Sports

Be Creative to Survive

The future of sport clubs in Barbados is under pressure to stay viable and some of them may not stand the test of time if the management of these clubs do not implement strategies to halt their decline. This is the assertion by Steven Leslie the manager of Marketing and Communications at the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) on Tuesday night as he was delivering the feature lecture at the Empire Club as the club celebrates its 109^th anniversary.

Empire Club motto is “Strength Through Adversity” and Leslie’ topic was fittingly ‘Unity Is Strength: Challenges in The Club System”. Giving an historical context to the origins of clubs in Barbados Mr. Leslie indicated that changes in community life has changed club culture. Clubs were, at a point in time, the hub of community and social interaction as well as a place to learn and develop skills in sports. With the changing times clubs are no longer central to the lives of people. Leslie asserted that most people who are in clubs have a narrow and personal agenda rather than an interest in the sustenance and growth of the club. Lots of people are in the club to “Express their sporting talent,” said Leslie.

The education system is closely linked to cricket and club culture. In the 1860’s there was a deliberate effort to focus on sports, specifically cricket, and this resulted in vibrancy in club cricket. In modern Barbados the school system is more interested in getting the school curriculum completed than in using sports as an integral component.

Leslie encouraged the current management team of the 109 old club to be creative in finding ways to evolve and preserve the club culture. The income generating model must also suit the times “The reality is such that to have a sustainable club you must have a viable finance revenue generating model. It cannot rely solely on the subscriptions that might be paid on an annual basis, and it cannot rely solely on having social activities. Those strategies are not going to allow a club to be able to be sustainable in 2023.” said Leslie.

The BCA official congratulated Empire on its 109^th Anniversary and advised them to document the life of the club so that future generations will have something to look at.

Steven Leslie’s well-researched and delivered lecture found favor with all those who were at Empire, the Home of Champions. (Article by: Christopher Williams)

Sports

BARBADOS WINS CWI RISING STARS UNDER-19 CHAMPIONSHIP

by David Harris

Defending champions Barbados defeated Guyana by 44 runs to retain their title in Cricket West Indies (CWI) Rising Stars Under-19 Championship at the Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua on Wednesday.

Needing to avoid defeat in their fifth and final match of the tournament to clinch the title, the Barbadian lads scored 209 for eight wickets, before bowling out Guyana for 160 in 45.3 overs.

Barbados were wobbling at 71 for four wickets, after winning the toss and opting to bat. Captain Justin Parris made an attractive 38 runs from 40 balls, the left-handed batsman struck five fours, but his dismissal in the sixteenth over left Barbados in a precarious position. Seth Smith (47) and Rajeev Parsooram (21) repaired the early damage with a crucial fifth-wicket partnership of 61 runs, before Parsooram was dismissed by left-arm pacer Brandon Henry.

After Parsooram’s wicket fell; Smith added 40 vital runs for the sixth wicket with Yuvraj Persaud who made 19, Smith’s rearguard inning ended innings ended when he was dismissed by Henry in the 43rd over, the wicketkeeper/ batsman faced 75 balls and counted four boundaries. Asher Brandford 18 and Zarell Harding 15 not out ensured that Barbados posted a total over 200 runs.

Medium pacer Reyaz Laif took three wickets for 34 runs, he was supported by fast bowler Usain Fredericks two wickets for 53 runs,, and Henry who picked up two wickets for 24 runs.

Chasing 210 for victory, Guyana slumped to 55 for five wickets in the 17^th over as the Bajan bowlers took early wickets; but a defiant knock of 50 runs from Henry briefly give the Guyanese hope. Henry faced 88 balls and lead a lower resistance that saw Guyana to 156 for eight wickets before he was bowled by Parsooram. After Henry was dismissed Guyana’s innings ended quickly.

Brandford captured three wickets for 19 runs with his medium pace; he was supported by fellow medium pacers Joshua Thomas and Parsooram with two wickets for 35 runs and 19 runs respectively, while Parris picked up two wickets with his leg-spin.

Sports

JAYDEN WINS GOLD AT CARIFTA GAMES

by David Harris

Jayden Green captured Barbados’ lone gold medal at the 52nd CARIFTA Games which ended at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, in Mucrapo, Trinidad on Monday night. The 17-year-old student of the Christ Church Foundation School won the Under-20 Boys’ 200 metres at the three -day track and field meeting in 20,93 seconds ahead of Jamaicans Tyreece Foreman (20.95) and Junior Galimore (21.01); Green is the first Barbadian to win the event since Mario Burke in 2015.

The rest of team collected five silver and eight bronze medals with several athletes recording personal best. Barbados won 14 medals at the games, their best performance since the 2016 Games in Grenada where they won 20 medals.

Sports

GET READY FOR THE NATIONAL SENIOR GAMES

Calendar lists all the events from May to September 2025

NATIONAL SENIOR GAMES field events will begin on Saturday, May 31, at Queen’s College, Husbands, St. James, while the road races, involving running, cycling, walking, and skating, will take place on Sunday, June 1, on the Mighty Grynner Highway. Monday, June 9, will see the culmination of the track events at the Usain Bolt Sports Complex.