Sports

Simba FrenchSend an emailJanuary 24, 2023 67 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

Up next in the sport of sloop sailing in the country is the Farmer’s Cay Exuma Regatta in early February. With a focus on the sport, a group of persons came together and created a documentary titled, “How the Main Sail Sets”. It premiered at Fusion Superplex last Wednesday.

The 80-plus-minute documentary comes at a time when the government of The Bahamas is about to declare sailing the national sport, according to the Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs Clay Sweeting. The documentary showcased the work that Bahamian boat builders and sailors put into their craft, showcasing their skills and talent at regatta time.

Chairman and Commodore of the National Family Island Regatta Danny Strachan said he was happy to see a documentary like this surface.

“It means a whole lot,” Strachan said. “The regatta started in 1954 and there’s not been any kind of documentary or historical aspect of what it is all about. So, what we’re doing is we’re cataloguing the history of regattas from 1954 to today, so that is historical from that standpoint, and that’s why we wanted to make this documentary.”

Some of the sailors featured in the documentary include Lloyd Sands from Andros, Hugrie Lloyd, teenager Tanaj Manos and Mark Knowles from Long Island.

Director of the documentary, acclaimed producer/director Charlie ‘Charlie Bahama’ Smith, said it was a collaboration between Strachan and executive producers Fred Munnings and Nadir Hasan. He said he joined them on the journey and wanted to get creative with the film, so viewers could be engaged.

“I think we got creative with it because what I did was – it’s a documentary, so it’s documenting the story, the history of it,” said Smith. “This is why Danny (Strachan) wanted to do it because even the archives, they want this, they want this for posterity to know how this happens, so there’s a lot of history in it. The first part is going back when the Lucayans were here. It is academic but I wanted to make it more academic, so I made sure the beauty of sailing was in there.”

Smith added that the stories from the sailors were interesting, but they could not get all in.

Munnings said they were able to encapsulate not only the history of regattas, which was the most important thing, but the evolution of the development of the Family Islands as well.

“I’m sure that every Bahamian knows that, throughout the years, these work boats were used to connect the islands,” said Munnings. “Whether it was for communication purposes, distribution of food, people being transported back and forth from one settlement to the next, and/or from one island to the next, they were used. So, in addition to just a regatta film, this is really a film over the last 60 years of the development of the people of The Bahamas, particularly in the Family Islands.”

Sweeting, who is featured in the documentary being interviewed and also as a crew member on a boat that was featured in the documentary, commended the team.

“As a ministry, especially during our 50th year, we looked at how does regattas and sailing encapsulate us as a people, whether it’s through sports or through the culture or through land activities,” he said. “What’s so exciting about this is we were able to travel throughout The Bahamas. The team did a wonderful job to ensure that they captured the essence of what sailing and regattas mean not just to the people or the sailors who experience sailing, but also to the people on the ground and the people throughout the Family Islands.”

“How the Main Sail Sets” is in negotiation with circulation and syndication rights organizations for both domestic and international circulation rights. It will be available in domestic and international markets after April 18, 2023. It is being looked at being placed in the Fort Lauderdale Film Festival, Maine Film Festival and other film festivals. In addition, there is a desire to take the documentary on a school tour.

https://thenassauguardian.com/sloop-sailing-highlighted-in-documentary/

Sports

Bahamian star baseball player said to be intrigued by the move

Sheldon LongleySend an emailJanuary 24, 2023 76 3 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

According to reports, Bahamian superstar baseball player with the Miami Marlins Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm Jr. is intrigued by the move of manning center field this upcoming season.

Chisholm was the Marlins’ every day starter at second base in 2022 and was having a breakout second full season with the team before getting injured. He was voted into Major League Baseball’s (MLB) All-Star Game as a starter for the National League but couldn’t play due to injury.

After acquiring reigning American League Batting Champion and All-Star infielder Luis Arraez from the Minnesota Twins for Pablo López and a pair of prospects, Marlins’ General Manager Kim Ng announced that Chisholm would be moving from the infield to play center field.

Speed certainly plays a factor as it believed that Chisholm could cover a lot of ground in center field. Chisholm has started at shortstop in the past, but newcomer Jean Segura and Joey Wendle are expected to cover the left side of the infield.

“Jazz is a very unique athlete, very dynamic,” Ng said to Paige Leckie of MLB.com. “He’s got great range, great speed. He’s got a lot of the things that you look for when you’re thinking about center field. We’ve seen how he handles popups, and how he ranges to the ones that are really tough to get to.”

The Marlins traded starting shortstop Miguel Rojas to the Los Angeles Dodgers in January, leading to questions of whether or not Chisholm would be moved from second to shortstop. He started 31 games at short for the Marlins in 2021, recording 46 putouts and 77 assists in 133 total chances for a fielding percentage of .925. The same season, he had a fielding percentage of .959 at second base. At second base in 2022, Chisholm had 93 putouts and 123 assists in 220 total chances for an impressive fielding percentage of .982. He has excelled at both second base and shortstop, but has been the Marlins’ Opening Day second baseman the past two seasons.

“We’ve talked about this for a while,” Ng said. “We were never necessarily pressed to think about it meaningfully until probably this offseason. So when this particular opportunity [to pick up Arraez] came up – and we had some of these such scenarios going on – it made us think about it harder. [Jazz is] pretty intrigued and interested in this situation as well, so that made it a lot easier.”

Chisholm was sidelined on June 29 last year with lower back spasms, and it was later determined that he had a stress fracture, which caused him to miss the remainder of the season. Up to that point, he was batting .254 with 14 home runs, 45 RBIs (runs batted in) and 39 runs scored. He was among the league leaders among second basemen in several offensive categories and was a pillar of stability defensively for the Marlins. He also had 12 stolen bases, an on-base percentage (OBP) of .325 and an on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) of .860.

In 2022, Chisholm was among the best defensive second basemen in the National League, but for the immediate future, he will man center field for the Marlins. Arraez will play second base, and Segura and Wendle will be expected to control the left side of the infield for the Marlins.

“You always want to be better, and between the additions and the health, we’re in a much better situation than we were six months ago,” Ng said of their situation heading into MLB’s Spring Training which gets underway at the end of February for the Marlins.

The Marlins finished with a 69-93 win/loss record in 2022 – 32 games behind the National League East winning Atlanta Braves. It was the Marlins’ 12th losing season in the last 13 years. The only time they finished over .500 during that span was the COVID-19 shortened season of 2020 when they advanced to the postseason for the first time in 17 years.

Last season, 24-year-old Chisholm developed into one of the Marlins’ best players and one of the game’s most exciting young stars. He became the first Bahamian to be selected to an all-star appearance in MLB.

In his first full season in 2019, Chisholm finished with a slash line of .248/.303/.425, with a decent 42 percent hard-hit and nine percent barrel rate.

https://thenassauguardian.com/jazz-moving-to-center-field/

BROTHERS Andru and Andre Arthur share a special moment.

As of Monday, January 23, 2023

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#Andru Arthur, known as the “clean-up batter” for the International Elite Baseball Academy’s travelling team, was the last of four signees of professional contracts during the month of January.

#Arthur, following in the footsteps of his older brother Andre, who signed with the Miami Marlins in 2000, inked his name on a deal with the St Louis Cardinals yesterday in the foyer of the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium in front of family, friends and members of the I-Elite Baseball Academy, headed by Geron Sands and Albert Cartwright.

#On hand for the ceremony was the Cardinals’ international crosschecker, Damaso Espino, who welcomed Arthur, an outfielder who started out at Freedom Farm, to the St Louis organisation.

#Espino thanked Arthur’s parents, Beulah and Anthony Arthur, for entrusting their son with the Cardinals’ organisation, and I-Elite and their coaching staff, led by Sands and Cartwright, for working them to achieve this day.

#Espino said this is a day to celebrate all of the sacrifices, hard work and dedication that was put in to achieve this feat by Arthur.

#“The Cardinals organisation take pride not only in the quality of our players, but also the quality of their character, the people and the place where they come from,” Espino said.

#“We are very comfortable in the quality of a player and the person we are bringing into the organisation.”

#The 16-year-old Arthur said he knows it will be a long process as he starts his journey in the Dominican Republic, but he’s prepared to continue to work hard to achieve his ultimate goal, which is to play in Major League Baseball.

#“I was very excited. This was a lifelong event that I was waiting for and now it has finally come through,” Arthur said. “I need to work on getting my load back.”

#After watching his brother, Andre, sign his contract, Andru said the goal was to follow suit.

#Andre, in setting the stage in 2020, said now that he’s playing rookie ball, he gets to fulfil his dream and he can inspire his younger brother, Andru, to do the same.

#“I grew up with him, so it was amazing to see him do the same thing that I did,” Andre said. “I’m happy for him and I’m happy for what we achieved together. I’m happy for him as his older brother.”

#As he hopes to see him in the Dominican Republic where they will both be heading for their respective training camps, Andre advised Andru to never give up, but continue to press on.

#“He will need a lot of dedication. He won’t know what will happen, so just be prepared for anything,” stated the 19-year-old Andre, who plays centrefield. “You go in droughts, but just continue the hard work and never waver.”

#Their father, Anthony Arthur, said he was just as proud for Andru as he was for Andre.

#“Before this happened, I though I would just sit down and enjoy life, but I’m overwhelmed by his speech and some of the things he said because I used to get in trouble with my wife for them,” father Arthur said.

#“I would take them to their baseball practice and when we leave practice, they always wanted me to take them to do some extra practice, so we used to get home round 11:30pm and they had school the next day, so my wife used to get mad with me.

#“But I did what they wanted to do.”

#After they both ventured into baseball at Freedom Farm, father Arthur said they both joined I-Elite nd now they bosst of being the first two brothers to sign professional contracts, albeit with two different organisations.

#Like he did when Andre left, father Arthur said his words of encouragement for Andru is simple.

#“The hard work and the sacrifices you made in your early career, you will have to continue that and press even harder because this is just the beginning of the road,” father Arthur said.

#Sands said they will miss Arthur because of the memories he left with them during the time he participated in I-Elite.

#“A lot of folks don’t understand or know how hard it is to be able to sign a professional contract at the age of 16,” Sands said.

#“It’s a every day, non stop, seven days of the week, 360, no holidays, no birthdays, nothing.

#“It’s baseball all the time, mentally and physically,” he pointed out.

#“Your mindset has to be all about your craft and always tell parents, the kids are different when they pursue this career. Here in this country, we really don’t place emphasis on sports, but these young men have shown the Bahamas that is possible and it’s no mistake.

#“If you put in the work and trust the process, you possibly could have a professional career. So my thing is today, Andru displayed that.

#He came into the programme and after taking about a year off, he had to put in the extra work. He has matured as a man.”

#And Cartwright said he was able to witness Arthur’s transition from the time he came into the programme as a shy youngster to taking at least 5-6 months before he started to open up in the absence of his parents. “Andru is a hard working young man. Anytime we went to the United States, he did what it took to get here today,” Cartwright said.

#“Andrew was also laid back. He doesn’t get upset. If he has a good game or a bad game, he’s always the same way.

#“I think that will prepare him when he goes to pro ball and he has to struggle with the ins and outs of professional baseball.”

#Cartwright, however, said they will miss Arthur because he was a leader of the team and as the third or clean up batter, it was only natural that he would be the last one to complete the signing class of 2023.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/jan/23/clean-batter-signs-cards/?news

Chad Delancey puts on his Boston Red Sox cap as coach Albert Cartwright and Boston’s Bahamian agent, Dominique Collie, look on. Photo by Trevere Saunders.

As of Monday, January 23, 2023

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#DOMINIQUE Collie felt he could not have signed a more deserving player to the Boston Red Sox than International Elite Baseball Academy’s shortstop Chad Delancey.

#In his first official duty as a Bahamian agent for Boston, Collie signed Delancey to his official Red Sox contract on Saturday in the foyer of the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium in front of family members, friends and members of the I-Elite progamme.

#Delancey, better known at I-Elite as ‘the Big C’ or the ‘philosopher,’ said he can now fulfil his childhood dream, which came at the age of five, to play professional baseball.

#“When I was 12 years old when I joined the programme, I knew that I could do it,” 16-year-old Delancey said.

#Now that he’s on his way, Delancey said he hope that he can meet up with the right people, who can help him advance his journey and get to connect with the different people from around the world with the different cultures that he’s never experienced before.

#“Ultimately, I want to be the same person that I am and hopefully I can inspire more young people to do the same thing that I am doing,” he said.

#“This is something that is achievable if you work hard.

#“It wasn’t enough for me, but if you put your trust in God and trust the process that you have to go through, anything is possible.”

#Delancey’s signing came a day before Andru Arthur signed his name on the dotted line for his contract with the St Louis Cardinals yesterday at the same venue.

#Collie is a former player who didn’t continue on the field, but stuck with it off the field and is now a respected scout in Boston. He welcomed Delancey to the Rod Sox organisation. He said they are looking forward to some great things as they head off to their training camp in the Dominican Republic.

#“It’s not what he does on the field, but the type of person that he is off the field,” Collie said. “I think both of those ingredients will help him to succeed as a professional baseball player. And so I want to thank Mr and Mrs Bannister for entrusting your child with the Boston Red Sox and for me to sign him as my first Bahamian player as a scout from the Bahamas.”

#His mother, Deisha Bannister, said she and her husband, Colin Bannister, are in awe of Delancey’s accomplishment and they believe in the Red Sox organisation to get the best out of their son as they venture into the pro ranks. “This is a surreal moment for me,” she said. “Chad has always known what he wanted to do and so I’m just proud that I am able to support him and he can actually realise and accomplish his dream today.”

#With a village helping to raise her son, Bannister said she’s grateful for all those who assisted in anyway to get him to achieve his accomplishment today.

#“I’m thankful for the mentors who were put in his life,” she said.

#And as he prepares to leave her nest and embark on his pro career, she had this bit of advice for her son. “Character is who you are when no one is watching,” she stated. “With God, all things are possible, so put God first and he will do the rest.”

#Having done what they had to do, Sands said I-Elite is delighted to put Delancey, a smart, determined and mature baseball player into the hands of the Red Sox.

#“The first time I saw Chad, I was at JBLN and my eyes caught the way he played. He kind of reminded me of Lucius Fox when he played around 9-10 years,” Sands said. “That was what caught my eyes there.

#“So I decided to keep my eyes on him. Fast forward to a couple years later, I saw him again and I told him that he needed to get bigger because he was a little too small. He would have two breakfast and then he was looking for lunch. That’s the determination and dedication that he did to get to this level.”

#Cartwright said when Delancey came into I-Elite, he felt he was too small and he wasn’t convinced that he would grow to the size that would enable him to play at the pro level.

#“But he put a lot more work in than most of the other guys,” Cartwright said. “He put his trust in the coaches and today he’s reaping his reward. We’re so happy for him and I’m so proud of him because he really put in the work to get here today.”

#Steven Curtis, according to Cartwright, was the coach who introduced Delancey to I-Elite and looking at his progress, they made the right choice in making him a part of their organisation because he did all of the things necessary to make it as a pro player.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/jan/23/big-c-delancey-goes-red-sox/?news

As of Monday, January 23, 2023

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#ALTHOUGH she competed in a younger age group, Grace Komolafe emerged as the lone qualifier for the 2023 Golden Jubilee CARIFTA Games at the DTSP Wolfpack Track and Field meet at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium on Saturday.

#Komolafe, competing in the under-15 girls’ division, matched the under-17 girls high jump qualifying standard of 5-feet, 1¾-inches or 1.57 metres with her victory over her Xtreme Athletics’ team-mate Tahlia Ferguson, who did 4-4 (1.32m).

#Paris Rolle of Leap of Faith was the only competitor in the under-17 girls division. She cleared 4-6 (1.37m), but it was shy of the qualifying standard.

Chase’Y Nelson (578) and Azalia Henderson (336) leading the turn in the girls under-13 200m. Photo by Patrick Hanna.

#The one-day meet, held in honour of former coach, educator and politician Neville Wisdom, saw at least one big match-up at the elite level with Indiana graduate Jyles Etienne going head-to-head with his new Leap of Faith team-mate Ryan Ingraham in the men’s high jump.

#Etienne, back home and preparing for his first season as a professional athlete, only cleared 6-6 ¾ (2.0m), but it was good enough to snatch the victory over Ingraham, who did 6-0 3/4 (1.85m).

#Jaidyn Brown of the University of the Bahamas got third with 5-10 ¾ (1.80m).

#“It was my first full approach meet for the year,” Etienne said. “It wasn’t horrible, but I’m trying to get better than that. It was alright.”

#Etienne, however, said he was delighted to have Ingraham competing with him, not only in men’s, but in practice as they push each other. As the season progresses, Etienne said he expects that they both will continue to challenge each other.

#Competing for the first time since he went down with an injury last March, Ingraham said he felt like he’s getting back to his competitive days and with Etienne around, he feels he will be more motivated to compete at a higher level.

#“I’ve been jumping back in practice, so it’s just about getting back into the competitive frame of mind,” Ingraham said. “I like when all of the high jumpers are home and competing, especially at nationals. But Jyles will help me to push myself higher.”

#The 29-year-old Ingraham said his goal is to win the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ Nationals in June and eventually get a chance to compete at the World Championships in August in Budapest, Hungary.

#On the other hand, Etienne, 23, said the goal is to get prepared for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.

#Except for that showdown, the meet had some interesting results posted.

#In the girls under-7 division, Erin Strachan of Kids Athletics emerged as the double sprint champion, taking the 100m 50m in 10.37 and the 80m in 16.17. Munroe Riley of Xtreme Athletics got second in both in 10.93 and 16.71, while her team-mate Sta-Viah Brown was third in 10.98 and 17.01.

#Leslie Munnings of Kids Athletics also got a double dose of victory in the boys under-7 sprints, taking the 50m in 10.34 and the 80m in 15.25. Valdez Godet of Hurry Murray was second in both in 11.06 and 15.36.

#But while Malachi Williams of Xtreme Athletics was third in the 50m in 11.33 and fourth in the 80m in 17.46, Rashard Hanna of Beginners Track’s got third in the 8-0m in 17.01 and fourth in the 50m in 11.45.

#Christovia Moss of Beginners Track also doubled up in the girls under-9 sprints, running to victory in the 50m in 8.88 and the 80m in 13.48. Claylin Johnson of Kids Athletics got second in the 50m in 9.30 and third in the 80m in 13.92. Monae Miller of Unique Athletics was second in the 80m in 13.81 and third in the 50m in 9.43.

Gee Sene (190) and Bryson Rolle (500) compete in the boys under-17 800m. Photo by Patrick Hanna.

#And in the boys under-9 events, Nathan Smith of 3PA Stallions won the 50m in 8.46 and the 80m in 12.56. Daython Ingraham of Swift Athletics was second in the 50m in 8.52 and A’Ky Wilson of Kids Athletics was third in 8.78. Ingraham was also second in 12.99 and Caiden Bain of Hurry Murray was third in 13.42.

#The girls under-11 division saw Tanaz Davis of Unique Athletics take the 100m in 1.05 and the 200m in 30.96. Jaelyn Munroe of DTSP Wolfpack was second in 15.30 and Kian Duncombe of St. Francis/Joseph was third in 16.07. Davis was second in the 200m 32.94, Rayven Munroe of Xtreme Athletics was third in 33.76, and Duncombe got fourth in 34.36.

#The boys under-11 events were divided with George Brown of Swift Athletics winning the 100m in 14 with Jayden Jones of Unique Athletics second in 15.07 and Stafford Sweeting of Hurry Murray third in 15.19. Aiden Knowles of Xtreme Athletics won the 200m in 15.29, Ronald Simon of Beginners Track was second in 15.29 and Vincent Johnson Jr of Jumpers Inc third in 15.39.

#The girls under-13 division also saw a split as Brianna Bootle of 3PA Stallions take the 200m in 26.67 -with Rocelis Moxey of Swift Athletics third in 27.99. In the 400m, Symiah Strachan of Boost Athletics won in 1:03.73, Bootle, Brianna was second in 1:07.35 and Chyanne Hepburn of Roadrunners third in 1:07.42.

#In the boys under-13, Justin Shepherd of Swift Athletics won the 200m in 26.85, Ayden Russell of Unique Athletes was second in 27.03 and Jacob Pickstock of Swift Athletics was third in 27.41. Patreco Sherman of Red-Line Athletics won the 400m in 1:07.46, Jayden Ferguson of 3PA Stallions was second in 1:10.15 and Nipsey Jones of Kids Athletics was third in 1:12.79.

#Brion Ward of DTSP Wolfpack won the under-15 girls 100m in 13.25, Deryn Rodgers of Star Trackers was second in 13.35 and Keely Deveaux of the T-Bird Flyers was third in 13.40. Sarsha Wright of Team Velocity won the girls under-15 200m in 26.11, Nataya Watson, her team-mate, was second in 26.88 and Ward got third in 27.15.

#Jasmine Thompson of the Roadrunners won the 400m in 1:01.36 with Wright in 1:02.49 and Jade Knowles of DTSP Wolfpack third in 1:02.99. Breyteisha Kemp of Hurry Murray, who was fourth in 1:03.16, won the 1,500n in 5:50.35, Shimoi Bain of Hurry Murray was second in 6:21.40 and Rishan Belle of the Roadrunners was third in 6:28.64.

#In the boys under-15 division, Terrin Beckles of Quick Step won the 100m in 12.23, Rohman Rolle of Fast Forward was second in 12.28 and Jayden Smith, also from Fast Forward, was third in 12.75. In the 200m, Beckles won again in 24.41, Rolle was second in 24.55 and Kamron Henfield of Team Velocity was third in 24.66. Henfield Kamron won the 400m in 55.99 over Tyreik Colebrook of Swift Athletics (56.47) and Rion Larrimore of Hurry Murray (57.80).

#Winning the under-17 girls 100m was Shekinah Johnson of Spirit of Excellence in 12.75 with Khylee Wallace of Quick Step second (13.11) and Iesha Hanna of Roadrunners third (13.17).

#In the 200m, Jamiah Nabbie of Fast Forward won in 25.26, Shayann Demeritte of Swift Athletics second (25.99) and Johnson third (26.57).

#Tamia Taylor of Roadrunners won the 400m in 58.56, Brey’Elle Cooper of DTSP Wolfpack second (1:01.83) and Evanice Sands of DTSP Wolfpack third (1:04.29). And in the 800m, Yulianis Akompi of Quick Step won in 2:29.46, Jayda Rahming of Core Athletics second (2:32.53) and Alexis Roberts of Team Roberts third (2:35.66).

#On the field, Zion Carey of Star Trackers won the long jump with 4.67m; Zoe Adderley of Fast Forward took the triple jump with 11.04m; Terrell McCoy of Triple Threat tossed the shot put 12.17m and Chea’Lisa Knowles of Air Assaults hurled the javelin 15.00m.

#Andrew Brown, competing nonattached, clocked 11.01 to take the under-17 boys 10m; Davon Davis of T Bird Flyers was second in 12.49 and Trent Ford of Roadrunners was third in 11.20. Brown also captured the 200m (22.91) with Everette Fraser of Fast Forward second (23.38) and Rolinny Labranche of Swift Athletics third (23.41).

#In the 400m, Bryson Rolle of T Bird Flyers won in 52.89, Zion Davis of Fast Forward second (52.97) and Jayden Cooper of Speed Capacity third (53.70). Winning the 800m was Zion Davis of Fast Forward (2:07.62), Christopher Minors of T Bird Flyers second (2:14.00) and Rolle Bryson third (2:14.59). Ross Martin of Hurry Murray won the 1,500m (4:47.36), Minors was second (4:55.36) and Gabriel Johnson of Hurry Murray third (5:20.90).

#J’Lin Roberts of Jumpers Inc cleared 5.38m in the long jump; Cooper took the triple jump (12.11m); Jaylen Scott of Blue Chip won the shot put (13.82m); Larouche Morley of Triple Threat took the discus (31.34m) and Ashton Morley of Air Assaults threw the javelin 38.41m.

#Dana Rolle of Roadrunners took the under-20 boys 110 metre hurdles in 15.46 with Jon-Mark Smikle of Quick steps second (15.50) with his brother and team-mate Jehiel Smikle of Quick Step third (16.19).

#In the women’s under-20/ open division, triple jumper Tamara Myers of Leap of Faith showed her versatility and speed by winning the 100m in 12.6; Melvinique Newbold of T Bird Flyers won the 200m (25.60) and the 400m (1:00.20); Jasmine Mackey of 3PA Stallions took the 800m (2:31.16) Kaiya Cambridge of Power Athletics won the 100m hurdles (16.02).

#In field events, Lanique Thompson of Jumpers Inc took the long jump (5.19m); Koi Adderley of Fast Forward won the high jump (1.55m); Apryl Adderley of PVS Sports took the triple jump (11.31m); Annae Mackey of Blue Chip took the shot put (12.46m); Cailyn Johnson of Triple Threat took the discus (37.95m) and Kamera Strachan of Air Assaults won the javelin (39.76m).

#The under-20/open men’s 100m was won by Samalie Farrington of Swift Athletics (10.68) with Jeremiah Adderley of DTSP Wolfpack second (10.76) and Taryll Thompson of Fast Forward third (10.92). Adderley came back and won the 200m (21.89) with Thompson second (22.36) and Matthew Chandler of Fast Forward third (22.56).

#In the 400m, Philip Gray of DTSP Wolfpack won (48.90), Quinton Ellis of Phoenix Track was second (49.33) and Berkley Munnings of Fast Forward third (50.54). Levinne Joseph of University of the Bahamas won (1:56.16) with Kenzie Knowles of Swift Athletics second (1:57.66) and Raywind Winder of Hurry Murray was third (2:01.94).

#Winning the 1,500 metres was Christopher Saintus of Swift Athletics (4:20.30) with Paulindo Boyer of Swift Athletics second (4:20.86) and Jean Dorelien of T Bird Flyers third (4:53.11). Kenold Jen of the University of the Bahamas won the 3,000m (10:40.74) with Hurry Murray’s Nathan Johnson second (10:46.09) and Ross Martin third (11:00.69).

#And also in field events, Grand Bahamian Dimarco Oliver of Tabernacle Baptist Academy won the long jump (6.44m) with Corey Wright of Bahamas Speed Dynamics second (6.26m) and Jahlandon Wilson of Noble Preparator third (86m). Rollie Hanna of Jumpers Inc took the triple jump (13.94m) and Robert Deal Jr of Air Assaults won the javelin (45.70m) with Lavardo Deveaux of Bahamas Speed Dynamics second (45.46m) and A’Jai Culmer of Air Assaults third (29.36).

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/jan/23/grace-komolafe-qualifies-carifta-high-jump/?news

As of Monday, January 23, 2023

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#THE Bahamas International Tennis Club’s 2023 Doubles Championships came to a close on Friday at the Nassau Lawn Tennis Club with the United States of America’s Robins team beating the USA Bluebirds 3-2 to take the top spot.

#The Robins ended the week-long tournament with a perfect 4-0 win-loss record. The loss was the first for the Bluebirds, who ended up 3-1.

#While Barbados finished third at 2-2, the International Team stunned the Bahamas 3-2 to clinch the fourth spot. The International team, comprising of players from different countries in the Bahamas, was 1-3 and the Bahamas was winless at 0-4.

#“This has been a fantastic week of tennis played to a high standard with great camaraderie and sportsmanship,” said USA IC president Robb Bunnen. “The Bahamas have been wonderful hosts and I know all our team will want to return to The Bahamas again for any future events. We go back to the USA as proud winners with fond memories including many renewed friendships and also with new ones created in the tennis world.”

#This was the fifth bi-annual event that is designed around top senior players from forty International Tennis Clubs (IC) around the world.

#Each inter-country match had two men’s doubles, two mixed doubles and ladies doubles in various age combinations. The event was sponsored by Winterbotham Trust.

#The Bahamas, captained by Neil Mactaggart, had on its team John Antonas, former Davis Cup and top Caribbean player plus Susan Kimball the ITF World number one ranked lady in the 75+ age category last year. Kimball had been a maths teacher for many years in The Bahamas and has kept up contact with The Bahamas tennis world since leaving and returns often.

#Despite these strong players The Bahamas, while winning several individual matches, unfortunately, did not quite get an overall team victory.

#“Although losing our overall matches the team enjoyed some great competition. It was good to once again be competing with strong players, many we have known through years of tennis,” Mactaggart said.

#“With most of the competitors in the 40 to 70 age groups it confirmed tennis is a game for life.”

#Bahamas IC president, Kit Spencer, who as a former British tennis player, played on the International team that beat the Bahamas.

#“With a wonderful week of weather there has not only been some great competitive tennis but I think we have been able to showcase The Bahamas to our visiting teams,” Spencer said. “The matches were played at the historic Nassau Lawn Tennis Club, first established in 1880. It is one of the very oldest tennis clubs in the whole Americas region and the same age as Wimbledon.”

#At the final night presentation dinner, the players were treated to a Bahamian menu with the Curb side Rockers “Rake and Scrape” duo playing the steel drum and saw.

#“This gave a taste of some Bahamian culture which delighted our USA teams and had our fellow Caribbean team from Barbados joining in,” Spencer said.

#He also thanked was local sponsor Winterbotham Trust for their continued support of this and other tennis events such as the recent IC Rod Laver Junior Challenge that The Bahamas also hosted.

#USA Robins 3,

#USA Bluebirds 2:

#Men’s 105+ doubles – Jeff Clark/Jeff Snow (Robins) def. Shirish Deshpande/ Steve Moehn (Bluebirds) 7-6(5), 6-2.

#Women’s 105+ doubles – USA Robins def. USA Bluebirds w/o.

#Men’s 125+ Bob Beverley/John Chatlak (Bluebirds) def. Robb Bunnen/Rob Castorri (Robins) 6-2, 6-4.

#Mixed 105+ doubles – Steve Moehn/Shana Magruder (Bluebirds) def. Jeff Clark/Ann Clark (Robins) 3-6, 6-2, 10-7.

#Mixed 120+ doubles – Rob Castorri/Margaret Lumia (Robins). def. Bob Beverley/Kay Beverley (Bluebirds) 6-0, 6-1.

#International Team 3,

#Bahamas 2:

#Men’s 105+ doubles – Cory Francis/Alex Murbach (INT) def. Neil Mactaggart/Livio Bisterzo (BAH) 6-1, 6-4.

#Women’s 105+ doubles – Sarah Beukes/Sue Kimball (BAH) def. Adelgisa Hillhouse-Banks/Dale Kozicz (INT) 6-1, 6-2.

#Men’s 125+ doubles – Kit Spencer/Gerry Kanuka (INT) def. John Antonas/ Alejandro Mesples (BAH) 7-5, 6-7(5), 10-7.

#Mixed 105+ doubles – Alex Murbach/Dale Kozicz (INT) def. Neil Mactaggart/Sarah Beukes (BAH) 6-4, 6-4.

#Mixed 120+ doubles – Ivan Hooper/Sue Kimball (BAH) def. Cory Francis/ Adelgisa Hillhouse-Banks (INT) 6-2, 6-4.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/jan/23/ic-tennis-doubles-usas-robins-team-takes-top-spot/?news

As of Monday, January 23, 2023

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#BAARK! – Bahamas Alliance for Animal Rights and Kindness – has announced the date for its annual Powerade Potcakeman Triathlon.

#Now in its 10th year, the triathlon will take place on Sunday, March 5 at Jaws Beach starting at 7:30am.

#The race features a 750m swim, 12-mile bike and 5K run. There are also two junior categories (ages 11-12 and 13-15) and two puppy categories (ages 8 and under and 9 – 10).

#The triathlon is a family-fun event which has grown to become the largest race of its kind in the Bahamas with over 200 racers, attracting participants from the USA, Canada, Mexico, Panama and the UK.

#BAARK! has partnered with Powerade, the title sponsor of the triathlon. The event is sanctioned by the Bahamas Triathlon Association and is a qualifier for the CARIFTA Triathlon in August.

#The goal of the triathlon is to raise $30,000 to support the spay and neuter work of Baark! In 2022, Baark! completed approximately 4,500 spay and neuters; its goal is to perform between 5,000-7,000 spay and neuter surgeries annually. The five-year goal is a minimal number of unwanted dogs and cats, resulting in safer and cleaner communities.

#Funds raised from the Potcakeman Triathlon will go to support the operational costs of Baark!

#Baark! was founded in 2009 with the mission to carry out spay/neuter and education projects to reduce the homeless dog and cat population and end the unnecessary suffering of dogs and cats in The Bahamas.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/jan/23/baark-annual-powerade-potcakeman-triathlon-set-mar/?news

As of Monday, January 23, 2023

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KENISE Darville as seen in a video posted to Facebook days before her death.

THE family of Kenise held a press conference seeking answers.

#By MALCOLM STRACHAN

#THE tragic story of Kenise Darville has been in the spotlight over the past few days and many are wanting to know why we can’t do better when it comes to the care we offer our citizens.

#The incident has gained prominence as we were able to see the story told in Kenise’s own words – in a live broadcast on Facebook on January 11.

#In that video, she said Princess Margaret Hospital had told her that they would be ordering platelets for her treatment, but then later it was said that they had not been ordered, and they asked her to organise people to donate blood instead.

#At the time of writing, that video has been shared 4,800 times, with 3,400 people commenting on it.

#Just over a week after that video was broadcast, on January 19, the mother of three died.

#Her husband, Jerad Darville, urged people to support the cause his wife was fighting for. He told The Tribune: “Continue to support her and the cause she died fighting for, bringing awareness to issues inside the healthcare system.”

#That same day, the family held a press conference in which they said they were seeking answers about what happened.

#And it was announced there will indeed be an investigation.

#What exactly happened from the point where Kenise made that video until that death needs to be made clear. In the video, she says she is in pain, she says her platelet count is low, and she is clearly frustrated and in distress, but it is difficult to look at that video and think this was a woman who was days from death. What could have happened under the care of Princess Margaret Hospital to take her from a point where she was in pain to where she had passed away? The family needs those answers.

#But there is another point that we should ask – and it surrounds the issue of donating blood.

#How often do we see shared around on Facebook or Whatsapp appeals for someone in hospital who needs blood to be donated?

#A family member gets rushed to hospital and out goes the call for blood – please give to help a mother, a father, a brother, a sister, a cousin.

#Occasionally in the media, you will see some press release about a blood drive that brings in a few pints for the blood bank. But it doesn’t seem to happen often

#When you do go to the hospital to give blood, there’s never a queue, and the staff, while willing, seem surprised to see you.

#In other countries, there are well-established organisations holding regular blood donation sessions to encourage people to regularly donate. It’s a simple process, you give blood then have a drink of tea and a cookie afterwards, then off you go on your way.

#This is a simple task that collectively we can routinely include in our lives that would make the lives of others better – or simply save a life.

#We can also expand the number of people who are able to donate blood.

#Those who have tattoos, for example, are often told they cannot donate – despite guidance in other countries that suggests it is fine for people to donate as long as they have not had the tattoo, or a piercing, done in the past six months.

#The US goes further, requiring tattoo artists to be registered facilities to ensure basic standards are met, such as not reusing ink.

#The Bahamas also has a considerable number of people living here who come from parts of Europe who find themselves unable to donate because they lived in a country which was affected by variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD) in the past. If you don’t know that name, you might know its nickname – Mad Cow Disease.

#The concern was that people who lived in areas affected by Mad Cow Disease might pass on effects in the blood.

#This particularly affects people who spent time in the UK between 1980 and 1996, in France and Ireland from 1980-2001, or who received a blood transfusion in those countries any time from 1980 until today.

#You can show up, willing to donate blood to help someone out, only for the hospital worker to shake their head and point to a line in the regulations and say no.

#However, the Food and Drug Administration in the US has now changed that guidance, saying that people who simply lived in those countries are welcome to give blood now.

#There has been no announcement of our own guidance being amended to fit in accordance with the FDA advice – but it is surely something worth exploring.

#It’s a simple equation – if more people are able to donate blood, there is a greater chance of there being enough blood supplies in store when someone needs it, especially for those people who might have a rarer blood type.

#As well as expanding the base, we should constantly be putting efforts to give blood into the spotlight. People should be celebrated for their efforts in donating – cheered when they become a member of the gallon club and long-standing donors highlighted when they reach landmarks of 25 or 50 donations.

#Every single donation can produce three different products – red blood cells, platelets and plasma. Each of those donations can help up to three patients.

#And how many people need blood when they go into hospital? According to Doctors Hospital, it’s around one in ten hospitalised patients. That may be a platelet transfusion, it may be blood.

#The hospital says: “Those in need include: accident, burn, or trauma victims; cancer patients; transplant recipients; newborn babies and mothers delivering babies; surgery patients; and many more.”

#As an investigation is launched into Kenise’s death, there is obviously much that we as citizens cannot do other than wait for answers. But collectively we can make a difference when it comes to donating blood.

#The government can investigate lifting such limits as those on people who lived in countries affected by vCJD in the past – but in the meantime we can show up without waiting for the urgent note sent on Whatsapp or Facebook.

#If the blood had been there in the first place, people would not have to launch urgent appeals.

#And for all those who watched Kenise’s video on Facebook, you would be honouring the last words she said in that broadcast.

#Just before ending the video, she said: “If y’all could come out and donate, donate some blood please, it’s really saving people’s life, if you could do it.”

#We can do better. We can give more. And we can do it to honour Kenise.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/jan/23/insight-how-we-can-honour-kenise-and-help-save-oth/

 Home|Sports|Two more from I-Elite sign contractsSports

Arthur goes to the Cardinals; Delancey signs with the Red Sox

Sheldon LongleySend an emailJanuary 23, 2023 117 4 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

The International Elite (I-Elite) Sports Academy continues to push out some of the finest baseball players in the country, giving them opportunities to sign professional contracts and further their baseball careers.

A couple more players from that institution signed over the weekend, bringing the total up to four in this international signing period of Major League Baseball (MLB), and 34 in total since they opened their doors eight years ago.

Chad Delancey signed with the Boston Red Sox at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium on Saturday, and Andru Arthur inked his name on the dotted line with the St. Louis Cardinals organization at the same venue on Sunday. A couple more signed out of MaxD Sports Academy last Tuesday.

In the case of Arthur, he was the second in his immediate family to sign with a professional baseball organization, joining older brother Andre who signed with the Miami Marlins in 2020.

As for 16-year-old outfielder Andru, who stands at 6’1” and weighs 172 pounds, he is looking forward to the opportunity and is ecstatic to join the list of Bahamian players joining the professional ranks during this current cycle of invasion by Bahamian baseball players into the minor leagues.

“I’m real excited … it’s a good feeling. It’s going to be a long process to get into the majors, but I’m confident in my ability and I’m prepared to put in the work,” he said. “I just have to keep working hard, do my thing and I’ll get there. This is a dream come true for me and I’m very happy. I’m just looking forward to the opportunity. When my brother signed, that gave me the inspiration to push harder. I’m glad to be following in his footsteps.”

Both brothers came out of the Freedom Farm Baseball League before venturing to I-Elite.

Andre said he always knew this day would come and that they would be able to celebrate together as a family.

“It’s a great feeling,” said older brother Andre. “I’m happy for him and I’m happy that both of us were able to get this opportunity. This is his day. It’s all about him today and I just want him to enjoy this moment. I’m so proud of him. Words can’t describe my feeling right now. We know that we worked hard every single day and we knew that this day would come. It was bound to happen and I’m glad it did.”

The progression of both of them is a testament to the hard work of their parents Beulah and Anthony Arthur, guidance from coaches at Freedom Farm and I-Elite, and support from family and friends.

I-Elite Co-Founder and Coach Albert Cartwright said Andru Arthur primarily bats clean up, and it’s only fitting that he cleans up the signings for I-Elite for this signing period. He is the last of the four from that academy to sign with a professional baseball organization in this period.

Overall, there are 24 students from New Providence, Grand Bahama and Eleuthera enrolled at I-Elite, and a total of 34 have signed with professional baseball franchises over the last eight years. Additionally, 20 have obtained collegiate scholarships.

“It’s always a pleasure when we could see the fruits of our labor,” said president, co-founder and head coach of I-Elite Geron Sands. “With these guys, it’s a process and I’m just glad to see that the process is working. It’s really a good feeling. It’s all about trusting the process. We’ve been blessed to get some hard-working kids into the program. The character of these kids is important as well. We have so much talent here in The Bahamas in sports and, in this instance, baseball. It’s just a matter of putting in the work with these guys and making it happen.

“Andru is one of the better hitters to come through the system. He’s one of the guys who is going to hit third or fourth in a lineup and, besides the baseball aspect, he is a great kid. He is disciplined and very mature, and when you put all of his qualities together, I see no reason why he won’t be in the big leagues.”

Sands said they have young players coming up behind this current class as well and the future looks bright as far as more Bahamians getting opportunities are concerned.

“We always have guys coming up. Next year, we expect to have a strong class again,” he said. “For the next four to five years, we are looking pretty good. In this country, we just have to understand what it takes to get to this level.These guys put in a lot of hard work and now they are seeing the results of their labor.”

Arthur will report to the Cardinals Academy in the Dominican Republic, be evaluated, and begin preparation for the Dominican Summer League (DSL) season this year. He is the second Bahamian to be signed by the Cardinals, joining Adari Grant who inked his name on the dotted line in 2021.

“We’re very excited. The level of athleticism that he showed is top notch and he has tremendous upside,” said Cardinals International Crosschecker Damaso Espino. “We will continue to trust in this market. With Andru, we believe that his hard work, aptitude and his character will be the key elements for him to get through the system and into the majors. His body projection, his athleticism and his ability to make contact were key elements for us. Offensively, he has a great skill set and, defensively, he’s very good with his glove. We believe that he will be able to be a strong run producer for us.”

A number of international prospects begin their minor league careers in the DSL, in preparation for advancement to leagues in the United States.

The Bahamas keeps turning heads with MLB signees which is a testament to the hard work of local coaches at Freedom Farm, the Junior Baseball League of Nassau (JBLN), I-Elite and the MaxD Sports Academy.

https://thenassauguardian.com/two-more-from-i-elite-sign-contracts/

Sports

Simba FrenchSend an emailJanuary 23, 2023 194 5 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email

On Friday, Bahamian Jonquel ‘JJ’ Jones was introduced by her new team, the New York Liberty – a team Jones requested being traded to from the Connecticut Sun.

The Liberty is an original team in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), from 1997, but has not won a title despite making four trips to the WNBA Finals. Those four trips came in the league’s first six seasons, and the Liberty haven’t been back to the finals since the 2002 season – a span of 21 years.

Jones, who was dressed sharply with a black turtleneck and a green suit on Friday, said she is looking to bring a title to New York – a city that has a rich history in basketball with Holcombe Rucker Park and National Basketball Association (NBA) teams the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets.

“The people are excited about it, and it would mean everything to me to be able to bring a championship to New York. I also think it would mean a lot to the NBA for the league and its growth,” Jones said.

Welcoming Jones to New York via social media was the Nets’ Kevin Durant, a former NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) and a two-time NBA Finals MVP.

“Jonquel,” Durant said. “Welcome to New York City. We’re excited to have you here. Can’t wait to watch you ball in the Barclays (Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York). It is going to be so much fun this summer. I can’t even wait. Much love. Welcome.”

Jones, a forward/center, had one year left on her contract with the Sun who traded for her on draft night in 2016. She was taken by the Los Angeles Sparks in the 2016 WNBA Draft and traded to the Sun on draft night. The 6’ 6” four-time all-star is excited to bring her talents and experience to New York and is looking forward to doing her part to transform that team into a WNBA powerhouse. The Liberty have lost in the opening round of the playoffs the last two seasons. The Liberty is a young team and Jones being in her prime at 29, will have a veteran role with the team.

“I think I’m going to thrive in that role. I’m extremely excited to be in that role – to be able to help the younger players and be a voice of reason. Whatever they need to talk about, I’m here and being in Connecticut, I can tell them first-hand that you may think that you have more opportunities, but no opportunity is as important as the one that you have before you right now. I think that’s going to be extremely important in getting them to understand that every opportunity matters, and every chance you get to step on the court, it’s an opportunity to play your best and the future is not promised,” Jones said.

In a three-team deal, Connecticut receives the number six pick in this year’s draft as well as Rebecca Allen from New York and Tyasha Harris from Dallas. The Dallas Wings get Natasha Howard and Crystal Dangerfield from the Liberty, and Kayla Thornton heads to New York also. 

One of those young players that the Grand Bahama native will be playing with is point guard Sabrina Ionescu – the number one pick in the 2020 WNBA Draft.

“One of the things that we talked about with the coaching staff is just me being a little bit more efficient out of pick and rolls, and I think that will open the game with me just being able to roll a little bit quicker and understand how to space it out. I think all those things are going open the court up. Obviously, like I said before, Sabrina is going to be able to create her own shots and find me in the right time, right space, and so I’m really excited about that. I think the attention that I draw is going to allow her to be able to be successful as well,” Jones said.

For Jones, the move to New York is not just about playing on the court but also an opportunity to market her brand better.

“Everything off the court, marketing-wise with it being a basketball city, I think the opportunities are endless and I think that was one of the biggest things that excited me. It’s about knowing my brand and not going away from that and understanding that it’s an area that I can go in,” Jones stated.

After a dominant season in 2021, Jones received 48 of 49 first-place votes for the WNBA Most Valuable Player Award (MVP), finishing one vote shy of a unanimous selection. She led the Sun to the league’s best win/loss record at 26-6, including a 15-1 home record at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. That year, Jones averaged a double-double at 19.4 points – fourth-best in the league – and a league-best 11.2 rebounds per game. She shot 51.5 percent from the field.

A year after turning in arguably the greatest season by a Bahamian athlete in history, Jones’ numbers took a dip in 2022. She averaged 14.6 points on 51.3 percent shooting from the field while adding 8.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game, and finished seventh in the MVP voting. However, she did manage to lead the Sun to a second WNBA Finals berth in four years where they lost to the Las Vegas Aces three games to one.

It is no secret that New York has a huge West Indian population. At the press conference, Jones mentioned that there was fish and guava duff prepared for her – something else that impressed her about the Liberty organization. She even joked that she will definitely have to be in the gym more with all the food around. Tying the West Indian community into the Liberty was one of those things that was discussed between Jones and the marketing team.

“That was one of the big things that actually drew me to New York… I could tell they took the time to think about where I was from and the communities and the people that we can impact, which is also extremely important to me. Obviously, the Bahamian Consulate General is here right now. It means a lot to The Bahamas but also to the West Indian community, so I’m all ears and I’m open to anything that we can do,” Jones said.

Jones is happy that she is in a city where Bahamians can catch a direct flight from home to see her play.

“There are a lot of direct flights so start booking your tickets,” Jones said. “The schedule is already out and we’re ready and excited to have as many Bahamians as possible. Let’s pack the house and let’s show up and be proud. I think the product that we’re going to put out there is going to be very great and and I would love for The Bahamas to be a part of that.”

With Jones, the Sun came within a game of winning the WNBA title in 2019, losing to the Washington Mystics, and within two games of winning the title last year, losing to the Aces.

The Liberty tip off the season on Friday May 19 with an away game against the Washington Mystics at the Entertainment and Sports Arena in Washington, D.C. Tip-off on that day is 7 p.m. Their first home game is set for Sunday May 21 against the Indiana Fever at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, starting at 2 p.m. They remain home for their next game that is one that Jones circled on her calendar – a battle against her old team, the Sun, on Saturday May 27. That game tips off at 7 p.m.

https://thenassauguardian.com/jones-eyes-title-for-the-liberty/