LOCAL sportsmen and sportswomen will be in the thick of things this weekend as a number of sports associations and Youth and Sports Councils have put together various activities in a number of districts as part of the Independence celebrations
From 10.00 a.m. today the Moto X Club will set the Castries Waterfront a blaze with a Bikers Extravaganza. Also on the cards, but this time in the north of the island, the St. Lucia Volleyball Association will be flying high on court with the staging of the Independence Volleyball Championship at the Beausejour Indoor Facility.
Cricket action continues todayin the Prime Minister’s Independence T20 Competition. In the Quarter Final round four matches are scheduled at two venues . At the Piaye Playing Field from 10:00 a.m. Mon Repos plays Laborie, while Choiseul comes up against Soufriere at 2:00 p.m. At the La Resource Field from 3:00 p.m. Central Castries meets Micoud and South Castries plays the home team Mabouya Valley at 7:00 p.m.
The Independence Netball Classic also continues today at the Vigie Multi-Purpose Sports Complex with two matches on the cards. In Division Three from 2:00 p.m. SJC Egrets plays Mabouya Valley, while Anse la Raye meets Avengers at 4:00 p.m. In Division Two from 6:30 p.m. Desruisseauxplay Mabouya Valley in Desruisseaux. In Division One from 6:30 p.m. Dennery plays Canaries in Canaries, while Shamrock takes on Eagles at 7:00 p.m. at the Vigie Multi-Purpose Sports Complex.
In what has been dubbed the “Independence Challenge” a number of walking enthusiasts will face the starter’s pistol from 4:00 p.m. as they attempt to walk around the island.
The Gros Islet Playing Field will be the venue for two football encounters as the Independence Celebrations continue in the north of the island – from 6:00 p.m. Valley Soccer versus Dominators Youth, while Super J Northern United takes on GMC United at 8:00 p.m.
Tomorrow, the thrills and excitement will resume from 7:00 a.m. with the ever popular Mon Repos Road Relay organized by the Mon Repos Youth and Sports Council. To date a number of teams, clubs and schools have shown a keen interest in the event now into its 28th year. The relay will start in the Mon Repos Village to the Wannee Bridge and back to end on the Patience Playing Field. The Road Busters are the defending champions.
From one road event to the next, at 1:30 p.m. the section of road between LUCELEC’s headquarters in San Souci to the Vigie Roundabout will be a hive of a cycling showdown when the Project Breakaway stages its inaugural Beacon Independence Cycling Classic.
Well over 40 local cyclists will compete in the four main events on the card – Team Time Trials, Devil Take the Hindmost, Power Sprints and a 37km Mass Start Race.
The Gros Islet Waterfront will be the venue for water sports from 10:00 a.m. with a series of events. Also tomorrow at the Fond Assau Playing Field in Babonneau that district Youth and Sports Council in collaboration with the Babonneau Football League will from 12:30 p.m. stage a 20/20 – 8 team knock out football competition.
Meanwhile, at the Desruisseaux Multi-Purpose Complex tomorrow evening from 6:00 p.m. the Desruisseaux Football League and the Youth and Sports Council will stage an awards ceremony for under -16 and senior football champions in the league and knockout competitions. Along with the footballers the top three netball teams will also be recognized.
