U–16 Netballers Off To B’dos

Regional Tournament Underway Today.

A TWELVE member team and three officials departed to represent Saint Lucia at the 16th annual Jean Pierre Youth Caribbean Under – 16 Netball Tournament in Barbados.

The tournament will serve off today and will run up until April 9 at the Netball Stadium in Waterford, St. Michael.

Over 150 young netballers (girls under 16 years old) and officials, from several Caribbean countries participate in these championships which started in 1998 and is held annually in a different Caribbean territory.

The main objective is to foster the physical, social and emotional development of the people of the Caribbean, through sports, social activities and life skills programmes.

The participating countries are Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Bermuda, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago.

The tournament is named after a renowned international netballer, the late Jean Pierre of Trinidad and Tobago.

Saint Lucia will open their campaign against Dominica today from 7:00 p.m., play Bermuda on Sunday at 6:30 p.m.; Antigua and Barbuda on Monday 4 at 6:30 p.m.; Jamaica on Tuesday at 7:15 p.m.: There is a rest day on Wednesday. The tournament resumes on Thursday when Saint Lucia will play Grenada at 7:00 a.m; and Barbados at 7:15 p.m.; while their final encounter will be against Trinidad and Tobago at 6.00 p.m.

There are six girls making their debut at the tournament for Saint Lucia – Nira Justin, Vionce Weekes, Joanne Shepherd, Adriel Leonard, Dasha Eugene and Kiana Nelson.

The remainder of the squad reads – JermiahEvariste (captain), Meggan Nestor, Darcell Francis, Sherel Williams, JanellMathurin and MerkissaTheodule. The six mentioned above played last year when the tournament was held here.

Jamaica which has won the tournament 10 times is making a return after missing the 2015 event in Saint Lucia.

Barbados are the defending champions.