分类： sports

The Caribbean island of Saint Lucia is mourning the loss of British-born rugby pioneer John Eric Lucas, who passed away on November 1 at age 85. His funeral service on November 28 at Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima in La Clery brought together family, athletes, and business leaders to honor his transformative impact on the island’s sporting culture.

Lucas arrived in Saint Lucia in the 1970s through his accounting work with the Commonwealth Development Corporation, serving as secretary accountant of LUCELEC. Though offered opportunities to return to Africa after his contract, he chose to remain on the island, captivated by its people and culture. He subsequently joined Minvelle & Chastenet Limited, where he rose to finance director and formed a pivotal partnership with managing director Fred Devaux.

His sporting legacy began through collaboration with Canadian educators including Millar Young from Castries Comprehensive Secondary School. Lucas leveraged his administrative skills and community connections to establish rugby’s foundation on the island. As former national player Michael Pierre recalled: ‘He was in the rugby administration when I played, and he was also a top rugby official.’

The Saint Lucia Rugby Club flourished under his guidance, hosting international teams and traveling to neighboring territories including Barbados, Martinique, and Guadeloupe. Although the sport experienced a decline in the late 1980s, Lucas lived to see its resurgence over the past two decades.

Beyond sports, Lucas was celebrated for his charitable work and community dedication. Saint Lucia Olympic Committee President Alfred Emmanuel noted: ‘Surely he was one of the pioneers of the sport in Saint Lucia… He used his connections to get locals involved in the sport, and the rest is history.’

His family described him as ‘a very outgoing and charismatic man’ whose passion for sports led to numerous socially beneficial initiatives, including his role as vice president of the Saint Lucia Chamber of Commerce. His son Christopher Eric Lucas remembered him as ‘a kind and compassionate man, hardly ever without a smile on his face.’

The Saint Lucia Rugby Football Union, represented by president Roger Butcher and former player Lyndell Norville, paid formal tribute at his memorial service, acknowledging Lucas’s enduring legacy in establishing rugby as part of the island’s sporting identity.

Peru’s legendary Punta Rocas will transform into the global epicenter of competitive surfing from December 5-14, 2025, as it hosts the prestigious International Surfing Association World Junior Championship. This nine-day spectacle will showcase the world’s elite under-18 surfers conquering the mighty Pacific swells of South America. Among the international contenders, two brothers from the Caribbean nation of Saint Lucia are poised to make history as the island’s first representatives at this premier global event.

Sebastián Russel Rambally-Ambler (16) and Daniel Frank Rambally-Ambler (14), students at St Mary’s College and residents of Marigot Bay, have been riding waves for a decade since first learning in the coastal waters of Anse La Raye and Canaries. As members of the Canaries Surf Club, these young athletes have emerged as standard-bearers for Saint Lucia’s rapidly developing surf culture.

Their journey to the world stage has been bolstered by substantial institutional support. The Saint Lucian government’s Alternative Sports Programme, alongside major tourism stakeholders including the Saint Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association (SLHTA), Saint Lucia Tourism Authority, RASCO, and ACID Kreationz, have collectively invested in their development. The SLHTA demonstrated particular commitment through an $11,300 donation to the Saint Lucia Surfing Association (SLSA) via its Tourism Enhancement Fund.

The brothers recently tested their skills at the Barbados Independence Surf Pro and Nationals (November 14-16) at the renowned Soup Bowl break in Bathsheba. Despite finishing tied for 13th place among 16 competitors in the Junior Pro category, the event provided invaluable experience against seasoned international surfers. The tournament also afforded them the privilege of meeting Caribbean surfing legends Alan Burke, Josh Burke, and Jacob Burke.

Prior to the Barbados competition, the athletes underwent intensive training with Surf Dojo Costa Rica, which proved transformative for their technical and mental preparation. According to an SLSA release, ‘The lessons—both in and out of the water—have been truly invaluable to our development as athletes and as representatives of our island. From technique to discipline to mindset, we are leaving Costa Rica stronger, smarter, and more connected to the global surf family.’

The young surfers have rapidly gained recognition within international surfing circles, training with Barbados’ Paradise Surf School instructor Dane Mackie and establishing connections with surf communities across Martinique, Trinidad and Tobago, Florida, California, Puerto Rico, Canada, and Austria.

Meanwhile, the SLSA has implemented strategic development initiatives, establishing surf clubs in Canaries and Choiseul under the guidance of instructor ‘Rasta Dave.’ These clubs aim to cultivate local talent and promote surfing as a core sporting and cultural activity throughout Saint Lucia. The federation has already distributed 15 surfboards to aspiring athletes this year.

SLSA President Shaid Rambally articulated the organization’s vision: ‘Our mission is to promote, develop, and elevate surfing on the island, providing opportunities for our youth to excel both locally and internationally.’ The participation of the Rambally-Ambler brothers at the World Junior Championship represents the first major realization of this ambitious goal.

In a landmark development for Caribbean athletics, the inaugural Zepherinus Joseph Cross-Country Meet commenced on November 22 at Dames Recreation Park in Vieux Fort, Saint Lucia. The historic event featured participation from three secondary schools and 38 athletes, marking a significant advancement in the nation’s distance running program.

Micoud Secondary School (MSS) emerged victorious in the boys’ division, while Leon Hess Comprehensive Secondary School (LHCSS) claimed top honors in the girls’ competition. The event’s namesake organizer, Zepherinus Joseph—a national marathon record holder and 2002 Olympian—expressed profound satisfaction with the successful realization of his long-envisioned project.

The boys’ competition witnessed an impressive performance by Michael Eliotte of MSS, who completed the course in 15:33, establishing a commanding 30-second lead over his closest competitors. Shaquan Xavier (16:01) and Trale Constantine (16:12), both representing LHCSS, secured second and third positions respectively. Micoud Secondary ultimately accumulated 28 points to claim the team title.

Under favorable sunny conditions, the girls’ division saw Akiaha Weekes and Jayula Sayers lead LHCSS to a 32-point victory across the 4.6-kilometer terrain. Weekes finished with a time of 20:11 (13th overall), followed closely by Sayers at 20:32 (15th overall). Febe Thomas of Micoud recorded 21:44, earning third place among female participants.

Joseph, who previously excelled in cross-country at Central Arizona College and University of North Florida, emphasized the sport’s crucial role in developing athletic prowess. “Cross-country builds fundamental strength and stamina that benefits athletes across all disciplines, particularly track and field,” he explained.

The Olympian revealed his broader vision: “My objective is to cultivate Saint Lucia’s long-distance program and nurture future Olympic competitors. Having been the nation’s sole long-distance representative at the Olympics, I aspire to provide others with similar opportunities—potentially even Olympic medalists.”

Despite the successful debut, Joseph acknowledged logistical challenges that limited participation to secondary schools. “I’m disappointed we couldn’t include primary school athletes initially, but they will definitely participate next year,” he committed. The organizer also noted scheduling conflicts with examinations affected broader school participation, prompting plans to move the 2026 event to late September or early October.

The event garnered support from Verneta Lesporis, Curriculum Officer for Physical Education at the Ministry of Education and herself an Olympian and national record holder in the 400m. She hailed the meet as “groundbreaking” for Saint Lucian athletics, noting: “For years we’ve discussed the absence of cross-country events for our distance runners. This initiative exposes athletes to international competitive standards and creates scholarship opportunities.”

Lesporis emphasized the global relevance of cross-country, stating: “It’s 2025—cross-country is a major worldwide event. Our students deserve exposure to this competitive platform beyond traditional track and road events.”

Joseph extended gratitude to sponsors and volunteers whose support made the inaugural event possible, while expressing optimism about expanding the competition into a premier annual event on Saint Lucia’s sports calendar.