Pan Am Karate C/ships commence today at CASH

Aug 14, 2010 Sports

Master Teruyuki Okazaki accepts the symbolic key to the G/town by City Mayor Hamilton Greene at yesterday’s launching of the 11th ISKF Pan Am Games Karate Championship.

Sensei Okazaki given key to City

By Sean Devers
The International Shotokan Karate Federation (ISKF) Pan American Karate Championships returns to Guyana for the first time in 21 years and Mayor of Georgetown Hamilton Greene yesterday welcomed the 12 visiting teams to Georgetown and presented ISKF Chief Judge Master Teruyuki Okazaki with the symbolic key to the City as the event was launched at the Promenade Gardens.
The 11th Pan Am Karate Championships is being hosted by the Guyana’s Sports Ministry and the Guyana Karate College (GKC) and members of the competing teams, attired in their Karate Ghis (uniforms) and accompanied by Guyana Defence Force drummers, marched from the City Hall to the Promenade Gardens in an official parade yesterday morning.
The two-day tournament begins from 09:00hrs today at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) and host Guyana, USA, Canada, Barbados, St Lucia, Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and Venezuela, Suriname and Dominica will compete for top honours.
Mayor Greene wished the foreign contingents an enjoyable stay in Guyana and commended the GKC for successfully organizing this prestigious tournament.
“For those visiting for the first time I hope you take the opportunity to see our historical architectural treasures and exploit some of the excellent shopping at bargain prices in our vendor’s arcade and local markets” Mayor Greene told the visitors.
The 75-year-old Greene, who served as Guyana’s 4th Prime Minister from 1985-1992, was high in praise for 60-year-old Guyanese Sensei Frank Woon-A-Tai, whom he described as a stalwart in the sport in Guyana.
The karatekas competing in the tournament were charged by Greene to make good use of their technique and training and to capitalize on it as they seek to become good leaders and professionals in every aspect of their lives.
Woon-A-Tai, who now resides in Canada, welcomed the karatekas to Guyana and extended a special welcome to Master Okazaki, who after receiving the ‘key’ to the city from Mayor Greene expressed his pleasure to be here.
“I am honoured to be here in Guyana for this prestigious tournament which is very important to the karatekas who seek to develop themselves and become good martial artists” Okazaki told the gathering.
“It will also present them with a very good opportunity to develop as well as strengthen their techniques in martial arts, while helping them with their concentration as well,” the 10th Dan Karateka opined.
Master of Ceremonies Hector Stoute reminded those present that Karate helps you to remain calm under pressure and disclosed that he had spend five years in the Martial Art when he was a solider.
Junior Caribbean champion and Pan American silver medalist Kristina Cheeks, third Dan Natalie Gibson, 2008 Shoto Cup gold medalist and Caribbean Championships bronze medalist Eric Hing and Kenny Wong are well equipped to do Guyana proud despite admitting to some nervousness before today’s competition.
They are however all confident that their strict training regimen will be the determining factor overcoming the nervous hours before competition. “I think Guyana has a good chance of winning because we have been training hard and we are working towards the gold medals. We have the strength to bring it home. Training has been very tiring but it is okay because I love karate and I am willing to work because I want gold”, the second Dan Cheeks disclosed.
Cheeks will be competing in the Kumite, Kata and team Kata and indicated that she will be helping some of the young karatekas who will be making their national debuts.
“The first time is always a nervous time but they (teammates) will groove into it”, she said.
Team Guyana, which is made up of karatekas from the GKC and the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) dojos, began preparations last year November under the watchful eyes of Senseis Jeffrey Wong and Amir Khouri. Masters Woon-A-Tai and Okazaki also played a role in their preparations.
Master Woon-A-Tai said he was pleased with Guyana’s preparations and called on all Guyana to support the home team.
“Guyana is ready. Everybody is ready and all the major players are in place for this tournament. We are
ready to go and I hope to see all of Guyana coming out and offering their support tomorrow (today) and Sunday as we seek to carry away the championship.”
The tournament swings into action from 09:00hrs today, with the junior individual elimination matches for both boys and girls ages 8-17, followed by the team elimination Kata in the same age group.
The seniors’ team elimination Kata will follow that along with the team elimination Kata for adult men and women, where the top four teams will advance to the finals tomorrow in each of the team and individual Kata exercises respectively.
Tomorrow’s action also begins at 90:00hrs and will include an official opening ceremony, the Finals from today’s action, a cultural presentation, demonstrations by some of the athletes and the presentation of awards.

Local cyclist defy substandard local facilities to procure bronze

The team of cyclists poses with officials shortly after the conclusion of the press conference. From left: Coach Randolph Roberts, Kurt La Rose, Marica Dick, Christopher Holder, Neil Reece, and manager Theresa Pemberton.

Despite competing under severe constraints at the just concluded 5th Caribbean Youth Cycling Championships in Aruba and despite the absence of modern day facilities, two local cyclists, Marica Dick and Chris Holder both returned with bronze medals ensuring that Guyana finished third from among 10 competing nations.
Members of the management team which consists of coach, Randolph Roberts, Manager, Theresa Pemberton, PRO (Guyana Cycling Federation), Julian Alves and Vice President (GCF), Brian Allen, are adamant that the cyclists, despite encountering difficulties on the Velodrome, performed creditably under the circumstances.
The above mentioned executives are now issuing a call to sports officials for the construction of such a facility to facilitate the training sessions of local cyclists and bring them on par with their Caribbean and other counterparts.
The cycling officials issued the call at a press briefing to inform media representatives of the occurrences at the Aruba forum. Mr. Alves said that with the exception of Holder, all of the other participants were competing on a Velodrome surface for the very first time. “This acted against them especially since their counterparts were all proficient in the use of this type of surface,” said Mr. Alves. He also pointed out that the local pedal pushers were physically strong but fell short in the mental department. He then issued a clarion call to local sports administrators, “Give us the land and we will find the funding to erect the facility,” he said. He concluded by quoting the words of the late Winston Churchill, “Give us the tools and we would do the job.”
The PRO further disclosed that Guyanese from the Diaspora have indicated a willingness to render financial support for the project but are insisting that the local Federation provide the land. “The stark reality is that we would be unable to produce world class athletes in the absence of such an important facility,” Mr. Alves concluded.
Chairman of the Racing Committee, Brian Allen echoed the cries of the PRO and added that the absence of the Velodrome impinged on the progress and development of the young cyclists. He pointed out his organization has charted out a 5 years development project that hinges strongly on the construction of the Velodrome.
Ms Pemberton lauded the performance of the cyclists saying that she was extremely proud of the high level of discipline exhibited by the group. She further noted that this attitude overlapped onto the tracks but the locals were woefully disadvantaged by the absence of modern facilities locally. She also mentioned the variance in team structure where the local cyclists were outnumbered in the events while the other countries employed superb team work to take the honours. Only two cyclists participated in any race at any one time.
“We need to mould a larger number of cyclists to engender the necessary team support in top races,” said Ms Pemberton who also called for the intervention of local sports authorities. “One young and inexperienced cyclist among a large group of supportive opposition could not possibly be expected to come out on top,” she explained.
Meanwhile, the executives, with support from the cyclists revealed that the National Park has outlived it usefulness for cycling activities. The coach explained that the rough terrain has been responsible for damages to the cyclists’ machines. “Most of the cyclists have had their cycles destroyed because of the inferior surface on which they are forced to ride,” he said. This view was further reinforced when it was disclosed that Dick’s cycle was deemed unfit to participate in the just concluded Aruba championships. However, former cyclist, now University of Guyana lecturer, Hector Edwards donated the necessary funds to offset the rehabilitative costs after veteran cyclist, Wayne DeAbreu evaluated the damage, suggesting a solution.
The other participating countries are Bermuda, Bahamas Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Anguilla, St Kitts, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Curacao. Guyana last attended these championships in 2007 when it was hosted by the Bajans. Geron Williams had procured a gold medal while Christopher Holder had won a bronze.
The organizers also wish to express deep gratitude to the many corporate institutions that have supported the team financially and otherwise.

Young Achievers start as favourites today

Young Achievers Captain Randy Adams receives the prize money from a fan at the end of the previous round at Goed Fortuin.

Leaders Young Achievers will once again go into today’s round of the Castrol Strikers / Guyana Volleyball Federation (GVF)-organised Tournament which is being sponsored by Tradewind Tankers Shipping Company of Barcelona, Spain as clear favourites to maintain their stranglehold in the competition.
The team from West Demerara have dominated all and sundry during the opening two rounds of competition which was played at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) and Goed Fortuin and when play resumes today at Port Mourant Community Centre, it is expected to be no different with the likes of Randy Adams and Michael Trapp marshalling forces.
Young Achievers have already pocketed a sum of money as winners of the first two rounds, while second placed Port Mourant will hope to use home-court advantage to the best of their ability.
Rollers, also of Berbice are positioned third in the tournament and they are followed by Castrol Strikers and both teams will be aiming for improved performances.
The teams participating in the event are Rollers, Port Mourant Jaguars, an Under-19 unit and Port Mourant Training School, while the West Demerara will be represented by two teams from Young Achievers and Goed Fortuin.
Three formats are being used and they are the 2s, 4s and 6s with teams needing a minimum of seven players.
Winners and second placed finishers of the opening two rounds have already received $20,000 and $10,000 respectively, while the overall champion will take away a top prize of $80,000, runners-up $40,000 and third place $20,000.
The remaining dates for the competition are August 28 right back in Berbice and September 11 &18 at CASH.