The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

It’s not how you start, nor how you get there. Most importantly, it’s how you finish

• The Finish Line, a weekly column, seeks to comment on the state of affairs in local sports, highlighting the highs and the lows, the thrills and the spills and the successes and failures.

The Week That Was

IT’s not every day that we take the time out to honour those persons who have made invaluable contributions to the growth and development of sports in our country.

It was so refreshing to see the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture honour veteran track and field coach Frank ‘Pancho’ Rahming during the National Primary School Track and Field Championships.

Rahming, while serving as the assistant director of sports at the ministry, formulated the championships, which provided an avenue for all of the primary schools to come together and compete. I doubt that when he got the meet started he envisioned to see where it has grown today.

Hats off to Rahming for having the foresight to launch the championship and to keep it going over the years.

Over the years, the championship grew into one of the biggest meets held in the country, mainly because just about every island was represented. It was probably the only event that drew true representation of the entire country.

What was so significant was the fact that the ministry bore the bulk of the expenses for the teams coming in from Grand Bahama and the Family Islands, providing airfare and ground transportation as well as lunch and, in most cases, living accommodations.

The one drawback was the fact that the championships didn’t provide an overall championship team, leaving more of the emphasis on the individual participation.

However, as the ministry revitalised the championships, firstly naming it in honour of Rahming, they also went to the format where an overall champion was crowned.

The Temple Christian Suns, led by coaches Sherry Francis and Nekeno Demeritte, emerged as the initial champions. They held off a strong challenge from Grand Bahama with Martin Town and Walter Parker coming in second and third.

The championships have the potential to become one of the most exciting events on the local sporting calendar.

I think what was experienced last week was something that the athletes will all look forward to next year.

For those who will still be eligible and others who will get the opportunity to compete for the first time, I think the fact that the organisers brought in the giant-sized cartoon characters made a big difference.

Not only did they get to be in a competitive atmosphere, but they also enjoyed a fun-filled three days as they interacted with the characters. I know the athletes will get to cherish the experience for a long time.

THE WEEK AHEAD

IT has been quite a low-key event this time around, but there’s still a lot of excitement brewing at Mario’s Entertainment Palace as the Bahamas Bowling Federation gets ready to conclude its annual National Bowling Championships.

The event got started last week and saw defending champions Driskell Rolle and Richard ‘Ritchie’ Pyfrom surge to the top of the standings after the first two rounds of competition.

However, tonight will separate the sheep from the goat as the final five in both the men and ladies’ divisions will be decided for the big showdown that will take place on Sunday when the new champions are crowned.

Clayton Gardiner, the tournament director, said they have seen a reduction in the amount of participants this year, but he noted that the competition has been just as keen as in the previous years, so the public can expect to see a real battle right down to the wire.

The nationals may have lost some of its lustre as far as the exposure is concerned, but the way the competition is going, it’s still going to come down to who exactly wants it the most and right now the bowlers all feel that it’s anybody’s game.

Also this weekend, the Bahamas Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation will be in the spotlight when they return the Novice Bodybuilding Championships to its rightful place.

Last year, the federation combined the novice with the national championships, due to the fact that the new administration, headed by Joel Stubbs, didn’t have sufficient time to properly plan both events.

The federation needs an infusion of competitors because of the amount of categories now being contested.

Unlike in the past where the focus was just on the bodybuilding aspect, competitors can now pick, choose and refuse to compete in bodybuilding and fitness.

So in order for the federation to get the maximum participation for the nationals and subsequently get the best team possible to compete at the Central American and Caribbean Championships, they need to get more competitors involved. The novice is definitely a way to increase the numbers.