Smith strikes double gold

Masters swimmer Chris Smith added to the success of the national swim team at the Carifta meet last week, earning two gold and two medals at the US YMCA National Masters 25-yard Championships in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The 77-year-old from Warwick, who also has a home in Toronto, competed in the 75-79 age group in which he took took gold in the mile with a time of 26:08.80 and the 100m butterfly, clocking 1:39.64. His silvers were collected in the 400 Individual Medley and 200m butterfly with times of 7:01.86 and 3:54.93 respectively.

Smith, a member of the Toronto YMCA, joined almost 700 members from YMCA teams throughout the USA and Canada at the International Aquatic Hall of Fame pool for the annual championships.

Many of the competitors had also taken part in the Worlds.

The veteran Bermudian recorded eight Ontario Masters records in seven events, recording a 1000m free record split in his mile swim.

He and and fellow Warwick resident, Colleen Nelson, will be competing at the Canadian Masters Championships in Toronto in mid-May where for the first time in Canada swim history a competitor over 100 years of age is registered.

BBA hold

Games trials

Bermuda Basketball Association (BBA) are calling on the Island's best players to come and try out for positions on both the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) and Island Games teams.

With both competitions being held on the same dates, the BBA will be looking to send two teams to the respective tournaments, with both squads carrying a mixture of youth and experience.

The 2009 Men's (CBC) Tournament will be held in the British Virgin Islands from June 22 to July 4 and with the Island Games being held approximately on the same dates, the BBA Executive Committee have made the decision to send a team to both events.

All Bermudian members interested in trying out for the CBC Tournament are urged to confirm via e-mail or voicemail at 291-3760 as soon as possible or can make contact with a BBA Executive.

Coach Roderick Spencer and his coaching staff will put the CBC squad through their paces until a coach is appointed to oversee the team as they prepare for the Island Games.

Training for the CBC will not take effect until there is confirmation of those interested in trying out for the squad.

Until a full time coach is selected, training will focus on skill work and conditioning.

Commercial cricket begins

The Commercial Cricket League will get off to its earliest start when Jamaican Association meet Forties in the Memorial Trophy match at Garrison Field tomorrow (12.30 p.m. start).

Jamaican Association clinched their place in the annual curtain-raiser by winning the league last season while Forties won the Knockout.

Seven teams will compete for honours this season after a verbal request from Hamilton Parish to rejoin – following their withdrawal last year after a number of defaults – was turned down at the league's annual meeting.

Teams will play each other twice in the league – rather than just once as in 2008 – to be followed by the first round of the Knockout on August 16 ahead of the Twenty20 League Cup competition, won by Spring Garden Cavaliers last season, starting on August 30.

First round of league matches on May 3 are: Forties v BC Allrounders, St. David's v Ernst & Young and Jamaican Association v North Village.

Spring Garden Cavaliers have a bye.