PARTICIPANTS with their certificates at the Bahamas Bodybuilding Wellness and Fitness Federation’s inaugural youth bodybuilding championship at the University of the Bahamas on Saturday.

As of Tuesday, July 25, 2023

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#By MALIQUE WALLACE

#Tribune Intern

#THE Bahamas Bodybuilding Wellness and Fitness Federation’s inaugural youth bodybuilding championship on Saturday at the University of the Bahamas was a success.

#“Downtown” Natasha Brown, the first and only Bahamian female fitness pro, hosted the event.

#She says that she was glad there are kids still out there that were able to participate in the event.

#She explained that because many other kids and their families were travelling, there were only about a dozen, which was the final number she could gather up.

#Brown congratulated Eva Hilton, New Providence Classical and CW Sawyer, who came out on top with their athletes and showed determination as they performed.

#Her expectation was to kick-start the event and get it on right away. She was asked if her kids and or parents want to get started with exercise or into sports, would she recommend this type of environment?

#She responded by saying “it’s not just for children who play sports or who don’t play sports. We already know the long-time benefits of exercise. It’s going to help children fight diabetes, hypertension, high blood pressure.

#“All these different things that kids are now contracting, adults with onset heart diseases, but the most important thing that I know and I’m challenging parents, let’s find a correlation between exercise and academics,” Brown said.

#Brown also said a lot of the kids that came up and performed, she recognised that their posture changed. Saying that if the kids are having problems sitting up in classrooms and not paying attention to the teacher, this is going to be one of the benefits they are going to gain, and their grades will improve at the end of the day.

#Asia Moss, who was one of the participants in the event, said she felt very excited and that it will benefit her in the long run. She said the different workouts helped her realise the difference in what she thought the exercises were going to be.

#Moss recommends kids her age, who want to get started in a different sport or just all-around exercise, come to this kind of environment.

#She said her mom felt great that her daughter participated and was very proud of her and is expecting great things from her in the future. She also recommends parents to get their children into fitness because it doesn’t just keep their bodies healthy, it also develops their minds and keeps them focused.

#Selia Bullard, another participant in the event, said that she really enjoyed the event, and it helped her have a better mental state with fitness and to be more athletic.

#She says that the workouts she did were beneficial for her. She added that you would not only learn about exercise but other things as well and that the people around you would help you like it even more.

#Bullard’s mother was with her at the event, and she said she was glad that her daughter participated, saying that since it’s summer a lot of kids are inactive, sitting at home watching TV, so getting her involved with this event was beneficial.

#“Selia had a reason to wake up every day and get active.”

As of Tuesday, July 25, 2023

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#By LEESHAN MORLEY

#Tribune Intern

#LONG-time referee Darrell Ranger has replaced Travis Sawyer as the new president of the New Providence Referee Association.

#He was elected two months ago and will serve for the next four years.

#Although Ranger was not on the previous board, he decided to run for president because he felt that the association needed “someone stronger.”

#“I felt like we needed someone stronger. Not that he wasn’t doing a good job, I feel like people will respect me more knowing what I bring to the game and what I stand for,” explained Ranger.

#Ranger elaborated on the plans that he has for the next four years in office.

#“My plan is to try to get more referees on the board, try to get them certified, and get more of them in the professional ranks.” says Ranger.

#He further went on to say that he would like to increase the number of members from 25 to 50.

#With this increase, the association can make sure that there are enough referees to cover The Bahamas and help persons to be more knowledgeable on the rules. His long-term goal is to obtain more referees and help others to see it as a business.

#For persons interested in becoming a referee, Ranger explained the steps to get yourself into the profession.

#You would have to attend a seven-day clinic to be able to be familiar and learn FIBA rules.

#Following this, you must pass a physical and written test and also an on-court test to learn what you would have to do on the court and where you would need to be. He also expressed that with being a referee, you have to realise that you are working with humans, so you have to be able to make rational decisions based on FIBA rules and have tough skin. “You’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t but be damned your way,” he emphasised.

#There are currently two referees’ associations in New Providence and Ranger expressed his desire to see the two bodies being unified. He said that uniting the associations would be a plus and the diversity will allow them to be stronger and there will also be more referees to choose from.

THE Bahamas under-11 national baseball team at the Pony Baseball Bronco-II World Series in Chesterfield, Virginia.

As of Tuesday, July 25, 2023

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#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#THE Bahamas’ under-11 national baseball team to the 2023 Pony Baseball Bronco-II World Series fell short of getting into the bronze-medal game yesterday in Chesterfield, Virginia.

#The Bahamas, managed by Javier ‘Sonic’ Bowe, dropped a 3-2 decision to West Raleigh in the East Zone Championship game on Sunday night to get eliminated from the tournament with Colman Darville pitching a superb game in a losing effort.

#West Raleigh avenged their 8-3 opening loss to the Bahamas before they eventually lost 9-1 in their semifinal match to Orange, CA. Orange also blanked the Bahamas 16-0 in their match-up during the tournament.

#Despite not getting into the medal round, Team Bahamas collected some post-tournament awards as Bosfield Butler was named the best catcher of the tournament; Kamdynn Miller finished as the runner up in the home run derby and the Bahamas also got second in the base running competition.

#The other team members were Gianno Newball and Isaac Richardson from Freedom Farm; Trevonte Saunders, Emmanuel Smith, Hasan Mitchel and James Bethel from the Grand Bahama Little League and Andrew Gibson, Geralle Gabriel, Michael Wilson, Rhamelo Bethel and Kymani Rolle from the Junior Baseball League of Nassau.

#Bowe, who was joined by coaches Jaiden Cartwright and James Clarke, felt that Team Bahamas gave it their best shot, but fell short against some stiff competition.

#“We performed very well. We ran into some competition, especially the pitching that we have not seen at this level,” Bowe said. “We played as best as we could, but it was very tough for us. The competition was really tough.”

#As they prepare to return home, Bowe said they just simply have to play more baseball in the Bahamas if any team that leaves the country for international competition is going to be successful.

#But although they didn’t play as many games as their opponents in the United States, Bowe said the players still gave a very good account of themselves.

#And the Bahamas should be proud of their efforts, he added.

#The team is expected to return home today.

As of Monday, July 24, 2023

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Rhema Otabor

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#NCAA champion Rhema Otabor posted a record-breaking performance and Keyshawn Strachan returned to full strength as Team Bahamas got another impressive showing from the throwers to highlight the country’s performances at the North American, Central American and Caribbean Under-18 and Under-23 championships.

#The three-day meet came to a close yesterday at the National Stadium in San Jose, Costa Rica, with The Bahamas in fourth place on the medal table with seven gold, nine silver and seven bronze for a total of 23 medals.

#The United States of America topped the chart with 47 medals (23 gold, 16 silver and eight bronze); Jamacia was second with 32 (13 gold, 14 silver and five bronze) and Canada was third with 28 (12 gold, 10 silver and six bronze).

#Otabor established a meet record with her toss of 188-feet, 7-inches or 57.48 metres for the gold in the under-23 girls’ javelin. American Maura Huwalt took the silver with 161-7 (49.25m) and Kimberly Smith of the British Virgin Islands claimed the bronze with 123-3 (37.54m).

#Strachan, back at full strength after coming off an injury that prevented him from competing at the NCAA Championships, popped a winning throw of 257-1 (78.37m) in the under-23 boys’ javelin.

#A pair of Americans trailed for the other two medals as Dash Sirmon got the silver with 246-11 (75.28m) and Braden Presser got the bronze with 238-2 (72.60m).

#The other individual gold medals came from Cailyn Johnson in the under-18 girls’ discus with 134-0 (40.85m) and Johnathan Rodgers soared 49-3 (15.01m) in the under-18 boys’ triple jump.

#The lone individual gold medal on the track came in under-18 boys’ 400 metres as Zion Miller won in 48.08 and Zion Shepherd was third in 49.10. Jamaican Joshua Wint split the pair for the silver in 48.68.

#Miller and Shepherd teamed up with Nya Wright and Alexis Roberts to take the lone relay gold in the under-18 mixed 4 x 400m mixed race in 3:31.29.

#Team Bahamas got a pair of individual silver medals as Dior-Ray Scott tossed the under-18 girls javelin 135-9 (41.39m) and Annae Mackey took the under-18 girls shot put with 42-11 ½ (13.09m) and on the track, Antoine Andrews raced to the silver in the under-23 boys 110m hurdles in 13.57 and Darvinique Dean got the other in the under-18 girls 400m hurdles in 1:01.13.

#In relay competition, the Bahamas added four more medals.

#The quartet of Antoine Andrews, Adam Musgrove, Carlos Brown and Terrence Jones clocked 39.59 for their silver in the under-23 boys 4 x 100m; Phebe Thompson, Shatalya Dorsett, Bia Richards and Shayann Demeritte did 46.42 for their silver in the under-18 girls 4 x 100m; Darvinique Dean, Shatalyn Dorsett, Nya Wright and Alexis Roberts ran 3:51.80 for their silver in the under-18 girls 4 x 400m relay and Berkley Munnings, Zion Shepherd, Morgan Moss and Zion Miller got their silver in the under-18 boys 4 x 400m in 3:19.80.

#Berkley Munnings led the individual bronze medalists in the under-18 boys 400m hurdles in 54.27; Cayden Smith claimed his medal in the under-18 boys 200m in 21.76; Shaun Miller Jr got the bronze in the under-23 men’s high jump with a leap of 7-0 1/2 (2.15m) and Koi Adderley cleared 5-5 (1.65m) in the under-18 girls high jump, while Tylah Pratt was fourth with 5-3 (1.60m).

#The under-18 boys 4 x 100m relay team of Johnathon Rodgers, Cayden Smith, Trent Ford and Ishmael Rolle got a bronze in 41.19. w

#In other results of note, Shatalya Dorsett place fifth in the under-18 girls 200m final in 24.47. She won her heat in 24.40 for the third fastest time in the semi’s with Nia Richards falling short of advancing with her ninth place in 24.79.

#Terrence Jones was entered in the final of the under-23 boys 200m final, but did not start. Canadian Callum Robinson won the gold in 20.52, while Denar Francis of Jamaica got the silver in 20.67 and American Connor Washington took the bronze in 20.74. Jones had the second fastest qualifying time of 20.07 in the semifinals on Saturday and Musgrove just missed advancing, placing tenth overall in 21.31.

#Camille Rutherford place seventh in the under-23 girls 200m final in 24.70. She also had the seventh fastest qualifying time of 24.20.

#There were three exhibition events because there were not sufficient competitors.

#In the under-18 boys decathlon, Kenny Moxey Jr won with 6.095 points, beating out Guatemala’s Maxwell Alvarez, who was second with 5.528 points. In the under-23 girls heptathlon, Shaunece Miller was second with 4.291 points behind American Jasdin O’Brien, who won with 5.770 points. and Brenden Vanderpool picked up the silver in the under-23 men’s pole vault with 4.95m. The gold went to American Huner Garretson with a meet record of 5.61m.

#One setback came from Jamiah Nabbie. She suffered a slight muscle pull in her semifinal of the under-18 girls 100m and coasted through the finish line in 17.83 and was unable to continue competing in the meet.

Bahamas 16U team advance in Babe Ruth Caribbean invite

As of Monday, July 24, 2023

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#By TENAJH SWEETING

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#THE Bahamas’ 16-and under (16U) team advanced to the next round of the Babe Ruth Caribbean Baseball Championship and Invitational.

#The 16U squad will get ready to play the 5-1 Pool B Puerto Rico team today at 10am after defeating the Metropolitan Junior Baseball League (MJBL) USA team.

#In the 12-and under (12U) division, Team Bahamas picked up two wins against the Netherlands and Jamaica but came up short against Curacao, thwarting their efforts of advancing.

#16U

#The Bahamas 16U team dropped the MJBL USA 6-2 in seven innings. In the first inning, the home team was able to score two runs compared to one by the USA team. After the initial inning, it was a defensive battle between the two teams until the third inning.

#The visiting team scored one run, meanwhile, The Bahamas finished the inning with none on the scoreboard.

#The momentum shifted in the bottom of the fifth inning where Team Bahamas was able to amass four runs to put the USA team away and advance to a 4-0-1 record in the invitational.

#Greg Burrows Jr, head coach of the 16U team, talked about the win for the home team. “I thought it was a good team win again. We have been lucky enough to have some good pitching performances this tournament and the bats came late in the game in the fifth inning but this is what it is all about,” Burrows said. Overall, he credited the efforts of MJBL USA but believed his team was able to combat them and come out with the win.

#With the team now preparing to play Puerto Rico, the top team for Pool B, Burrows said they are looking to keep the momentum going and get all the way to the championships.

#In this past weekend’s baseball action, the 16U team earned a comfortable 13-1 win against Europe in a Pool A head-to-head matchup. Additionally, Saturday’s game between Aruha and the home team ended in a 1-1 tie.

#12U

#The 12U team for The Bahamas had a busy weekend as teams looked to fight for a win to qualify for the Cal Ripken Major/70 World Series at Ballparks of America in Branson, Missouri. In their first win of the weekend the 12U team dropped the Netherlands in a 12-2 victory.

#The home team was already up 5-0 on the Netherlands in the bottom of the third inning. The visiting team finally got on the scoreboard at the top of the fifth inning but Team Bahamas asserted their dominance. By the bottom of the fifth inning the home team had already amassed 12 runs to only one by the Netherlands. Ultimately, the game wrapped up in five innings with the Netherlands scoring their second run in the bottom of the fifth inning.

#In the second win, Team Bahamas got the upperhand on Jamaica from the start. By the top of the second inning the team already scored 12 runs to 0 on the scoreboard. The game wrapped up in three innings due to the mercy rule.

#In the home team’s only loss of the weekend Team Bahamas dropped to Curacao 3-2.

#The 2023 Babe Ruth Caribbean Championship and Invitational will continue today at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex and Andre Rodgers Stadium.

Veteran Godfrey Robinson wins multiple trophies at the Bahamas Bodybuilding Wellness and Fitness Federation National Championships over the weekend.

As of Monday, July 24, 2023

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#By TENAJH SWEETING

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#VETERAN bodybuilders shined at the Bahamas Bodybuilding Wellness and Fitness Federation (BBWFF) National Championships this past weekend.

#The fitness event got underway at the University of The Bahamas’ (UB) Performing Arts Auditorium on Saturday night.

#The event featured more than 50 competitors in the various categories, including men’s bodybuilding, men’s classic bodybuilding, men’s and women’s physique, women’s wellness, women’s figure, open men’s bodybuilding and women’s bikini.

#Joel Stubbs, BBWFF president, was impressed with this past weekend’s national championships.

#“We are very happy to know we were able to host this 50th edition of the Bahamas Novice and National Championships, we also brought our pros back… the likes of Raynor Ferguson, Jason Johnson, Lorraine LeFleur, Jimmy Norius, they are all making tracks. I am happy and grateful they came to showcase their talents,” Stubbs.

#He said the novice championships were exciting because they saw a lot of new faces and vibrant talent and it speaks to the fact that the sport is continuing, individuals are still poised and still believe that they can do bodybuilding.

#He is hopeful that the national bodybuilders will be a part of Team Bahamas in Aruba.

#Veteran bodybuilder Godfrey Robsinson made his presence felt on stage among his younger competitors.

#Robinson came away with multiple trophies in front of a packed, exciting crowd at UB. He won the men’s master bodybuilding category followed by Orick Nesbitt in second and Andrew Sweeting in third.

#Robinson claimed another win in the open men’s bodybuilding. Nesbitt once again came second in the event. Reginald Delancy ended in third place and Andrew Gibson finished fourth.

#Robinson placed fourth in the men’s physique open event behind Judah Forbes, Aaron Mackey and Briceton Anderson. He talked about how it felt to come back after not competing in the event for seven years due to work. “The competition for me was kind of challenging my last competition was in 2016 at the CAC Championships in the Dominican Republic and my career took me out of Nassau for the last seven years so I just relocated back to Nassau November of last year got back into the gym in February for the Bahamas Games situations happened where we weren’t allowed to compete but we still had the nationals coming up so I had to build muscles, get conditioned, and get in shape for the Championships,”he said.

#In his preparation for the BBWFF National Championships he suffered a hernia in his left groin which affected his training and made him more reliant on diet. “My intention was to compete in the masters 55 and over and wherever my weight landed I said I would just do that open class against the younger guys and fate had it that I came out on top tonight,” he said.

#The 56-year old who has been competing in these competitions since 1996 said it felt great to compete against younger guys and his experience helped him with stage presence and posing. He will now look forward to training for the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Bodybuilding Championships set for September 20-21.

#In the men’s classic physique open division Rashad Edgecombe placed first and Jimmy Norius came second. The latter also earned a win in the men’s bodybuilding open pro category meanwhile, second place went to Jamiel Hamilton. Additionally, in the men’s physique pro division Jason Johnson finished first for the judges, Kaif Young in second, Norius in third, Raynor Ferguson in fourth, and Derek Rahming in fifth.

#Anton Moxey took the win in Class B of the Men’s Classic Physique nationals. Andrew Gibson was crowned the winner in Class C and Andrew Sweeting won Class E. Moxey also won the men’s classic physique novice competition for Class B and Ricardo Mitchell took Class D.

#Bricedon Anderson claimed first place in the men’s fitness category and Alexander Kemp earned second in the event.

#Kareem Brancaccio took the men’s fit model novice and nationals category in first place. Kemp came second in the nationals event. Kevin Johnson came away with a win in Class A for the men’s physique novice section. Anderson claimed Class B, Ricardo Gibson won Class C and Charon McKenzie finished second. In the same event, Brandon Bastian ended with first place in Class F.

#Women

#Dorcas Cox, one of the oldest competitors in the women’s division, finished first in the women’s figure category. In the women’s physique competition, Sandra Smith took the nationals and Lorraine LeFleur claimed first in the open.

#In the women’s wellness nationals Denica Thompson wrapped up first in Class B, Andreka Dames finished second, and Jackie Cleare was awarded third place. Ivanique Kemp was victorious in the same category for Class D.

#Cara Saunders, one of the latest Bahamians to become pro card, wowed the judges in the women’s wellness open category. She emerged victorious followed by Kemp, and Thompson.

#In the novice section Andreka Dames finished Class B with a win and Kemp left as the Class D winner in this event.

#Amy Sands took the women’s fit model category.

#For the bikini competition, Sands was the showstopper in Class B. Venice Pyfrom led the way for Class D and Leslie-Simone Cox ended in second. Karine Macden was the winner of Class E.

#The BBWFF will now focus on selecting a 12-member team to field at the CAC Bodybuilding Championships in September. An announcement will be made by Tuesday.

GO TEAM BAHAMAS: Shown, from left to right, are our Billie Jean King Cup team members Elana Mackey, Saphire Ferguon, Sydney Clarke and coach Kerrie O’Kelley. Missing is player Simone Pratt.

As of Monday, July 24, 2023

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#KIM O’Kelley likes what she sees from the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association’s team heading to the Billie Jean King Cup in the Dominican Republic today.

#O’Kelley, who played in 11 Fed Cups from 1990-1999 before they changed the name to honour the legendary Billie Jean King, will travel with the team of collegians Elana Mackey and Syndey Clarke, Grand Bahamian veteran Simone Pratt and rookie teenager Sapphire Ferguson, who replaces Sierra Rodgers from last year’s team.

#As a coach currently operating a programme out of Atlanta, Georgia, O’Kelley said she always enjoys representing the Bahamas. This time, she’s taking a team to play out of the Americas Group two against teams from Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Honduras, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela.

#“It’s good being in an environment where I can give back to the Bahamian people,” O’Kelley said. “This time, I won’t be a player/captain, but just a captain so my role is going to be different. It’s a new experience that I’m looking forward to.”

#Before they left, O’Kelley had a chance to work with the team at the National Tennis Center.

#She said she has a plan to run with the team and if they stick with the tactic, they should be able to achieve their feat of being one of two top teams to get promoted to Group one next year.

#If successful, Team Bahamas can either clinch one of the two spots to remain in Group II or be one of the two final teams to be demoted to Group three. O’Kelley said the latter is definitely out of the picture with this core of players she has to work with.

#“I’ve heard good things about the Bahamas Games and how well these girls all played for their various teams,” O’Kelley said. “I have a plan for this team and if they can stick to it, we will be very successful.”

#Mackey, who represented Eleuthera in the Bahamas Games, said Team Bahamas is being placed in a harder group in the Dominican Republic, but they just have to go with the strategy that O’Kelley has implemented for them.

#“I think anybody is beatable on any given day,” Mackey said.

#“We only have one new player from last year, Saphire, so it’s still me, Sydney and Simone. We did pretty good last year, so we can only improve on that performance.”

#As for Mackey, who turns 21 on August 14, she said she intends to “go out there and play like how I know how to play and carry the things that I’ve been doing in practice.

#“I don’t want to get nervous or scared to hit the ball.”

#However, she noted that having O’Kelley on the sidelines, she’s confident that she can get through the tie.

#Clarke, the 21-year-old team leader for the champion Andros Chickcharnies, who secured the gold over the Grand Bahama Lucayans in the Bahamas Games, will also be participating in her fifth appearance at the Billie Jean King Cup.

#“This is going to be a hard one this year. There’s a lot of good competition from the different countries, but I’m really excited that we have the ability to do very well,” Clarke said. “We’ve been working hard. We’ve put in the work. It’s just a matter of us being focused and leaving it out on the court when it matters the most.”

#Looking at the make-up of Team Bahamas, Clarke said they have a new addition in Ferguson, who will be getting her feet wet, but with the experience they have in Mackey and Pratt, they should get the job done. Clarke was the runner-up to Mackey at the BLTA’s Giorgio Baldacci Invitational in December to earn their spots on the Billie Jean King Cup team, while Pratt and Ferguson got the final two in a playoffs that followed a few months ago. “For me, I really hope to put it all out there,” she said. “My goal is to win all of the matches I play. It’s not going to be easy, but that’s the goal. It’s not giving up, but giving it your all for the team, win, lose or draw.”

#And with O’Kelley as their captain, Clarke feels she will be a big plus for Team Bahamas.

#“She’s played at this level and she’s a very good coach, so it’s good to have someone with her experience out there with us,” she said.

#“If we take in what she gives us and adjust to it, we will be alright.”

#Pratt, at 27, is coming back into tennis after giving birth to her child, while Ferguson is a 16-year-old home-schooled student.

#When the Billie Jean King Cup is over, Clarke will head off to the University of Birmingham at Alabama to complete her senior year for the Blazers women’s tennis team.

#She is a former student of CR Walker, who went on to graduate from Windsor High School and the Albany Tennis Academy.

#“I get to play in two Challengers for prize money this fall, so I’m really excited about these events,” Clarke said. “That would be great preparation for the spring season where I really hope to go far and make it to the nationals individually and for our team to win the conference title (Conference USA). This is the last lap, so I really want to make it special.”

#Mackey, a 19-year-old graduate of Nassau Christian Academy, will be leaving for Mars Hills, North Carolina where the versatile tennis player and distance track runner hopes to close out her final year with a bang for the Lions.

#“I’m hoping to make the first team this time and maybe go to the National Tournament,” she said. “I don’t expect to do too much track. I told them to put me in a limited amount of events because I really want to focus on my last year as a tennis player.”

#This past season, Mackey was selected to the All-South Athletic Conference Third Team. She posted a 13-5 win-loss record in singles, going 6-5 in conference. She also teamed up with partner Amanda Kadiri to go 10-7-1 in doubles.

THE Bahamas Feeding Network (BFN) has unveiled plans for its 2nd Annual ‘Tee-off for Hunger Golf Tournament,’ aiming to raise enough money to top up its coffers and provide up to 750,000 meals in 2023.

As of Monday, July 24, 2023

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#THE Bahamas Feeding Network (BFN) today unveiled plans for its 2nd Annual ‘Tee-off for Hunger Golf Tournament,’ aiming to raise enough money to top up its coffers and provide up to 750,000 meals in 2023.

#The announcement was made during a press conference attended by Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg, government officials, sponsors, hosts and BFN officers and volunteers.

#Fidelity will repeat as title sponsor and Better Homes and Gardens MCR Bahamas will continue as host for the tournament set for September 19 at Ocean Club Golf Club, Paradise Island.

#“We are extremely grateful to Fidelity for committing to ongoing title sponsorship,” said Felix Stubbs, BFN Chairman.

#“They have been great partners in every way. We are also pleased to announce that even before today’s formal announcement, there has been strong interest in every level of sponsorship.

#“Nearly every corporate sponsor or donor who contributed in 2022, and who the team has reached out to informally, has committed to participating in 2023. Supporters understand the cause, the unabated need to feed that unfortunately did not end when the COVID-19 pandemic did.”

#BFN directors, staff and volunteers work tirelessly to keep up with the need, Stubbs said, as more seniors, displaced persons and those who cannot make ends meet depend on the churches, feeding centres and soup kitchens supported by BFN.

#Last month, BFN provided more than 65,280 meals with volunteers and staff packaging cartons and parcels of food and providing grocery supply coupons.

#The network currently distributes to more than three dozen churches and other centres for distribution to those in the community or congregation in need.

#“Fidelity is proud to partner with the Bahamas Feeding Network and Better Homes and Gardens MCR Group as title sponsor of the 2nd Annual Tee-off for Hunger Golf Tournament,” said Gowon Bowe, Fidelity Chief Executive Officer.

#“Despite being a nation of much wealth and opportunity, there are thousands who go hungry daily and the Bahamas Feeding Network has been a lifeline for those persons since its founding in 2013.”

#According to Fidelity’s vice president and donations chairman Crestwell Gardiner, Fidelity was also impressed by BFN’s efficiency and the loyalty of volunteers, some of whom now receive a small stipend.

#“We believe in the cause, the unquestionable need to feed, but we also appreciate how the Bahamas Feeding Network operates and the business model it follows as a non-profit with accountability, transparency and maximum efficiency,” said Gardiner, whose team walked away with the top prize last year for best score.

#The tournament format is a two-man scramble with a maximum of 62 teams with player handicaps set at 24 maximum per man and 28 per woman.

#First hole in one on #12 wins the coveted new Mercedes Benz provided by Tyreflex in conjunction with Insurance Management, without whose coverage the car would not be part of the draw.

#There are several other prizes for categories including Par 3 and longest drive.

#BFN Board member businessman and real estate pioneer Mario Carey offered to host the first fund-raiser tourney and said his firm, Better Homes and Gardens MCR Bahamas, did not hesitate to commit as host this year.

#“Until you are in the trenches and see the hunger as we did when we created Pasta Fridays during COVID, you do not realize how widespread the tragedy is,” said Carey, whose firm partnered with Graycliff distributing thousands of hot meals at its West Hill Street location with one weekly distribution hitting 8300 meals at the peak of the pandemic.

#“In the end, the answer to our national food security issue lies in increasing agriculture production and providing more of what we consume, but in the meantime, we cannot stand by and let persons in need suffer when we have the ability to do something about it as responsible citizens. Hosting a golf tournament is a natural solution we are proud to be a part of, knowing we can make a difference.”

#The fee per two-person team is $500. Entry forms are available at https://www.bahamasfeedingnetwork.org/golf.html

LAMAR TAYLOR, of The Bahamas, watches the score board of the 50 metre butterfly heat at the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, yesterday. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

As of Monday, July 24, 2023

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Lamar Taylor, of The Bahamas, with his parents Gena and Lester Taylor after his historic swim at the Commonwealth Games.

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#LAMAR Taylor, coming off his historic performance at the Central American and Caribbean Games, posted a victory in his heat of the men’s 50 metre butterfly as the FINA World Championships got underway yesterday in Fukuoka, Japan.

#Taylor, one of four swimmers representing the Bahamas, touched the wall in a personal best of 23.91 seconds to win the fifth of 10 heats. He was off the Bahamian record of 23.74 that Vereance ‘Elvis’ Burrows clocked at the World Championships in Rome, Italy. However, Taylor finished 40th overall yesterday.

#Taylor, 20, still has the 50m free to compete in on Friday and the 50m backstroke on Saturday. He won the gold in the 50m backstroke at the CAC Games in a national record of 25.08.

#Meanwhile, Zaylie-Elizabeth Thompson, 19, competed in a pair of events yesterday. She was in the women’s 50m butterfly in 29.92 and the 200m medley in 2:25.36.

#Thompson, 20, will be back in the pool for the 100m freestyle on Thursday.

#The other two members of the team waiting to compete are Davante Carey and Rhanishka Gibbs.

#Carey will compete in the men’s 100m backstroke today and the 100m butterfly on Thursday and Gibbs, 17, is entered in the women’s 50m butterfly on Friday and the 50m freestyle on Saturday.

#Thompson and Gibbs also competed at the CAC Games with Taylor. They will team up with Carey to compete in the mixed 4 x 200m relay on Friday.

As of Monday, July 24, 2023

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Coach Paula Whitfield with the Bahamas girls’ under-12 tennis team.

Coach Philip Major Jr with members of the boys’ under-12 tennis team.

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#BAHAMAS Lawn Tennis Association president Perry Newton said he has high expectations for the final three national teams that will be in competition at their various international events this week in the Dominican Republic.

#In Santiago, Dominican Republic at the 2023 ITF/COTECCU-12 Sub Region 3 team competition, the Bahamas will be represented by the U12 girls’ team of Danielle Saunders, Caitlyn Pratt and Marina Bostwick with level 1 Coach Paula Whitfield as captain, while the U12 boys’ team of Kingston Rees, Chase Newbold and Cameron Ferguson are captained by coach Philip Major.

#While these two teams are expected to begin competition today, the Billie Jean King Cup team of collegians Elana Mackey, Syndey Clarke, veteran Simone Pratt and teenager Saphire Ferguson, captained by dormer player/coach Kim O’Kelley, will be heading to the Dominican Republic.

#“We have a lot of personnel out there and so we hope that we will gain a lot of success, especially for the under-12 teams,” Newton said.

#“It’s a pre-qualifier event and the last time we had a team that qualified out of the tournament was in 2021. So we believe that the kids have the opportunity to do well. They just have to leave it on the court.”

#The winning team from each Sub Region plus a team from Mexico will qualify for the IFT/COTECC U-12 Team Final in August.

#As for the Billie Jean King Cup, Newton said they will be playing out of Group two, but he sees no reason why, with the experience they have, they can’t get back to Group one.

#They will need to finish as one of the two top teams to get the promotion for next year.

#“We have a very good team. They are probably going to be with us for a while,” he said.

#“Sydney and Elana have been consistent on the team. They are veterans now, so we are hoping that they will be able to gel with Simone and Sapphire to bring us the success we are looking for. “We are happy to have Kim back as the captain. She’s been off the scene for a while, coaching in the United States. But she brings a wealth of experience as a former player and captain and a Hall of Famer,” Newton told The Tribune. Team Bahamas will be facing teams from Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Honduras, Uruguay and Venezuela. While the top two teams advance to Group one, the last two teams will be demoted to Group three.

#The other two will remain in Group two.