SPORTS BEAT with Dean "The Sportsman" Greenaway

Busy sports weekend ahead

Wondering what to do this weekend sports wise? With the Whit Monday holiday looming, there’s a bevy of sporting activities on tap this weekend, ranging from the Softball All Star weekend, opening of the BVI Basketball Federation league, sailing, Mothers Day Cycling race, cricket and track and field athletes competing in Barbados.

Activities convene on Friday night with the BVI Softball Association Female Youth All Stars game at the Old Recreation Grounds, followed by Young Talent against the Blue Wings.

Action continues at 3 p.m. on Saturday with a Male Youth All Stars game, followed by the Legends softball game, male home run contest and the female All Stars game. Sunday at 5 p.m. will see the female home run contest, male home runs final and the male All Stars Game.

Saturday morning will see the BVI Dinghy Championships in the Sir Francis Drakes Channel. More than 80 participants from the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Florida, will join their BVI counterparts in the event that runs through Sunday. Final registration is between 5-8 p.m. on Friday at the Royal BVI Yacht Club. The first race begins at 10 a.m. Saturday on two courses. Races continue at 10 a.m. on Sunday, with the awards ceremony scheduled for 3 p.m. at the Royal BVI Yacht Club.

Later in the day, the BVI Basketball Federation league opens with a parade of teams from the Elmore Stoutt High School at 4:30 p.m. (teams to line up by 4) and parade to the Multipurpose Sports Complex for the 5 p.m. opening ceremonies, with speeches from Sports Minister Hon. Andrew Fahie, Ag. Director of Youth Affairs and Sports, Patrick Harrigan and Basketball Federation president Guy “The General” Malone. Three games follow: Virgin Gorda 9-12 vs Tortola; Jr. Mystics vs Basics and East vs Bad Boys. Sunday games starting at 6 p.m., Da Boys vs Run It Red and Ghetto Mix vs Long Look Bull Dogs. There will be entertainment between games.

Mothers Day will feature the 2nd annual Nature’s Little Secrets Cycling Club women’s race for a cause at 3 p.m. from the Central Administration Complex. The club is using Sunday’s race to raise funds for breast cancer screening and have partnered with Eureka Medical Clinic to help defray the cost of mammograms, particularly for women who cannot afford them or don’t have medical insurance. Last year’s event attracted 58 participants. Registration starts at 2 p.m. in the Palm Grove Park and the registration fee is $10. Beginning at 3 p.m., there will be a procession from the Administration Complex to Prospect Reef Roundabout, up to the Port Purcell Roundabout and return, followed by a 2-lap race for social riders while elite cyclists will do five laps.

Sunday’s BVI Cricket Association matchups starting at 11 a.m. will find Virgin Gorda All Star vs Carimi and Under 19s facing Vikings at 2:30.

Some 22 athletes will compete in the weekend Austin Sealy Track and Field Classic in Barbados. The meet is being used as a tune up for next weekend’s Youth and Jr. Championships at the A. O. Shirley Recreation Grounds.