Gold House piped Blue House at the line in the Relay to win the EHRLC Sports Championship Photo: Charlie Jackson/ VINO

A proud EHRLC Principal Vansittart Huggins thanked all her staff and the days helpers for a wonderful event. Photo: Charlie Jackson/VINO

The narrowest of margins separated the two teams as the Relay race began and the “Gold” team of Deandre James, Khadim Smith and Tasha Isles romped home to victory and secured the Championship by 144 points to 142 when the sports day was held yesterday May 24, 2012 at the Festival Village grounds in Road Town.

The Blue team had been behind for most of the day, but strong performances in the individual races put them back into contention. First Antonio Costello won the Junior 30 metres ahead of Tasha Isles and Francesca Remy also of Blue House.

Then Akeem Frank crossed the line to win the 40 metres, beating both Tahee Lloyd and Khalil Liburd of Gold House before Shemoy Manning made it a clean sweep of the sprints in winning the 40 metre senior race. Deandre James and Liburd finished in second and third respectively.

The day had begun with the March Pass with both teams showing great spirit and letting the other team know who was going to win.

The Gold team entered the Festival Ground chanting “Blue House better step back when Gold House get on the track” and the Blue’s had no trouble in responding with a defiant “We good and ready, we winning steady!”

Minister responsible for Sports, the Hon. Myron Walwyn, taking time out from a meeting of Ministers of Education in St Kitts, then passed on his best wishes to the athletes and organiser via phone and loudspeaker. He urged them all to have fun, enjoy themselves and also reminded them that it is not all about winning. He also made special mention of Ms. Vansittart Huggins, the Principal and her staff for co-coordinating such a special day.

Meet Director, Raymond “Chi-Chi” Fonseca and his team of Marshalls, Ivy Cameron-Fahie, Milton McLean and Kirsten Liburd then got the day underway.

First points went to Blue House with an emphatic win in the Mixed Lime and Spoon with Francesca Remy leading home Tasha Isles and Roy Freeman of Gold House. In the Boy’s race, Akeem Frank gave the Blue’s their second victory with a first place close finish with Tahee Lloyd and Khalil Liburd of Gold House. Gold struck back immediately though with a first and second in the Senior Race after Khadim Smith and Deondre James finished ahead of Shemoy Manning.

It was in the Bean Bag series that Gold House began to pull ahead with regular top three finishes and Quinton Mills taking first place in the Juniors. Devon Harrigan, Akeem Frank and Manning won their races for the Blues, but second and thirds by Lloyd, Liburd, Smith and James racked up the points.

The lead was further cemented by a 1-2 finish for Mills and Isles in the Mixed Counting race, but the Blues came back again with wins in the Junior race by Akeem Frank, in the Senior’s by Manning and the Assisted race by Rayah Fonseca.
The sweep of the sprints was nearly enough to make it back to back victories for the Blues, but the exciting relay finale was just enough to see Gold over the Line.

In naming the Victor as Manning and the Victrix as Tasha Isles, “Chi-Chi” described the event as a wonderful day’s sport, littered with good performances and with both exhibiting great sportsmanship.

Ms. Huggins thanked all the Helpers and Supporters with special mention of Mrs. Noel as Compere, Ms. Nibbs and her team for the wonderful food, especially the best Chicken Pattie ever and Ms. Lorna Dawson for her assistance in ensuring Huggins’ team won the Tug of War to bring proceedings to a close.

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