James Adderley cycles through Sagitun Banana Classic
Good Evening I’m James Adderley and this is Sports Monday.
The lucrative Sagitun Banana Cycle Classic was the rage yesterday inside Independence as the best in the business converged on this Southern enclave in search of glory. Even the Sagitun Sponsors was on the ball with this costumed mascot that was all banana. As we pan the start of the 55 mile elite race we find the usual going of suspects who will give form and substance to an event that has become a staple on the yearly calendar of the Belize Cycling Association. Of course there always will be pretenders in the hunt especially in a field some 50 riders deep.
And yes they’re off! It’s a 5 lap ride and in the early goings this 8 man pack tries to execute the big time break. On the 2nd lap, Giovanni Choto is the man on the pace leading a group of 8 riders. Nevertheless the main bunch remains in striking distance some 30 seconds behind. As we check into the final lap we find this 7 man lead that includes Erwin Middleton, Herman Requena, Giovanni Choto, Allen Castillo, Patrick Bennett, Darnell Barrow and Leroy Cassasola. So here’s the sprint to the tape and it’s Darnell Barrow of Santino’s with the win in 2 hrs 15 mins 53 secs. Choto of Western Spirit then comes behind to edge out Allen Castillo of benny’s Megabytes. Patrick Bennett of Santino pulls up 4th while Indeco’s Erwin Middleton finishes 5th. Herman Requena of Benny’s settles for 6th.
In the Master’s Class, Ernest Meighan of Santino’s edges out C-Rays Luigi Urbina while Barney Brown takes 3rd place with Big Mike Lewis 4th in the 33 mile ride that was clocked at 1 hr 25 mins 51 secs. In the meantime, we slow things down for you to get a glimpse of Shalini Zabaneh, Belize’s Best Female rider taking the female 33 mile ride in 1 hr 42 mins 59 secs. 34 seconds later, Patricia Chavarria pulls up for 2nd while Kaya Cattouse of C-Ray grabs 3rd place. In the sprint for the Junior 44 Mile race, no one had an answer to the burst from Austin Armstrong who takes the event in 1 hr 54 mins 50 secs, forcing Deezan Spence and Aiden Juan into 2nd and 3rd respectively. Aiden Juan nevertheless took the Youth Category with Giovanni Lovell 2nd and Philton Butler 3rd. the next big event on the cycling calendar is the New Years Cycle Classic so stay tuned.
Turning to football news, let’s head to the MCC Grounds to find out who would make it to the Belize District Female Football Championship as the semi-final round reached it’s conclusion. After loosing 3-1 last week to Caye Caulker Island Stars, the Hattieville Heats came out focused as displayed by Jersha Estrada who beats the defence only to be denied by goalkeeper, Maribel Dominguez. Nevertheless, it’s the Islanders goal getter, Lillian Joseph, who beats an ill positioned Kadijah Marin with this bouncer that gives Caye Caulker the 1-zip lead as she comes up with her league leading 13 goals. However, Ashlyn Gordon outruns the entire Islanders defence a couple minutes later to tie the ballgame at 1 apiece. It would end that way which gives Island Stars the pass to the championship series with a 4-2 aggregate. So we go to the other semi-final match with SMART Millennium taking on Ladyville Tornadors after posting the 1-zip Win last Sunday.
Folks these 2 ball clubs are evenly matched bitter rivals and with a lot at stake, things could get sticky quickly. On this press, Christine Avila should have opened the scoreboard but the header sails high. However, we’re still early in the ballgame when Kersha Pollard dials this set piece from long distance that crashes into the net to give the SMART Team 1-zip lead and post her 8th goal scored of the season. Kersha Pollard then looks for a 2nd goal with this right foot launch but this time Emeldia Alarcon rejects that bid. But here comes controversy. Sarah Arzu looks to launch a right foot, Gloria Garcia of Ladyville beats her to the ball and Arzu hits her heel hard. Referee Spooners Hall issues a yellow card on the challenge which causes the Tornadors to become incensed. Things take a turn for the worse when Alma Alarcon is issued a yellow card disputing the call. She insists and is red-carded. The goalkeeper pushes the referee in the head and then Dawn Bainton almost hits him in the face and the game has to be called off. Millennium gets another 1-zip Win and are off to the Championship Round.
Thus this Sunday out at Caye Caulker it’s SMART Millennium against Island Stars at 2:30 p.m.
Checking in on the National Primary Schools Volleyball Championships staged at the Civic Center over the weekend, 6 male teams and 6 female teams battled for their respective titles. Victorious Nazarene rolled over Little Flowers RC in 2 straight sets 28-26, 25-18 to take the male title while Chan Pine Ridge beat Burrell Boom Methodist 25-21, 25-17 to finish 3rd.
In female play, Holy Angels of Stann Creek beat Little Flowers of Toledo 25-23, 16-25, 16-14 in 3 sets to claim the title while Belize Elementary got past Chan Pine Ridge in 2—25-18, 25-16to grab 3rd place. Trcilyn Choc of Holy Angels emerged the female MVP while Roel Uck of Chan Pine Ridge took Male MVP honors.
Jah Over All, I’m James Adderley.
