James Adderley and the weekend blotter of Sports
James Adderley
Good Evening, I’m James Adderley and this is Sports Monday.
In its 2nd year, the University of the West Indies Day of Races really captured the hearts and minds of the fans with its innovative approach to an event that rapidly become a feature on the Cycling Calendar. The passing of the UWI Torch to open the event by the Black Jaguars Basketball Team of the University of Belize and the light of education leading the way, symbolizes bringing together of UWI, the Belize Cycling Association, the Belize Amateur Athletic Association, Athletes students, fans, the young and the old—all working together to make today a success.
In fact, this group of students came all the way from Dangriga to entertain the public with a jump rope for the heart exhibition in between races and if that’s not a novel idea, then we don’t know what is. And when the torch reaches Mrs. Jane Bennett, Head of UWI Open Campus in Belize, who incidentally must be credited for this event, the cycle races begin in earnest.
But first, meet the former head of the UWI in Belize and now Director of UWI Open Campus site, Mrs. Luz Longsworth.
luz longsworth
Luz Longsworth, Director, UWI
“It has been my great pleasure to be here and to share this year in the day of races and particularly in the torch which as Paco has said, is very symbolic of the university’s presence in Belize over the last sixty-two years. The university first was housed in a small room on top of the Bliss for many many years, the old bliss. And now we are on Princes Margaret Drive. So we have grown we’ve expanded and we continue to expand.”
Now welcome to the main event. Here are the twenty-nine elite cyclists looking for the big W in the 18-mile ride, packaged in 15 laps around the Marine Parade Circuit. Very quickly, this five man group grabs command of the pace which they would not relinquish despite the fury of the chase bunch. Now fast forward to the finish and the big 5 remains intact as they sprint to the tape. David Henderson of Indeco controls the pace and hangs on to take 1st place in 44 minutes 8 seconds. Brandon Cattouse of C-Ray is forced into 2nd place while Edward Reyes of Team Smart pulls up 3rd, Erwin Middleton is 4th and Ruben Cano rounds out the top five in a race that averaged 24.47 miles per hour.
At the master level Preston Martinez of M&M Engineering overtake Ernest Meighan of Santino’s to win the 12-mile ride in 31 minutes 21 seconds in a race that averaged 22.967 miles per hour while Henry Moreira pulls up 3rd. Meanwhile the Junior Category featured a duel between Melvin Tillett of C-Ray and Austin Armstrong for the win but its Tillett of C-Ray who gets the win in 31 minutes 25 seconds. Armstrong of Twin Towns Cycling takes 2nd while his teammate Deezan Spence pedals in for 3rd place.
In the Boys High School Ride, Christopher Andrews, Yan Cattouse and Ruis Cattouse finished 1st, 2nd and 3rd in that order in the 6-mile ride. Talk about dominate folks, Charleston Cleland rolls in unchallenged for 1st place in the Primary School Class, beating Joshua Culletts by 35 seconds and Micahel Castillo pulls up 3rd, 42 seconds later. At the Boys Tiny Tots Level, Derrick Brown beats out Jaheem Gillett while Goran Gabourel takes 3rd. In the Girls Tiny Tots Class, Deanne Cleland beat out Dalia Smith to win that race and Gabriel Gabourel pulls up 3rd. We want to thank the UWI and the Belize Cycling Association for this wonderful presentation.
Turning to the football scene, the semifinal round in the FFB Inter-District Competition saw Mavericks host Libertad inside the people’s stadium yesterday. We’re some 20 minutes in when Jamaal Martinez of Libertadores mounts this individual effort on the left side only to be taken down inside the 18th by defender, Theodore Lopez and the referee rules penalty. It gives Clifton West the opportunity to showcase his national team quality and West gives Libertadores the 1-zip lead with the conversion. A couple minutes later, this slice by Clifton West is defended by Theodore Lopez but his header takes a funny bounce and adding poor goal keeping from Jamie Mangar and the auto goal makes it a 2-zip score which will hold up to regulation whistle. This two game series concludes on Sunday at the Ricalde Stadium with Libertadores in the role of host. Meanwhile, World FC and Club Athletico drew 1-1 yesterday. 
Game 2 now moves to the Norman Broaster Stadium coming up this Sunday for sure. In news from the Belize premier football league, Griga United and San Felipe Barcelona settle for a 1-1 stalemate yesterday at the Carl Ramos Stadium. Inside the Norman Broaster Stadium, it was the DBF punishing the San Pedro Seadogs in a 7-zip walloping. Toledo Ambassadors blanked Belmopan Blaze 2-nil. And at the MCC Grounds it was FC Belize beating Hankook Verdes by that very same score.
In table tennis news, the defending 1st division champion in the Habet League, ACE knocked off Bombers 5-3 to repeat as champions while Rivero Welders finished 3rd and Racqueteers 4th. In the 2nd division finals, Garage handled Phoenix in a 5-3 finish to take the title with Hurricane finishing 3rd and Assassins 4th.
On the softball scene, Digicell Avengers upset the #1 seed Flowers Crushers on Saturday at the Rogers Stadium in a 13-1 bashing for the Junior Girls Softball title in which Amber Wade got the victory while Jahama Trapp was saddled with the loss.
Jah Overall, I’m James Adderley.
