分类： sports

Barbados’ homegrown motorsport prodigy Zane Maloney is set for a highly anticipated homecoming, with organizers officially confirming the 22-year-old Formula E competitor will line up for the 2025 edition of BCIC Rally Barbados, one of the Caribbean’s most prestigious annual motor racing events. This year’s tournament will run from May 29 to 31, spread across 19 challenging special stages, and features a stacked provisional entry list of 123 competing crews that already matches or is on track to surpass last year’s record participation.

Rally Director Neil Barnard made the announcement of Maloney’s return during a press briefing hosted at Bushy Park Circuit, noting that the young driver — currently competing full-time in the FIA Formula E World Championship for ABT Yamaha Lola — will pilot a Porsche 992 Rally GT for his home rally, alongside co-driver Luke Staffner. Maloney’s return marks a full-circle moment for the local racing star, who claimed his place in Barbadian rally history in 2022 when he became the youngest ever winner of the First Citizens King of the Hill, the tournament’s official seeding event, at just 18 years old behind the wheel of a Skoda Fabia Rally 2.

Maloney’s last appearance at Rally Barbados came in 2023, where he notched an early win by taking top honors at the opening Friday night Sol Super Special held at Bushy Park, but was forced to retire from the main race after a crash on the event’s second day. This year, Maloney will compete in both the King of the Hill seeding event — scheduled for May 24 at Stewart’s Hill in St. Philip — and the full three-day main rally, with backing from sponsors Rock Hard Cement, Bushy Park Barbados, MJT FBO, Stone Atelier, Flo and Maloney Racing.

The young Barbadian star will enter the race as one of the top contenders to dethrone the 2024 defending champions: Jamaican driver Kyle Gregg and Barbadian co-driver Kreigg Yearwood, who will return to defend their title in a Ford Fiesta Rally2.

Barnard highlighted that the 2025 iteration of Rally Barbados is shaping up to be one of the largest in the event’s decades-long history. Of the 123 registered crews, 29 are first-time competitors and 74 are based locally, putting the 2025 entry count on track to equal or even surpass 2024’s record of 126 entered teams. For spectators, Barnard promised a packed, action-packed schedule of racing, kicking off with the fan-favorite floodlit Ridara Super Special on opening Friday night, which will see two drivers compete side-by-side in reverse seeding order on a 2.5-kilometer purpose-built racing course.

Beyond the on-track action, event stakeholders emphasized the major economic and tourism impact of BCIC Rally Barbados for the island nation. Kamal Springer, Sports Manager at the Barbados Tourism Management Inc (BTMI), noted that the tournament has become a cornerstone of the country’s sports tourism strategy, helping to boost visitor numbers during the normally slower off-peak travel season that begins in late May.

“Last year, the event drew more than 600 international visitors to the island, and we’re on track to break that record this year,” Springer explained. “To see consistent, year-over-year growth for any event is remarkable, and we couldn’t ask for a better way to kick off the off-peak tourism season than this iconic local race.”

Alexandra Leacock, Branch Manager of title sponsor BCIC Barbados, echoed that sentiment, noting that the company’s backing of the event goes far beyond a standard corporate sponsorship. “For us, this is a long-term partnership with one of the Caribbean’s most legendary sporting events. Rally Barbados is deeply woven into Barbadian cultural identity: it brings entire communities together, generates excitement across the whole island, and showcases the energy, passion and national pride that Barbados is known for around the world,” Leacock said. “That connection means everything to us, and we are proud to continue supporting an event that means so much to so many Barbadians.”

Rodney Mayers, Area Manager at First Citizens Bank, sponsor of the King of the Hill seeding event, added that the race has evolved into a premier showcase of driving talent in the region. “King of the Hill has grown into a premier test of driver skill, discipline and resilience, which is exactly why our partnership with the event has endured for so long. We are proud to align ourselves with excellence, and to support an event that performs at the highest level year after year,” Mayers said.

Preparations for the highly anticipated 2025 Roger Boyce Elite Pro Show, the English-speaking Caribbean’s premier elite bodybuilding competition, are moving forward smoothly ahead of next week’s tournament, according to Dr. Alfred Sparman, President of the Body Building and Fitness Federation (BBFF).

Scheduled to take place on May 16 at Barbados’ iconic Garfield Sobers Gymnasium, the annual competition has grown far beyond a simple athletic contest, emerging as a cornerstone event for the regional fitness community. In an exclusive interview with Barbados TODAY, Sparman shared that the federation remains proud to bring this elite gathering back to Barbados for another year, emphasizing the core values that the event embodies.

“This event presents far more than competition. It reflects discipline, hard work, healthy living, sacrifice and the relentless pursuit of excellence,” Sparman said. “We are honored to host this elite event and elite athletes coming from all over the region and internationally, while also showcasing the warmth and hospitality of Barbados.”

Beyond celebrating top-tier athletic achievement, the Roger Boyce Elite Pro Show plays a critical role in raising the bar for bodybuilding and fitness standards across the entire Caribbean. It also serves as a launching pad for emerging talent, giving seasoned and new athletes alike a platform to model dedication, resilience, and good sportsmanship for the next generation of fitness competitors.

“To all competitors I want to commend the commitment and the preparation they’ve brought to the stage,” Sparman added. “They have already embodied the spirit of champions. We also extend sincere thanks to our sponsors, organizers, judges, volunteers, and supporters whose contribution makes this event possible.”

Organizers are projecting a landmark turnout for 2025, with between 150 and 200 competitors expected to participate – a figure that continues an annual trend of growing participation. Sparman noted that the event has seen a consistent 25% year-over-year increase in athlete entries since its launch, and this year’s edition will draw competitors from as far afield as Spain and France, alongside top talent from across the Caribbean.

Sparman outlined several key factors that have driven the event’s rapidly growing popularity across the global bodybuilding community. Unlike any other large-scale bodybuilding competition previously hosted in the region, the Roger Boyce Elite Pro Show has drawn elite industry leadership, including the president and vice president of the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness, who attend the event annually.

He credited the late Roger Boyce, the event’s visionary founder, with creating a world-class competition that has filled a long-held gap in the regional fitness calendar. “All of these islands now feel we don’t have to go to the States for a big show. We don’t have to go all the way over to Europe, we can come right here in Barbados,” Sparman explained. “At the same time, when they come here, we’ll showcase what we have here, this warmth and beautiful island that we live on.”

For this year’s athletes, the stakes are high: coveted pro cards will be awarded to winners across all competitive categories. Following last year’s tournament, which issued between 16 and 20 pro cards to qualifying athletes, the 2025 edition will offer the same opportunity for up-and-coming competitors looking to turn professional and advance their careers in elite bodybuilding.

In closing, Sparman extended an open invitation to local and regional sports fans to attend the event, saying, “We look forward to an exciting and memorable competition, and we invite the public to come out and support these outstanding athletes.”

The Junior Pan American Track Cycling Championships in Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico, kicked off its 1km time trial qualification round on Friday morning with a stunning display of speed from young Barbadian rider Arielle Greaves, who delivered yet another record-breaking performance to stamp her authority on the event.

Crossing the finish line, Greaves posted an extraordinary official time of 1 minute 12.011 seconds, a result that not only secured her a spot in the afternoon’s final as the fourth-fastest qualifier but also etched a new junior national record next to her name. The mark improves on her own previous benchmark of 1:15.601, which she set just months earlier during a competition in Lima, Peru in 2025.

Greaves’ latest standout performance comes on the heels of an already impressive showing earlier in the championships. On Wednesday, she notched another new national junior record in the opening round of the flying 200m event, though her run in that competition came to an end at the quarterfinal stage. Undeterred by that early exit, the young rider bounced back with focused determination to deliver a career-best effort in the 1km time trial qualifier.

Speaking to reporters immediately after her qualifying ride, an energized and self-assured Greaves shared her excitement about the result, crediting much of her success to the guidance of team mechanic and personal mentor Elisha Greene. “The ride felt really good from start to finish,” she said. “I went out onto the track and stuck exactly to the race plan we mapped out together.”

“Qualifying fourth overall is an incredible starting point for my medal hunt, and getting another national record on top of that has given me a massive confidence boost heading into the final,” Greaves added. “I’m really looking forward to competing this evening, I’m going to give it everything I’ve got, and my goal is to take home the win.”

Deidre Hinkson, manager of the Barbados national team, spoke publicly about the team’s immense pride in Greaves’ groundbreaking achievement, highlighting the extraordinary barriers the young athlete has overcome to reach this point. Unlike many competing nations, Barbados does not have a dedicated domestic track cycling training facility, forcing Greaves to relocate for her preparation ahead of the continental championships.

“Arielle is such a strong, driven young athlete, and she has all the tools to go as far as she wants in this sport,” Hinkson said. “Even without a home training track, she has still managed to pull out the best performances of her career here. We are incredibly grateful to Trinidad and Tobago for opening their facilities to her to let her prepare for this event.”

As Greaves prepares to line up for the 1km time trial final in Heat 5 this afternoon, Hinkson said the team is placing no unnecessary pressure on the young rider. “We just want her to go out, leave every ounce of energy on the track, and do her best,” Hinkson explained. “Whatever the result, if she gives 100% effort, we will all be thrilled. A medal would just be the perfect cherry on top of what has already been an incredible championships for her.”

A new cohort of 32 physical education teachers and coaches has completed the regionally focused Caribbean Coaching and Certification Program, emerging with enhanced skills and credentials to advance athletic development across Barbados and the broader Caribbean. The official graduation ceremony was held Tuesday at the headquarters of the Barbados Olympic Association (BOA), where leaders from both the BOA and partner institution Erdiston Teacher’s Training College celebrated the graduates’ achievement and outlined the far-reaching impact of their work.

BOA President Sandra Osbourne opened the formal proceedings by extending gratitude to Erdiston Teacher’s Training College for its collaborative partnership, emphasizing the shared mission of nurturing the next generation of Caribbean youth. Osbourne framed the partnership and the program itself as a living embodiment of core Olympian principles, highlighting the inherently symbiotic relationship between sports and education. “Olympism is far more than competitive sport—it is a philosophy of life that blends athletic practice with culture and learning,” Osbourne explained. “Our work centers on leveraging sport as a tool to advance the harmonious, holistic development of all people, aligned with that foundational philosophy.”

Outlining the growing momentum of national and regional coaching certification efforts in Barbados, Osbourne shared that this group of 32 (comprising 22 male and 10 female education professionals) marks what organizers hope will be the first of many cohorts drawn from the country’s teaching workforce. The graduation follows closely on the completion of a larger group of 120 coaches who graduated one month prior through a combined initiative of the National Coaching Certification Program and this regional Caribbean-focused effort.

Dr. Colin Cumberbatch, Principal of Erdiston Teacher’s Training College, called the milestone a source of great pride for both the institution and the Caribbean sports community. Addressing the graduates directly, Cumberbatch noted that their newly earned certification is a public testament to their dedication, self-discipline, and drive to grow into high-impact physical educators that shape young lives. He stressed that the responsibility of today’s coaches and PE teachers extends far beyond teaching athletic skills: “You serve as the guardians of fair play, clean sport, and safe, inclusive environments free from harm or abuse. This role cannot be overvalued in our current sporting landscape.”

Cumberbatch urged graduates to view their certification not as a final achievement, but as a foundational stepping stone to transformative work across every sector of sports. Whether graduates go on to work in school systems, elite athletic programs, local community outreach, or regional and international competitive circuits, he said their impact will depend not just on the knowledge they gained, but on their integrity, commitment, and willingness to share what they have learned with others.

Speaking on behalf of the entire graduating cohort, Renaldo Gilkes reflected that the program offered a transformative, eye-opening learning experience that challenged his existing approaches to coaching. Echoing a quote from American industrialist Henry Ford, Gilkes noted that growth depends on continuous learning: anyone who stops learning, whether they are 20 or 80 years old, is stagnant, while those who keep learning remain engaged and youthful. Unlike the sport-specific training he had previously completed for his focus area of football, Gilkes explained that the Caribbean Coaching Certification Program provided a broad, cross-cutting foundation that applies to all athletic disciplines.

Gilkes also shared the cohort’s collective commitment to shifting outdated public perceptions of physical education, which he said is still often sidelined as a secondary priority in many Caribbean communities. “We are committed to changing that narrative,” he said. “Physical education will be recognized as the beacon it is: a driver of educational transformation and social advancement across our region.” Closing his remarks, Gilkes cited an ancient Chinese proverb to underscore the long-term impact of the work: short-term planning yields short-term gains, but investing in education creates lasting, generational change that benefits communities for a lifetime.