Sports

MAKING STRIDES IN GAME FISHING

Barbados stands to benefit in a big way from game fishing, as it gains popularity locally and internationally. Captain and owner of the Barbadian vessel Eclipse, Mario Williams, has his sights set on the Game Fishing Offshore World Championship Tournament being held, from April 16 to 21, in Marina Pez Vela, Quepos, Costa Rica.

Mr. Williams is a second-generation fisher from the close-knit fishing village Conset Bay, on the east coast of Barbados. He explained that in game fishing, the fish were caught, counted, and then released into the ocean to allow others a chance to catch them.

“If you are in a tournament, you have to release them and give someone else the chance to catch them. We are trying to save the species and not kill everything. It is a catch and release tournament,” he explained.

After bringing home the pride of victory following the Spice Island Bill Fish Tournament in Grenada last year, he and his crew are ready and eager to go for victory. It was the first time in 30 years that a Barbadian boat had won the most prestigious fishing competition in the southern Caribbean.

“The World Championship is very big…. This World Championship, we have a chance at winning,” said an excited Williams.

The Barbadian vessel and crew – Mario Williams, Mario Springer and visiting husband and wife team members, Jonathan and Diana Webster – will be going up against competitors from around the world, including those from Puerto Rico, Panama, Brazil, America, Croatia, and Kenya. “They are all very good fishermen,” Mr. Williams admitted.

However, the young fisherman remains confident that his crew and vessel stand a good chance at winning. “We fish every day. We practise a lot, especially now that they have the FADs (Fish Aggregating Devices). Since they put the FADs down, we have been practising and getting good opportunities to get a lot of fish,” he said.

But, it was not always smooth sailing for the captain. Mr. Williams recalled that soon after acquiring his vessel Eclipse in November 2019, he headed to Grenada for the first time in January 2020. All the while, he was trying to start his business, Eclipse Fishing Charters, and for an opportunity to take part in a tournament.

As he neared Grenada, he “popped” a fan belt and “blew” a manifold, around 1:00 a.m. Yet, still determined to take part in the tournament, Mr. Williams used all his savings to ensure that his vessel was ready for competition.

On the first day, he fished on one engine, and maintained second place for the first two days of the tournament. That was until he developed an abscess in one of his teeth, resulting in him falling all the way down to 10^th place.

That, however, did not stop the captain of the charter vessel, as he continued competing in tournaments whenever he could. Recalling a tournament he took part in on January 26, 2022, Mr. Williams said within the first two minutes of competition he and his crew doubled up on sail fish.

“That day, 15 fish were caught out of 45 boats and we released five of them. It was a great start,” he recalled.

Mr. Williams said they were also looking to compete in the Sir Charles Williams International Fishing tournament in Barbados, which is already under way and ends on April 16.

He said fishing tournaments were gaining popularity in Barbados, and becoming increasingly so, since the introduction of the FADs in the water.

In fact, Mr. Williams noted that people flew from across the world to visit Barbados’ waters to practise their techniques and take part in these fishing tournaments.

“The FADs now bring a lot of foreign boats to Barbados to fish in our international tournament, which is a good thing as it would get Barbados on the map. If you go by the FAD, within 20 minutes you can get a lot of fish,” he said.

**Crew members of Eclipse – husband and wife team, Jonathan and Diana Webster.**

He added that more people were flying to Barbados in groups to fish but lamented that many still did not know about the improvements in fishing.

Mr. Williams stated that there was also a strong interest by visitors to become involved and learn how they can participate in game fishing.

He pointed out that he first met British visitors Diana and Jonathan Webster on an afternoon fishing charter during their visit to the island. From there, they learnt how to fish, and returned to the island annually, sometimes twice a year to take part in tournaments.

The young fisherman disclosed that the couple also went as far as to help in the purchase of his vessel and form part of his crew for tournaments.

Mr. Webster, speaking about his experience here with game fishing, said: “We come to Barbados for the island. It is a lovely island and lovely people. We spend half the time fishing and half the time relaxing. When we first came, we came for a week, then increased it to 10 days, then two weeks. The longest we stayed is six weeks.”

He added that it is hoped that game fishing could be seen as a tourism product for Barbados and promoted widely, given its importance in the developing blue economy. (PR/GIS)

Sports

INDIA WINS THE ICC MEN’S T20 WORLD CUP

India won the ninth edition of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s T20 World Cup after defeating South Africa by seven runs in the final at Kensington Oval this afternoon.
India scored 176 for seven wickets after winning the toss and deciding to bat, they were wobbling at 23 for two after Keshar Maharaj picked up two wickets with the second and sixth balls of his first over.
The left-arm spinner had Rohit Sharma caught Hendricks Klaasen for nine and forced Rishabh Pant to play the ball into the gloves of the wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock for a duck.
Suryakumar Yadav fell in the fifth over for three runs, caught by Heinrich Klassen on the leg-side rope off fast bowler Kagiso Rabada which left the Indians in a fragile position at 34 for three.
Axar Patel joined Virat Kohli at the crease and the pair went about repairing the damage with a busy 72 run partnership, with Patel smashing 47 from just 31 deliveries which included one four and five sixes before his lack of awareness and de Kock’s accuracy resulted in him being run out with the score 106 for four.

Kohli, the Player of the Match, featured in another half century partnership of 58, this time with Shivam Dube. He made the eventual top score of 76 with six fours and two sixes before his gem of innings ended when he was caught by Rabada of left arm seamer Marco Jansen in the 17th over.
After Kohl’s wicket at 163 for five, Shivam Dube holed out to David Miller five balls and11 runs later to pacer Anrich Nortje for 27, Dube counted three fours and one six in his entertaining innings, Nortje also claimed the wicket of Ravindra Jadeja of the of the final ball of the innings. Maharaj was the pick of the Proteas bowlers with two wickets for 23 runs from three overs.
Chasing 177 runs for victory and their first ICC title, South Africa were restricted to 169 for eight, their innings began badly losing two wickets for 12 runs in the third over; opener Reeza Hendricks was bowled by Jasprit Bumrah for four and Aiden Markham made four.
Quinton de Kock (39) and Tristan Stubbs repaired the damage with a third wicket partnership of 58, after the dismissal of de Kock and Stubbs, a quickfire 52 off 27 balls with five sixes and two fours from Heinrick Klaasen give South Africa hope.
India appeared to have miscalculated when South Africa needed 30 runs off the same number of balls, but captain Sharma turned to Bumrah and the ace fast bowler stepped up to the plate, he conceded six runs in two overs.
Hardik Pandya was India’s most successful bowler with three wickets for 20 runs, Arshdeep Singh took two for 20, and Bumrah, the Play of the Tournament captured two for 18.
The match, the 100th T20 game to be played at the Oval was before a capacity crowd which included the Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Mottley, the president of Guyana Irfaan Ali, the Prime Minister of St Lucia Pierre Philips, and former West Indies captain and National Hero of Barbados the Right Excellent Sir Garry Sobers. (article by David Harris)

Sports

Military Personnel Arrive For T20 World Cup Final

The Barbados Police Service (TBPS), in collaboration with the Barbados Defence Force (BDF), has welcomed a contingent of 60 police officers and soldiers from within the Regional Security System (RSS).

The contingent of RSS support personnel was sworn in as Special Constables in an Official Swearing In and Briefing Ceremony on Wednesday, June 26, at the Police Band Headquarters, Prince Cave Hall, District ‘A’ Complex, Station Hill, St. Michael.

The officers arrived on the island to support the country’s effort in policing the finals of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Final on Saturday, June 29, at Kensington Oval.

The Administration of TBPS and the BDF, wish to express their gratitude to the RSS Officers for their commitment and co-operation in this joint venture.

It is anticipated that the general public will interact with these officers in and around the environs of Kensington Oval.

Sports

WEST INDIES BEAT USA

Friday night was epic! Roston Chase starred with the ball and Shai Hope made an entertaining half century to guide the West Indies nine wicket victory against the United States in their Super 8 encounter of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s T20 World Cup before a full house at Kensington Oval on Friday night.
The United States were bowled out for 128 in 19.5 overs after the West Indies won the toss and opted to field; the American team wobble to 48 for one at the end of the first power play and never recovered from the shaky start. Opener Andries Gous scored 29, Nitish Kumar 19, and Shadley Schalkwyk contributed 18.
Chase, the Player of the Match picked up three wickets for 19 runs from four overs with his off-spin, and seamer Andre Russel captured three for 31, while fast bowler Alzarri Joseph chipped in with two wickets.

Chasing 129 runs for their first victory in Super 8, the West Indies raced to 130 for one wicket in 10.5 overs; Hope made an unbeaten 82 runs from 32 balls, the elegant right –handed batsman struck eight sixes and strokes four fours, Nicholas Pooran hit a quick fire 27 that contained three sixes off 12 balls, and Johnson Charles contributed 15.
Over 14,000 fans watched the match, before the game started, they were treated to a sterling rendition of the official West Indies Cricket Anthem by the composer of the song calypsonian David Rudder.
The West Indies next match is against South Africa at the Sir Vivian Richards in Antigua tonight, Sunday June 23rd at 8.30 pm.