HARNESSRACING

Another large crowd turned out at Vesey Street on the weekend to watch the second harness racing meet of the season. And they were rewarded with a number of close races.

However, the first three events of the evening were easy to predict. WS Storm-A-Coming, Maja Nightrain and Little Bear had trouble maintaining a gait while Nateway driven by rookie Jason Lopes was uncharacteristic in his performance.

That all made it easy for Aaron Sims and his new pony Real Shamrock, PV Tony Gold with Sinny Smith and and Lydia's Dream, driven by Gregory Bean, as all three went on to be double winners.

In race four, Michael DaCosta's trotter, PV Yemma Chane led from wire to wire and won in 1:11.4 but she was pressed in the stretch by Bill Booth's LA Winning Ticket and LA Pocket Rocket driven by Eddie Roque, the latter two finishing in a dead heat for second.

Pocket Rocket won the second heat with Winning Ticket second and Yemma Chane a close third.

The second half of the race card produced better racing, although it was marred by a heavy rain shower which left the track heavy.

In Race 11, LA Erma Time outduelled Grand Magic down the stretch to win in 1:10.1. Miss LL Dane, driven by Colin Mello, finished third but went on to win the second heat.

GV Colonel Spence, driven by Nick DeCosta, turned in the fastest time of the night, winning the first heat of the free-for-all in 1:07. Bobby Degraff's Rocket Ride won the last race of the night in 1:09.2.

Other winners: Jandysgiddyupgo (Jane Dunmore), Gold Mate (Joe Correia), Ponder Babe (Michael Roberts), Trott Acre Byrd (Robert Lopes), Shady's Liberty (Michael DaCosta). Melody Time (Michael Roberts), Championne County (Michael Soares) and Shamrock Formal Attire (Christopher Roque).

MARTIAL ARTS

More than 40 martial art competitors took part in the 14th annual Skippy Peanut Butter KICK tournament at the Pembroke Sunday School on the weekend.

With the event aimed at students up to the age of 17, there were several uncontested divisions in the fighting section, but action in the boys 6-7, 8-9, and 12-13 groups was quick and varied with several close matches.

Winners included Cole Durham (3-0 over Jamie Cann in the final), Malachi Darrell (3-1 over Marco Araujo) and Erek Fox (3-0 over Scott Kennedy).

Kennedy was the brown belt forms grand champion and tournament MVP.

Among the girls, brown belt Rowan Hallett was unopposed as forms and weapons grand champion.

SOCCER

David Bascome scored four points for the Harrisburg Heat in the Major Indoor Soccer League but he couldn't prevent his side from slipping to their third successive defeat on Saturday. The Heat, beaten 13-12 by Kansas City, have lost all three of their opening games, the first time they have done so in their history.

CORRECTION

In yesterday's Division One round-up, it was reported that Des Minors and Otis Minors scored for St. David's in their 5-2 victory over Hamilton Parish. Those names were incorrect, the scorers were actually Desmond Crockwell and Oliver Pitcher.

Yesterday's report on local runners competing in Sunday's New York Marathon failed to mention the following: Colin Swan (three hours, 15 minutes), Andrew Thompson (3:55), Michael Watson (3:59) and Joanne Sutherland (4:21).