BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – TEAM St. Kitts-Nevis regained the champion's trophy after outshining its regional counterparts in the CARICOM Social Security Games (CSSG) 2010 held on Monday (Apr.5) at the Warner Park Football Stadium.
Battling against the British Virgin Islands, Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Antigua, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, Anguilla and Dominica, the Federation’s athletes fought their way through each event, keeping victory in sight.
Held under the distinguished patronage of the Governor General, Sir Cuthbert Sebastian, and in the presence of Minister of Social Security the Hon. Sam Condor, the event kicked off to an entertaining start with each of the 11 represented countries giving a presentation highlighting the cultural richness of their territories.
From start to finish, each race provided a measure of excitement for the different contingents as individual put their best foot forward to do their country proud.
Among the traditional races were 4X1 Relay (male and female), Needle and Thread, and Lime and Spoon, with a number of non-traditional events including the crowd’s favourite Baby Race, Fishing Race (male and female), Wheel Race and the Dressing-up Race (male and female).
One of the highlights of the competition was the famous Tug-O-War. The event was held in three stages with winners of each stage competing against each other in the second round and the two winning teams qualifying for the final round.
Likened to the popular Bible story in which David slew Goliath, the St. Kitts-Nevis team, in the final round, came up against Antigua – which had won the this event for the past three years - and tugged its way to victory.
Finishing in first position with 88 points, St. Kitts-Nevis were trailed by the BVI which amassed 74, followed by Barbados on 71 and St. Lucia with 66 points. Winner of last year’s competition, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, left this year’s meet in fifth position with 48 points. Antigua finished in the sixth position with 43 points, Guyana 39, Trinidad and Tobago 38 while Grenada and Anguilla were deadlocked on 25 and Dominica brought up the rear with 19 points.
Games Sub-Committee Coordinator Walwyn Chiverton said the team is happy over its victory. He noted that the athletes had been working very hard and had participated in many exercise programmes and practice sessions in preparation for the event.
“I would say from retrospect that the games held over the weekend were quite successful and quite free-flowing. We couldn’t ask for a better result, in that we, as the host country, regained our championship which we had narrowly the year before in St. Vincent. I was greatly delighted with not only the turnout of the general public but to have 11 of the 12 participating countries competing in friendly and sportsmanship like competition that gave rise not only to lasting friendships and sportsmanship and camaraderie but…it is something that we always look forward to…It is incidentally the 10th anniversary of the games, so that is why we were so delighted to be the host this year. Not only the host, but also the victors.”
Walwyn said the venue has not yet been chosen for the 2011 games but team St. Kitts-Nevis would begin preparations in August this year to defend its title.
