There was a winner for the north at the Cheltenham Festival as Fiona Needham’s Sine Nomine edged out 11-8 favourite Its On The Line in a thrilling finish to the St. James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase.
The market leader’s jockey Derek O’Connor was attempting to enter the record books by winning all three amateur rider events in the same week, but it was Catterick clerk of the course Needham who added herself to the race’s roll of honour for a second time.
Needham rode Last Option to victory in 2002 for her father Robin Tate and Sine Nomine, who cost just £2,400 as a three-year-old, sported the same Tate colours here.
The eye was drawn to Sine Nomine throughout the contest as the eight-year-old travelled with real zest in the hands of John Dawson but there was still plenty of work to do as David Christie’s long-time leader Ferns Lock gave way on the run to two out and eventual third Time Leader took things up.
Dawson elected to make his challenge up the inner where O’Connor was working away urging last year’s runner-up and having found himself short of room after the last, Dawson had to switch and regather his mount before launching one last assault up the Cheltenham hill.
It was a challenge timed to perfection as although Its On The Line soon had Time Leader covered, he had no answer to Sine Nomine’s late thrust as the gallant grey became the toast of Yorkshire at odds of 8-1.
All reads lead back to the Randox Grand National for Corach Rambler after Lucinda Russell’s pride and joy “ran his socks off” to finish third in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.
The 10-year-old is a dual Festival winner having claimed back-to-back victories in the Ultima Handicap Chase, an achievement only bettered by his dominant success in the world’s most famous steeplechase at Aintree last spring.
Corach Rambler disappointed on his first start of the current campaign at Kelso, but an encouraging third in Haydock’s Betfair Chase in November was a step in the right direction and he had been kept fresh for his return to Prestbury Park.
Settled at the rear of the field for much of the way by Derek Fox, the Scottish raider began to make inroads racing down the hill and just for a fleeting moment halfway up the home straight the dream that he may achieve the extremely rare feat of landing National Hunt racing’s two biggest prizes was alive.
Ultimately his late thrust got him the bronze medal behind Galopin Des Champs, but he nevertheless received a rapturous reception from both his connections and the crowd after returning to the parade ring and he is now as short of 6-1 to successfully defend his National crown on April 13.
“I’d say on Tuesday we weren’t going to run, but I don’t want to run him ever, ever, ever, I just want to pat him and look after him,” Russell said afterwards.
“But he’s a racehorse and he loves his job and yesterday evening I said to Scu (Peter Scudamore, partner) ‘what are we going to do’ and he said ‘look, it’s going to be safe (ground) and as long as it’s safe it’s fine’, and he ran his socks off.
“When he was at the top of the hill I thought he was a little bit further back than usual and then when he came down the hill I thought ‘can he do it again?’. Maybe if the ground had been a little bit better, I don’t know, all I know is I’m delighted with him, to be third in the Gold Cup is fantastic.
“I can’t get over the way the people appreciate him, he’s just lovely – he’s the horse of a lifetime.”
Splitting Galopin Des Champs and Corach Rambler in second was the Gordon Elliott-trained Gerri Colombe.
The eight-year-old was blown away by his conqueror in Leopardstown’s Savills Chase over Christmas, but closed the gap to three and a half lengths on the day that mattered most.
Elliott said: “There was no excuse, the winner was very, very good, but we’re very proud of our horse. He ran a great race and we’re very happy.
“He was up against a superstar. It’s always disappointing when you lose, but the horse that beat him is exceptional.
“The loose horse didn’t help us, but I don’t think it made the difference between winning and losing.”
Back in fourth was the Venetia Williams-trained L’Homme Presse, who for a long way disputed the lead with The Real Whacker and those still in contention into the home straight.
His emotional co-owner Andy Edwards said: “Amazing, he served it up to them. Charlie (Deutsch) just said the ground is really tacky and the speed he had at Lingfield he just couldn’t show it in that.
“He’s jumped fantastically and he’s enjoyed it. I’m so proud.
“I was standing there calm and I could just see his stride shorten a touch just before the second-last, I knew that was tough for him. He’s had an interrupted season really and for him to finish fourth in the Gold Cup, bloody hell – it’s amazing isn’t it?
“It was brilliant ride from Charlie. If you watch it, they were as one – it wasn’t a horse and a jockey, they were one entity.
“I’m delighted, proud and I’m going to go and have a good cry.”
Having selected what, he believes to be a formidable squad, Trinidad and Tobago’s Head coach Angus Eve is now hopeful that is Soca Warriors will deliver the goods when the lock horns with Canada in their Copa America playoff encounter in Frisco, Texas, next week.
In fact, Eve would love nothing more than for March 23 to mark another special day in the annals of the twin island republic’s football history by taking the Canadians scalp and, by extension, securing a spot in the prestigious CONMEBOL Copa America.
The winner of the one-off encounter will make a debut appearance at the Copa America tournament, where they will contest group A alongside Chile, Peru and reigning Fifa World Cup champions Argentina. United States, Jamaica, Mexico and Panama are the other Concacaf teams in the tournament.
“We know how important the game is, this would be one of the most prestigious tournaments to go and represent our country in, if we get the victory. (A win) will put us on a different level, on a different map. That would open up a lot of doors for our players,” Eve said during a press conference shortly after naming his 23-player squad.
However, in order to win, Eve is well aware that the first need to defend well to keep the Canadians at bay, and also showcase their attacking prowess.
“We need to defend well—it’s like David against Goliath. It’s top players that they have, so we have to be astute defensively but also offensively. We have to express ourselves so that we can come out with a victory,” Eve declared.
The tactician has included Greece-based brothers, Levi and Judah Garcia in his squad, as both recently signalled a return to form from respective injuries.
“We’re very optimistic of Levi being fit and ready to play. He’s been doing well in [the Greek] League. He’s gone through injuries but we’re very happy to see the form that he’s in. Judah had a back injury and then a groin injury, so he was not available for us. He is back playing, he’s scoring goals, and we think that he can add goals from midfield,” Eve shared.
He also welcomed the return of Atlanta United midfielder Ajani Fortune to the Soca Warriors setup after a series of injuries.
“Ajani had some injuries that affected him, also he was fighting for a place in [his] team. We left him out sometimes by mutual consent, based on injury or a particular situation that was happening at his club,” Eve revealed.
That said, Eve declared that he selected his 23-man squad with a specific skillset in mind.
“[We looked at] the flexibility of the players, players being able to play multiple positions, based on the fact that we may want to change something during the game, and also the level of competition that the players are playing in, at this point in time. Also, giving the players who brought us to this point the opportunity to finish the job,” he ended.
Soca Warriors Squad: Christopher Biggette (Defence Force), Adrian Foncette (Police FC), Denzil Smith (Club Sando FC), Aubrey David (CS Cartagines), Ross Russell Jr (La Horquetta Rangers), Jesse Williams (Chattanooga FC), Robert Primus, Alvin Jones (both Police FC), Andre Raymond (GD Vilar De Perdizes), Shannon Gomez (San Antonio FC), Justin Garcia (Defence Force), Noah Powder (Northern Colorado Hailstorm), Daniel Phillips (St Johnstone FC), Kevon Goddard (Defence Force), Neveal Hackshaw (Oakland Roots), Andre Rampersad (HFX Wanderers), Nathaniel James (Mount Pleasant FA), Kaïlé Auvray ( Mount Pleasant FA), Real Gill (Northern Colorado Hailstorm), Levi Garcia (AEK Athens) Judah Garcia (AEK Athens B), Reon Moore (Pacific FC), Ajani Fortune (Atlanta United).
Galopin Des Champs joined the list of Cheltenham Festival greats when brilliantly defending his Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup crown.
Having answered stamina doubts 12 months ago, the Willie Mullins-trained Galopin Des Champs was ridden much handier this time by Paul Townend, as the last two Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase winners, The Real Whacker and L’Homme Presse, set the pace.
Townend had edged his way to join the front-runners jumping four out and although the loose Fastorslow threatened to check his momentum as Charlie Deutsch aboard L’Homme Presse set sail for home three out, there were few dramas for the week’s leading rider who looked in complete control jumping to the front two out.
L’Homme Presse and the brave Gerri Colombe looked beaten as Galopin Des Champs (10-11 favourite) approached the last with a clear advantage and he produced the leap of a real champion at the final obstacle before storming up the final climb to finish three and a half lengths clear of Gordon Elliott’s game runner-up Gerri Colombe.
Lucinda Russell’s Grand National hero Corach Rambler stayed on admirably for third, but the day belonged to Galopin Des Champs, who was scoring at the Cheltenham Festival for a third time.
Mullins and Townend were combining for their fourth Gold Cup triumph following Al Boum Photo’s back-to-back triumphs in 2019 and 2020 and Galopin Des Champs’ victory over Bravemansgame 12 months ago and it was a fitting way to cap a stellar week for the master of Closutton and his stable jockey.
Goalkeeper Jean Luke Wilmot emerged as the star for Constant Spring FC in the mid-season final of the Wray & Nephew KSAFA Championship League.
His heroics between the sticks, during both regulation time and in the ensuing penalty shootout to decide the winners, ensured that his team defeated Olympic Gardens FC 5-3 on penalties to secure their first title of the season.
The 24-year-old, who has been a player at the club since the age of sixteen, has experienced the highs and lows at Constant Spring for eight years. In that time, Wilmot has tasted victory and endured defeat in finals appearances. These experiences helped him deal with the pressure in the mid-season final, especially during the dreaded penalty kicks.
“Penalties are something that we were working on in training. For me personally, the final was just a regular game. I was simply doing my job to help the team win,” he explained.
“This win is very, very good for us because we reached the final last year and fell short. This time, we were determined not to settle for second place. We aimed to win, and we did,” he continued.
Wilmot hopes that the mid-season final victory will serve as a catalyst for the club to achieve their ultimate goal this season and surpass last year's performance.
“It's a booster for the team, for everyone. A victory always boosts morale. But the real aim for the team this season is to go one step further than last year and become the Championship League champions.”
Wilmot celebrated the win with his two brothers, Javier and Tariq, who also play for the club. However, he believes this victory is just the beginning for the trio.
“It's a dream come true, but it's not the ultimate dream. The dream is to win everything there is to win with my brothers. For this season, it's to be the champions at the end of the season. That's just the tip of the iceberg.”
His only league title win came back in 2018, and Wilmot believes that the arrival of Neville “Bertis” Bell as head coach in January is the key factor that will help them achieve their goals.
“If you asked the players, we would say yes, however, he would say no because we are the ones who play, and it is down to us to execute what we practice.”
The Manuel Neuer and David de Gea fan spoke of the impact Bell has already made in his short time at the helm at Constant Spring.
“There is a sense of familiarity. He has brought the team closer together. The team is now functioning as a family. He is a role model to the players, not just as a coach but as an individual. It is amazing. He is an amazing person and an amazing coach.”
The former Mona High School Manning Cup player says that they will not get carried away with their mid-season success and that they will quickly return their attention to the main job at hand.
“We will take each game one step at a time as we always do for the rest of the campaign,” he concluded.
Sam Ewing and Stellar Story pounced in the very last stride to inflict Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle agony on Harry Redknapp and Ben Pauling at the Cheltenham Festival.
Pauling’s 18-1 outsider had led the field along from flag fall in the hands of Kielan Woods, with Gordon Elliott’s shock 33-1 winner one of those to track the pace setter.
The sedate early pace saw plenty in with chances as the runners descended towards two out, but one by one they dropped away as Woods upped the tempo aboard The Jukebox Man and made his bid for home.
Pauling’s charge held the advantage running down to the last, but the six-year-old got in tight and gave Ewing and Stellar Story a glimmer of hope and they took full advantage, rallying to reel in the brave runner-up in the shadow of he post.
It was Elliott’s second success of the week following on from Teahupoo’s Stayers’ Hurdle triumph on Thursday, but for young rider Ewing it was not only a first Cheltenham Festival success but also a maiden strike at Grade One level.
Ewing said: “Absolutely brilliant. He’s a horse that jumps very well, he loved that ground today and he battled very hard for me. He was brilliant at the last as well, when we needed it, so I can’t believe it.”
Sam Ewing and Stellar Story pounced in the very last stride to inflict Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle agony on The Jukebox Man at the Cheltenham Festival.
The Ben Pauling-trained 18-1 outsider, who is owned by Harry Redknapp, had led the field along from flag fall in the hands of Kielan Woods, with Gordon Elliott’s shock 33-1 winner amongst those to track the pace setter.
The sedate early gallop saw plenty in with chances as the runners descended towards two out, but one by one they dropped away as Woods upped the tempo aboard The Jukebox Man and made his bid for home.
Pauling’s charge held the advantage running down to the last, but the six-year-old got in tight and gave Ewing and Stellar Story a glimmer of hope and they took full advantage, rallying to reel in the brave runner-up in the shadow of the post.
It was Elliott’s second success of the week following on from Teahupoo’s Stayers’ Hurdle triumph on Thursday, but for the young rider Ewing, it was not only a first Cheltenham Festival success, but also a maiden strike at Grade One level.
Winning owner Michael O’Leary said: “We were very surprised and it makes up for a disappointing day yesterday, when my wife kept presenting trophies to other owners and wouldn’t give me any.
“It’s a great training performance by Gordon – this horse was supposed to go to Aintree, we only put him on the box two nights ago because Croke Park was taken out, so he was very much the reserve.
“It was a very strange race; we thought something would come from the back but the front two horses stayed in front the whole way round.”
Paul Townend produced Absurde to perfection as last year’s Ebor hero got the better of L’Eau Du Sud in the BetMGM County Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
Willie Mullins and Dan Skelton have dominated this event in the last decade, winning eight of the last nine runnings between them, so it was no surprise to see the week’s top two trainers involved at the business end once again.
Paul Nicholls’ Afadil had led the field into the straight where Skelton’s 7-2 favourite L’Eau Du Sud appeared to be travelling supremely in the hands of the trainer’s brother, Harry.
However, Townend was weaving a passage to the front and after the last it was Closutton’s dual-purpose star who pulled out extra to land the spoils at 12-1.
As well as winning the Ebor when given an equally-inspired ride by Frankie Dettori, Absurde finished seventh in the Melbourne Cup, and Townend said: “I got a lot of satisfaction out of that one. What a horse to travel the world and then come back and put in a performance like that on that ground.
“I thought I’d have the pace of them all on his Flat form, but the ground was a big worry.”
Mullins said: “Paul can’t have a warm bone in his body, he was so cold the whole way and delivered him at the right time. He just missed the last but everything else went right.
“I was very worried about the ground, that’s why I thought Risk Belle was the best of my squad, I’d more or less drawn a line through him.
“They went very slow and his Flat speed was a big factor at the end. When I saw where he was early on I thought it wasn’t the place to be, but they were doing 18-second furlongs so I thought he might have a chance.
“He had to find his way through and while he missed the last, it was one hell of a ride, it was the ride of the week for me.
“He’ll probably go to Punchestown and then back on the Flat I’d have thought. It might be hard to qualify for Melbourne – I’d like to go though.”
Skelton said of his runner-up: “Ten or 15 strides out from the last I thought it was on, but Townend suddenly appeared!
“We didn’t jump the last great, but it hasn’t cost us. Absurde was always cantering over us and if we’d jumped the last Townend would have looked even cleverer than he did, which is a big statement because he looked very clever coming from last!
“It’s been a magic, remarkable week. I’m very proud of the owners and horses.”
Majborough announced himself as a star of the future as he toughed it out to land a Willie Mullins dominated JCB Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
Held in the highest regard by the master of Closutton, the juvenile went into plenty of notebooks when an eyecatching third behind Kargese at the Dublin Racing Festival, and it was that duo who fought out the finish at Prestbury Park.
With Danny Mullins keen to keep a tight hold on Kargese, Mark Walsh cut a relaxed figure aboard the JP McManus-owned Majborough and after the second-last they were chief among the Mullins-trained battalion that emerged to swamp the forward-going Salver.
Heading to the last it appeared Kargese held the advantage as Majborough wandered around, but they jumped the final flight in unison, after which the stamina reserves of the 6-1 winner came into play as he was pushed out by his rider to strike by a length and a half.
It was McManus’ third win in the Triumph Hurdle following the victories of Ivanovich Gorbatov and Defi Du Seuil and it continues the Closutton dominance of the race, with Mullins winning it for the fourth time in five years.
He said: “I’m surprised at his price of 6-1 – I expected him to be favourite, he was my pick of this race.
“A lot of mine have been improving all season for their second run. I couldn’t get him out at Christmas, but I got him out at the Dublin Racing Festival and I think he needed that and I think Mark learned a lot about him.
“He came back in and said he was going to make all the running on him next time, which was the plan today and he was only fifth or sixth going round, so that shows how strong the pace was, but he jumped beautifully.
“When he came in the yard and they said he was a Triumph hope, I thought he looked more like a Gold Cup horse – he’s some beast.”
Autonomous Cloud will bid to regain the winning thread when he returns to his beloved Uttoxeter for the bet365 Midlands Grand National Handicap Chase.
Fergal O’Brien’s eight-year-old got the better of Jonjo O’Neill’s reopposing Iron Bridge when scoring on this card 12 months ago and supplemented that victory when returning to the Staffordshire track on his seasonal return.
He was pulled-up when sent off 9-2 joint favourite for the Welsh Grand National over Christmas but connections are hopeful he can recapture his best form and provide O’Brien with his second victory in this valuable contest.
“I was disappointed with him the last day in the Welsh National, but we have trained him for this race and fingers crossed he will go through the ground,” said O’Brien.
“He loves Uttoxeter and has won twice there and placed there. He goes in any ground and hopefully he just needed to be freshened up. He’s not a big, strong 16’3 horse, he’s quite narrow and Chepstow took quite a lot out of him.
“We’ve been waiting for this race, so fingers crossed.”
Not content with dominating proceedings at the Cheltenham Festival, Willie Mullins will attempt to land one last big prize of the week with Mr Incredible, who has not been seen since unseating Brian Hayes in the Grand National last April.
Before that, he was building an admirable CV in staying contests, placing in both the 2023 Classic Chase and Kim Muir, and he is joined in the line-up by fellow Irish raider and 2022 runner-up Young Dev.
Harry Fry’s Exeter scorer Ask Me Early arrives in rude health, as does Jamie Snowden’s Farceur Du Large, who bids for a hat-trick having done the military chase double at Sandown earlier this year.
Snowden said: “He came over from Ireland, where he had some good back form but his recent form was uninspiring.
“I suppose a change of scenery has perked him up and dropping back into those military conditions races probably helped.
“He won those pretty nicely and the handicapper has had his say and stuck him up 6lb for them, but we thought it was worth a shot at a bigger race now and see how he gets on.
“He will like the ground and like the trip and we will just see if he can continue his recent form or slips back into his old ways. But he is in good order and we go there hoping for the best.”
Classic Chase heroine My Silver Lining narrowly failed to double up in Haydock’s Grand National Trial and has the chance to fill the vacancy of stable star at Emma Lavelle’s Wiltshire base following the retirement of Paisley Park.
Guetapan Collonges was third behind My Silver Lining at Warwick and Charlie Longsdon feels he is a stronger stayer than when fourth in this event 12 months ago.
“I’m looking forward to seeing him run and I purposely avoided some of those trials like the Eider and the Grand National Trial because of the ground and to keep him fresh,” said Longsdon.
“He was fourth in the race last year and hopefully he can go a few places better. He is definitely a stronger horse this year and I’ve put a tongue strap on him as he sometimes hits a flat spot in these big races and hopefully that will take that away, especially on the heavy ground.”
Champion trainer Paul Nicholls saddled Truckers Lodge to win this in 2020 and the admirable 12-year-old is back for his fifth crack at the contest in the hands of Freddie Gingell.
“He is a standing dish in this race, won it in runaway style off a mark of 141 in 2020 and here he is back again for a fifth time,” Nicholls told Betfair.
“The heavier the ground, the more it will suit Truckers Lodge, who is only a few years younger than his 18-year-old jockey Freddie Gingell.
“I then ran him a bit too quickly in the Coral Welsh National after his fine win in the London National at Sandown. Truckers Lodge has had a nice break since then and is fresh and bouncing now. He has an each way chance with conditions in his favour.”
Sports Innovators Group Ltd (SIG) has inked at three-year deal with Spanish La Liga club CA Osasuna to organize an annual football camp in Jamaica. The inaugural camp, scheduled for April 1-5, 2024, at the Barbican Astro Turf, promises an enriching experience for young Jamaican football enthusiasts aged 8 to 17, both boys and girls.
The collaboration between SIG and CA Osasuna aims to provide Jamaican players with the opportunity to refine their skills under the guidance of experienced coaches, fostering their development and enhancing their chances of success in professional football. Managing Director at SIG, Paul Campbell, expressed the strategic importance of offering such opportunities to young players, citing the success of the previous SL Benfica camp and the need to maximize the potential of Jamaican talent.
"We felt from a strategic perspective that it was important for us to offer more opportunities to our young players by giving them the best possible chance of maximizing their potential," said Campbell, emphasizing the impact of quality coaching on player development.
Campbell highlighted concerns regarding Jamaican players' struggles to adapt to the demands of professional football overseas, emphasizing the importance of introducing European methodologies at an early age to facilitate smoother transitions in the future.
The CA Osasuna camp, accommodating 80 players, will feature two daily sessions, each hosting 40 participants over the first four days. On the fifth day, players will have the chance to showcase their skills during inter-squad games, providing a platform to impress coaches.
Head of the Physical Conditioning department at CA Osasuna, Iokin Lobo Yeregui, expressed excitement about working with Jamaican players, emphasizing the importance of developing their specific skills and leveraging their potential at a crucial age.
"This football training camp is a good opportunity to develop the specific skills of the children, taking into account their age is important to taking advantage of the window of opportunity they have," said Yeregui. "I think it will be successful as Jamaica is a special country to develop football, and we are going to live this experience to the fullest."
Endorsed by the Kingston and St Andrew Football Association (KSAFA), the camp will also serve as a talent identification opportunity for CA Osasuna, potentially opening doors for Jamaican players to pursue professional careers abroad.
In addition to player development, the camp will include a coaching education workshop, offering ten local coaches the chance to collaborate with CA Osasuna coaches over the five-day period, further enriching football expertise in Jamaica.
With the partnership between SIG and CA Osasuna, Jamaican football stands poised to benefit from world-class coaching and opportunities for player and coach development, marking a significant step forward in the nation's footballing journey.
Trinidad and Tobago Red Force, courtesy of a tidy batting effort led by Tion Webster’s unbeaten century, consolidated their advantage over Windward Islands Volcanoes on day two of their fourth round West Indies Championship encounter at Queen’s Park Oval, on Thursday.
Webster, an all-rounder, smashed 13 fours and two sixes to end not out on 107 off 139 balls, as his almost four-hour knock revived the Red Force innings, which eventually ended at 294. Veteran Jason Mohammed, with a 90-ball 56 and opener Vikash Mohan, with a 96-ball 52, also contributed to the host posting a 103-run lead in reply to the Volcanoes’ first innings total of 191.
Off-spinner Kenneth Dember was the pick of the Volcanoes bowlers with five for 63 from 22 overs.
The Volcanoes in their second innings were 68-2, 35 runs behind with eight wickets intact. Jeremy Solozano, on 30, and Alick Athanaze, on 10, will resume batting on Friday’s penultimate day of the four-day contest.
Scores: Windward Islands Volcanoes 191 & 68-2 (25 overs); Trinidad and Tobago Red Force 294 all out (87 overs) lead by 35 runs
Resuming at 89-1 with Mohan, on 34, and Jyd Goolie, on one, the Red Force lost the latter in the third over of the day, as he added a solitary run to his overnight score.
Mohan added 18 to his overnight score before he went caught off Shamar Springer for a well-played 52 that included six boundaries. Springer, who had Kjorn Ottley (47) on day one, also accounted for captain and West Indies Test wicketkeeper/batsman Joshua Da Silva (four), to leave the Red Force in a spot of bother at 136-4.
However, Webster came to the crease and shared in a 70-run fifth-wicket stand with Jason Mohammed, who had nine boundaries in his 56, before he fell to Dember.
Though Webster fought on, he quickly ran out of partners, as Dember ran through the lower order batsmen, who all failed to get past 10, and the Red Force innings crumbled shortly after the tea interval.
Springer ended with three for 76 from 23 overs.
Meanwhile, Volcanoes in their second time at bat, again lost opener Johann Jeremiah (19) and West Indies Test batsman Kavem Hodge (zero) cheaply, to leave Solozano and Athanaze, who had a half-century in the first innings, on repair duties.
Left-arm spinner Khary Pierre and West Indies pacer Jayden Seales have so far taken the wickets.
Elsewhere, Combined Campuses & Colleges Marooners lead Leeward Islands Hurricanes by 90 runs with seven second innings wickets intact, at Frank Worrell Field in Trinidad and Tobago.
Scores: Combined Campuses & Colleges Marooners 273 all out (Amari Goodridge 75, Sadique Henry 73, Romario Greaves 58, Yannick Ottley 24; Daniel Doram 4-37, Jeremiah Louis 3-54, Rahkeem Cornwall 3-86) & 76 for three (Sadique Henry 32 not out; Jeremiah Louis 2-18).
Leeward Islands Hurricanes 259 all out (Kieran Powell 114, Jeremiah Louis 31, Justin Greaves 29, Rahkeem Cornwall 22, Jahmar Hamilton 21; Romario Greaves 19.2-1-63-5, Zishan Motara 2-14, Jediah Blades 2-50).
At Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua, Barbados Pride trail Guyana Harpy Eagles by 377 with seven first innings wickets in hand.
Scores: Guyana Harpy Eagles 436 all out (Veerasammy Permaul 90, Kevlon Anderson 87, Kevin Sinclair 72, Tevin Imlach 55, Tagenarine Chanderpaul 40, Gudakesh Motie 37, Matthew Nandu 28; Kemar Roach 2-52, Jason Holder 2-52, Jomel Warrican 2-98)
Barbados Pride 59 for three (Jonathan Drakes 20 not out; Isai Thorne 2-19).
Brianna Lyston, Jamaica's young standout athlete from the LSU women's track and field program, has received recognition from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross-Country Coaches Association. She was named the South-Central Region Women's Indoor Track Athlete of the Year, marking a significant achievement in her burgeoning career.
This prestigious honour adds to Lyston's list of accolades, making her the first LSU athlete to claim the title since Tonea Marshall in 2020. Notably, LSU now holds the record for the most regional indoor track athlete of the year awards in the region, with six to their name.
Lyston's remarkable performance at the NCAA Indoor Championships solidified her status as one of the top athletes in collegiate track and field.
She clinched the gold medal in the women's 60m, setting a new LSU record with a breathtaking time of 7.03 seconds. This victory not only made her the first Tiger since Aleia Hobbs in 2018 to win NCAA gold in the event but also elevated her to the second position in collegiate history among 60m runners, trailing only behind the 2023 Bowerman award winner, Julien Alfred.
Prior to her triumph at the NCAA championships, Lyston demonstrated her prodigious talent at the SEC Indoor Championships, where she claimed the women's 60m title with a meet-record time of 7.08 seconds.
This achievement marked a significant milestone in her career, especially considering her absence from a substantial portion of the previous indoor and outdoor seasons.
As Lyston prepares to transition to the outdoor season, she remains determined to continue her success on the track. Scheduled to make her outdoor debut at the Hurricane Invitational, she is set to compete in the 100m, 4x100m relay, and the 4x400m relay, demonstrating her versatility and prowess as one of the top collegiate athletes.
The Jamaica Scorpions produced a spirited batting display to secure first innings honors against the West Indies Academy on day two of their fourth round 2024 West Indies Championship fixture at Sabina Park on Thursday.
King, who is captaining Jamaica for the first time in this match, led the way with 77, his 15th first-class fifty, off 132 balls including 10 fours and one six.
Leroy Lugg also showed good form for the hosts with his fourth first-class half century, 64 off 80 balls including nine fours and a six.
All-rounder Peat Salmon, who got promoted from his usual batting position of eight to six in this innings, repaid that faith with an unbeaten 60* off 157 balls including five fours and a six. Derval Green was the other not out batsman at stumps on 25* as Jamaica reached 326-7 off 82 overs, leading by two runs.
Earlier, openers Carlos Brown and Kirk McKenzie made 33 and 29, respectively.
Joshua Bishop was the most successful academy bowler on the day with 3-85 off 27 overs while Kadeem Alleyne took 2-29 from eight overs.
Full Scores: West Indies Academy 324 all out off 82 overs (Joshua Dorne 83, Jordan Johnson 61, Kadeem Alleyne 52, Joshua James 36, Ojay Shields 3-28, Derval Green 3-38)
Jamaica Scorpions 326-7 off 82 overs (Brandon king 77, Leroy Lugg 64, Peat Salmon 60*, Carlos Brown 33, Kirk McKenzie 29)
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