Barbados senior netball team have qualified for the 2018 Commonwealth Games to be held in the Gold Coast, Australia, in March.

Their qualification comes as a result of recent excellent performances against quality teams. Between May and June this year, the Barbados team competed in three-test series against Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Northern Ireland to qualify them for the Games.

They drew their series against Jamaica 1-1 in Jamaica with one tied.

They later competed against Trinidad and Tobago and won all three games. They then finished off their qualifying journey in Northern Ireland where they were able to win two out of their four matches. These results put them well on their way for the upcoming prestigious event and also to taking 11th position among the top 12 ranked teams in the world.

Assistant coach Adrian Craigwell said he was proud and elated to be a part of the programme.

“It shows that when players and coaches come together with an effective and cohesive programme, that results can be achieved,” Craigwell added.

Shonica Wharton is making her name known in domestic, regional and international netball. And fans of the sport are taking note.

The younger of her mother’s two daughters, 21-year-old Wharton has no fears whatsoever approaching the netball rings. Indeed, while some might be daunted by the stress of sporting activity, Wharton approaches the game as the hobby she loves most.

Wharton started playing netball from the tender age of eight when she saw her older sister Shanice Wharton playing the sport.

The former Graydon Sealy student started playing netball for Barbados at the age of fifteen when she made her first tour to the Regional U-16 Jean Pierre Tournament in 2011. Since then the tall, energetic shooter has been unstoppable.

Since her first tour to the Jean Pierre Tournament, she has been selected for several other netball tournaments including Commonwealth Games in 2014, Netball World Cup which was held at the time in Sydney, Australia in 2015 and the recently held U-21 World Youth Netball Championships in Gaborone, Botswana 2017.

“It’s always a great feeling to be wearing your national colours and representing your country at whatever sport you might be playing,” she told Barbados TODAY.

The accurate shooter who was once a defender when she started playing, is ranked as Barbados’s number one goal shooter. She described that accomplishment as a great feeling but added that sometimes all the pressure was on the person seen as the top shooter.

Her goal when she goes into every game is to always finish with no lower than a ninety-percent accuracy.

Her foundation was paved when she started playing with her aunt Monnette Wharton in Church Village before she moved on to the UWI Blackbirds Division 1 Club.

Asked how the sport impacted her life, the University of the West Indies student said playing the sport helped her make a lot of friends.

“I think I inspire a few little ones. It taught me that teamwork is very important and it’s not all about you. It made me the person I am today, I’ve fallen in love with the sport.”

Wharton, who is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Tourism Management, said her future plan for netball was to become a professional netballer and help give back to the sport she loves.

The Barbados Netball Association (BNA) has its eyes focused on the bigger picture.

And it should not come as a surprise that the national senior netball team opted out of the Regional Netball Championships said BNA president, Nisha Craigwell, who is also second in command as vice president of the Caribbean Netball Association (CNA).

Both Jamaica and Barbados have pulled out of the regional netball tournament amid suspicions that they did so for fear of dropping their ranking positions if their lost games in the tournament. Both teams have already qualified for the Commonwealth Games next year in Australia. Qualification for the Games is based on rankings.

Since 1998 when netball was incorporated into the Commonwealth programme, Barbados has always qualified and Craigwell made it clear to Barbados TODAY that she did not intend under her watch for the ultra-marine, gold and black flag not to be represented at the Commonwealth Games next April in the Gold Coast, Australia.

Additionally, she explained that even though the association was cash-strapped, because netball was a Commonwealth sport, the Barbados Olympic Association would fund 98 percent of the cost for next year’s games, which will reduce their burden significantly in that area.

And what will boost the senior Gems’ chances even further is a chance to train on the newly constructed netball surface at the Sir Garfield Sobers Gymnasium currently under renovation but expected to open in time for CARIFESTA this month.

“I am so glad to hear the Minister [Stephen Lashley] saying that the Wildey Gymnasium is outfitted with a floor that is ready for netball. So I am hoping now that the gymnasium has been renovated, that we can get in there before March next year to actually begin practising on the floor. But outside of that we need competition before leaving for Commonwealth. I don’t want a situation where we go to the Commonwealth Games and have not played any practice games,” Craigwell said.

The competition is catered to the top 12 teams in the world and Barbados gained qualification to the Commonwealth Games after they jumped two places higher in the International Netball Federation world rankings at position number 11. A few weeks ago the Bajan Gems pulled off thrilling victories against Trinidad and Tobago, who slipped two places down the rankings to position 13. The Gems also played outstandingly against Jamaica, the highest ranked Caribbean team at position number four in the world. Jamaica’s Sunshine Girls were actually beaten for the very first time in 35 years by the Bajans in a three match series that ended 1-1.

Just before the cutoff date on July 1 to qualify for the Commonwealth Games, Barbados also played Northern Ireland to improve their rankings but lost twice. However, interestingly enough, Barbados with a tally of 100 are a point and one place below Ireland in tenth place with 101.

The regional netball championship, which has been non-existent for at least a decade, saw the withdrawal of powerhouses Jamaica, Barbados and Grenada and subsequently the postponement of the competition that was scheduled for August 20 to 26 in St Lucia.

Even though Craigwell declined to comment as vice president of CNA on those matters, she did say Barbados stated its position from the beginning.

“Barbados made it quite clear from the inception since March [of this year] that we could not commit fully even though we are expressing an interest to play [at the Caribbean Netball Championship] because holistically our finances, unless we had a Godfather that steps forward very early, we knew that it would have been a challenge for us. Of course if the finances were available we would not turn away any type of competition because we are normally competition starved and as long as we get the opportunity to play, we welcome it with open arms.

“For years we have been playing Jamaica and we were being beaten by Jamaica. This is the first time in 35 years that Barbados has ever beaten Jamaica. So it is not that we are running from the tournament, as I would have heard. It has nothing to do with revenge, nothing like that, from a financial point of view we simply did not have the money and we still don’t have the money.

“Had it been scheduled prior to July 1, we would have make it but because it fell after July, we had to go elsewhere to seek competition in terms of playing. We would have had enough games because both Jamaica and Trinidad would have participated along with other countries that would have given us enough points to qualify and therefore we would not have had to seek competition elsewhere. But because the tournament fell in August, it does not matter as it relates to Commonwealth and we (BNA) had to make the wise decision to make sure that Barbados qualify,” Craigwell said.

On Tuesday Netball Jamaica said that they took the decision to withdraw from the tournament because it would be of little benefit to the country’s netball programme, and there would be the potential loss of ranking points for the Sunshine Girls.

“The tournament would involve teams that have not yet attained rating points, and teams that currently hold less than 100 points. Consultations were also held with the players, coaching staff and the technical committee of Netball Jamaica.”

Netball Jamaica added: “The review presented revealed that participation would result in a loss of five rating points. Jamaica currently has a world ranking of fourth, which is based on a rating of 149. The country that is ranked third has a rating of 159, while the fifth ranked has attained a rating of 137.”

It was suggested that even if Jamaica won every match played during the regional tournament, it could still lose five rating points and widen the gap between itself and England, who are third in the world, to 15 points. At the same time, it would narrow the difference in rating points between Jamaica and South Africa currently ranked at fifth from 13 to eight.

But yesterday in a statement the International Netball Federation (INF) reiterated that winning a match always improved a team’s ratings while losing to a team with a lower rating meant fewer points.

The INF stated that a team would get more points for beating an opponent with a high rating and fewer points for losing to a team with a low rating.

The federation outlined that only two factors contributed to ranking points – the result of the match and the opponent against whom the result was achieved. 

“No account is taken of margin of victory, venue, importance of the match, nor the winner of the series – all internationals are treated as stand-alone events.

“The impact of any win/loss on your ranking will depend on how your new rating compares with the ratings of the teams around you,” the INF added.

It further explained that: “If a team wins a match they will earn 50 points more than their opponent’s rating. But if they lose, they will earn 50 points less than their opponent’s rating.”

Barbadian netballers have cause for celebration. A long requested internationally graded floor is among the upgrades at the refurbished Garfield Sobers Sports Complex that was recently handed over to the Government.

Speaking during yesterday’s opening ceremony at the 38th Annual Barbados Workers’ Union’s (BWU) Netball Tournament at the Netball Stadium, Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, Stephen Lashley, announced that the doors to the newly refurbished complex were now open and outfitted with a state of the art floor built specifically for the sport of netball.

“I want to assure the president [Nisha Craigwell] that when we spent $19 million in the refurbishment of the Garfield Sobers Gymnasium, we were listening all along to her cries for having an internationally graded floor,” Lashley said in the presence of the Barbados Netball Association (BNA) president Nisha Craigwell and BWU president, Toni Moore,

“This facility can be used as a training venue for overseas teams, which may be looking for facilities in a warmer climate to train for upcoming tournaments…I would like to invite the netball association to see this as an opportunity for them to stage major international netball tournaments in Barbados. You now have an excellent facility in which to do so,” Lashley said.

A total of 25 teams are scheduled to participate in the competition in four respective zones. These are the Leroy Trotman, Gabby Scott, Ulric Sealy and Linda Brook zones.

During the ceremony, national senior vice captain Latonia Blackman, Sabrina Smith, Sheniqua Thomas and Amanda Knight were all recognized for their continued participation over the years in the tournament and Craigwell expressed how grateful the BNA was for partners and entities such as the Barbados Workers Union for their continued support given to the sport of netball.

She also spoke about the success of the 11th ranked Barbados senior team, which qualified for the Gold Coast tournament next April in Australia, by defeating fourth-ranked Jamaica after 30 years, and went on to play unbeaten against Trinidad.

However, Craigwell said she was concerned with the plight facing the sport regionally.

“Even though we are happy to represent our country, we are saddened by the state of netball in the region….Our biggest shortfall is taking care of our coaches. We have been for a long time, trying to secure a technical director. The resources have been approved and we are now at the stage of selecting the right personnel for our programme. We are hoping that this programme attracts all coaches in Barbados to ensure that the project is a success. Coaching is an area that requires a lot of attention if we are to be successful in raising the bar, in the standard of play for netball in Barbados,” Craigwell said.

In keeping with their motto which states, Unity is Strength, BWU president Moore recognized sports as a powerful medium that could be used to bring about unity.

“With spiralling crime plaguing life in our society, the Barbados Workers Union regards this as an opportunity to build on our current commitment in the area of organized netball and cricket. It is our hope that we can expand beyond these two sports to have a healthy and outstanding tournament. We also recognize the opportunity for Government, other agencies and communities to continue to see amongst other things, how sports can be used more widely to provide an outlet to help our youths, particularly to assist those that are regarded as youth at risk,” she said.

After the respective speeches, Chickmont Ballers stood out during the opening parade and captured the prize for best team on parade and best-displayed banner as judged by Mona Alleyne, Melissa Farley and Cherri Boyce.

GOLD COAST, Australia, CMC – Barbados rebounded from Friday’s mauling at the hands of the hosts to easily dispose of Fiji and win their first match of the Commonwealth Games here Saturday.

Playing in Pool A at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, Barbados used a strong second half performance to come away with a 65-44 victory.

They were led by goal shooter Shonica Wharton who scored 33 from 38 attempts while goal attack Latonia Blackman supported with 22 from 28.

Nikita Payne, who featured at goal attack in the first and third quarters, ended with 10 from 12.

For Fiji, goal attack Maliana Rusivakula netted 27 from 31 while elder sister Unouna Rusivakula, who played primarily at goal shooter, finished with 10 from 12.

Barbados were down three at the end of the first quarter, 9-12 but out-scored Fiji 17-11 in the second quarter to hold a slim 26-23 lead at the half.

Not much separated the two teams in the third, leaving the contest well placed at 42-36 heading into the final stanza.

But Barbados changed gears when it most mattered, out-scoring Fiji 23-8 to run out easy winners.

The script was much different for Barbados 24 hours earlier when they were battered by the mighty Aussies, 79-24, at the same venue.

Wharton shot 12 from 17 but was no match for the reigning World champions who powered their way to a 39-12 advantage at the half-time whistle and never took their feet off the pedal.

Barbados will next face powerful Caribbean neighbours Jamaica on Monday.

The Jamaicans have won both their matches, beating Fiji 88-30 on Thursday and getting the better of South Africa 57-46 on Friday.

The post Barbados overcome plucky Fiji to atone for opening defeat appeared first on Barbados Today.

Two-time defending champions, University of the West Indies Blackbirds have withdrawn from the 2018 Barbados Netball Association Division One league competition.

BNA president Nisha Craigwell confirmed with Barbados TODAY that the Cave Hill Blackbirds side has indeed pulled out of the domestic league.

But she was tight-lipped about the circumstance that led to the decision which saw the reigning queens withdrawing from the competition and in so doing forfeiting what could have possibly been a wonderful opportunity for them to repeat as champions for a third consecutive year.

Craigwell, however, made it clear that they remain in the knockout competition which is scheduled for sometime later this year.

"They pulled out of the league competition, not the knockout and I am not sure if I want to make public the reason. But it is already public knowledge that there are quite a few players that are injured, that would have represented the national team at the Commonwealth Games," Craigwell said.

Stating the impact this sudden move would have on the league, the BNA president said, "any sport with a defending champion pulling out will definitely affect the standard of the league and they [UWI] had six persons representing the national team... But at the end of the day they [UWI] are looking out for the best interest of the country in the long run and also for the players.

"I am sure they would have sought medical advice and so on. It is unfortunate and of course we (BNA) would have preferred if UWI was playing but bearing in mind it is just the league, we still have the knockout competition and they have not pulled out of the knockout competition, at least not at this stage."

Just last week it was speculated that the local netball association was considering re-opening registration to accommodate those teams in Division One which had players recovering from injury. However, the BNA executive board thus far has taken the decision not to do so for the sake of all parties involved.

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Two-time defending champions, University of the West Indies Blackbirds, have withdrawn from the 2018 Barbados Netball Association Division One league competition. 

BNA president Nisha Craigwell confirmed to Barbados TODAY that the Cave Hill Blackbird side had indeed pulled out of the domestic league. But she opted to remain silent about the circumstances that led to the decision which saw the reigning queens withdrawing from the competition and in so doing forfeiting what could have possibly been a wonderful opportunity for them to repeat as champions for a third consecutive year. 

[caption id="attachment_235785" align="aligncenter" width="600"] University of the West Indies Blackbirds team.[/caption]

Craigwell, however, made it clear that it was only from the league that the Margaret Cutting-coached UWI side, comprising of six national players, including goal-shooter Shonica Wharton, had removed themselves. They are still in the knockout competition which is scheduled for sometime later this year. 

“They pulled out of the league competition, not the knockout and I am not sure if I want to make public the reason. But it is already public knowledge that they are quite a few players that are injured, that would have represented the national team at the Commonwealth Games,” Craigwell said. 

Stating the impact this sudden move would have on the league, the BNA president said: “Any sport with a defending champion pulling out will definitely affect the standard of the league and they [UWI] had six persons representing the national team... But at the end of the day, they [UWI] are looking out for the best interest of the country in the long run and also for the players. 

“I am sure they would have sought medical advice and so on. It is unfortunate and of course we (BNA) would have preferred if UWI was playing but bearing in mind it is just the league. We still have the knockout competition and they have not pulled out of the knockout competition, at least not at this stage.” 

Just last week it was speculated that the local netball association was considering re-opening registration to accommodate those teams in Division One who had players recovering from injury. However, the BNA executive board thus far has taken the decision not to do so for the sake of all parties involved. 

morissalindsay@barbadostoday.bb 

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Belmont Primary scored two comfortable wins when the Agnes Crichlow and Kathy Harper Hall Zone of the National Sports Council's Pine Hill Dairy-sponsored Primary Schools Netball Competition played this morning at the Netball Stadium.

Charles F. Broome Primary were the first to feel the wrath of Belmont who registered a 7-1 victory compliments goal-attack Rebecca Owner who lived up to her name as she owned the semicircle, scoring five of her seven goals while her teammate and goal-shooter Myia Walters netting two from three.

[caption id="attachment_237579" align="aligncenter" width="350"] Charles F. Broome Primary goalkeeper Dalessia Alleyne (second left) tried to block an attempt from Belmont Primary goal-shooter Rebecca Owner.[/caption]

That performance was certainly pleasing for Belmont but not the type of start Charles F. Broome's coach Alphonso King wanted as goal-shooter Zakaiya Hunte netted the lone goal for her team.

Against St Mary's Primary, the girls from Belmont stood out yet again, this time with a 5-1 win thanks to none other than goal-attack Owner who nailed three out of her six attempts and goal-shooter Myia Walter with two goals. Scoring the one goal for former three-time queens St Mary's Primary was goal-shooter Maria Fenty.

St Giles Primary captured one win and a draw when they came up against Hindsbury Primary and won 5-2 while they drew 3-3 against Wesley Hall Primary.

[caption id="attachment_237581" align="aligncenter" width="550"] (From left) Hindsbury Primary goal-attack Keneidi Jedron- Harris looks to prevent this ball from reaching St Giles Primary goal-defence Tania Applewhaite while Tania’s twin sister Tia at wing-attack looks on. (Pictures by Morissa Lindsay).[/caption]

Goal-shooter Rynia Ifill tallied four goals and goal-attack Khaliya Roach accounted for the other, as they dismissed Hindsbury who had two goals by goal-shooter Erica Daniel. Their second encounter of the day was even-steven as St Giles' goal-attack Denicka Mentore and goal-shooter Rynia Ifill scored two and one respectively. For Wesley Hall, goal-shooter Maleah Murphy had two goals and goal-attack Ranesha Shepherd one.

Wesley Hall were held to their second draw, 4-4, when they came up against Deacons Primary. Goal-attack Ranesha Shepherd shot three from four and goal-shooter Maleah Murphy had one off three attempts. Placing St Mary's on the scoresheet were goal-shooter Sarah John with three goals and goal-attack Ciara Smith with one.

[caption id="attachment_237580" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Deacons Primary’s wing-defence Sariah Boyce with a good take over the head of the Wesley Hall defender.[/caption]

St Mary's did eventually come out on the winning side 3-1 over Lawrence T. Gay Primary. Goal-shooter Maria Prescod had two goals and her assistant at goal-attack Sharika Oliver had one. Lawrence T. Gay goal-shooter Janaya Mascoll claimed their lone goal of the match.

Hindsbury also had something to smile about when they defeated Lawrence T. Gay 3-0 thanks to the efforts of goal-shooter Erica Daniel with a perfect score of two from two attempts along with one from goal-attack Keneidi Jedison Harris.

morissalindsay@barbadostoday.bb

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St Jude's Primary got off to an impressive 11-0 winning start over Ellerton Primary in the Pamala Proverbs Zone of the National Sports Council's Pine Hill Dairy Primary Schools Netball Competition played today at James Bryan Sports Complex.

Only three games were contested today at that venue and St Jude's were able to run rampage over Ellerton who struggled to score a single goal in what was the final fixture of the day.

St Jude's goal-attack Tranisha Smith scored seven of ten attempts and goal-shooter Jenica Graham was also on target nailing four from six. It was sheer dominance from St Jude's who controlled proceedings throughout with seven of their 11 goals being scored during the five-minute second-half period.

[caption id="attachment_237869" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Ellerton goal-defence Britney Sealy taking possession away from St Jude’s goal-attack Jenica Graham.[/caption]

Alika Harewood, one of St Jude's' top track and field stars, played center position and was exceptional, ensuring the ball flowed from midcourt towards the shooters who were always on standby especially goal-attack Smith.

[caption id="attachment_237866" align="aligncenter" width="500"] St Jude’s Primary center Alika Harewood (left) kept the ball flowing in midcourt as her team defeated Ellerton Primary.[/caption]

Ellerton suffered their second defeat of the day against Luther Thorne Memorial Primary with a 7-1 result, compliments goal-shooter Shakita Phinizee falling just short of a perfect score with six goals from seven attempts. Goal-attack Siarah Small accounted for the other goal while for Ellerton Kaitlyn Crichlow netted their lone goal.

[caption id="attachment_237867" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Ellerton goal-attack Stesheda Maynard with a good catch away from St Jude’s goal-defence Kimora King and under the watchful eyes of senior assistant national coach and umpire Margaret Cutting. (Pictures by Morissa Lindsay).[/caption]

Cuthbert Moore Primary had home court and they used it to their advantage by trouncing St George Primary 6-0 as goal-shooter Mya Thornhill had a perfect score of four goals and goal-attack Onisha Coppin shot two from three.

morissalindsay@barbadostoday.bb

[caption id="attachment_237870" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Cuthbert Moore Primary goal-attack Mya Thornhill (r) reaching to take ball possession away from St George.[/caption]

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