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Sports Year in REVIEW2000
Pictures above fromleft: Kim White (left) standing with Shari Bovel, proudly displayingher Special Olympics Hero Award. Group of runners taking off atthe Cinco de Mayo. Linda Charman and Mark Chaloner.
The year 2000 signaled the end of a century,and though the public relations hype led many to believe thatit was the beginning of the millennium, anyone with any mathematicalsense would realise that the new millennium began this year, 2001.
The year 2000 in sports was pretty mucha year of hype -- for the most part it was all fluff and littlesubstance, with a few exceptions, of course. Even the Olympicswas a disappointment for most people locally, with the lack ofachievement from Kareem Streete-Thompson, who many expected tomedal.
Additionally, history was made when ExCo,seemingly in stealth mode, granted Caymanian Status to a numberof male athletes for football and cricket.
Nevertheless, cricket, catboat racing, darts,and swimming surpassed expectations, broke barriers and renewedhope in the sporting community, despite bad weather playing havocon most sporting events.
Here, Cayman Net News presents its Yearin Review, compiled from sporting event reported in past issues,starting with first publication date in March.
March and April reflectedthe growth of cricket, athletics and Special Olympics.
Derek Wight was named Grandfather of CaymanCricket and the Prison Cricket Club defeated By-Rite Cricket Clubby 90 runs in the league. Later in the year, ByRite defeated Prisonand the two tied for the league championship.
Special Olympics successfully completedtheir week of awareness and competition with track and field activities.Kim White was presented with a 'Special Olympics Hero' award duringthe opening ceremony and Kevin Anglin stood out in the actionon the track with victories in the 100 and 400 metre dashes aswell as the 800 metre walk.
In athletics, Kareem Streete-Thompson madeheadlines, gaining a victory in the long jump at the Universityof Texas at El Paso all passing the 26-foot mark.
Wally Herman, a genial 74-year-old Canadiancame to the island to complete a marathon on the track at theTruman Bodden Sports Complex. After a 4 a.m. start, six hours,nine minutes, Herman completed his mission of 26.2 miles or inhis case, 106 laps.
May
Extensive radio and telephone coverage ofthe CARIFTA Games was a pleasant surprise for local track fans.Cayman's high point was provided by Michael Letterlough, who tooksecond in the Boy's U-17 discus. Cayman finished in a joint 12thposition with Bermuda as each island received a silver medal apiece.
In cricket, Ronald Ebanks was presentedwith the Outstanding Youth Player for 1999 for many achievements,including being the leading batsman on his school's team.
The Back to Nature Annual Earth Day Walk,sponsored by the Cayman National Trust, attracted 80 participants.
Cinco De Mayo race hosted by the PhoenixAthletic Club was won by Tony Keely, clocking in at 18:06 andKristin Foreman was the first woman with a time of 20:35.
The Intersecondary Schools Track Meet displayedsuperb individual effort, with Robert Ibeh scoring three victories.
Pictures above fromleft: Scholars Women's Football Club, Chris Wight on the receivingend in the Antigua leg of the annual Red Stripe cricket tournament.Frank Flowers, Out to Hell n' Back, top finisher.
June
George Town Sports Club received a generoussponsorship from Jacques Scott & Company. The combined sponsorshipbenefited the various teams of GTSC: Evian Women's Soccer Team;Amstel Light Men's Senior Football Team; the Nestle's SuppligenU-14 and U-17 Soccer teams and the Vita Malt Men's BasketballTeam.
Frank Coleman and John Nixon competed inthe Nalley Golden Harvest Tournament in Saskatoon Canada in oneof the richest dart tournament with a US$200,000 purse.
Then Cayman made a historic journey to Orlando,Florida to compete in the West Indies Windball Tournament. BritishAmerican Insurance sponsored the trip and while Cayman did notfare well in the competition, it was a learning and fun experience.
The ProAM Squash Tournament was a resoundingsuccess, with Mark Chaloner cleaning up in the men's divisionand Linda Charman victorious after a drop-down, dragged-out fightwith Stephanie Brind.
The Flowers' One-Mile Sea Swim attracteda record 366 swimmers. Sean Smith from Oklahoma claimed the topspot with a time of 18:05. Shelly Clark was the first woman tofinish, clocking in at 19:36 and William Balderamos was the firstlocal to across the finish line but was fourth overall at 19:13.
July
The 16th Annual Foster's Food Fair Half-MileSea Swim was dominated by young swimmers with William Balderamos(9:56) first and Kaitlyn Elphinstone second with a time of 10minutes.
Cayman Islands Basketball Association hostedits annual youth clinics. The two-week programme was sponsoredby Esso and was a great success, attracting nearly 200 kids.
Hash House Reunion brought members fromall over the world and as far away as China -- in July.
Special Olympics Dawdleathon celebratedthe 32nd anniversary of the founding of the Special Olympics organisationin the latter part of July.
August
Top junior player, Paul Howard attendedthe Nick Bolletteir Tennis Academy in Bradenton. The world-famoustennis academy is noted for producing such players as Andre Agassi,Jim Courier and Monica Seles.
The Cayman Islands was represented at theInternational Cricket Council Americas Tournament held in TorontoCanada. The tournament comprised of other national teams fromArgentina, Bermuda, Canada, and the US. According to reports,Cayman performed well in bowling and fielding, but came up shortin the batting, which allowed only one victory out of the fourmatches.
Tina Abbott won the 4th Annual AtlantisAdventures Two-Mile 3K Sea Swim in a time of 44:25. In all, 56swimmers participated in the annual event.
In football news, the G. Haig Bodden playingfield was opened in Bodden Town and Texaco sponsored the much-talked-aboutReggae Boyz vs. Cayman National Football Team match, which waswon by the Boyz.
The final installment of the Amstel LightStroke and Stride Series was won by Tony Keely, clocking in a23:38 with William Balderamous in second and Blair Brinkly inthird.
Also the Kiwanis 5K Run saw a large turnoutwith 75 participants at the Safehaven course. Dave Plumstead ledthe way for all runners and walkers and Atlantis Submarines tookthe corporate award.
September
Kareem Streete-Thompson elevated his IAAFmen's long jump ranking from fifth to fourth.
Special Olympics took delivery of a new15-seater bus and Texaco pledged to provide fuel for the vehicleand servicing through Xpress Lube.
Cricket again made headlines -- this timewith the West Indies Cricket Board accepting the application ofthe Cayman Islands Crickets Association to participate in the2000 Red Stripe Bowl.
Bobby Nunes, President of the Cayman IslandsOlympic Committee arrived in Sydney, Australia along with Chefde Mission, Donald McLean and the two athletes, Cydonie Mothersilland Kareem Streete-Thompson.
Mothersill qualified in the first heat inthe 100 and 200 metres. In fact, she looked very promising inthe first round, placing second behind Marion Jones with a timeof 22.78. However, a stomach problem caused her to record a poortime in the 100 metre and due to a back spasm she retired in thesecond round in the 200 metres as well, taking her out of theOlympics. Kareem's jump of 7.99 metres was just under what heneeded to take him to the finals, which took him out of medalcontention.
The Out to Hell 'N Back 10K run was an extraordinaryathletic opportunity for local residents and visitors with over200 people taking up the challenge. The race was won by Paul Marmarowith a time of 34:07 with Kim Pawelek being the first women tofinish with 36:39.
William Balderamos won the 13th Annual TexacoHalf-Mile Sea Swim in 10 minutes flat, followed closing by 12-yearold Kaitlyn Elphinstone who, was just two seconds behind.
The Western Union Super Cup returned withthree teams - Turks and Ciaos National Football Team, HarbourView Club team from Jamaica and the Cayman Islands National Team.Harbour View won the grand prize of US$10,000 and Cayman was second.
The 5th Annual Cable & Wireless CricketCrazy weekend returned with a bang. Cricket Crazy stars were SirViv Richards, Sherwin Campbell, Franklyn Rose and Reon King, whoconducted several clinics for youngsters.
October
Scholar's International Football Club hosteda Classic Women's Soccer Tournament with teams from Guatemala,Jamaica, Mexico, the US and Cayman. Mexico emerged victorious.
Cayman Netballers returned after a strongshowing in a tournament in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Competingagainst a field of six team from the Caribbean and the US, Caymanscored four wins and two losses.
In Karate news, eight young students betweenthe ages of eight and 17 received their black belts at the CaymanKarate Academy. The awardees were: Juneau Barnett, Shantel Ebanks,Stephanie Lewis, Jiylnne Montieth, Olin Montieth, Mathew Whittakerand Kial Worms.
It seemed as if October was the month forthe Cayman Catboat Club with three series of races. However, badweather took its toll in the first and the second, sponsored byInternational Management Services (IMS) was a timely and fun eventwith See Her Go winning. In the third race, See Her Go again tookthe honours with Tradition I in second and Skinny LeeLee in thirdplace.
November
The 911 Telecommunications Office presentedtwo special tricycles to the Lighthouse School adaptive physicaleducation programme.
Kenny Rankin was the champion in the JetJam finals in the Unlimited Class with Billy Ebanks as the winnerin the 800 Class. The races was a high adrenaline event with eightriders competing for cash prizes.
Twenty persons received Level 1 Certificationfrom the International Amateur Athletic Federation. The CaymanIslands Amateur Athletic Association organized the coaching clinicand the instructors were Daniel St. Hilaire of Canada and RoyThomas of Jamaica.
His Excellency the Governor, Mr. Peter Smithand Mrs. Smith were on hand for the rededication of the RugbyPitch.
The Wendy's Tarheel Basketball held offEsso's Blazers for the first place prize of CI$800 after a longand hard fought season.
The 2nd Annual Women's Golf Scramble tookplace at the Britannia Golf Course with a record number of golfers.The top spot was taken by the Links Team comprised of Rocio Segura,Nicki Weck, Carmen Manchester and Patti Carrilo.
December
The spectacular year in cricket culminatedwith an awards night, when Chris Wight was named Cricketer ofthe Year locally and internationally. The Sport Department presentedthe Cricket Association with a check for $190,000 towards thefirst phase of the Jimmy Powell Pavilion.
The International Amateur Athletic Federation(IAAF) ranking showed Cayman's Olympians placements with KareemStreete-Thompson slipping from fourth to ninth in long jump andCydonie Mothersill placing 49th in the 200 metre.
Cayman Motorsports Association's seasoncame to a close with Frank Williams taking the front wheel drivechampionship and Mark Hennings becoming the rear wheel drive champion.
The youth programme saw Robbie Cribb Jr.as the overall winner in the 5 HP modified class and his sister,Jessica was the 5 HP stock-champion. Dave Thompson swept the 100CC and motorcycle championships.