Sports
Team BVI to Compete in WAAm Caribbean Development Championship 2024
The British Virgin Islands (BVI) archery team has departed for Kingston, Jamaica, to compete in the 2024 WAAm Caribbean Development Championship. Hosted by the Jamaica Archery Federation (JAI), the event runs from September 18 to 22 and will feature top talent from around the Caribbean and beyond.
The competition provides an opportunity for the BVI team, a mix of beginners and developmental archers, to test their skills against athletes from countries to leave their mark on the regional stage. Leading the charge in the Recurve Beginner Under 15 Men category is Matthew Keandré, while David Persaud will compete in the Recurve Developmental Men category. Both will be testing their skills in the qualification rounds for their respective categories.
The Compound Beginner Under 15 Women category sees Kasadiyah Baird aiming for success, while Naomi Onwufuju and Keyara Smith will represent the BVI in the Compound Developmental Under 18 Women category. Javlyn Frett also joins the developmental ranks in the Compound Developmental Women category, setting her sights on strong results.
Kellyann Tillack, competing in the Recurve Beginner Under 18 Women category, rounds out the squad, each determined to put BVI archery on the map.
Coaches Ritseeniyah Georges and Patrick Smith will be guiding the team through the competition, providing essential support and expertise to help the young athletes navigate this important event.
The competition will feature other archers from regional heavyweights like Jamaica, the Bahamas, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago. Jamaica, the host nation, leads the pack with a 34-member contingent, while countries like Guyana and the US Virgin Islands (USVI) are also sending strong teams. The United States has joined the competition as well, bringing an additional level of intensity to the championship.
Five coaches were awarded their Concacaf C License certifications, the British Virgin Islands Football Association announced this week, marking a new step in the Territory’s push to strengthen youth football development. The certificates were presented by BVIFA Technical Director Paul Decle, who addressed the group alongside representatives of the association.
Decle, speaking at the brief presentation ceremony, underscored the responsibility that accompanies the new qualification. “Your role now is to develop the future of football,” he said. “The mandate from the BVIFA to the new C License coaches is to put in the work and develop the youth — on and off the field.”
The Concacaf C License Course is designed to improve coaching standards across the region by focusing on player development, session planning, and youth-centered instruction. Completion of the program allows coaches to work more extensively within national grassroots and youth football structures.
BVIFA officials described the accomplishment as part of the association’s wider effort to strengthen coaching capacity, improve technical standards, and expand youth outreach programs across the islands.
The newly licensed coaches are expected to support BVIFA training initiatives, youth academies, and upcoming development programs scheduled throughout the 2024–25 calendar.
The British Virgin Islands men’s rugby sevens team will begin its Rugby Americas North (RAN) Sevens campaign today, Nov. 21 in Arima, Trinidad, with scheduled matches against St. Lucia at 10:28 a.m. and Turks and Caicos at 2:28 p.m. at Larry Gomes Stadium. The tournament runs Nov. 20–22 and will feature national teams from across the region.
The BVI squad is preparing for a demanding three-day slate that continues on Nov. 22 with games against St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Curaçao, followed by a matchup with the Bahamas on Nov. 23. Results from the tournament will contribute to regional rankings and, in some cases, influence qualification pathways for future international events.
Team officials released the full roster ahead of travel to Trinidad. The delegation includes Jayden Williams, Josiah Means, Jonathan McAauley, Gethin Jones, Bradrick Evans, Stuart Fee, Rossa Canavan, Roan Thornton, Denvin Jones, D’von Jones, Thomas Wilson, Roequan Hemerding, Robert Lind and Thomas Chapman. Coach James Morris and manager Mark Jones will oversee preparations.
Tournament organizers say RAN Sevens remains the primary development platform for rugby sevens in the Caribbean and North America, offering emerging unions consistent exposure to international-standard play. The BVI team is expected to complete final training sessions before taking the field Friday morning.
Further updates will follow once competition gets underway.
Courtney Bascombe earned a bronze medal in the men’s 100 metres at the North, Central American and Caribbean Masters Athletics Championships in Mexico City after a strong showing in both rounds of competition.
Bascombe advanced to the final after winning his preliminary heat on Friday with a time of 11.43 seconds. He improved in the medal round on Saturday, clocking 11.35 seconds to finish third overall.
The regional Masters Championships bring together veteran athletes from across the Americas and the Caribbean, competing in track and field disciplines across multiple age categories. The event is sanctioned by the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) and recognises athletes over 35 years of age.
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