Sports

Team Barbados Shines At Regional Shooting Competition

Barbados’ shooting teams won two of the four team events and several individual gold medals at the Barbados Rifle Association Regional Shooting Standoff, held over the weekend.

This year’s International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC) Level 3 competition ran from August 30 to September 1, marking the 10th anniversary of the Smoking Barrel series. It was held at the Barbados Rifle Association range, Paragon, Christ Church.

Regional Director, IPSC Barbados and Chief Range Officer, Dr. Kevin Grant said: “The 10th anniversary of the Smoking Barrel competition is a significant milestone for us. Our journey began in 2010, and over the years, we’ve seen the sport grow in Barbados and across the region.

“Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, we were determined to bring this event back in 2024, and the overwhelming support we’ve received from participants around the world has made it all worthwhile.”

The event featured 15 challenging stages and attracted top shooters from across the globe, including participants from Jamaica, Colombia, the UK, the United States, Trinidad, Guyana, Grenada, Saint Lucia, and Suriname. Barbados was represented by a strong contingent of skilled competitors, who showcased their talents on home soil.

“Barbados has a proud tradition in shooting sports, and our team is fully committed to upholding our nation’s reputation. While some of our counterparts from other regions have had more opportunities to practise, we remain confident in our abilities … in the various divisions, both individually and as a team,” the Chief Range Officer noted, as he spoke with the Barbados Government Information Service (BGIS).

Dr. Grant also called for greater support from the Government and corporate sector, emphasising the potential of shooting sports as a form of sports tourism. He said: “Shooting is an Olympic discipline, and it’s time we invested in promoting Barbados as a prime destination for international shooting competitions by investing financially and marketing our brand effectively. We can elevate the sport and create opportunities for Barbadian athletes to compete on the Olympic stage.”

Barbados took first place in the Standard Division Teams Challenge. The members included Gerald Gill, Richard Durant, Dexter Williams and Ryan Hunte. Second place went to St. Lucia.

In the Production Optics Division Teams Challenge, Barbados came second. The team included Cliff Roett, Ryan Best and Nicholas Branker. Jamaica was the winning team.

In the Production Division Teams Challenge, first place went to Barbados. The team comprised Adrian Marshall, Dennis Bellamy, Gregory Wood and Kevin Sealy. Jamaica came second.

The Open Division Teams champions were the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, followed by Barbados, while third place went to Jamaica. (PR/GIS)

Caption: First place winning team for Barbados, Production Division, Kevin Sealy; Adrian Marshall; Dennis Bellamy and Gregory Wood.

Sports

CORNWALL BOWLS ROYALS INTO THE PLAYOFFS

DEFEATED THE ST KITTS & NEVIS PATRIOTS BY 9 WICKETS

Article by David Harris

Allrounder Rahkeem Cornwall starred with the ball as Barbados Royals defeated St Kitts & Nevis Patriots by nine wickets in the final match of the Barbados leg in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) at Kensington Oval on Tuesday night.

Cornwall, the Man of the Match captured five wickets for 15 runs four overs as the Patriots slipped from 38 for two wickets in the sixth over to 69 for eight runs after 13.2 overs, the burly off-spinner was supported by fast bowler Naveen ui-Haq who took three wickets for 16 runs.

Captain Andre Fletcher made 32 off 22 balls, but it took a gritty ninth wicket stand of 39 runs between Joshua Da Silva (25) and Anrich Nortje (22) to get the Patriots score past three figures. Eventually, the Patriots were bowled out for 110 in 19.1 overs.

Chasing 111 runs for victory the Royals rushed to 113 runs for one wicket in 11.2 overs, inform opener Quinton de Kock smashed 59 not out from 38 balls, the South African struck three fours and four sixes, Kadeem Alleyne scored a 25 from 15 balls, and Alick Athanaze was unbeaten on 22.

Earlier, the match was delayed due to a wet pitch, the Royals won the toss and opted to field. The Royals next match is against St Lucia Kings in Guyana on Saturday.

Sports

KNIGHT RIDERS WIN AGAINST ROYALS

Article by David Harris

Trinibago Knight Riders defeated Barbados Royals in a keenly contested match when the Barbados leg continued at Kensington Oval on Friday night.

Chasing a target of 157 runs for victory, the Knight Riders scored 159 for eight wickets in 19.5 overs; they needed 11 runs off the final over and seemed to be heading to defeat when Akeal Hosein was dismissed off the third ball with six runs required for victory, but Jason Holder bowled a waist high no ball and Terrance Hinds smacked the free hit over long off for a massive six

The Knight Riders were in trouble at 11 runs for two wickets after off-spinner Maheesh Theekshana took the wickets of openers Sunil Narine and Jason Roy.

Nicholas Pooran blasted 35 off 23 balls to give the Trinidad and Tobago franchise the advantage before he was out to a spectacular double from Rovman Powell and Holder.

The left-handed batsman miscued a ball from left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj that was heading over long-off for six, but Powell caught the ball and flicked it to Holder to complete one of T20 cricket’s finest tag team relay catches.

Shaqkere Parris made 35 from 40 balls and shared a vital fourth-wicket partnership of 44 with Keacy Carty who contributed a brisk 32 off 21 balls, at that stage the Knight Riders appeared to be well on track needing 51 runs for victory off 36 balls.

The reintroduction of Theekshana in the 15 th over lured Parris into a false shot triggering a collapse from the Knight Riders. It set up a grandstand finish until Hinds’ late heroics stunned the local fans. Theekshana picked up three wickets for 26 runs, medium pacer Obed McCoy took two for 30.

Earlier, the Royals scored 156 for seven, after the Knight Riders won the toss and opted to field Powell made 59, and Quinton de Kock got 39. Left-arm spinner Waqar Salamkeil captured three wickets for 13 runs, and Narine grabbled two for 16.

Sports

Royals Secure Third Consecutive Victory

Article by David Harris

Barbados Royals defeated Antigua Falons by 10 runs in a rain affected match at Kensington Oval on Wednesday night.

Chasing 177 runs for their third consecutive victory in this year’s edition of the Caribbean Premier League, the Royals were 127 for three wickets in 14.3 overs when persistent rain forced a premature end to the match with the Royals 10 runs ahead on the DLS method.

The Royals lost an early wicket with only one run on the scoreboard when off-spinner Chris Green had opener Rakheem Cornwall was caught at mid-off by Roshon Primus, but Man of the Match Quinton de Kock (48) and Alick Athanaze (38) added 72 for the second wicket to repair the damage.

After 11 overs, the Royals were73 runs for three wickets and behind the eight ball, at that stage, the match changed in their favour after Primus bowled a seemingly never-ending but equally dramatic 13 ball over that yielded 23 runs.

At the end of the over, the Royals had motored to 104 for three wickets with an improved run rate, 13 runs flowed in the next over, by then the rain had arrived and the Royals were ahead by 12 runs on the DLS.

The match resumed after a 30-minute break but after another heavy downpour, the game was called off with seven overs remaining. By then the Royals were ahead on the DLS by 10 runs.

Earlier, the Falons scored 176 for five wickets, after the Royals won the toss and opted to bowl, Justin Greaves made 61, Sam Billings got 56 and Brandon King contributed 27; Jason Holder captured two wickets for 36 runs, and medium pacer Naveen –ul-Haq took two wickets for 34 runs.

The Royals are second on the points table with six points, the Guyana Amazons Warriors are ahead of them only on run rate. The Royals’ next match is against Trinbago Knight Riders on Friday night.