标签： Saint Kitts and Nevis

Port of Spain, October 27, 2026 – The second annual Trinidad and Tobago edition of the Republic Bank Five for Fun Cricket Programme wrapped up on October 23 at Balmain, Couva’s National Cycling Velodrome, a day-long celebration of youthful cricketing passion that saw Tobago’s Whim Anglican Primary School emerge as the new national champion after defeating Gasparillo Hindu Primary in a tightly contested final.

A collaborative grassroots initiative between Cricket West Indies (CWI) and Republic Bank Limited, the Five for Fun programme was launched across the Caribbean five years prior, with earlier successful rollouts in St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, Guyana, and Barbados. 2026 marked only its second iteration in Trinidad and Tobago, following a 2025 debut that drew 80 participating primary schools; this year, the programme expanded its reach to 100 institutions, representing a 25% year-over-year growth in engagement across the twin-island nation’s eight education districts.

The national finals brought together eight district-winning primary schools for a full day of knockout competition: Marac Baptist Primary (South-Eastern District), Clarke Rochard Government Primary (St. Patrick), Maria Regina Grade School (Port of Spain and Environs), Toco AC Primary (North-Eastern), Gasparillo Hindu Primary (Victoria), Whim Anglican Primary (Tobago), Madras Government Primary (Caroni), and Tunapuna Presbyterian Primary (St. George East). Every participating student received an official certificate of recognition at the post-tournament closing ceremony, with special honors reserved for top performers and teams.

Gasparillo Hindu Primary took home the runner-up trophy and individual medals, and was additionally awarded the coveted Spirit of the Games prize for exceptional sportsmanship, teamwork, and fair play across the competition. Whim Anglican Primary’s championship medals were presented by Azim Bassarath, President of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) and CWI Vice President, while Republic Bank Group Treasury General Manager David Robinson handed over the winning trophy. Individual standout awards recognized Ryaln Mahabir of Gasparillo Hindu Primary as Best Batter, and Tunapuna Presbyterian Primary’s Hailey Assing as both Best Bowler and overall Most Valuable Player of the tournament.

Stakeholder representatives delivering closing remarks emphasized the programme’s dual mission to nurture early cricketing talent and foster holistic youth development beyond the pitch. Darren Lee Him, President of the National Primary Schools Cricket League, noted that the initiative creates a critical foundational platform for young cricketers of all genders to build skills, discipline, and confidence. Vinood Maharaj, representing local sports agency SPORTT, highlighted that the organization provides dedicated coaches across participating schools to support structured physical activity, improve youth fitness, and build a sustainable long-term cricket development pathway for the country.

Ministry of Education Curriculum Officer for Physical Education and Sport Ramesh Maharaj underscored that the programme advances the government’s goals of boosting physical literacy, encouraging active lifestyles, and delivering holistic student development that balances academic progress with extracurricular growth. TTCB First Vice President and CWI Director Altaf Baksh framed the cross-sector partnership as a targeted investment in Caribbean cricket’s long-term future, enabling early talent identification and ensuring the sport remains accessible to diverse young communities across the region. Closing the remarks, Republic Bank’s David Robinson tied the programme to the institution’s broader “Power to Make a Difference” corporate social responsibility mandate, noting that the initiative teaches young participants transferable life skills including resilience, respect, and collaboration that extend far beyond the cricket field. As the 2026 edition draws to a close, the programme’s rapid expanding footprint cements its role as one of the Caribbean’s most impactful grassroots cricket development efforts.

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua – In a landmark announcement from Cricket West Indies (CWI), two of cricket’s most iconic former rival captains, West Indies batting legend Sir Vivian Richards and ex-England skipper David Gower, have been appointed Honorary Team Managers for the upcoming “One Commonwealth, One Team – A Commonwealth Cricket Celebration” fixture, scheduled to unfold at Antigua’s Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on Sunday, November 1, 2026. The high-profile exhibition match forms a core highlight of the official programme for the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) hosted by Antigua and Barbuda.

Under the terms of their appointments, the Antiguan national hero Richards will oversee the Caribbean representative side, while Gower will lead the Wider Commonwealth team, made up of participating Commonwealth heads of government stepping onto the cricket pitch for the special cross-cultural fixture. The pairing reunites two legendary skippers who famously went head-to-head during England’s 1986 tour of the West Indies – a series that saw Richards etch his name into cricketing history with a blistering 56-ball Test century against Gower’s England side at the old Antigua Recreation Ground, a knock that stood as the fastest Test hundred recorded at the time.

Widely hailed as one of the greatest batsmen to ever play the sport, Richards amassed 8,540 runs across 121 Test appearances for the West Indies, led his national side through an undefeated run of Test series as captain, and was named one of Wisden’s five Cricketers of the Century. His role carries extra symbolic weight, as the celebration takes place at the state-of-the-art stadium named in his honour, immediately following Antigua and Barbuda’s annual Independence Day commemorations. Gower, renowned as one of the most graceful left-handed batsmen of his generation, notched over 8,000 Test runs for England, captained the side to a famous 1985 Ashes victory, and went on to build a celebrated decades-long career as a leading cricket broadcaster after retiring from professional play.

CWI Chief Executive Officer Chris Dehring emphasized that the dual appointments elevate the prestige of the event, which was designed to honour cricket’s unparalleled unifying influence across the 56-nation Commonwealth bloc. “Sir Vivian and David are not just two of the most exceptional players the game has ever produced, they are two of its most universally respected ambassadors,” Dehring noted. “Having them share the sidelines alongside heads of government from across the Commonwealth adds a truly magical layer to this occasion. They were fierce, committed rivals on the field as captains, but the shared respect and friendship that defines their decades-long bond perfectly embodies the spirit of ‘One Commonwealth, One Team’: competitive sport rooted in mutual regard and cross-cultural camaraderie. We are deeply grateful to both of them for agreeing to be part of this historic celebration.”

Following the headline Heads of Government match, the day’s proceedings will continue with the Commonwealth Future Stars Under-23 10-over contest, showcasing top emerging young cricketing talent drawn from every corner of the Commonwealth. The full event is being delivered through a collaborative partnership between CWI, the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, and the Sustainable Markets Initiative, with additional support from a cohort of event sponsors led by Hamilton Reserve Bank. The “One Commonwealth, One Team” initiative uses the universal appeal of cricket to bring CHOGM 2026’s official core theme – “Accelerating Partnerships and Investment for a Prosperous Commonwealth” – to life, anchored around three central guiding messages: Play Together, Play for Progress, and Play for the Future.

Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 27, 2026 – The St. Kitts & Nevis Aquatics Federation (SKNAF) has formally announced its 18-member national swimming team set to compete at the upcoming 2026 Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Swimming Championships, scheduled to run November 6 through 8 at the Rodney Heights Aquatic Centre in Saint Lucia. Curated based on consistent standout performances across local and regional competitive meets throughout the 2026 season, the roster features young swimmers spanning multiple age divisions from both islands of the twin-island federation, who will test their training against top emerging talent from across the Eastern Caribbean. The full age-group breakdown of the competitive squad includes: two female swimmers in the 8 & under category, Filippa Denne and Zheneje Blondell-Browne; two male swimmers in the same 8 & under bracket, Akimba Cornelius and Jayveer Lake; Edith Denne as the sole representative for the 9-10 girls’ division; and three male swimmers in the 9-10 boys’ category, Gaj Leonce, Rhaejaan Jacobs, and Clijae Christmas. For the 11-12 boys’ division, the team will field four athletes: Valentino Esposito, TeAdrian Tross, Greyson Burrell, and Saulo Sahely. Skyla Connor will represent the nation in the 13-14 girls’ age group, while the 13-14 boys’ division features Austin Williams, Abhijith Srinivasan, and Nazanu Chiverton. Rounding out the older age brackets, Jazzelle Connor will compete in the 15-17 girls’ category, and Aunri Pemberton will represent St. Kitts & Nevis in the 15-17 boys’ division. Leading the delegation off the pool deck are a dedicated support team: MacLevon Tross serving as Team Manager, James Weekes as Head Coach, Eldon Thomas as Assistant Coach, and Camilla Dennel acting as official chaperone. For every young athlete selected, the regional championship marks a pivotal milestone in their competitive journey, offering a high-stakes platform to translate months of rigorous training into in-competition results, chase personal best timings, and benchmark their skill development against peer talent from neighboring OECS nations. SKNAF President Eldon Thomas extended official congratulations to all rostered swimmers in a formal statement, emphasizing the steady, cross-generational progress unfolding across the federation’s local club network. “We are deeply heartened by the size of this year’s OECS squad, and the consistent strides we are seeing across every age group and participating club,” Thomas noted. “Every single selection is the product of hundreds of hours of early-morning training sessions, the unwavering commitment of our coaching staff, and the quiet, consistent support of family members who remove barriers so these young people can chase their athletic aspirations. We are proud of every swimmer who earned their spot, and cannot wait to watch them take this next major step in their sporting career while carrying the St. Kitts & Nevis flag on the regional stage.” The federation also took the opportunity to publicly recognize and thank its network of local partners, whose financial and logistical support has made the team’s participation possible: the St. Kitts and Nevis Olympic Committee (SKNOC), Espo Construction, Natalia Esposito, Royal St. Kitts Hotel, St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank, the Nevis Island Administration, and Tappwater Caribbean. Officials noted that this collective backing plays a critical role in expanding access to competitive aquatics for young people across the twin-island nation, and creating pathways for emerging swimmers to compete at international regional events. SKNAF closed its announcement by extending full well-wishes to the entire 18-athlete squad and its support staff, expressing full confidence that Team St. Kitts & Nevis will deliver strong, competitive performances and represent their home nation with pride in Saint Lucia next month.