Even before it hit landfall, Hurricane Fabian was giving Bermuda sports a lashing yesterday.

One after the other, most if not all of the Island's sporting events were being postponed in the wake of today's anticipated, near-direct beating from the raging, category-three danger; thus spoiling a major weekend for the sports fraternity.

For the second time in three weeks, cricket has succumbed to the elements with the TBI Champion of Champions semi-final (between Western Stars and Bailey's Bay) and final (Stars or Bay against Willow Cuts) at Lord's being called off.

A meeting will be held next week to determine the rescheduling of these matches.

Already the Premier Knockout final, which was to have taken place two Sundays ago, has been put back until September 21 after overnight rain made Wellington Oval "unplayable" for the initial clash between St. David's and Cuts. That fixture now takes place at Southampton Oval.

The Commercial Cricket League postponed their Sunday matches for a week while the Bailey's Bay Junior Double Wicket tournament that was to be held at Sea Breeze Oval this evening has also been called off and will now be held next Friday at the same venue.

Bermuda's other national sport - football - has also been struck down by oncoming Fabian.

The 2003-04 season opener, the Charity Cup, has been shifted from tomorrow night to September 13 thus precipitating a move of Martonmere Cup matches from the latter date to October 4. All these games will still be played at BAA Field.

Meanwhile, the Fitted Dinghy racing scheduled for Sunday has been postponed until next Sunday (September 14) at 12 noon in Granaway Deep.

And the annual Mid Ocean News Wahoo Tournament, due to be fished on Sunday, will now also be held on September 14.

Authorities at some of the Island's leading sports facilities have been busily battening down and securing their respective premises against the ravages of Fabian.

Royal Bermuda Yacht Club general manager, Vernon Pemberton, told The Royal Gazette their marina was nearly bare with most members who kept their boats at the dock having relocated them to safer areas.

He added that RBYC had taken whatever precautions they could to secure the harbourside building, the marina and RBYC vessels.

"We've put out the extra anchors we have and the sailing boats have been either moved or latched down.

"All the shutters are down, we have packed away equipment and are securing the hatches," said Pemberton who will remain at the club throughout the storm.

Manager of the National Sports Centre (NSC) Cliff Wade said staff at the Frog Lane complex had stored away "any objects that could be lifted up in high winds and create a hazard".

"We made sure all of the buildings are secure and we just hope for the best.

"We've battened down everything and we hope everything survives intact. We expect a lot of flooding, particularly in the area behind the grandstand if we get the anticipated rainfall. But that won't present a big problem."

Asked whether the giant floodlights at the stadium and the adjoining north field would withstand Fabian's furious winds which exceed 100 miles per hour, Wade was very optimistic.

"The floodlights should be able to withstand the hurricane winds. I'm not sure what force winds they are designed to withstand but the lights on the southern field were here when Hurricane Emily came through and they withstood that.

"So, yes, they should stand up. It's not to say that we may not have some fixtures blown loose but we anticipate they will withstand the winds."

No events were scheduled for the NSC this weekend and the multi-purpose venue will close at noon today and reopen, at earliest, on Monday.