Belize City women take football title

Good evening, I’m James Adderley and welcome to this all female edition of Sports Monday. The men have recently dominated the sport of cycling, but these two weeks will see a lot more focus on the female riders. Yesterday the Belize Cycling Association sponsored the Hill Circuit Classic, a forty-mile race for females that runs from Roaring Creek to San Ignacio and back.

And this of course is our first glimpse of the eight-strong team as it rides out of Roaring Creek. There was only one station prize offered and Violet Morrison leaves no doubt who is the boss of Mt. Hope.

In the early goings, this trio of Anamarie Bennett, Fiona Humes and Violet Morrison makes an attempt to extricate itself from the pelathon. However, by the time the race swings out of San Ignacio, Anamarie Bennett had grabbed a slight lead over Fiona Humes as the two tried to run away.

In fact, this duo did make it a head on clash on the way back, since nobody could catch them. But here comes money time, it’s Anamarie with the lead, Fiona Humes overtakes and on the way to the tape proves that she’s the best today, forcing Anamarie Bennett into second with a time of two hours, nine minutes, fifty-five seconds.

Now here’s the battle for third place. Violet Morrison edges out Amelita Knowles; these were clocked at two hours, eleven minutes, thirty seconds. Claudette Maheia pulls up fifth; Chandra Cansino rides in alone for sixth place. This is Marinette Flowers finishing seventh, while Sheena Castillo takes the eighth spot.

And here are all eight contenders in a post race profile, and truly we must say you all look like champions ladies.

So who is going to win the May first Courts race that runs from Orange Walk to Belize City? Even more intriguing, who will wear the crown come Cross Country day on Mother’s Day? Stay tuned fans, we’ll keep you posted.

Changing gears, Belize City might not be seeing female football, but that doesn’t mean it ain’t happening. Yesterday we travelled to Sandhill for the female finals with the Millennium Girls boasting a 1-zip lead in this best of three championship series against the Sandhill Rippers.

Sandhill Rippers look to strike first when Merol Bailey centres into the danger zone, but Georgette Young can’t catch up. Indeed, the Rippers look dangerous early on, but Georgette Young can’t come up with a good shot in two tries.

The Millennium Girls get their first shot at goal when Esmeralda Chamoro strips the defender and fires.

Get a feel for the level of competition folks as we run this footage that show things certainly are intense. Even more interesting is this reversal of fortune after Melanie Tasher misplays the clearance. Nelly Canton simply can’t make her pay.

For sure the Rippers are getting more opportunities, but you wouldn’t know it from the half time nil-nil score.

So we go to second half and it’s the Rippers still hunting for goal and not finding it. The Sandhill team insists, but Adelma Broaster on defence for the Millennium handles big with a little help.

Now you tell me folks, is female football rough or what? Of course the fallen player will continue.

Still, football is measured by goal and this smash by Helen Flowers bounces over the head of Smilda Alarcon to give the Millennium Girls the 1-zip W and the 2003 Belize District female football title. Sports Monday says good show.

Helen Flowers, M.V.P., Millennium Girls

“The wind was with us, so all I did was lock the ball so that the wind can ker it over the goalkeeper’s head; that was all I need to do. It was a hard game, everybody wanted to play hard, it was kind of physical, so what I had to do was control the ball, have my space and just lock the ball. That was all I needed to do to put the team on top. We have ups and downs with players coming to games, coming to workouts, but we’ve made it to the top regardless of everything.”

That’s it for now, we invite you back same time, same place, next week. Jah over all! I’m James Adderley.