Scotland’s Louise Martin says that the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) Evaluation Commission are “Ready to be Inspired” by Durban’s bid for the 2022 Games, as they begin a four-day visit of the South African city.
Martin will chair the five-strong Commission, who are set to meet with Government and city partners who will help with the delivery of the Games, while they will also take in several competition and non-competition venues and facilities.
“As a Commonwealth Sports Movement, we cannot fail to be excited by the prospect of a first Commonwealth Games in Africa, and warmly welcome Durban and South Africa’s bid and congratulate the Durban Bid Team and their local and national partners for all the hard work they have put in so far,” said Martin, who previously chaired the successful bid for Glasgow’s hosting of the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
“This Evaluation Commission, however, has a very important job to do - to analyse and gain a deeper understanding of the technical aspects of the bid and hear first-hand the plans and strategies that will be put in place to deliver an inspiring and inclusive Games for everyone in seven years time.
“To borrow the bid team’s slogan, we are ready to be inspired.”
CGF chief executive David Grevemberg, who formerly held the same post at Glasgow 2014 will also be part of the Commission, alongside Andrew Ryan, executive director of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) and a former Glasgow 2014 and current Gold Coast 2018 Coordination Commission member.
The experienced panel is completed by Ian Hooper, director of sport and special projects at Glasgow Life and Maxwell de Silva, secretary general of the Sri Lankan Commonwealth Games Association and National Olympic Committee.
Tubby Reddy, the Durban 2022 Bid Committee chief executive, predicted the Evaluation Commission will be impressed during their stay in the port city.
“There is no doubt that we have put up a quality bid which will far exceed the expectations of the CGF,” Reddy said.
“We have been meticulous and sensitive to all the demands from the City as well as from the CGF, and we believe that Durban has produced a world-class bid.
“Our belief in bringing the Games to Africa remains firm and very optimistic.”
The Commission will prepare a Bid Evaluation Report, following the visit to the sole bidder for the 2022 Games after Edmonton in Canada withdrew from the race, with the report set to be presented to CGF members no later than a month before the CGF General Assembly is due to take place in Auckland on September 2.
Durban’s bid is due to be voted on by the Commonwealth’s 71 nations and territories at the Assembly, while a vote will also be held to decide the CGF President, with Martin aiming to replace current incumbent Prince Imran of Malaysia, who is seeking a second term.
Mark Alexander, chairman of the Durban 2022 Commonwealth Games Bid Committee believes that Durban will be able to highlight its capability to host the Games to the Commission throughout their visit.
“This is an another important step towards bringing the Games to Durban and a very significant milestone in the Bid process which, we believe, will go a long way in convincing the CGF assessment team that the City is ready and that we are able to meet our commitments that we presented to the CGF in London in March 2015,” Alexander said.
“We are confident that the City’s Bid team is fully prepared for the Evaluation Commission’s visit and that Durban will be the host city for the Commonwealth Games in 2022.”
O’Neal takes early honours in CariFin Games
Ryan O’Neal of Guardian Group made a strong debut in the CariFin Games as he emerged the first leg leader after the completion of the CariFin Games One Lap Savannah event last week.O’Neal headed out of the main pack and when he got into stride, no one was able to stay within striking distance. His was a solo effort to the finish line which he crossed in 14 minutes 28 seconds. It was a huge improvement over the 2014 winning time of 15.07 achieved by Jedidiah Benjamin of RBC, who finished third in this year’s edition in 15.56.
Defending cross country champion John Donaldson was second in 15:12 after he encountered trouble at the start by getting stuck in the pack.
“It felt good winning but it wasn’t anticipated, my team captain (Joella Richardson-Griffith) motivated me. It was a fantastic experience, also being my first time in CariFin Games,” O’Neal said.
“I felt a little bit disappointed because I got caught badly in the pack, I don’t know how I would of done exactly, I am looking forward to the Chancellor and Sevilla Cross country, because these have more pace from the start,” Donaldson reasoned about his failure to get closer to O’Neal.
Close to 1,000 participants, comprising walkers and runners, sped off in this race.
Ephraim Serrette, president of the National Association of Athletics Administrations (NAAA) of Trinidad and Tobago, said that, “other industries should have similar events promoting health and fitness among their members”.
On the women’s side RBC’s Susan Russell, the 2014 Carifin cross country champion, completed the course in 17.47 ahead of Sagicor’s Adona Joseph in 18.19 and Jillette Landeau of team Guardian Group in 18.44 filling 3rd spot.
“My competition was not with the group of women, but more in terms of my personal times. I did a wonderful 17.47 but I was hoping to go below 18 minutes. Last year I did 19.05. Kudos to the team I train with, the Trinidad and Tobago Road Runners Club.” Russell said.
Deodath Harrikissoon of First Citizens made it four in a row, having not been beaten in any of the four stages for the last 3 years, and now taking the 1st race for 2015 in 23.28, taking on all newcomers on the day, and making light work of the course,
“It was an overwhelming feeling winning for yet another year making it four in a row.” he said.
Clem Jubrasingh of RBC followed in second place in a time of 23.32 and Christopher Reid of Guardian Group in 24.49.
Aliyah Henry, representing Republic Bank, showed that she had the will, passion and determination after winning the race in 2014 in a time of 25.46. She returned in 2015 to post her first win in the four-part series, clocking 26.58.
Calypso Warriors crowned Nacra champs
...stun Mexico 30-16 in regional final
T&T’s Calypso Warriors yesterday officially regained its claim as the most successful tier three rugby union team in the region, by lifting the North America and Caribbean Rugby Association (Nacra) Rugby Championship for the third time with a 30-16 win over Mexico at St mary’s ground in St Clair.
As with the North Zone championship win over Guyana two weeks ago, yesterday’s grand finale had its nervous moments from the home perspective but any doubt of a T&T win was put to rest late on with a brilliant solo try from Agboola Silverthorn.
No stranger to an impressive try, Silverthorn stole the show after receiving a pass from Andrew Taylor at mid-field, before darting past two sets of Mexico players, using tremendous agility and strength. Taylor converted to close the scoring.
That was T&T’s only try of the period and one that followed two second half tries from a revived Mexico, a team largely dominated in the first.
T&T went into the break with a comfortable 23-6 advantage, after Samuel Roberts (10th minute) and Jonathan O’Connor (31st) scored one try each, the latter of which was converted by Taylor, as well as another two penalties from Taylor. In the final minute of the first half, T&T was awarded five more points by the referee after a Mexico player was found guilty of pulling a try-bound Silverthorn by the hair.
O’Connor’s pushover try at the hour-hour mark, followed a minute after Mexico’s Marcus Flegmann was directed to the sin bin for an attempted punch at Ernest Wright.
Mexico was a different team after the break, probably inspired by a blow-out from the coach, Ruben Duque.
After the whistle sounded for the restart, Mexico resurfaced this time with a try from a fired up Flegmann, the same player temporarily ejected in the first half.
Then, on the hour mark, Felician Guerra had the honour of a temporary ejection himself, taking one for the T&T team, after failing to roll away after a tackle and with repeated warnings from the referee.
In the 67th minute, soon before Guerra returned, Mexico capitalised once again from the mounted pressure with a try from Simon Pierre.
Thereafter, T&T regained composure and some control, but did not look dangerous enough to extend the advantage. But it did come, and following a piece of magic from Silverthorn, a member of T&T’s sevens team at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, last year.
After a typically solid performance, T&T captain Adam Frederick gave his take on the match, but played down any suggestion that his team was played exceptionally well, at least in the second half.
“It could’ve been better. I always say that we could do better. But, the first half, I mean, there were no problems in the first half. It was effortless; it just came natural to us,” he said. “(In) the second half, we kind of went down. It wasn’t the best (half).”
Over the two periods, T&T’s chemistry had visibly improved from the narrow win over Guyana. There were fewer unforced errors and blunders. The passing and off-the-ball movement from T&T were fluid and quick, and the Warriors’ tackling, for the most part, was full and assertive.
Frederick, however, is adaman that as a whole, elementary improvements are necessary for this country to progress in international rugby.
“Catches on the kick-offs, the basic things, the restarts are the basic things that let us down. We need to be a little more secure.
“We definitely improved at each passing game. The boys have grown well together. It was our main focus and sticking to the game plan that actually did it for us.”
He, his teammates and the staff went on to lift the Nacra trophy for the first time in seven year. But just before, in a most fitting and pore-raising tribute to one of their former teammates, Frederick and company surrounded Jason “Moon” Clarke to celebrate with him as they performed their ritual chant. Clark, also a former Caribs stand-out was involved in an car accident three years ago, which left him paralysed and in a wheelchair.
TT analysing film before Mexico clash
The national Rugby squad will be entering unchartered territory on Saturday when they face off against Mexico for the title of North America and Caribbean Rugby (NACRA) Champions, on the St Mary’s College Ground in St Clair. The annual championship decider pits the Northern pool champions against the winners of the Southern pool; TT, the recently-crowned Southern champions, and Mexico, their northern counterparts, have never met on a rugby field.
Mexico have produced impressive scores in winning their first Northern Championship; they outscored the USA South 50-25 in Mexico in early March, and followed with a 24-3 win over the Cayman Islands in Grand Cayman. TT started with a 44-7 rout of Barbados, and edged Guyana 22-20 to claim the Southern title.
Rugby fans can expect to see improvements in the home team. Following their win over Guyana, concerns were raised about the TT’s problems in handling the ball under pressure. National team head coach Larry Mendez said he would be working on the players’ physicality and composure, among other things. Additionally, TTRFU president Leslie Figaro said yesterday that TT were able to obtain a copy of the Mexican win over the Cayman Islanders. “We watched it, and we are structuring our game to counteract their strengths,” he told Newsday.
Plans to have the match played at the Hasely Crawford Stadium were stymied because of a Masters Track and Field event booked for the same day; however, Figaro believes the St Mary’s Ground could work to their advantage because of the closeness of the pavilion and the fact that spectators on the ground will be close to the action, just as it was when they defeated Guyana on the Fatima College Ground.
The Match Referee and one Touch Judge will be from the Cayman Islands, while the other will be a Guyanese; the game is scheduled to kick off at 3 pm.
TT team (from): Adam Frederick (Captain), Samuel Roberts, Travis Carmichael, Kareem Figaro, Wayne Kelly, Samuel Skeete, Joseph Quashie, Akiel Smith, Shakeer Flemming, Andrew Taylor, Ernest Wright, Jerome Poon Tip, Kirby Hosang, Felician Guerra, Agboola Silverthorn, Anderson Joseph, Keshorn Walker, Andre Cabrera, Andrew Welch, Jamal Clark, Jesse Richards, Johnason Alleyne, Aason Lewis, James Phillip, Christopher Hudson, Jonathon O’Connor, Brandon Goodridge.
Coach: Larry Mendez
Assistant Coaches: Dale Trotman, Willett Pantor
Manager: Ronald Annandsingh
Fitness Coordinator: Derek Ashby-Williams
Physiotherapist: Kemba Noel-London
Glasgow, Joseph look for Olympic qualifiers form
T&T’s women pair Apphia Glasgow and La Teisha Joseph, competing in Cayman Islands for the first time, will do so, with their main aim of preparing for next weekend’s CAZOVA Women’s first round 2016 Rio Olympic Qualifiers to be staged at Ochio Rios Bay Beach, Jamiaca, April 30 to May 5. The two earned T&T’s lone spot to compete in Cayman by winning the the five-stage T&TVF qualifiers ahead of Ayana Dyette and Nancy Joseph while Elki Phillip and Shenelle Gordon were third.
Last season, the women’s crown went to USA’s Tealle Hunkus and Kimberly McGiven-Dicello who defeated a resilient Canadian pair of Melissa Humana and Taylor Pischke in three sets, 21-23, 21-10, 15-9. But both teams are not in the Cayman Islands this year paving the way for Cuba’s Lianma Flores and Leila Martinez and USA’s Traci Weamer and Kendra Vanzwieten.
Last year, Flores and Martinez won the gold medal in Varadero, Cuba, a silver medal in T&T and the bronze in Antigua Guatemala. They also captured the title at the CAC Games in Veracruz. Weamer and Vanzwieten last year won a silver medal in Antigua Guatemala. Vanzwieten also won silver and bronze medals with Allison Daley in Manzanillo, Mexico and North Bay, Canada, respectively.
The countries represented in the competition are Barbados, Belize, Canada, Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico, T&T and USA.
T&T bid for more honours
23 picked for IAAF World Relays
Trinidad and Tobago will bid for more precious metal at the May 2-3 IAAF World Relays in Nassau, Bahamas.
At the inaugural edition, in Nassau last year, T&T performed with distinction, capturing three medals—one silver and two bronze—and finishing sixth on the points table.
Twenty-three athletes have been selected to represent the country at the second IAAF World Relays, including the four sprinters who teamed up for silver in the men’s 4x100 metres event in 2014—Keston Bledman, Marc Burns, Rondel Sorrillo and Richard “Torpedo” Thompson. Also on the men’s sprint relay squad are Marcus Duncan, Emmanuel Callender and Kyle Greaux. The same seven athletes have been named for the men’s 4x200m event.
Kelly-Ann Baptiste returns to the T&T team following the completion of a 21-month doping ban. The Florida-based athlete is among six sprinters selected for the women’s 4x100m relay.
In 2014, Kamaria Durant, Michelle-Lee Ahye, Reyare Thomas and Kai Selvon combined for bronze—the first-ever global medal from a T&T women’s relay team. All four sprinters have been chosen for World Relays duty in 2015, together with Baptiste and Lisa Wickham.
The men’s 4x400m team also bagged bronze in 2014, Lalonde Gordon, Renny Quow, Machel Cedenio and Jarrin Solomon producing a national record run of two minutes, 58.34 seconds. The same four quartermilers have been chosen for next weekend’s global relay championship. Carifta 2015 boys’ under-18 400m silver medallist, Jacob St Clair has been selected as back-up.
And five athletes have been named for the women’s 4x400m relay—Janeil Bellille, Romona Modeste, Alena Brooks, Josanne Lucas and Magnolia Howell.
Team T&T manager, Dexter Voisin told the Express, yesterday, he expects “great things” from his athletes at the IAAF World Relays.
“I want to view World Relays as the first leg in terms of preparation for the World Championships and Olympics. Basically, I would want to say we’re in a better position this time around in terms of the performances of the athletes.
“Kelly-Ann’s return strengthens the women’s team. Richard, Marc, all the athletes have had promising starts to the season, so once they get the stick around properly, I expect to be in the top three.
“I always ask the athletes to do their best. It’s a long season, though, and I don’t want to put too much pressure on them. But I expect great things from all the teams.”
The T&T athletes are scheduled to travel to Nassau next Wednesday.
TEAM T&T
Men’s 4x100m & 4x200m: Richard Thompson, Keston Bledman, Rondel Sorrillo, Marc Burns, Marcus Duncan, Emmanuel Callender, Kyle Greaux
Men’s 4x400m: Machel Cedenio, Jarrin Solomon, Lalonde Gordon, Renny Quow, Jacob St Clair
Women’s 4x100m: Michelle-Lee Ahye, Kelly-Ann Baptiste, Kai Selvon, Reyare Thomas, Kamaria Durant, Lisa Wickham
Women’s 4x400m: Janeil Bellille, Romona Modeste, Alena Brooks, Josanne Lucas, Magnolia Howell
Officials: Dexter Voisin (manager), Dr Ian Hypolite (coach), Charles Joseph (coach)
Medical: Dr Anyl Gopeesingh, Zephyrinus Nicholas, Verne Alleyne