分类： sports

Despite a rain-disrupted start that threatened to derail the opening day of the Shakira Shorey Field Event Championship, two exceptional athletes soared past the CARIFTA qualifying standards under clearing skies at Harrison College. Heavy overnight precipitation had initially jeopardized the commencement of the Dasani Barbados Secondary Schools’ Athletic Championship finals, prompting delays and presenting competitors with significantly compromised conditions. The decisive action by Technical Director Dorian Best to proceed with the event after an 11 a.m. weather improvement was vindicated as athletic performances escalated throughout the day.

In a standout performance, Aniya Nurse of The St Michael School dominated the Under 20 Girls’ Long Jump, achieving a winning leap of 5.80m that substantially exceeded the CARIFTA benchmark of 5.65m. Queen’s College athlete Kyesha Husbands also surpassed the standard with a formidable second-place jump of 5.71m, while Nyema Taylor of Combermere secured third with 5.50m.

The Under 20 Boys’ Long Jump witnessed Jazzair Best, also from The St Michael School, clinch victory with a 7.13m effort. He was closely followed by Harrison College’s Jules O’Garro (7.04m) and Jahkye Brewster of the Lodge School (6.94m).

Discus events further highlighted the day’s competitive spirit. Tazaria Joseph of The Lodge School claimed the Under 20 Girls’ title with a best throw of 34.87m, edging out Combermere’s Chloe Blackman (34.55m). The St. Michael School continued its strong showing in the Under 20 Boys’ Discus, with Tayshaun Yarde winning gold via a 44.97m throw, ahead of Jayden Walcott of Combermere (43.77m).

Other notable results included Ajalah Cumberbatch of Frederick Smith Secondary securing the Under 17 Boys’ Javelin with a 50.99m throw despite challenging wind conditions. In the Junior Girls’ Shot Put, Aliyah Greaves of Queen’s College triumphed with a 10.58m effort, while the Junior Boys’ contest saw a tight battle with Tariq Greaves of Combermere taking gold with 11.89m.

The championship resumes with eight additional finals scheduled for day two, as teams strategize for early advantage before the commencement of track events.

Interim head coach Richard Forde maintains strong confidence in the Barbados Senior National Women’s Football Team’s capacity to recover from a series of decisive losses and establish a competitive presence on the international stage. The team, known as the Lady Tridents, recently endured a challenging 13-0 defeat against El Salvador on March 1st, compounding a previous 5-0 loss to Trinidad and Tobago last December at Kensington Oval.

In an exclusive discussion with Barbados TODAY, Forde highlighted a significant constraint: an extremely abbreviated preparation period. He revealed his interim appointment occurred merely two weeks prior to the team’s departure, following an urgent request from the Barbados Football Association after the primary coach became unavailable. Despite the adverse results, Forde regards the experience as an invaluable learning opportunity for a squad comprising many young athletes promoted from Under-17 and Under-20 levels, supplemented by a few seasoned players.

Forde emphasized the stark disparity in experience between the teams, noting that El Salvador’s roster included 21 seasoned professionals. This contrast underscored a fundamental challenge for Barbados, where limited match play and rigorous preparation put them at a distinct disadvantage against top-tier competition.

Looking forward, the coach advocates for essential structural improvements. He stressed the necessity of implementing a more graduated progression for players moving from youth teams to the senior national squad, rather than accelerated promotions that bypass critical developmental stages like the Under-20 level. Furthermore, Forde identified the recruitment of foreign-based players as a crucial strategy to enhance squad depth and physical readiness, providing the team with the fitness and continuous training exposure required to compete internationally.

Amid the setbacks, Forde reports unwavering team morale. Instead of defeatism, players demonstrated a resilient attitude and a renewed commitment to intensive improvement. Acknowledging the emotional weight of representing their nation, the squad is channeling their disappointment into motivation, determined to elevate their performance and make their country proud in future competitions.

The Barbados Rally Club (BRC) MudDogs March Safari marks its highly anticipated return on March 8th, signaling the commencement of the 2026 Chefette MudDogs Safari Championship after a four-month winter hiatus. This inaugural round sets the stage for an intense five-round championship extending through November, featuring a competitive field of eight crews evenly composed of veteran contenders and emerging newcomers.

In Class A, the competition escalates with top-tier drivers including the formidable father-son partnership of Stephen and Ben Moore. They will confront formidable opponents such as Ben Norris and Kirk Watkins, piloting a Jeep Rubicon—a team that has secured second place in the MudDogs year-end standings three times since 2019. The class is further strengthened by Christopher King with Warrick Eastmond in a Suzuki Jimny, and the reigning Class B Champion Driver Alexander Gill, now teamed with Gary Mendes in an Isuzu DMax.

Class B showcases a compelling rivalry between George Mendes and Johnathan King in a Suzuki Vitara against Charles Clarke and Austin Barber in a Mitsubishi Pajero. This matchup is intensified by Mendes’ previous tie-break victory over Clarke to claim the 2024 Champion Driver title. Adding fresh dynamics to the class are two relatively new crews, both featuring female navigators: Nadcarnie Cyrus, guided by 2024 Class B Champion Navigator Leslie Evanson in a Range Rover Classic, and Jaden Eastmond in a Nissan Frontier, partnered with first-time navigator Trislyn St Hill.

Ricky Holder, MudDogs Chairman, expressed optimism for the new season: ‘Everyone is looking forward to getting started again after the long winter break. We extend special gratitude to Chefette, now in their 17th year of supporting MudDogs and 13th as title sponsor, and to Ace H & B Hardware for hosting the start and providing prizes. The entry list is robust with previous Safari winners and Class B Champions from the last three years, and it’s particularly encouraging to see new participants. We wish everyone good luck.’

The event logistics promise a demanding challenge. Crews will depart from Ace H & B Hardware in Warrens, St Michael, at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, navigating two meticulously designed routes by Wayne Clarke. The morning segment, approximately 45 kilometres, incorporates two Driver Challenges: the first on the south side of the Vaucluse Raceway in St Thomas around 8 a.m., followed by a second at Manor Farms, Clifton, two hours later. A lunchtime halt is scheduled for approximately 11:00 a.m. at Chefette, Charles Rowe Bridge, St George.

The afternoon presents a more grueling 80-kilometre route, featuring a third Driver Challenge back at Vaucluse Raceway before guiding crews north through the parishes of St Joseph, St Peter, and St Lucy. The journey concludes at Chefette Speightstown around 5 p.m. Official results will be announced at the Prizegiving ceremony scheduled for 7 p.m. on March 10 at Savvy on the Bay.