Zamir Guerra

Belize City, March 24, 2013

Team Cayo High Road’s Zamir Guerra broke Byron Pope’s record by over 3 minutes, clocking 3:34:38 on his 72-mile victory ride for the 14th annual Junior Cross Country Cycling classic on Sunday.

In the sprint to the finish Guerra edged out Tarique Flowers riding unattached to take home the winner’s garland of roses, a $300 cash prize from the Cycling Association, a trophy, a jersey donated by 2005 Cross Country champion Bill Elliston, a silver chain and cycling pendant from Yvonne Robinson and Xishel and a box of Trail Mix from Smart Speednet.

Tarique Flowers held on to beat Team BECOL uprising’s Michael Wagner and claim the $200 2nd prize and a trophy.

Wagner took home the $100 3rd third prize and a trophy.

The 84th annual Holy Saturday Cross Country classic from Belize City to San Ignacio and back comes up on March 30.

Other finishers:

Unattached Joslyn Chavarria – 4th

Telemedia Swoosh’s Giovanni Lovell – 5th

Team Xibalban’s Oscar Quiros – 6th

Unattached Philip Mencias – 7th place

Team Cayo High Road’s Aiden Juan – 8th

BECOL Uprising’s Zahir Figueroa – 9th

Unattached Damien Westby – 10th

Easy Does It team

Lemonal Village, March 24, 2013

Easy Does It won 157-65 over Alfred Dawson Cricket Club when the 2013 SMART Harrison Parks national cricket competition continued in Lemonal on Sunday.

Chris Banner took 5 wickets and scored 37 runs for Easy Does It, while Thomas Dawson scored 11 runs for the visitors and Zaggi took 6 wickets.

The match between Bright Star and Wicked Eleven was postponed. The second half of the competition resumes on April 6, after the Easter weekend.

Other matches:

Isabella Uprising vs. Brave Union – 163-71

Sunrise of Lord’s Bank vs. Police – 198 -109

Brilliant vs. Surprise – 223-30

Belize City, March 30, 2013

Team Santino’s Darnell Barrow outsprinted Team Benny’s Megabytes’ Mexican import Juan Pablo Magallanes and Team Veloshine’s John Delong of the USA to win the 85th annual Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling classic on the George Price Highway.

Darnell almost set a new record, clocking 5:46:49 on the 140 mile ride from at Leslie’s Imports in Belize City to the Coronation Park in San Ignacio and back to the finish line in front of the Hour Bar & Grill on Newtown Barracks to win a $5,000 1st prize from United Insurance, the winner’s garland from Florasol and 6 trophies.

Darnell also won a Samsung Galaxy phone package and the champion’s jersey from Digicel 4G, a 2-night stay at Beya Suites in the Snake Cayes, dinner for 2 at the Barrier Reef Resort in Caye Caulker and an overnight stay at Banana Beach Resort in San Pedro. Additionally, he won a $2,500 prize which United Insurance offered for the first Belizean, and a 1,000lb bull.

Magallanes had dominated much of the race, winning 14 station prizes including the $1,000 prize at Mount Hope on the outbound leg as he and Team C-Ray’s Luis Pulido Naranjo ran away from the main peloton all the way to San Ignacio.

Pulido Naranjo won 15 station prizes on the outbound leg, including the big prize at the half-way point and 4 more on the way back. Magallanes claimed the $3,000 2nd prize and the trophy from Belize Electricity Ltd, as well as an overnight stay at Magic Island Resort the Altreith Smith Memorial plaque, and a trophy from Glen and Laurie Young.

John Delong won the $2,000 3rd prize and a trophy from Belize Bank,  an overnight stay at Barefoot Caribe Resort in Caye Caulker, and a trophy from Glen and Laurie Young.

Team Santino’s top rider Marlon Castillo was tipped to win this year’s Cross Country; and he did win a $50 prize at Mile 47 going to Cayo, but his race ended when he broke his shoulder and arm when he went down in a group spill near Belmopan.

Other finishers:

4th place – Belize Linkup Justin Williams

5th place –Telemedia’s Gregory Lovell

6th place – Team Veloshine’s Scottie Weiss

7th place – Team Belikin Western Spirits’ Roger Troyer

8th place – Team Santino’s Leroy Cassasola

9th place – Team C-Ray’s Brandon Morgan

10th place – Belikin Western Spirits’ Shane Vasquez (2006 Cross Country Champ)

11th place – Team C-Ray’s Brandon Cattouse

12th place – Team Benny’s Megabytes’ Mexican import Carlos Lopez

13th place – Team Belikin Western Spirits’ Ron Vasquez

14th place – Unattached Kenroy “Smokes” Gladden

15th place – Unattached Henry Moriera

16th place – Team Santino’s Luis Santizo

17th place – Team C-Ray’s Florencio Ramon Torres

18th place – Luis Naranjo Pulido

19th place – Team Belikin Western Spirits’ Geovanni Choto (2012 Champ)

20th place – Team Santino’s Alejandro Padilla

Belize City, March 31st, 2013

Mr. Belize, Rigo Vellos, easily defended his 2012 title as Mr. Physique when the 13th Annual Tipsy Tuna Easter Fest got going on Sunday afternoon in Placencia.

The event, which is sanctioned by the Belize Body Building and Fitness Federation, saw the participation of six competitors that also included former Mr. Belize Deon Danderson. After posing for the official judges and getting the crowd excited with some on-stage competitive poses, the judges shortlisted to two competitors, the current and former Mr. Belize.

The final call placed Rigo at the top.

The next official body building federation event is the Strong Man contest followed by the Mr. Belize competition.

The BELIZE TIMES has learnt that Mr. Belize is preparing for an international body building competition, the 2013 Hercules Olympia to be held at the United Kingdom in May. Rigo is currently seeking financial support to be able to participate in the event. Anyone interested in supporting can contact the Federation at 622-8023.

Julio Ayala takes on Felix Miranda

San Ignacio, March 31, 2013

It was win some, lose some for 4th place team, San Ignacio United, as they enjoyed a 3-2 win against Verdes at the Norman Broaster Stadium in San Ignacio on Sunday; after a 3-0 loss to the Belize Defense Force last Wednesday night.

Seannon Deour led the San Ignacio attack, delighting the home fans with the 1st goal in the 16th minute; when he recovered a deflected ball from Verdes’ goalie Ryan Serazia, who could not hold on to a shot from Eric Guzman.

Verdes luck did not improve when they found themselves down to 10 men after central referee Gerald Henry ejected Everald Trapp for protesting the referee’s call and then angrily kicking away the ball.

Leonard Valdez headed in San Ignacio’s 2nd goal in the 28th minute when he connected to a pass to center from midfielder Everald “Tarry” Gabourel as the home squad led 2-0 at the half time break.

Verdes’ Najib Guerra pulled one back for the visitors in the 46th minute right after the break. Gilroy “Bredda” Thurton coming off the Verdes’ bench had a chance for the equalizer when he received a pass from Emmanuel Martinez in front of the goal, but he let San Ignacio’s goalie Gerardo Vanegas off the hook by sending the ball over the crossbar.

Garret Bermudez came off San Ignacio’s bench to score a 3rd goal when he headed in a pass to center from a corner kick executed by Carlos Vasquez in the 60th minute.

Emmanuel Martinez scored Verdes’ 2nd goal when he picked up a pass to center from Javier Habet and blasted the ball past Vanegas in injury time, but the home defenders Eric Guzman, Felix Miranda, Gilberto Carillo and Anthony Morgan locked out Verdes in the remaining time to secure the 3-2 win.

Camalote team

Esperanza Village, April 7, 2013

Camalote United softball ladies remained undefeated, winning 3 games to dominate the Cayo Softball Association’s 2-day marathon to kick off their 2013 competition at the Joan Garbutt Stadium over the weekend.

Camalote United defeated the Ontario Rebels 8-1 in the championship finals on Sunday morning.

The Camalote ladies were on a winning streak. They had defeated the Ontario Rebels in their first encounter 8-0. Nadine Coye led the attack scoring in the 1st through the 4th innings. Frances Coye also scored in the 1st and 2nd, and Molly Coye, Brigette Fuller, Jenieve Salazar and Rhea Gutierrez added four more runs in the 2nd inning.

Camalote had tasted success from Saturday when they won against the Esperanza girls 9-2 by mercy rule. Esperanza’s catcher Patricia Spain came home in the 1st inning, but Camalote led 6-1 when Nadine Coye, Molly Coye, Bridgette Fuller, pitcher Francine Salazar, Sherlett Gamboa and Shadine Salazar came home in the bottom of the 1st. Nadine came home in the 2nd, and Shandy Casey and Rhea Gutierrez came home in the fourth to lead 9-1. Only Stevens scored for Esperanza in the 4th.

The Ontario Rebels had eliminated the Esperanza girls 4-0 to advance to the finals against Camalote.

Other matches:

Esperanza vs. Las Flores girls – 32-0!

Ontario Rebels vs. Roaring Creek Grace Kennedy – 4-0

Ontario Rebels vs. Belmopan United – 16-0

Esperanza vs. Las Flores girls – 19-1

Roaring Creek vs. Belmopan United – 20-1

Esperanza vs. Roaring Creek Grace Kennedy – 1-0

Bermudian Landing, April 6, 2013

Belize’s national team captain Conway Young, batting for team Berlan, scored the first double centuries in the 2013 SMART Harrison Parks national cricket competition when the Berlan Cricket Club hosted Brave Union of Burrell Boom in Bermudian Landing out on Saturday, April 6.

Young batted 200 runs to remain not out. Berlan declared after scoring 323 runs, even though they had not batted their entire innings. The Berlan bowlers Kevin “Uzi” Flowers and Hubert Banner then scorched the visiting batsmen with the heat of their bowling, as each took 3 wickets to retire the visitors for 72 runs. Brian Cassasola and Claudius Rhaburn each scored 13 runs for Brave Union while Bernard Sutherland took 2 wickets.

The competition continues this weekend with the Police hosting the Strugglers at the Governor General’s field in Belmopan on Sunday, April 14. Meanwhile Brilliant will visit Berlan in Bermudian Landing on Saturday, April 13. Bright Star plays at home against Brave Union, Western Eagles will host Easy Does It in Rancho Dolores, Sunrise visits Excellence in Double Head Cabbage, and Isabella Uprising hosts Wicked Eleven in Isabella Bank.

Other matches:

Easy Does It of Lemonal vs. Lords Bank Sunrise – 124-89

Wicked Eleven vs. Surprise – 270-105

Excellence of Double Head Cabbage vs. Western Eagles of Rancho Dolores – 267-119

Brilliant vs. Bright Star of Sand Hill – 280-55

Police vs. Alfred Dawson Cricket Club – Police win by Default

Alberto Vasquez challenges Trevor Lennon

Belmopan, April 6, 2013

Defending champions Belmopan Bandits have virtually assured their berth in the upcoming UNCAF Champion of Champions competition as they have topped the Premier League of Belize rankings with 26 points from 8 wins and 2 draws, enjoying sweet revenge 2-1 against the Belize Defence Force, the only team to have defeated them so far this season, at the Isidoro Beaton Stadium on Saturday night.

Ryan Simpson squandered the chance to give the BDF a 1-0 in the opening minutes of the ball game when he intercepted a pass from the Bandits’ defense. Denmark Casey Jr. made no such mistake when he picked up a forward pass from Deon McCauley. Casey’s right-away right foot shot at close range beat BDF goalie Frank Lopez to give the Bandits a 1-zip lead in the 30th minute.

The BDF got another break to equalize when the Bandits’ defender Jacinto Bermudez goofed into giving up a penalty by taking down Ryan Simpson inside the 18-yard box, but Vallan Symns’ shot hit the crossbar when he tried to convert. Byron Usher also tried but his rocket of a shot was just over the crossbar.

BDF’s Harrison Tasher finally delivered the equalizer when his free kick deflected off a defender beat Bandits’ goalie Woodrow West in the 78th minute.

Deon McCauley now leads the PLB with 8 goals after he killed a pass from Ian Gaynair on his chest, and with his trademark pivot, put it into the net with a rebound off the far upright in the 85th minute for the 2-1 win.

Other matches:

Bandits vs. Police – 4-0

Goals by James (1), Macaulay (3)

BDF vs. FC Belize – 1-1

Goals by Leon “Lem” Jones, Marlon Meza

FC Belize vs. Verdes FC – 1-2

Goals by Gilroy “Bredda” Thurton (2), Christobal Gilharry (1)

Verdes vs. Placencia Assassins 2-0

Goals by Humberto Requena, Rodney Torres

Police United vs. San Ignacio United – 4-1

Goals by Amin “Tacos” August, Lennox “Criminal” Castillo, Orlando “Lichy” Jimenez, Ryan Seravia, Garrett Bermudez

San Ignacio United vs. FC San Felipe Barcelona – 1-1

Goal by Rosni Martinez and Clifton West

Upcoming matches

FC Belize vs. Bandits, Isidoro Beaton Stadium, Saturday night

Police United vs. Verdes, MCC Garden, Sunday

San Ignacio United vs. Placencia Assassins, Norman Broaster Stadium

FC San Felipe Barcelona vs. BDF, Peoples’ Stadium

Lawrence Banner took 1 wicket

Double Head Cabbage, April 13, 2013

The defending national champs, Excellence Cricket Club, posted their 7th win at home 187-158 over Sunrise of Lord’s Bank in Double Head Cabbage last Saturday, continuing their undefeated streak in the 2013 SMART Harrison Parks national cricket competition.

Brandon Broaster led the batting for the hosts with 47 runs even as Sunrise bowlers Jonathan Benjamin and Edison Parks took 3 wickets each. Jani Chilu led the visitors’ batting with 35 runs, but Brandon’s baby brother, Kenny Broaster took 3 wickets to hold Sunrise to 158 runs all out!

The defending national sub-champs Western Eagles of Rancho Dolores held cricket clinic for Easy Does It in Lemonal as they surpassed the hosts’ score of 58-54 runs with 7 wickets to spare.

Camalote’s Francine Salazar

Esperanza Village, April 14, 2013

The Camalote United women’s softball team spanked the Capital City Emeralds 16-zip by mercy rule in the first week of the 2013 Cayo Softball competition at the Joan Garbutt Stadium in Esperanza Village on Saturday, April 14.

Camalote’s pitcher Francine Salazar shut out the Belmopan girls, striking out 6 batters to allow no runs. Camalote hitters walloped Dana Mae King’s pitching for Nadine Coye, Frances Coye, Francine Salazar, Brigette Fuller and Tamira Martinez to come home in the 1st inning, and Francine Salazar, Jenieve Salazar, Rhea Gutierrez, Shandy Casey and Martinez come home in the 2nd inning. Molly Coye and Francine came home in the 3rd inning and Nadine, Frances and Shadine came home again in the 4th inning at which the game was called.

Other games:

Roaring Creek Grace Kennedy vs. Ontario Rebels – 9-3

Esperanza vs. Santa Elena – Forfeited

Upcoming matches:

Las Flores vs. Camalote United

Capital City Emeralds vs. Ontario Rebels

Preston Martinez wins A Division

Belize City, March 17, 2013

Team M&M Engineering’s Preston Martinez won the “A” Division of the 4th annual BNE Weekend Warriors’ Cross Country while Team Santino’s Santino “Chief” Castillo won the “B’ Division on the George Price and Philip Goldson Highways on Sunday.

Martinez clocked 3:59:10 on his 80-mile ride from Loma Luz, Santa Elena to Hattieville, through the Burrell Boom bypass, and on to the Philip Goldson Highway, circling around the NAPA roundabout and

finishing at M&M Engineering.

Team of Cayo Rentals’ Phillip Burns took 2nd, while Sean Howard clocked 4:02.19 for 3rd place. BCB/F.T. Williams’ Mark Gentle was 4th and Colin Mehia 5th. Team BWS’ Derick Smith was 6th.

The “B” Division champ, Santino Castillo, clocked 3:03.18 on his 60-mile ride from Puma Garbutt’s service station in Roaring Creek to Hattieville, through the Burrell Boom bypass, and on to the Philip Goldson Highway, circling around the NAPA roundabout and finishing at M&M Engineering. Team Santino’s Jim Scott was 2nd second.

Belize City, April 20 2013

Belize won three of nine bouts on the fight card when the first ever UFC-style Mixed Martial Arts competition was held in Belize.

Shihan Ray Kelly and the Belize Shotokan Karate dojo hosted fighters from the Eagle Park tae-kwon-do dojo of Chetumal, Quintana Roo for fights in the octagon at the Belize Elementary auditorium on Saturday night.

The fights played to a packed house of fans who got their money’s worth. Belizean fight fans have been long-starved for some blood sport as boxing on the “Island” is now only a dim memory.

In the 1st bout on the card, Mexico’s Randy Gonzalez clobbered Belize’s Barnie Rock until Rock was out on his feet.

In the 2nd bout, Mexico’s Ury Gamino pinned Belize’s Mario Vasquez to the canvas in the 2nd of the 3 rounds, so even though Vasquez was able to pin Gamino to the canvas, the Mexican won on points.

In the 3rd bout, Belize’s Ralph Hulse Jr. got Mexican Darwin Sandoval to tap out.

In the 4th bout, Belize’s Jessie Mejia’s kick-boxing was no match for Carlos Escobar’s no holds barred brawling style. Escobar caught Mejia’s leg when he was off-balance in a kick and threw him to the canvas; Mejia tapped out.

In the 5th bout, Mexico’s Eddie Pech deflected Lester Alvarado’s kicks and pinned him to the canvas. In the 2nd round Alvarado tried to kick-box, but Pech picked him up and slammed him to the canvas. Alvarado won some points in the 3rd round, but Pech won the fight.

In the 6th bout, Belize’s Joel Meyers fell to the canvas early in his fight with Mexico’s Erick Flota. Maybe he slipped but he was soon back on his feet. The referee wasn’t so sure he was not TKO, but Meyers checked out and pinned Flota to the canvas, where he hammered him until Flota cried uncle.

In the 7th bout, Mexico’s Chamaco Pech picked up Williams N’duka and locked him in a painful submission to win the fight.

In the 8th bout, Belize’s Alaine “Bullet” Alexis took the fight to Mexico’s Juan Carlos Nah from the get-go, refusing to grapple. Alexis’ superior boxing skills were too much for Nah and the referee had to stop the fight to save him.

In the 9th bout, the “main event”, Mexico’s Alberto Basulcar Galera lived up to his billing, while Belize’s Jameel “Iceman” Smith felt the pressure. Smith pinned Galera to the canvas, but Galera was slippery as an eel, getting out of the hold and reversing the pin on Smith. In the 3rd round, Smith tried to slug it out, but Galera pinned him to the canvas and pounded him into submission.

During the scuffle, Galera committed a move which officials said was illegal. Sensei Kelly consulted the officials, arguing that Galera had used an illegal technique, and in the end the judges awarded the fight to Smith, disqualifying Galera for the illegal technique.

Mexico won 5-4 to Belize, but the fans will want a rematch, pronto! So Kelly will keep his fighters in training.

Belize City, April 22, 2013

National veteran champion Carlos Cui successfully defended his title against Billy Musa Jr. when both advanced to the finals in the 3rd Annual Veterans “5 BARREL” table tennis championships hosted by the Belize Table Tennis Association at the Belize Elementary School Auditorium on Sunday April 21.

Musa gave the champion a challenge but Cui won 3-0. All three games were closely contested, with both players, at some point, having a clean advantage and in a position to take the title. The final 4 positions were: Carlos Cui – back-to-back champ; Billy Musa Jr. – 2nd; Dan Habet from San Ignacio, Cayo – 3rd, and Sui Pan Chen of Dangriga, Stann Creek – 4th.

Trophies were awarded to all 4 finishers, and the champion also received a bottle of 5 BARREL aged rum from Travellers Liquors, who sponsored this event.

Some 16 veteran players had started off the double elimination format competition in the morning, but by late afternoon they were down to the final 4. Cui reached the finals undefeated, besting Toni Liu, Harold Young, Yasser Musa, and then Dan Habet in successive rounds. Billy Musa Jr. won his first match against Hector Lopez, but then had to fight his way back out of the “losers’ bracket”, after his loss to Dan Habet. He did so by eliminating successively Francis Gegg, Hector Lopez, Yasser Musa, Sui Pan Chen, and finally Dan Habet in the semifinals.

Benque Viejo, April 20 2013

The Central Division athletes won the most gold medals, 27 in total, at the national high school national track and field championships, hosted by the Mopan Technical High School at the Marshalleck Stadium in Benque Viejo del Carmen over the weekend.

The Central athletes also won 17 silver and 16 bronze for a total of 60 medals. The South took 43 medals total: 14 gold, 13 silver and 16 bronze. The North won 38 medals: 7golds, 14 silver and 17 bronze. The West was 4th with 28 medals: 8 gold, 12 silver and 8 bronze.

Benny’s Megabytes

Cozumel, April 28, 2013

Belizeans who participated in the annual Cedral Cycling Classic in Cozumel, Mexico over the weekend left a lasting impression on neighboring athletes.

Kaya Cattouse won as female champion overall, while Team Santinos’ Jim Scott finished 2nd in the ‘Master B’ category and Team C’Ray’s Brandon Morgan finished 2nd overall in the ‘Junior’ category. It was a 2-stage race and the best accumulated time after the 2 stages determined the winner.

Morgan placed second in the 1st stage on Saturday, some 18 seconds behind the leader and he won the 2nd stage on Sunday which came down to a sprint. Jim Scott was 2nd in the 1st stage some 00:01:15 behind the leader and he won the 2nd stage in a sprint on Sunday.

Kaya Cattouse won the first day of female racing in a sprint; separating herself from the field by 3 seconds. She also won the 2nd stage in a convincing sprint finish. She had placed 2nd overall last year.

Well known Mexican cyclist Juan Manuel Yapur of Team Cape, who sometimes races with affiliation to the C-Ray Team in Belize, won the ‘Elite’ category overall; while Belizean riders Byron Pope and Allen

Castillo of Benny’s Megabytes were 2nd and 3rd respectively. A Mexican from Team Depredadores was 4th and Brandon Cattouse of C-Ray rounded out the top 5.

Other teams who were also represented in Cozumel:

- Telemedia Swoosh: George Lovell, Greg Lovell and Jairo Campus.

- Santinos: Jim Scott, Santino Castillo and Warren Coye.

- Benny’s Megabytes: Byron Pope, Mark Staine, Herman Requeña, Allen Castillo and Angel Tzib.

- C-Ray: Brandon Morgan, Kaya Cattouse, Riis & Brandon Cattouse, Henry Moriera and Ron McKenzie

Belize City, April 28, 2013

The Belize Bank Blazer won the all-day marathon which kicked off the 2013 Belize City women’s softball competition on Sunday, April 28.

The Blazers stopped the Rebels 13-4. Kiri Lizama, Marsha Wills, Jolene Davis and Fiona Rivero came home in the top of the 1st inning while Rebels’ Mertell Bailey, Patricia Thimbrell and Doreth Young came home as Blazers led 4-3. Pitcher Ortencia Richards gave up no runs in the next 3 innings, while Lizama came home in the 2nd. Rebels’ Sharette Vernon came home to trail 4-5. That was all she wrote for the Rebels, as Lizama, Wills and Davis scored 3 runs in the top of the 6th and Lizama, Davis, Cindy Joseph and Nicole Arnold scored 4 runs in the top of the 7th for the 13-4 victory in the first finals game.

In the second finals game, the Blazers outlasted the Rebels 4-3 to clinch the championship.

Belize City, April 30, 2013

SJC’s Fabio Carballo won the 1st annual Don Omario Cup when by the Belize Table Tennis Association held its under-18 national table tennis tournament at the Belize Elementary School Auditorium on Saturday April 27.

Some 32 players from St John’s College, St. Mary’s Anglican School, St. Joseph’s RC School and Belize Elementary Schools began the competition which was in double elimination format, and it took 62 matches to decide a champion.

National under-15 Cadets champion, Fabio Carballo, entered the tournament as one of the top-seeded players along with Harim Ochaeta, Joshua Gegg, Aaron Stock, Daniel Sanchez, Mishek Musa, Gian Lisbey, and Zachary Ortiz.

The championship finals was a close and exciting contest, but Carballo triumphed over against Ochaeta: 3-1. Aaron Stock of St John’s Junior College was third and Gian Lisbey also of SJC was fourth. As champion, Carballo keeps the Cup for a year until the next annual tournament, any champion who wins the Cup three times gets to keep it.

The tournament was named in honor of Don Omario Perdomo who was a table tennis player in his time; and the company he founded, Travellers Limited, sponsored the tournament.

David Ramos controls the ball

Belize City, May 5, 2013

FC Belize toppled the #1 Belmopan Bandits 1-0 when they met at the MCC Grounds in Belize City on Sunday.

A 2nd minute goal for FC Belize by national U-19 striker Avian “Chi-Chis” Crawford was all it took to put the big, bad Belmopan Bandits in the hurt column. The Bandits, who had been riding the crest of a wave of victories as they closed off the regular season, already assured of a berth in the Central American champion of champions league coming up later this year. But they came a cropper against the fourth ranked FC Belize.

Belize’s top goleador Deon Macaulay and Jerome “Jarro” James led the Bandits counterattack with the help of midfielders Dennis Serano, Brandon Peyrefitte, Floyd Jones and David Trapp, but the FC defenders George Estrada, Leon “Chow” Cadle, Luis Arriola and Matthew Leal locked up shop to secure the 1-zip win FC Belize found themselves down to 10 men when the referee sent off John “Bull” King with a red card, but the rest of the FC forwards.

Macaulay left the game early, and his replacement, Gilbert “Hoof” Swazo, won’t be able to pay game to of the playoffs, since he earned a red card from the ref in injury time. David Trapp will also be watching Game 2 from the sidelines as he too got a red card for a bad tackle on Crawford’s half-time replacement, David “Gringo” Ramos.

Jerome James almost got the equalizer for the Bandits in an injury time flick to finish a pass from Floyd Jones, but the linesman ruled James was off-side.

Mr. Belize, Rigo Vellos

Current Mr. Belize title holder, Rigo Vellos, arrived in London on Wednesday, three days before the much-anticipated 2013 Hercules Olympia takes place.

The international bodybuilding competition will be held on Saturday, May 11th at the Charter Hall in Colchester, London. Rigo will be competing along with some of the world’s most chiseled bodybuilders.

Rigo has been training intensely for this competition. After winning Mr. Belize in October 2012, his training curriculum increased to build mass and muscle. When the opportunity arose for Belizeans to travel to the United Kingdom, Rigo seized it. With the help of friends in Corozal, especially Nancy and Scott Rifenbark, he held fundraisers to obtain the funds needed to travel. He also turned to the business community, individual sponsors and the Commonwealth Olympic Games Association for support.

Rigo is already making history. This is the 1st time a Belizean is participating. It is positive exposure for Belize and future athletes who will have an opportunity to compete at this level.

Rigo also left Belize as a winner. This past weekend he won 1st place in the Corozal Bodybuilding Competition Senior Category held upstairs of Lotus Studio. 1st place in the Junior category went to Farid Pott. Rigo also won 1st Place in the Habet and Habet Mr. Physique Competition held in Placencia over the Easter weekend.

Roaring Creek, May 4, 2013

Team Guydis: Chris Guydis and the Sanchez twins: Jermaine and Jeremy, clocked 2:19 as they won 1st overall and the male division of the 2013 Smart Agric River Challenge canoe race from Iguana Creek to the National Agriculture and Trade Show grounds on Saturday. They also won a $135 1st prize and trophy.

Male division

2nd: NICH’s Oscar Cordon and Amado Cruz of the Dream Team – 2:27:18

3rd : Team Westrac: Erwin Cruz and Henner Cruz – 2:34:28 (7th overall).

Intramural division

1st: St. Ignatius High School – 2:24:35 (2nd overall)

2nd: Team Turds – 2:31:29 (6th overall)

Mixed division

1st: Jayda Guydis in the second Guydis canoe – 2:26 07 35 (3rd overall)

2nd: Belize Bank – Armin, Ruth and Alfredo Lopez – 2:29:14 (5th overall)

3rd: Coast Guard Guardians – Tony Franzua, Keyren Tzib, Glen Jones – 2:34:36 (8th overall)

4th: BDF No. 2 canoe – 2:44:47 (4th in the mixed category)

Pleasure division

1st: Belize Defence Force – 2:34:50 (9th overall)

2nd Westrac II: Jerry Cante and Armando Lopez – 2:39:13 (11th overall)

3rd: Team Print Belize – Rudolph Gentle, Timoteo Vanegas and Javier Guardado 2:47:34 (14th overall).

Junior division

1st: Team Black Orchid: Matthew Mask and teammates – 2:35:59 (10th overall)

Masters division

1st: Team Grumpy Ol’ Men: Joe Seguro Stanley Bailey, Jerry Wilkens -2:39:45 (12th overall)