SPORTS PAGE

Santino Castillo wins 1st Red Bull Cat 4&5 race

Belize City, January 10, 2010

Team Santino’s 53-year-old Santino “di Chief” Castillo won the 1^st Red Bull Weekend Warriors cycling race for Category 4 & 5 riders co-sponsored by M&M Engineering Ltd and held by the Belize Cycling Association on the Northern Highway on Sunday.

Santino clocked 1:56:00 on his 50-mile-ride from Orange Walk to the M&M Engineering Ltd offices on the Northern Highway to win the 1^st place trophy and 8 Miller Lite beers and 4 Red Bull energy drinks.

Team M&M’s Roque Matus won the 2^nd place trophy, along with 4 Miller Lite beers and 4 Red Bull energy drinks.

Team Fabrigas’ Andrew Ordonez won the 3^rd place trophy and 2 Miller Lite beers and 4 Red Bull energy drinks.

Fitzgerald “Palas” Joseph took 4^th place to win a trophy and 2 Miller Lite beers and 2 Red Bull energy drinks.

Orange Walk’s Allan Conorquie of Team L.A. pulled in 5^th to win a trophy and 2 Miller Lite beers and 2 Red Bull energy drinks.

Team Fabrigas’ John Burns was 6^th, Phillip Burns was 7^th, Team Paediatrics Center’s Curtis Eck pulled in 8^th, Truckers Posse’s Colonel George Lovell Sr. was 9^th and Team Paediatrics Center’s Marlon Swift rounded out the top 10, each winning a medal and a Miller Lite beer and a Red Bull energy drink.

Team M&M’s Liam Stewart was 11^th, Truckers Posse’s Dr. Edwin Martinez was 12^th, Team Paediatrics’ Deryck Smith was 13^th, Martin Esquiliano was 14^th, Orange Walk’s Hipolito Flores of Team LA finished 15^th and Team Paediatrics’ Adrian Faux was 16^th.

Team M&M’s Shalini Zabaneh was the first female, finishing 17^th overall. Team Paediatrics’ Ashton Burns was 18^th, Truckers Posse’s Valentino Sosa was 19^th and Tom Tillett rounded out the top 20.

Some 28 contenders lined up in front of the Orange Walk Town Hall for the start of the race, but no one took the lead in the neutral zone to Carmelita Village where the race really got underway. Andrew Ordonez seized the lead to win the 1^st station prize package of Miller Lite beers, Red Bull energy drinks and Gatorade at Mile 40, and he swept the next station prize package at the Crooked Tree junction.

Team Fabrigas’ Juan Gonzalez won the 3^rd station prize package at mile 20, and he was still leading a close-packed peloton when the race rolled into the city. Meanwhile Santino had been conserving his energy in the middle of the peloton and when he made his move to sprint for the tape, no one could challenge him.

Guatemala’s Carlos Hernandez wins 2010 ‘Sugar & Cream’ New Year’s Cycling Classic

Belize City, January 1, 2010

Team Zayra Tico del Sureste’s Carlos Hernandez, a Guatemalan riding on the Mexican team, won Radio KREM’s 2010 annual ‘Sugar & Cream’ Cycling Classic held in collaboration with the Belize Cycling Association on New Year’s Day.

Hernandez clocked 3:39:39 on his 100 mile ride from Corozal Town to the border and back to finish on Central American boulevard near the Mahogany Street junction to win the $2,000 1^st prize, the champion’s trophy, a round trip ticket courtesy of American Airlines to the continental United States, a $500 prize bull from Minister of State Hon. Edmund Castro and a gift basket from Grace Kennedy Belize Ltd.

Hernandez had gotten away from the main peloton in a 2-man breakaway with Donizetti Vasquez Aburto of the Mexican ‘Depredadores’ team from Chetumal, Quintana Roo at mile 25, and they had quickly opened up a 35 second gap. Hernandez won $200 worth of spices from Sewell Spices in Sand Hill, and alternated the lead with Donizetti, who won the $100 sheep sponsored by Minister Castro and a $242 gift certificate from Maruba Resort at the junction with the old Northern Highway to Maskall. Hernandez also won the $100 sheep sponsored by Minister Castro at the Burrell Boom junction. Donizetti went down in a 2 man pile up with Gregory Lovell when they hit a dog, but both would be in the top 10 at the finish.

Mexico’s Juan Ramon Juarez had taken over the lead at mile 13 to win a $100 prize from Dr Joel Cervantes, and swept the next 5 prizes: $100 at the Lord’s Bank junction, $100 at mile 9, a $75 ice chest from Zeta Ice factory in Ladyville and $270 worth of 6” cement blocks at the airport junction.

Guatemalan rider Miguel Perez took over the pace crossing the Haulover bridge, but Mexican rider Cesar Vaquera also of the Depredadores team overtook him to win 2 prizes passing the offices of Grace Kennedy Belize Ltd and at Mile 3. Perez surged ahead to sweep the last 5 prizes totaling $475 entering the city to the Community Drug store at Farmers Market. Hernandez was hard on his wheel and won the sprint across the Bel Can bridge to the finish line.

Mexican cyclist Carlos Manuel Hernandez, also of the Depredadores team was right behind, clocking 3:39:42 as he won the $1,500 prize and the 2^nd place trophy.

Team Benny’s Megabytes’ Costa Rican import Marcos Salas Arias won the $1,000 3^rd prize and trophy, and Mexican rider Cesar Vaquera of the Depredarores team was fourth to win a $500 prize. Guatemalan rider Miguel Perez of Orange Walk’s Team Zamir Cycling won the $300 5^th prize.

The first Belizean was Team Santino’s Darnell Barrow who led the chase group in the sprint for 6^th place to win the $275 6^th prize. Team Santino’s Domingo Lewis claimed the $200 7^th prize, while teammate Gregory Lovell took home the $175 8^th prize.

Orange Walk’s Jairo Campos of Team Typhoon won the $150 9^th prize, while Donizetti Vasquez rounded out the top 10 to win a $100 prize.

Team Indeco’s Geon Hanson and Erwin Middleton from Belmopan are all grown up now, competing with the big boys to each win a $75 prize for 11^th and 12^th places. Team Zamir’s Peter Choto pulled in 13^th, a nose ahead of Team Santino’s Giovanni “Froggy” Leslie who placed 14^th, while Team Western Spirit’s Jose Choto won the $50 15^th prize.

Team Typhoon’s Allen Castillo and Edgar Nissan Arana won 16^th and 17^th places, Team C-Ray’s Brandon Cattouse pulled in 18^th, Team Santino’s was 19^th and Team Zamir’s Rodrigo Leiva was 20^th – each of these 5 won a $25 prize.

Belizeans had done well in the opening miles of the race: Nissan Arana won the $150 station prize at Gush & Emy in Corozal, and Team Zamir’s Mateo Cruz claimed the next $200 prize in Ranchito village.

Team Benny’s Megabytes’ Byron Pope led briefly in San Joaquin village to win a short stay with meals at the Cahal Pech Resort, before Miguel Perez won the $300 prize at the mile 75 marker.

Rodrigo Leiva won the DVD player offered in Louisville; then Orange Walk’s Arnidez Rivas of the Sugar City Starz won the next 11 prizes, including the grand $1,000 prize at the SHELL One Stop service station in Orange Walk Town, a $450 grill in Carmelita Village, a 100 lbs of butane from Gas Tomza Belize Ltd, a $200 prize from Brothers Habet at mile 35, $200 from Eustest Dawson Auto Parts at the Crooked Tree junction and a case of Stone ginger wine at mile 30.

Team Cayo High Road’s Daniel Choto wins 2010 ‘Sugar & Cream’ Junior Cycling Classic

Belize City, January 1, 2010

Team Cayo High Road’s Daniel Choto won Radio KREM’s 2010 annual “Sugar & Cream’ Cycling Classic held in collaboration with the Belize Cycling Association on New Year’s Day.

Choto clocked 2:18:55 on his 50 mile ride from Orange Walk Town to cross the finish line all alone on Central American boulevard 2 minutes ahead of the field, winning the $500 1^st prize, the champion’s trophy, and a gift basket from Grace Kennedy Belize Ltd.

Juan Jose Cuellar Samos of Mexico’s Team Diario de Quintana Roo caught and passed 14-year-old Aidan Amir Juan in the sprint to the finish line, clocking 2:20:12 to win a $300 2^nd prize and trophy. This was Aidan Juan’s 3^rd race and he had to be content with the $200 3rd prize and trophy.

Team Depredadores’ Joan Quintal placed 4^th, while teammate Jose Juan Cuellar Samos was 5^th.

Team Smart’s Eduard Burns placed 6^th,Team Indeco’s Kyle Gentle pulled in 7^th and Cayo High Road’s Darren Williams was 8^th. Team C-Ray’s Claude Young rounded out the top 10.

Christopher Andrews had won the first station prize at the Tower Hill bridge then Claude Young won 50 lbs of butane from Gas Tomza Belize Ltd, sweeping the next 2 prizes to the Crooked Tree junction.

Kyle Gentle won a $100 sheep sponsored by Minister Castro at Maxboro, sweeping the next 2 prizes at Los Lagos and at the Grace Kennedy Belize office at Mile 3.

Choto had gotten away in a 2-man breakaway with teammate Juan Umana, but when Umana fell and a service motorcycle ran over his bike, breaking it, Choto pressed on for the win.

Shalini Zabaneh wins 2010 ‘Sugar & Cream’ Women’s Cycling Classic

Belize City, January 1, 2010

Team Sagitun’s Shalini Zabaneh won Radio KREM’s 2010 annual “Sugar & Cream’ women’s Cycling Classic held in collaboration with the Belize Cycling Association on New Year’s Day.

Zabaneh rode in solo as she completed the 50 mile ride from Orange Walk Town to Central American boulevard to win the $500 1^st prize, the champion’s trophy, and a gift basket from Grace Kennedy Belize Ltd.

Team Telemedia Swoosh’s Anthea Sutherland had the legs on a weary 3x winner Fiona Humes, who had won several station prizes as she led the race to the city. Sutherland won the $300 2^nd prize and trophy, while Humes took home the $200 3^rd prize and trophy.

Jane Usher riding unattached finished 4^th and veteran Sheena Castillo made a comeback to finish 5th.

Castillo had won the first station prize at the Tower Hill toll bridge, then Humes took the next 2 $50 prizes in Carmelita Village and mile 40. Sutherland won 50 lbs of butane from Gas Tomza Belize Ltd, but Humes swept the next 3 prizes at mile 35, mile 30 and mile 25.

Shalini Zabaneh won a $100 sheep at the Crooked Tree junction, but Humes recovered to win the next $200 prize at mile 20. Sheena Castillo won the $100 prize at mile 15 and Jane Usher won a prize at Los Lagos but Castillo took the next prize at mile 11.

Shalini led from the airport junction sweeping 6 more prizes on the way to city. Jane Usher won a $100 prize at the Haulover Bridge.

Kulture Yabra blasts Northside United 5-1 in over-35 football

Belize City, January 10, 2010

The Kulture Yabra over-35 veterans stomped Northside United 5-1 in the over-35 football competition at the MCC garden on Sunday afternoon.

Charles Slusher, Peter Guy and Emerson Jones spearheaded the Kulture Yabra offensive, backed up by midfelders Norman “Tilliman” Pipersburgh, David “Manu” Macaulay Sr, and Cecil “Tata” Smith, and the Northside defenders: Albert Hoare, Samir Barrios, Joseph “BDF” Tillett and Anthony Phillips had their work cut out to contain their attacks. Even so Charlie Slusher penetrated to get off shots that forced Northside goalie Marlon Rosado to come up with several saves.

The pressure of the Yabra offensive told on Northside midfielder Emmanuel Agbo, who pulled a thigh muscle and had to retire from the field, leaving the Northside squad playing with only 10 men; there were no substitutes on the bench.

The Northside defenders stopped Norman Pipersburgh at midfield, but gave up a free kick, and Tilliman’s execution was textbook, placing the ball perfectly into the goal area for Charlie Slusher to finish the play with a header that had Rosado beat as Kulture Yabra took a 1-0 lead in the 30^th minute of play.

The Yabra celebration was short-lived as a minute later Kevin Rowland raced up the right flank and out-maneuvered Yabra defenders Basil Milton and George James to lob a shot over Yabra goalie Sebastian Nunez Jr. to rebound off the left goal post and into the back of the net, to equalize the score at 1-1.

Kulture Yabra remained on the offensive winning a corner kick, which Peter Guy lobbed into the goal area. Marlon Rosado should have gotten up the vertical to tip it over the crossbar, but he was out of position as it fell behind him and bounced into the net to give Yabra a 2-1 lead at the half time break.

In the 2^nd half, Northside’s Wayne Eiley, Brian Meighan and Julio Swazo sought to equalize again, with the help of Roberto Bernardez and Rowland at midfield. But it was Alfred Codrington, coming off the Yabra bench to replace Cecil Smith, who set the play for Slusher to outrun the Northside defenders. Rosado shifted position to narrow the angle, but Slusher slapped the ball across to Emerson Jones who drilled home Yabra’s 3^rd goal.

The Yabra squad continued to refresh their offensive line-up as Murray Menzies relieved Basil Milton, and Norman Bonnel replaced Emerson Jones. Slusher kept on the pressure to blast in a 4^th and a 5^th goal to complete his hat trick for the 5-1 Yabra win.

Ladyville Tech & Gwen Liz boys lead CSSSA  schools football

Belize City, January 8, 2010

The Ladyville Technical High School boys and the Gwen Lizarraga High School boys lead the 2010 Central Secondary Schools Sports Association football competition, each with a win and 2 draws in the past week of competition at the MCC garden.

The Ladyville Technical High School boys battled to a 2-2 draw with the St. John’s College boys on Tuesday. Avian Crawford gave the SJC boys a 1-0 lead when he lobbed a free kick over the wall of defenders into the goal. But David Ramos soon equalized for Ladyville Tech when he lobbed a free kick from 40 yards out over the SJC goalie’s head and under the crossbar into the net.

David Ramos gave the Ladyville boys the 2-1 lead when he danced the ball around 4 defenders to drill the ball past the goalie, but the SJC boys equalized the score when Misael Canul’s execution of a free kick beat the Ladyville goalie, who got a glove on the ball but could not stop it from passing over him into the back of the net.

The SJC boys had done better in their first game, posting a 3-0 win over the Sadie Vernon Technical High School boys last Thursday on strikes by Misael Canul, Avian Crawford and Kendice Williams. Sadie Vernon’s cause was not helped when Alpheus Cleland got ejected from the game with a red card.

The Ladyville Tech boys had also struggled to a scoreless draw with the Gwen Liz boys last Friday evening

The Ladyville Tech boys had won their opening game 2-0 over the Nazarene High School boys last Wednesday evening; Denroy McCord scored both goals.

The Gwen Lizarraga High School boys had also won 1-0 over the Nazarene High School boys on Monday evening; with Raheem Flowers scoring the winning goal.

The Gwen Liz boys also drew 2-2 with the Edward P. Yorke High School boys last Wednesday. Ralph Martinez and Dale Tillett had scored for Gwen Liz. Alfred Garnett and Darren Leal equalized for Edward P. Yorke but found themselves a man short when Keith Anderson was sent off with a red card.

The Anglican Cathedral College boys also posted 2-1 win over the Edward P. Yorke High School boys on Monday. Lovell Mejia had delighted the E.P. Yorke fans when he connected with a header to finish a free kick by Cito Martinez to take a 1-0 lead into the half time break. Darrel Myvett equalized for ACC in the 2^nd half, and Justin Usher’s forward pass found Gilbert Neal for the finish to score the winning goal.

The TUBAL Institute boys won 2 – 1 over the Wesley College boys last Thursday evening. Clinton Jorgenson and Ivory Copious scored for Tubal, but only Michael Perrera scored for Wesley College, who found themselves playing one man down when Junior Najera was sent off with a red card.

The Gwen Liz girls also won the 1^st female game 1-0 over the Wesley College girls last Friday, on a strike by Jaslyn Cadle.

Stella Maris boys lead primary school basketball 5-0

Belize City, January 12, 2009

The Stella Maris School boys to lead the Belize City primary schools basketball 5-0 when the competition resumed at the Belize City Center on Tuesday.

The Stella Maris School boys edged by the St John’s Vianney RC School 22-21 to post their 5^th win. Jamaal Cherrington with 16pts top scored for Stella Maris, Michael Graham added 4pts and Philip Meighan – 2pts. Randy Franklin led St John Vianney with 13pts, Raheem Richardson and Kane Smith added 4pts each.

The Buttonwood Bay Nazarene School boys enjoyed their 2^nd win 26-17 over the Central Christian School boys. Kenyon White hit 2 treys to lead Buttonwood Bay with 12 pts, and Ricardo Pavon added 10pts. Anfernee Brooks hit 2 treys to lead Central Christian with 8pts and Mikel Longsworth added 6pts.

The Trinity Methodist School boys enjoyed their 3^rd win 20-17 over the St Ignatius RC School boys. Elwin Pollard led Trinity Methodist with 10 points; Oscar Gutierrez added 4pts and Mateo Gutierrez, Marlon and Frank Young tossed in a bucket each. Keimar Nicholas led Nashus with 9pts, Sydney Bradley added 6pts and Akeem Baptist tossed in one bucket.

The St Luke’s Methodist also enjoyed an 18-10 win over the St. John’s Anglican Primary School boys. Alex O’Brian led St. Luke’s boys with 10pts, Kenrick Requena added 4pts, while Joseph Lopez and Harold Usher tossed in a bucket apiece. Shawn Philips and Akeem Forbes scored 4pts each for St. John’s.

On Tuesday, the St Martin’s RC School boys outlasted St. Mary’s Government School 33-28. Isise Leslie led with 8pts, Kirkland Lambey hit 2 treys to add 7 pts, while Stanley Lambey added 6pts and Clency Lopez followed with a trey to add 5pts. Anfernee Conorquie tossed in the last bucket for the win. Steven Goff led St Mary’s with 11pts, Lismo Williams hit a trey as he added 7pts and Jordan Williams added 6pts.

The Belize Elementary School boys romped to a 16-12 win over the Holy Redeemer RC School boys. Jordanny Williams led the BES boys with 8pts, while Zachary Usher scored two buckets on the put-back from rebounds. Jorge Espat and Zac Bouloy added a bucket apiece. Jover Lopez led Holy Redeemer with 4pts, while K’lon Augustus added 3pts.

Central Christian School boys romped to a 29-11 blowout of the All Saints boys. Anfernee Brooks led with 12pts, while Marquise Stamp had 9pts and Marlon Garbutt had 4pts. Kenyon Evans scored all 11pts for All Saints.

The Queen Street Baptist School boys also romped to their 3^rd win 16-11 over the Wesley Upper School boys. Jahron Myvett led with 10pts, Kiffer Mckenzie hit a trey and Devan Gillett tossed in another bucket. Trey Bowen also hit a trey as he led Wesley with 5 pts.

St. Martin’s girls lead primary school basketball 4-0

Belize City, January 12, 2009

The undefeated St. Martin’s RC School girls upset the hitherto undefeated St. Luke’s Methodist girls 15-4 to post their 4^th win and lead the Belize City primary schools basketball competition at the Belize City Center on Tuesday.

Gilda Moguel led the Martin’s girls with 10pts, while Janelle Grinage added 3pts and Cella Thompson added one more bucket. Jannely Lamb scored 4pts for St Luke’s, who are 4 wins – 1 loss.

The Belize Elementary School girls also enjoyed their 3^rd win 7-4 over the Queen Square Anglican girls. Zoe Mao led the BES girls with 5pts, while Balika Meighan tossed in a bucket. Lyshen Young and Kayla Boush scored a bucket apiece for Queen Square.

The Holy Redeemer RC School girls also posted their 2nd win 10-8 over the St. John’s Anglican Primary School girls. Indie Dixon opened the scored Holy Redeemer’s 1^st bucket and Courtney Duran added another bucket to take a 4-0 lead into the half time break. Tyra Moriera added 6pts for Holy Redeemer in the 2^nd half, while Ashley Bailey led St John’s with 6pts and Erica Olivera added one more bucket.