James Adderley with the Post TD Matthew Sports Update

James Adderley

Good evening, I’m James Adderley and this is Sports Monday.

The menace of Tropical Storm Matthew gripped the country of Belize over the weekend to the extent that most events, sports and otherwise, were postponed as the nation became consumed in self defense against this natural disaster. The threat has dissipated and all thanks and praises to Jah.

One event that was staged as originally planned is the 2010 2^nd Annual Table Tennis Team League which blasted off inside the Belize Elementary School Auditorium yesterday featuring 12 teams in 2 divisions. In division 1, play team Ace launched off Riveros Welders 5-1, Bombers shot Suga City 5-4. Racqueteers handed No Mercy a 5-2 defeat. Bombers made it 2 in a row edging Ace 5-4. Rivero Welders rebounded to beat No Mercy 5-4 and Racqueteer picks up its second win with a 5-3 win over Suga City. In division 2 play, Phoenix crushed Assassins 5-zip. Cobra hurt Team L 5-3 and Garage handled Young Stars in a 5-3 score. Hurricane then defeated Assassins 5-1, Phoenix smashed Young Stars 5-1 for tis second win and Garage kept its pace with a 5-1 over Team L. The action resumes Saturday in 2^nd Division play with Hurricane facing Cobra, Assassins aim at the Young Stars and Phoenix battles Team L.

In other news, Belize will participate in the Commonwealth Games being staged at New Delhi, India, which gets off on October 3^rd and concludes on October 14^th. The leader of the delegation is Patrick Henry of the National Sports Council and is en-route to New Delhi as we speak. Representing Belize in track and field are Kathy Sealy who will compete in the heptathlon, Kina Martinez in the 100 and 200 meters and Kayde Vaughn in Long Jump. The cyclists making the games are Edgar Arana, Jairo Campos, Brandon Cattouse, Gregory Lovell and Byron Pope and of course Belize top female cyclist, Shalini Zabaneh. They’ll be competing in the road race and the individual time trial.

Speaking of cycling, people we join the family, friends and fellow cyclists who mourn the untimely passing of Kristopher Chuc who lost his life in a traffic accident on the Western Highway last Thursday while on a training ride with his team, Cayo High Road Cycling. We take this opportunity to remind both motorists and cyclists that most tragedies of this kind can be avoided. Motorists must drive carefully and should slow down when overtaking the riders. Cyclists can also help this case by not riding in bunches during training and please guys if it is an early morning or late evening session, put a light or a reflector on your bike and wear something that can be spotted in the dark. Fact is that there are not many paces other that the highways for our cyclists to train. Bad attitude on both sides of the equation can prove fatal. Sleep on Kris.

Meanwhile folks, the cycling community will continue to prepare for the Orange Walk By-Pass Criterium scheduled for October 11^th and also the Sagitun Banana Cycle Classic which is scheduled for November 12^th. Live and let live people—each life is a gift from Jah.

Finally folks, through the efforts of the National Sports Council and Leopold Smart’s Gym, the Sport of Boxing is set for a revival on the Belizean landscape. Coming on October 16^th, Belize will host a contingent of Mexican boxers for a night of fight inside the Belize Biltmore Hotel. In the card are 7 fights that finds Belizean boxers in competitive action against their Mexican counterparts and 3 exhibition matches—2 juvenile boys and a female clash—you won’t want to miss. It is big, it’s international and you won’t want to miss it.

Jah overall, I’m James Adderley.