Just about every country was represented there,” Johnson said. “I was glad that I was able to represent the Bahamas. I’m disappointed that I didn’t perform as well as I expected, but I will be back.”

#With Rahming in his corner, Johnson said he felt at ease because she was able to guide him along the way and ensured that he did what he needed to do to be competitive in the match. Rahming was coming off her appearance with Andrew Munnings at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England.

#“She has really motivated me,” Johnson said.

#This was Johnson’s first appearance at the championships and his second LJF competition, which goes towards his ranking.

#“Xavion is a promising athlete that has the drive and skills to reach his achievable goals within the sport,” Rahming said. “He competed against Bosnia and Herzegovina, the host country and gave a strong match.

#“He was ultimately penalised on tactical errors, but was definitely stronger and more technical than his opponent, which means he was just out-experienced.”

#Based on his performance, the 6-foot Johnson said he plans to move up to the 66kg class where he feels he can be more effective. “Next year, I’m planning to move up in weight class because I know I can be bigger and stronger and perform much better,” Johnson said. “I’m looking forward to it because I know I have the potential to go very far in this sport.”

#Having got involved in the sport because he likes seeing how competitive the judokas are, Johnson said his goal is to become the first Bahamian to win both the Pan American and Olympic Games gold medal.

#“I know coach Cynthia Rahming is aiming for the same thing and she is doing very well in the sport, but if she doesn’t do it, I am aiming to do it,” Johnson said. “I feel I have the potential to be a champion at that level.”

#Prior to going to the Cadets World Junior Championships, Johnson competed in two tournaments in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in July. He earned a silver and bronze medal in one and got seventh in the other.

#“In that tournament, I competed in seven events,” Johnson said. “I think this is my best year ever. It was good to get in those matches because it really helped to prepare me for the competition at the Cadets World Junior Championships.”

#In April, Johnson also competed in the Panamerican – Oceania Junior Championships where he lost to American Christopher Velazco and at the Panamerican – Oceania Cadets Championships where he was defeated by Australia’s Jules Aiberti.

#He also participated in the Nick Goodly Cup, USJF and USJA Nationals, the US Open and the ATIA Nationals. In total, he did about 35 matches and posted 27 victories.

#His proud mother, Ordain Moss, said although it appears that her son had an active year, she noted that he’s still fighting considerably less than other world fighters, but he is certainly holding his own.

#“I am quite pleased with where I am right now,” said Johnson, a member of the Eastwood Judo Club and an 11th grader at Capstone Academy. “I have some big plans ahead of me and I am looking forward to accomplishing those feats.”

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/aug/31/judoka-johnson-cadets-world-juniors/?news

August 28, 2022August 28, 2022

Bahamas suffers ‘a heartbreaking loss’

GOOD EFFORT: Chavano “Buddy” Hield (7) in action for The Bahamas last night in their World Cup Americas Region qualifying game against Venezuela at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium. The Bahamas lost by five points – 86-81. Photo: Moise Amisial/Tribune Staff

As of Friday, August 26, 2022

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#Before a jammed-packed Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium last night, the Bahamas men’s national basketball team dropped a heartbreaking 86-81 loss to Venezuela in the first game of their fourth window of the FIBA Americas World Cup Qualifier.

#The Bahamas got a game high 20 points with 10 rebounds, four assists and three blocked shots from Kai Jones of the Charlotte Hornets in his debut for the team and Chavano “Buddy” Hield of the Indiana Pacers contributed 19 points with six rebounds, four steals and three assists. But when it counted down the stretch, Venezuela just wanted it a little more and it showed.

#Holding onto a slim 84-81 lead with less then 10 seconds left, the Bahamas came out of a timeout and with the clamp on Hield, Mychel Thompson Jr made an errant pass that Venezuela picked up and secured the final basket at the other end to seal the deal just before the buzzer sounded.

CHAVANO “Buddy” Hield (7) and Kai Jones (23) in action for The Bahamas last night in their World Cup Americas Region qualifying game against Venezuela at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium. The Bahamas lost by five points – 86-81. Photo: Moise Amisial/Tribune Staff

#Bahamas head coach Chris DeMarco said it was just a miscommunication on their part that resulted in the turnover that sealed the fate of the team down the stretch.

#“I thought we played a great first quarter. We had a pretty good lead in the first half,” said DeMarco. “Things didn’t go our way. They got some easy transition points. We took some tough shots and made some turnovers. We just have to learn how to close out close games.”

#Both teams committed a total of 14 turnovers in the game, but after holding a slim 17-16 advantage in rebounds at the half, the Bahamas finished one behind Venezuela, who won the battle on the boards, 34-32.

#The difference in the game, however, was the mini spurts that Venezuela took advantage of in the second half.

#Trailing by one (60-59) at the end of the third, Jones beckoned to the crowd to cheer on the team.

#Venezuela, however, went on a mini 6-0 run to take an early 65-60 margin to start the period.

#With eight minutes and 21 seconds on the clock, Hield and Franco Miller Jr converted a pair of free throws to get the Bahamas back into the game.

#Hield hit another three-pointer to give the Bahamas a 67-65 lead at 8:05 as Venezuela was forced to call a timeout.

#Tied a couple of times, Venezuela got two straight baskets to go up 73-69 with about five minutes left, but Jones answered with a three-pointer for a 74-72 deficit at 4:32.

#With another mini-run, Venezuela again went ahead 78-72. Each time the Bahamas tried to get back in the game, Venezuela had an answer to stay ahead.

#At 1:33, Jones ignited the crowd as he powered up for a layup pointing to the sky as Venezuela called a time out. He missed the free throw on a three-point attempt for an 82-78 deficit.

#Venezuela, however, worked the ball around in the last minute as they milked the clock. Then on a steal from Hield, Thompson canned a three-pointer with 10.6 remaining for an 82-81 deficit.

#With 5.4 on the clock Heissler Guillent hit 1-of-2 free throws on a foul by Hield for an 83-81 lead. Hield got another foul on Gregory Vargas, who also hit 1-of-2 free throws for Venezuela’s 84-81 lead.

#Out of their timeout, Thompson threw an errant inbound pass as Hield couldn’t get free as Venezuela got the fast break and a dunk to end the game.

#“I think in general, when it gets tough, we have to find a way to still compete,” DeMarco said. “It just seems like it comes in waves when we turn over the ball and take a bad shot. We have to do a better job as a staff to get the right combination out there and go from there.”

#Team Bahamas will now head to Argentina to play their second game on Monday night and DeMarco said the coaching staff that includes Mikhail McLean and Moses Johnson won’t be making any changes to the roster. He said they just have to be ready to compete.

#While the NBA players led the way for Team Bahamas, Thompson, a former NBA player, finished with 12 points, while Kentwan Smith added 10.

#Franco Miller Jr had six, Garvin Clarke Jr, in his debut, had five, Rashad Davis had four, Willis Mackey Jr had three and Lourawls ‘Tum Tum’ Nairn had two. Danrad Knowles and Kadeem Coleby didn’t score and Jaraun ‘Kino’ Burrows didn’t play.

#For Venezuela, Garly Sojo and Michael Carrera had 17 points in the win. Windi Graterol chipped in with 12 and Nestor Colmenares helped out with 11.

#Despite the loss, Jones said he was delighted to be playing in front of the Bahamian crowd that included Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg and other government officials and a cross section of the Bahamian community.

#“It was the best game of my life. From the jump, just coming in and seeing everybody out there, people who were there from when I was small, so it was just a blessing,” he said. “I had a lot of gratitude for that.

#“Unfortunately, we didn’t get the win, but it was still a huge blessing to play at home in front of such great people.”

#Team Bahamas got off to a great start as Jones got free for a drive and two-handed slam dunk before Hield Jr canned a three-pointer to push the lead to 5-2. The Bahamas, using a combo of an inside and outside game, surged ahead 29-21 at the end of the period.

#Using a smaller line-up with a three-guard rotation to start the second quarter allowed Venezuela to surge back for a 33-33 tie. But as the Bahamas got back to their bigger line-up, they managed to regain the momentum and a 42-35 lead at the half.

#At that point in the game, Hield had led the scoring attack with 11 points, while Jones and Kentwan Smith, who played well in spurts, both had 10 points apiece. The Bahamas also held a slim 17-16 rebounding advantage.

#Venezuela didn’t have a player in double figures at the half, but Graterol paced their attack with eight, while Michael Carrera and Colmenares both contributed seven points.

#With 7:14 into the third quarter, Hield slipped after Venezuela came back for 50-45 deficit.

#At 6:12, Thompson drove the baseline for a layup and at 5:14, he canned a three-pointer for a 55-47 lead. At 4:41, Venezuela answered with two consecutive three-pointers for a 55-53 deficit.

#At 3:47, they got another basket for a 55-55 tie and they took a 57-55 lead, prompting the Bahamas to call a timeout.

#Jones picked up his third foul within the last minute, but Clarke was left wide open at the other end for a three-pointer to push the Bahamas up 60-59 before Jones got a sky rocket one-handed dunk off a missed Hield jumper at the buzzer, bit it was called off.

#As they look ahead to Monday’s game, Jones said they just have to have a “forward thinking mindset.”

#And just “put this loss behind them, learn from it, take care of the ball and be more organised in our sets and get good shots as an overall group and continue to stay positive.”

#He predicted that they will get it together.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/aug/26/bahamas-suffers-heartbreaking-loss/?news

August 28, 2022August 28, 2022

Boxers arrive in Guyana for High School/Junior Boxing Championship

DUKES UP: Members of the High School/Junior Boxing Championship team. Shown, from left to right, in the back row are Jailen Young, assistant coach Vincent Deleveaux, Jaiden Young, Vincent Strachan, Keano Cox, head coach Carl Hield and Elijah Smith. In the front row is Andrew Curtis.

As of Friday, August 26, 2022

#THE Boxing Federation of the Bahamas’ team arrived in Georgetown, Guyana, yesterday for the High School/Junior Boxing Championship.

#The team went from Nassau to Miami, Florida to Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago, before they got into Guyana.

#Upon their arrival, the team went through their light workout sessions before they go through the registration, medical clearance, inspection and weigh-in processes today. The competition is expected to start on Saturday and will be completed on Sunday.

#The team is scheduled to return home on Monday.

#According to federation president Vincent Strachan, the team is confident and in high spirits. “They are a cohesive unit,” Strachan said.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/aug/26/boxers-arrive-guyana-high-schooljunior-boxing-cham/?news

August 28, 2022August 28, 2022

University of the Bahamas men’s soccer team to play second pre-season scrimmage this weekend

LEFT: University of The Bahamas midfielder Oakland Duncan moves the ball during the match against Renegades FC at The Roscow R.L. Davies field in the Blue Hills Sporting Complex. RIGHT: University of The Bahamas defender Jervane Turnquest fields a ball in their match against Renegades FC. Photos: UB Athletics

As of Friday, August 26, 2022

#THE University of The Bahamas men’s soccer team will play its second pre-season scrimmage this weekend at The Roscow R.L. Davies field in the Blue Hills Sporting Complex against Dynamos FC.

#The Mingoes won the first pre-season scrimmage against Renegades FC 3-1 August 20 at the same venue.

#Mingoes newcomer Ronaldo Green scored twice for the team (34th and 53rd minute) and Resean Rolle scored one goal (28th minute).

#Mingoes assistant coach Adam Miller said the team didn’t stick to the plan in the first half of the match but eventually came around.

#“In the second half we readjusted and started keeping the ball a lot better and moving the ball a lot better,” he said. “We were trying to work with a team that is learning some new concepts while we are bringing in new players so for the very first game I think it was pretty good.”

#Miller added that the team was able to take advantage on the field and created many opportunities for the team.

#“The chances that we did create were really good,” he said. “From the offensive I think it was pretty good considering we have not worked on anything in particular. So it was raw nature of the players and that’s a good sign for us.”

#The Mingoes play Dynamos FC 6pm August 27 at The Roscow R.L. Davies field in the Blue Hills Sporting Complex.

#The Dynamos club was the last Bahamas Football Association champion before the COVID-19 pandemic.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/aug/26/university-bahamas-mens-soccer-team-play-second-pr/?news

August 28, 2022August 28, 2022

First annual Cocodimama Basketball Camp starts today in James Cistern

As of Friday, August 26, 2022

#THE Eleuthera Amateur Basketball Association and the Cocodimama Charming Resort have joined forces to establish the first annual Cocodimama Basketball Camp.

#The two-day camp will take place at the Eleuthera Bible Training Center in James Cistern today and Saturday August 27 and will run from 4:30pm to 7pm daily.

#Cocodimama will be teaming up with coach Kevin Clark and fellow coaches from Tabernacle Christian Academy in Freeport to run the two-day camp in partnership with coach Andrew Johnson (Harbour Island), coach Tanya Lord (Lower Bogue) and coach Laron Taylor (Governor’s Harbour to South Eleuthera).

#The camps featured guest will be Romad Dean from the Fordham University men’s basketball team and former student athlete of the Tabernacle Christian Academy of Freeport, Bahamas.

#The goal of the camp is to create opportunities for student athletes in Eleuthera, who demonstrate the talent, discipline and hard work ethic that sets them apart from their peers.

#This past winter Cocodimama teamed up with Norris Bain and Kevin Clark of the Tabernacle Christian Academy in Freeport to create a sponsorship for a student athlete out of Governor’s Harbour by the name of Kayden Bowles.

#Kayden enrolled at Tabernacle for the 2022 winter/ spring semester and joined the basketball team, where he not only excelled on the court but in the classroom as well.

#“We see the camp as a platform for coaches to demonstrate how they assist young men in their maturity as students and players.

#“We look forward to the annual event as a means to create more opportunities for young players just has it has for Kayden.

#“With the full endorsement and support of the president of the Eleuthera Amateur Basketball Association – Derek Smith, Cocodimama looks forward to building something together in partnership with Eleuthera’s youth leaders that can grow and prosper for the kids and community.

#“And we thank all of the coaches, who’ve agreed to contribute their time, players and expertise to make the camp a success.”

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/aug/26/first-annual-cocodimama-basketball-camp-starts-tod/?news

August 28, 2022August 28, 2022

Bahamas Sailing Association wraps up its summer sailing programme

ALMOST 60 children aged eight to 16 years old participated in the Bahamas Sailing Association’s summer sailing programme.

As of Friday, August 26, 2022

#THE Bahamas Sailing Association (BSA) has just finished its summer sailing programme which took place over the past six weeks at the Nassau Yacht Club.

#Almost 60 children aged 8-16 years old participated, the majority of whom were students from a number of Nassau’s government schools. Most of them had never sailed before and the feedback we have received from so many of them is awesome.

#The summer camp is an introductory 2 week course, teaching new comers all the basic skills required to handle a sailboat. Each child is designated a boat which they sail and look after for the duration of the course. Once they have acquired a basic level of competence, we allow them to race against each other out in Montagu Bay, which is always a popular highlight to the course! Our only entry requirement is that participants have basic swimming skills.

#Several of them had so much fun, they repeated the course and had almost an entire summer of sailing, many commenting it was the best summer experience they’d ever had and would certainly recommend it to their friends.

#“It’s been tremendous to finally run our summer schedule since the last couple of years which have been badly affected by Covid restrictions and it’s great to welcome so many new sailors to our program,” said head coach Paul de Souza.

#A presentation was held on Saturday August 20th, each sailor receiving a certificate for completion of the course. Mr Barry Wilmott, Regatta Desk Manager at The Bahamas Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources, presented the certificates.

#“We wish to gratefully thank Mr Wilmott and his team for their invaluable continued support of our sailing programmes. We also wish to thank LGM Maritime Academy,” de Souza said.

#“Bahamas Charitable Giving Foundation and a host of private individuals who, through our “Sponsor a Child” initiative, have made this and our year round programs accessible to so many children who would otherwise be unable to afford the cost of attendance.”

#Quite a number of this year’s summer sailors have already signed up for weekly lessons with our year round program which takes place after school and on Saturdays at The Nassau Yacht Club with the fall term commences on Saturday September 3rd. Anyone interested in registering or receiving further information are asked to contact the BSA at bahjrsailing@gmail.com.

#Further info will be available on their Facebook page and website: www.bahsailingschool.org

ALMOST 60 children aged eight to 16 years old participated in the Bahamas Sailing Association’s summer sailing programme.

As of Friday, August 26, 2022

#THE Bahamas Sailing Association (BSA) has just finished its summer sailing programme which took place over the past six weeks at the Nassau Yacht Club.

#“We wish to gratefully thank Mr Wilmott and his team for their invaluable continued support of our sailing programmes. We also wish to thank LGM Maritime Academy,” de Souza said.

#Further info will be available on their Facebook page and website: www.bahsailingschool.org

August 28, 2022February 5, 2024

Golf teams feeding the needy in inaugural BFN Golf Tournament

SHOWN, from left to right, are Recina ‘Scully’ Ferguson, volunteer, Bahamas Feeding Network, Crestwell Gardiner, vice president of lending, Fidelity Bank, Quatrenda Sears, senior administrative assistant, Fidelity Bank, Ashley Bethel, marketing manager, Better Homes and Gardens MCR Bahamas, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg, Felix Stubbs, chairman, Bahamas Feeding Network, Timothy Munnings, Director of Youth, Sports and Culture, Pauline Davis-Thompson, Archdeacon James Palacious, executive director of the Bahamas Feeding Network.

As of Friday, August 26, 2022

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#WITH the demand increasing on a daily basis for those in need for food, the Bahamas Feeding Network is making an extra effort to raise at least $100,000 to be able to assist as much as they can by hosting its inaugural Golf Tournament on Sunday, September 25 at the Ocean Club Golf Club.

#A press conference was held yesterday at the Paradise Island complex where Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg, along with principal sponsors Fidelity Bank, endorsed the event alongside the organisers from Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate and members of the Bahamas Feeding Network.

#In his absence, Mario Carey, the chief executive officer of Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate, said the idea for the tournament is to raise more funds for the Bahamas Feeding Network and to bring more awareness to the public through events like this to try to eradicate hunger in the Bahamas.

#“We have a real problem here about feeding,” said Carey in a video presentation. “With the cost of living, the cost of food and the idea that children, mothers and families and the elderly can go daily without a meal is not something that we seem to be aware of, but the hard work that we do, make sure that every dollar that comes in is adequately spent towards feeding people.”

#As a director, Carey said he wanted to find ways to assist the Bahamas Feeding Network and one idea that came to mind right away was the golf tournament. He noted that they are still seeking the support from corporate Bahamas to come on board and make their financial contribution to the programme.

#Felix Stubbs, the chairman of the Bahamas Feeding Network since its inception in 2013, said their organisation supports a total of 98 feeding programmes and they are expecting that number to soar to 101 in the next few weeks as they assist in feeding people across the country.

#“We serve now about 70,000 meals a month and in that, we find that we can’t reach all of the people who are in need,” Stubbs said. “In order to continue to meet this need, we need to find additional resources and so I would like to thank all of our supporters who have been with us from day one financially, morally and spiritually.

#“But in addition to that, we need to have additional funding, so we’ve looking at this golf tournament. In this tournament, we’re hoping to raise as much as $100,000 and if we could raise that money, that would mean a few thousand additional meals and families who could go without hunger.”

#Stubbs thanked Fidelity for coming on board as their title sponsor and will be willing to assist them each year. But this year’s initial tournament is expected to attract about 124 golfers in a two-man scramble at a cost of $500 per team. There are a number of prizes, some of which is being solicited by Fred Paul, who next year will be the president of the United States Golf Association.

#A new Mercedes car provided by Tyreflex will be offered for the hole-in-one shot on the 12th hole and there are two seven-day cruises, one to Alaska and another in the Mediterranean, both provided by Royal Caribbean International, for the winning teams.

#There will also be raffle prizes for the public with the top prize being golf at Albany with a celebrity golfer. Additionally, Jason McDowall of Bahamas Local.com will conduct a silent auction with the top prize being a sportsman’s weekend to Dallas for four people with two rounds of golf and a suite to watch a Dallas Cowboys football game, valued at $12,000.

#Crestwell Gardiner, the vice president of retail at Fidelity Bank, said they have always been committed to physical and financial fitness. “We understand that the needs are great now during this challenging time for most Bahamians,” he said. “We know the programme, we know the people and we know the need, so Fidelity is here.”

#Bowleg, noting the importance sports plays in the development of the nation, said the beneficiaries of the tournament will not go to bed fantasizing about the facilities at Ocean Club, but rather their child or children going to bed having had a proper hot meal.

#“The Government of the Bahamas and other organisers such as the Bahamas Feeding Network are working hard to bring relief to people, who through no fault of their own, fall through the cracks,” he said.

#“I applaud the Bahamas Feeding Network through the chairmanship of Felix Stubbs for their incredible work. The food parcels you pack every week and distribute now to nearly 100 churches, soup kitchens and feeding centres. I commend you for providing over two million since your start-up in 2013. You have come a very long way since the first gathering with the handful of churches and of soup kitchens. You have lived up to the promise that seemed so ambitious at the time and now I’m told that you are doing 70,000 a month.”

#He also commended Carey for the role he’s playing in leading the charge for the tournament and he confirmed the government’s commitment to helping to support the event and to help eradicate the need for food hunger in the Bahamas.

#Bowleg was joined by Tim Munnings, the director of sports in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, “Golden Girl” Pauline Davis, a consultant at the ministry, Rev Father James Palacious, the new director of the Bahamas Feeding Network and Ashley Bethel, who represented Better Homes & Gardens.

#Entry forms for the tournament are available on the Bahamas Feeding Network’s website and on Better Homes and Gardens MCR Bahamas Facebook page.

Golf teams feeding the needy in inaugural BFN Golf Tournament

As of Friday, August 26, 2022

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#Entry forms for the tournament are available on the Bahamas Feeding Network’s website and on Better Homes and Gardens MCR Bahamas Facebook page.