Ten Memorable Moments of 2008

Jan 03, 2009 Sports

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By Edison Jefford
The past year was filled with memorable moments despite the many disappointments that threatened to cripple local sport. Those moments range from the death of my father to the annulling of the 2008 national schools’ competition.
Number one on my list of moments is undoubtedly the death of my father, Elton Michael Jefford, a former national sprint double record holder, who passed away on October 29, 2008 after surgical complications.
Number two is the emotion that electrified the Hasley Crawford Stadium in Trinidad and Tobago after United Statesbased Guyanese Lee Powell ran his first sub21 time (20:98) in the 200m at the Hampton International Games.
Number three is Alika Morgan’s dominating performances locally and regionally in 2008 that include an appearance at the Beijing Olympic Games, Caribbean Caricom title and South American 10km Classic pole finish.
Number four is the introduction of the International Association of Athletics Federations’ (IAAF) Kids’ Athletics Programme to Guyana. A German sports scientist had facilitated the various workshops for the event here.
Number five is Usain Bolts’ obliteration of any opposition that dared to challenge him at the 2008 Olympic Games. He set two world records (100m and 200m) and set the bar at an astronomical level for aspiring athletes.
Number six is Cleveland Forde’s win over the
Caribbean’s most dominant distance star, Pamenos Ballantyne at the South American 10k race here in Guyana where Forde earned the most successful SA 10k athlete title.

Number seven is the triumph of seasoned–campaigner Keith Roberts over Michael Saul in the 100m race at the return of the joint services track and field competition. Roberts made good on a promise to beat Saul.
Number eight is the sudden death of Courts Pacesetters’, Kevin Worrel on the Burnham Basketball Court. Worrel was at the time participating in the inaugural tournament of the new Georgetown basketball Executive.
Number nine is the emergence of Victory Valley Royals’, Chris Williams as a major part of the team’s offence after he made eight out of nine three–point shots to obliterate Courts Pacesetters at a fund raising event.
Number ten is Courts Pacesetters’ overtime win against Dyna’s Ravens in a grudge game that Accomplished Entertainment’s Fashion and Basketball Event. The two teams had met on two previous occasions without success.

Guyana Girls dominate, boys triumph in epic

Junior Squash final

Guyana girls dominated Bermuda 5-0 to claim the title, while the boys pulled out a 3-2 triumph in an epic encounter against the host at the Junior Caribbean Squash Championships in Bermuda last year.
The Guyanese girls were the dominant team throughout the championships and it was never in doubt who would emerge champions as the girls lived up to predictions. This team title comes on the back of them claiming three individual titles.
They showed the host no mercy, clean sweeping all five matches. Mary Fung-a-Fat brushed aside Alex Marshall in the opening U-15 encounter.

Keisha Jeffrey then proved too strong for Kelly Barnes in the U-17 tussle. Daina King came through the U-19 contest against Rachel Barnes in straight games after a close first set. Victoria Arjoon ensured she emulated her countrywomen in the U-13 match against Emma Keane. Kayla Jeffrey showed her strength against Jenni Schroder in a U-17 clash in straight games.
However, the boys had a tougher time against the Bermudans.
The 6 foot Noah Browne got the better of Abhishek Singh in their U-15 meeting, using his height and reach to good advantage. In the fast-paced U-17 match-up Alex Arjoon outhustled Kristian Muldoon to level the tie at 1-1.
Robbie Maycock then came out in the U-19 to beat Guyana’s Raphael DeGroot and he gave the home team cause to cheer as he put them ahead 2-1.
U-13 Nyron Joseph then kept Guyana in the hunt for the double leveling things in his contest with Beckett Simmons.
Oliver Kear-Downs then fought through to take the decider against Micah Franklin and hand Guyana a deserving double crown.

Sylvan Gardner (left), celebrating with Hugh Ross after becoming a professional bodybuilder, the second Guyanese to achieve this feat when he captured the lightweight and the overall divisions of the Muscle Mania Superbody competition in New York City last October.
The competition took place at the Kingsborough Community College Performing Arts Center. On achieving his Pro Card, Gardner was congratulated personally by Louis Zwick the head of Musclemania. Ross was the first Guyanese to break into the professional ranks.
Guyana’s First Professional Bodybuilder Hugh Ross (left) giving words of advice and encouragement to rising football star Andrew Murray Jr. who after his return from Sunderland, England where he was one of 8 junior Caribbean footballers who were part of the Digicel Kick Start Clinic’s Journey of Champions.
The eight players were selected by International footballer and Head Coach of the DCC Kick Start Clinics, John Barnes and were special guests at the Sunderland AFC’s Academy of Light for one week last April.

Fruta Conquerors under-11 team displaying their silverware after winning the inaugural Courts Pee Wee tournament 1-0 over Sunburst Camptown last August at the Banks DIH Thirst Park ground.
In photo, MVP Ryan ‘Bum Bum’ Hackett (stooping at left) pose with fellow team members and Executive members of sponsors, Courts after the presentation.
Junior sensation Christopher Holder and Alonzo Greaves enjoyed a very successful 2008 with victories on the road and on the track. Both riders have been able to hold their own against the opposition and are aiming to rise to even bigger things in 2009.
Mark Anthony Perry posing after he was crowned Mr. Guyana following victory in the heavyweight and overall categories at the Banks Malta / Guyana Amateur Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation senior championship.
Perry also won the inaugural Hugh Ross Classic held last April to cap a fine debut year in the sport, blowing away the opposition.

His only disappointment was that he was unable to represent Guyana at the Central American & Caribbean championships due to financial constraints experienced by the Governing Body of the sport.
The successful 2008 West Indies Full Bore Shooting champions Guyana in a happy mood at the Twickenham Park Ranges, Jamaica last June.
The Guyanese retained the Short Range Title and recaptured the Long Range crown to underline their dominance in the region. Ransford Goodluck finished as the top West Indian in the Individual Shoot.
Alpha ‘The Hammer’ United underlined their status as the top club in the land by retaining the Cellink Premier League on goal difference of 24 to Sunburst Camptown’s 13 to extend their winning streak to three consecutive years, 2006, 2007 and 2008.
Both clubs finished on 30 points.
They started last year with victory in the 18th Kashif and Shanghai tournament and also added the Mayor’s Cup, Alpha Football Festival and NAMILCO Football Festival.

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