Sport in the year of the Coronavirus Pandemic

The world seemed to be going along with its activities until the Coronavirus which hit headlines from China in December 2019 struck the world with amazing quickness and devastation. Activities of all sorts held out of the comfort of one's home were scaled down and in many cases moved to total shutdowns; and what is described as the new normal being the wearing of face masks, social distancing and the frequent washing of, or sanitizing, of hands.

Phillip Alleyne, the founding member of the Dominica Football Referees Association (DFRA) and Dominica Cricket Umpires Association (DCUA) died in January. He was also part of the formation of the Windward Islands Cricket Umpires Association and very much involved in the West Indies Cricket Umpires Association.

Cricket

The youthful KFC Summits led by Elton in the absence of the injured Stephan Pascal, staged a remarkable fight back to capture the Intermediate Cricket League championship of the Dominica Cricket Association at the expense of Red Rock Bramblers of Calibishie at the Windsor Park Sports Stadium (WPSS) on Saturday December 19, 2020.

-The defending champions Police Sports Club were knocked out of contention at the semi-final stage by newcomers Red Rock Bramblers (Police 129. Bramblers 134 for six. Brian Joseph got an unbeaten 61 for the victors). Summits were awarded the match because their semi-finalist opponents, Penville Gladiators, were some minutes outside the start of play at the Botanical Gardens.

-Grand Bay Credit Union Colts emerged as the strongest team in the DCA's league when they whipped Gold Spot Tremors by seven wickets in the final of the premier cricket league at the WPSS.

Tremors who were the dominant team looked well placed 75-0 before losing their first wicket. The final total of 151 (Alvinson Jolly 5 for 51) enabled them to take first innings lead when they bowled out Colts for 138 runs (Alick Athanaze 65 & 26). The real drama was in the second innings when MOM Courtney Anselm snared 7 for 14 to help bowl out Tremors for 56. Colts reached 70-3. Martin Matthew had match figures of 5-38 & 3-17 for Tremors.

Colts knocked out NAGICO Stars in the semi-finals and Tremors took care of Marinor Blasters.

-Dominica's and former West Indies women's international Pearl Etienne emerged as the Player of the Tournament of the Windward Islands women's competition in St Lucia in spite of Dominica losing all three matches to their rivals St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines (SVG) and Grenada. SVG beat Grenada to claim the championship.

-Trinbago Knight Riders won their fourth CPL (Caribbean Premier League) title under captain Keiron Poland with a comfortable eight-wicket victory over St Lucia Zouks led by Darren Sammy at the Brian Lara Oval in Tarouba. Trinbago became the first team to go through the Hero CPL without losing a match.

In the Coronavirus enforced bubble series played in Trinidad, St Lucia Zouks scored 154 runs in 19.1 of their 20 overs after being asked to bat first. Pollard took 4 for 30 in his 4 overs. Trinbago replied with 157-2 in 18.1 overs. MOM Lendl Simmons smashed 84 not out () off 49 balls with 8 fours and 4 sixes and Daren Bravo 58 from 47 balls with 2 fours and 4 sixes.

In the semi-finals, the champions brushed aside the Jamaica Tallawahs by nine wickets. Tallawahs sent in managed 107 for 7. MOM Akeal Hossein took 3-14. Trinbago in their turn reached 111-1 in 15 overs. L Simmons 54 in 44 balls and Tion Webster got 44 of 43.

Guyana Amazons sent in first were routed for 55 in 13.4 overs by the Zouks. The Zouks breezed to 56 without loss in 4.3 overs. Zouks' Mark Deyal with 2 for 2 in one over was MOM.

-Cricket West Indies (CWI) awarded Barbados Pride, led by Kraigg Brathwaite, the Headley-Weekes Trophy the symbol of supremacy of the West Indies four-day championship. CWI terminated the competition to COVID-19 with two rounds of matches to play. Barbados after eight rounds of matches were on 134.8 points which put them ahead of Trinidad & Tobago's Red Force, their nearest rivals by 40.2 points.

-West Indies broke the stranglehold on all sports internationally by touring England for a three-match test series in June/July. West Indies won the first match by 4 wickets but the lost the other two by 113 and 279 runs respectively.

West Indies lost their three-match T20s on their New Zealand tour 0- 2 to their hosts with a no result in the final match; and then went on to lose their two-match test series by an innings each.

-West Indies Under-19 came fifth in the ICC World Cup (50 overs) from 16 teams played in Australia. Bangladesh beat India by three wickets in the final for their first international cricket championship. The champs defeated New Zealand by 6 wickets in a semi-final match while India whipped Pakistan by 10 wickets.

-West Indies men on their tour of Sri Lanka lost that three-match series 0-3 but won the T20 series 2-0.

-In their matches with India lost both the ODIs and T20s series by 1-2 margins.

-Ireland on their first tour of the West Indies lost the ODIs 0-3, but shared the T20s one win apiece with a no result in the second match because of rain.

-West Indies Women in the ICC T20 World Cup in Australia won against Thailand by 7 wickets in Group B but went down before Pakistan and England in their other matches. Australia thrashed India by 85 runs in the final. Australia 184-4 and India 99 in 19.1 of their 20 overs.

-West Indies Women, on a tour to England after the West Indies, lost the T20s 0-3 and the ODIs 0-2.

Softball

Kavem Hodge with 89 runs piloted Conals to 192 in their 19.1 of their 20 overs. Hitters hit back with 195-8 in 19 overs thanks to Kamal Hamilton's unbeaten 51. In the semis, Conals responded with 178-3 to Welders Morne Prosper's 177. Hitters were also dominant in reaching 122-1 to eclipse Petro Caribe Pointe Michel's 121-7.

Football

Harlem United made their 50th Anniversary celebrations something special by winning their second trophy in the Dominica Football Association (DFA) for the year. The legendary Bombers from Sout' as hailed in song and now known as Promex Harlem United easily defeated East Central by 3 goals to nil at the Windsor Park Sports Stadium (Dec 20) for the second straight year to go along with the Recovery Knockout competition of the DFA. Audell Laville, Zion Emanuel and Delano Edwards scored the goals

In semi-final action Harlem whipped L.A. Stars 5 goals to one while East United blanked out Middleham United 3-0.

-Twenty-two teams in two groups participated in the league. Harlem United topped Group1 with 21 points followed by Police SC 19, Middleham United 18 and Mahaut Soca Strikers 17; and Group 2: East Central 22, L A Enterprise Bombers 21, L A Stars 20 and CCCU Dublanc FC 17.

-South East FC South East FC managed a 1-all draw in their last Premier Division match with Central Cooperative Credit Union (CCCU) Dublanc FC at the WPSS to make it back to back championships, a feat similarly achieved by Dublanc two years ago. South East finished with 34 points for the $20,000 championship prize.

South East nearest rivals Bath Estate (33 points) needed a big win against Harlem United but were held to a 3-3 draw after leading 3-nil at the half way stage. Bath Estate got $10,000.

-Mario Burgins of L A Enterprise Bombers copped the Golden Boots prize with 14 goals. He scored 6 goals in his team's final match versus Exodus FC.

Quarter final results: Harlem 1 Dublanc 0; L A Stars 2 Police 1; East Central 3 Mahaut Strikers 2; and Middleham United 3 Bombers 0.

-Harlem United in the wake of the premier division captured the Recovery Cup (COVID-19 related) and $10,000 by out-shooting Happy Bath Estate on penalties in the final at the WPSS. Harlem won 5-4 in the shoot-out after the match ended 3-3.

-CCCU Dublanc defeated We United to earn the 3rd place prize in the Recovery Cup.

-Harlem United, Dominica's longest surviving and most decorated football team in the country celebrated their 50th anniversary this year beginning with celebration of the Holy Eucharist at our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church n Newtown in December. An awards ceremony was also scheduled for later in the month. Harlem's theme for their milestone is "Fifty years strong and still number one!"

-Young Vets won the DFA Women's 7-aside Festival. They beat New Generation S C 2-0on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw in the final at the WPSS.

-Middleham United beat L A Stars 2- in a qualifier to remain the premier league. L A Stars will meet Mahaut Soca Strikers in the other eliminator to earn the 10th spot in the premier league. Exodus FC were automatically relegated to the division one after placing last in the premier league.

Other Sports

School-boy Kohath Baron won four of the five cycling races put on by the Cycling Association to maintain his dominance in the spot. The fifth race which he missed was won by 13-year old Ajami Casimir.

-South West won the Sports Division-organised District Netball League with a hard-fought victory over the previously unbeaten West Central (1) by 34 goals to 27 at Benjamin Park.

The champions received $200 and the Dorothy Didier-Charles Trophy with captain Kyla Winston getting the Sandra Green Best Centre Court Award and Alice John Jules Trophy for most valuable player. South West was also the most disciplined team.

Anna Maria-Xavier of West Central received the Jennifer Nanton Award for best shooter. West Central also received the Ossie Savarin Trophy for 2nd place. Ten teams from the eight districts competed.

-Regina Walsh was re-elected president of the Dominica Netball Association in December. She has served in that capacity from time to time since about 1991.

-Pioneers Athletics Club (PAC) topped the Dominica Amateur Athletics Association (DAAA) national championships with 471 points. The Dominica Grammar School (DGS) got 329 and Striderz Athletics Club 211. Six other clubs participated.

-Pioneers named MacNaguirre Suarez and Carla Bunche as their top male and top female athletes of the year. MacNaguirre won the PAC's one-mile run in 4 minutes 4 seconds.

-Suarez won the Dominica Amateur Athletics Association (DAAA) 5-kilometre road race in Portsmouth.

-The Dominica Amateur Basketball Association cancelled all activities for 2020.

Acers won the female ballorama which formed part of the opening of Volleyball Amateur Volleyball Association (DAVA) KFC sponsored league. The men's event was rained out.

-Shana Robin was inducted in the Hall of Fame in world renowned Tropicana Casino in Atlantic City. More than 2,000 people were present for the awards ceremony.

-The Dominica Olympic Committee (DOC) purchased a three-storey property valued at more than $300,000, for less than the amount, located at Bath Estate opposite the Patrick John Football House. PanAm Sports provided more than $1 million in funding towards that project and refurbishing.

-The DOC at its AGM in October adopted a new member affiliate called the Dominica Rowing Association. At the same meeting, the DOC on a resolution from the floor barred the Handball Association from taking part in the proceedings because of alleged irregularities the preceding month.

-President of the DOC Billy Doctrove told that body's AGM that Olympic Solidarity had asked for documentation to justify expenditure of $300,000 incurred by the former administration which preceded his tenure. After intensive searching, the staff recovered some documents, but more than $200,000 was still unaccounted for.

-Former DOC Treasurer Philip White said that affiliate associations had not submitted reports and receipts for moneys received for their various activities funded the DOC. Documents may have gotten destroyed at the homes used as offices of affiliates by Tropical Storm Erica and Hurricane Maria.

-Wake Up Stars of Portsmouth defeated Golden Arms of Soufriere in the finals of the El Dorado/Soca Rum (Belfast Estate) domino competition coordinated by Delvin Esprit. Wake Up Stars prize was $3,000, a trophy and two cases of El Dorado Rum and Soca Rum. Golden Arms received $1,500, a trophy and one mixed case of El Dorado & Soca Rum.

-Codie Morris was elected president of the Dominica Fencing Association. He succeeded founding president Woody Lawrence.

School Sports

The Sports Division completed its 2019/2020 Secondary Schools football programme. Dominica Grammar School (DGS) won the U-15 competition 3-1 on penalty kicks after their match with Isaiah Thomas Secondary School ended in a 2-2 draw.

Portsmouth Secondary School made it a double championship year. They defeated DGS 2-1 at Benjamin Park to claim a rare U-20 title to follow on their conquering of North East Comprehensive School 3-0 for the U-17 championship.

-The Sports Division presented equipment to nine secondary schools including the Dominica State College through Sports Minister Roslyn Paul.

-The Sports Division also delivered equipment to the Dublanc Pre-School.