6 posts tagged “nikosi mc leish”

A review of the men’s Race

The men’s CariFin cross country ’09 race promised a lot of excitement and expectation. It very well be said to be the most anticipated events on the day’s card at CariFin Cross Country and Family Day at Sevilla Golf on Sunday May 31, 2009..
 
1. Could Nikosi Mc Leish won this and make it three in a row
2.  Who would win the team champion trophy? GHL or RBTT?
3. Would debutant Jean Marc De Boulet make any impact like the ones he made in the Urban Challenge?
Catherine Kumar President and Country Leader of RBTT Bank started the race by sounding the starter’s horn.

The race unfolded beautifully for Nikosi mc Leish with the rabbit doing most of the work in the early part of the first lap.
Mc Leish continued his dominance from the urban Challenge, where he won all three previous running events.
So it was no surprise to see the familiar tall, lanky figure of Mc Leish leading the race. Strength, determination and courage have to be the hallmark attribute that has to be demonstrated on a course like this, with tight corners, undulating terrain.
After 2 laps of the 3 lap’s event of the 6.2 miles course – Mc Leish was still leading the race.  
From the start to the beginning of the course took him 2min 22 seconds and the first loop of the course was covered in 7.14, the second loop was done a little slower time of 7.29 and the third in 7.39 and from the course to the finish line he sprinted in 48 seconds giving him a race time of 25.32.
A case of which he was slowing down after each lap, but the competition wasn’t even close to cause any threat.
The traditional competition of his arch rival and friend Rodney Julien who would of being able to take the race to him and give him the kind of high level competition that these races need to stay alive was not there. Or John Warren formerly of GHL who had the kind of leg speed to trouble Mc Leish was not a factor in the race. So the die was probably already cast even before the starter’s horn was blown to start the race.

Gilford Mornix of GHL did a three months crash course training program to get ready for CariFin … and it worked well enough to get him in second place, beating off John Donaldson, his team mate Ian Gibbs and jean Marc Deboulet.

The Team Trophy
Team GHL won the “Champions Trophy” quite easily with two of the top five finishers wearing GHL colors in first and third places. And to show their strength and team work concept place another three runners in the next five of the top ten. Jade Camps in 7th place Ryan Pierre in 8th and Quacy Sandy in 9th.

The Debutant
Jean Marc Deboulet didn’t have the kind of success he had in the Urban Challenge at Sevilla, the undulating terrain was his undoing. He had to resort to walking on some occasions on the course to catch his breath. Being a debutant in the event didn’t help; Sevilla isn’t known to give any considerations to first timers or newbie. It was a baptism of fire from the time he hit the loop of the course.
But he was able to steer the course and bring in his ship home in 5th place. Hopefully he could see the benefits of a consistent training program and with the help of people like Stanley Butcher of First Citizens we can very well see some more competitive running among the men.
Long standing performers
Let recognize the annual efforts of runners like Clem Jubrasingh and Leroy Calliste of RBTT Bank who have been long standing participants in this event and CariFin as a whole.
Shastri Girwar
Special mention must go to Shastri Girwah of RBL who tested himself by doing all four athletic events on the day. 
Shastri too has been a long standing supporter and participant in these games and have been featured as “Personality of the Month” winner.
And with the introduction of the walking category of the Urban Challenge he has found a niche where he can enjoy some measure of success. So we are grateful to see him continue to motivate himself and maintain a level of fitness, that most people his age could only admire to aspire.

Just a few days to GO !!!

With hours counting down, anticipation begins to intensify as we approach the 18th Edition of CariFin.  The best cross country runner male and female is definitely an issue that has to be settled come Sunday may 31, 2009, at Sevilla Golf Course – Couva.
The action kicks off at 11.00 a.m.

Nikosi McLeish of RBTT has performed well in the CariFin Cross Country events since his entrance. Are his nerves holding as he is on the thresh-hold of entering a totally

new dispensation?  Could he hold it together, would fate be good to him as he about to join the greats like, Curtis Cox, Lander Rodney and Joel Bharat?  Bharat accomplishing a triple win, while Cox and Lander were successful enough to achieve a four time winning.   A confident Hazel Tywang- Maharaj a fellow RBTT Staffer, has stated that she intends to “teach those young people a thing or two”. Tywang has performed creditably in the walking leg of the event and we look forward to seeing whether she support her words with action. 

Since the introduction of Ms. CariFin 5 years ago Central Bank has made a concerted effort to ensure that they are in the top three.  Their efforts were not in vain as they have won twice in the past.  The grapevine has revealed that for 2009 they are also grooming a possible winner which we will see on Sunday. .

  And what about the men’s walking race GHL talking big saying they already sew up the thing and everybody walking for second place.  With the awesome performance of Crystal-Ann Awai for 2009 many wonder if her winning will continue into the cross country.  Similar to the statement made by RBTT’s number one walking participant, GHL also made declarations of dismantling the other competitors in the male walking races.

In addition to the usual sporting events such as tug-o-war, sack race and piggy back races there is also the

delightful Dance Off.  The DJ plays the music and you and your partner ensure that you perform the appropriate dance.  In 2008, GHL could not out shine Republic Bank, but this year they have declared that the prize is theirs.   Mumtaz Amarali has claimed her revenge in the Aerobic Burnout but her partner Clint Adiah will have to improve his performance greatly to ensure that they achieve the most successful team at CariFin.

Intercommercial Bank has been basking in the glory of their victory at All Four since last Saturday.  Like everyone else there are targets in sights, and their target seems to be best tent.  They desire is to snatch the prize from First Citizen’s Bank.  In 2008 First Citizens surprised everyone with a décor and style that had everyone visiting and praising their tent. Could lightening strike the same place twice?

Décor, dance and beauty will all take a side line as the top performing women,  Angela Parris, Wendy D’arbasie, Crystal Ann Awai, and Mumtaz Amarali battle for the title of the best female athlete for 2009.    Parris has an additional duty as she seeks to keep Team CLICO afloat , by inspiring and marshalling the team members to ensure that the women’s champion trophy remains at St Vincent Street. 

Who will have the best team?  Who will wear Ms. CariFin crown?  Whose tent would be decorated much better that all other teams.  Who will be the male and female cross country champs. Let us all converge on Sevilla grounds as we promote fun, friendship and fitness.  See you there.

Review of the CariFin Urban Challenge - Green Mile

The second phase of the CariFin Urban Challenge took place on Wednesday April 29, 2009 at 5.30 p.m.  The event is also known as the Green Mile, it is run at the Sand Track in the Queen’s Park Savannah.  

 

After winning the CariFin Urban Challenge opener, the One Lap Savannah, Nikosi Mc Leish of RBTT Bank set a personal record (PR) of 5.10 in the Green Mile.   According to Mc Leish, “I basically had no competition, but there was a rabbit in the race that set the early pace, after taking him over after at the first 400 meters, it was easy going”.   The rabbit or individual, who sets the race pace, was characterised as the only competition. However, after the RBTT representative turned on the pressure the rabbit could no longer hold the lead. In 2008, Nikosi’s time was 5.28, which meant he improved his time by 18 seconds.   The other top finishers included CariFin’s first timer, Jean-Marc De Boulet of First Citizen’s Bank, clocking 5.45 then GHL Gilford Mornix, Ian Gibbs and Ryan Pierre who finished in 5.54, 6.01 and 6.04 respectively.

 

Wendy D’arbasie returned to wining form in Green Mile by clocking 7.08 which eclipsed the female field quite

easily.   Her performance in this event was more like what we were accustomed.  Her nearest rival and team mate Esla Anthony also of Team CBTT finished 12 seconds behind in 7.20.   When asked her to comment on how she felt winning the race and she elated to state, “After being away for a while it felt good, being able to compete with the younger participants and still emerge victorious”. Third place winner was the Mumtaz Amarali of Team Republic who is enjoying a very good run this year did 7.22.    Crystal Ann Awai of Team GHL who won the One Lap Savannah, the first of the Urban Challenge – was only able to finish fourth in 7.43 due to a mild illness and Angela Parris of Team CLICO slipped into fifth place in 7.44. 

The overall winner of the walking race was Hollis Granville of GHL completing in 10.01.Second place went Terrance Worrell of Republic Bank in 11.43 and Sylvester Smith of RBTT Bank finished third in 12.26.

 Hazel Tywang – Maharaj of RBTT Bank missed the first event due to illness but started her CariFin Urban Challenge with a bang by winning the female walking event in 10.58 and finishing second place overall. She stated that, “I was ecstatic seeing that I was under the weather and in spite of that I did a faster time than last year”.  Second place female walker was Latoya George of Republic Bank who did 12.16 and Melissa Berkley of GHL came home in 12.24.

 Republic Bank was judged the team with the greatest support on the day.   They shouted, banged desks, howled and screamed their way to victory. 

Congratulations to all participants see you at the bottom of Lady Chancellor Hill on Wednesday May 06, 2009 at 5.00 p.m..

Mc Leish sets new PR at Venture 5K and finishes ahead of Julien

 

Nikosi Mc Leish of RBTT (CariFin Champion 07) sets a Personal Record of 18.19 at the Venture Credit Union 5K on Sunday September 16, 2007 and finished ahead of Rodney Julien of ALGICO in a close encounter.
The race had approximately 200 runners and started in front of the Inshan Ali Park and made a block and finished at the Venture Credit Union Building.
Three weeks ago Julien had turned the tables on Mc Leish at the City of Port of Spain 4K
 Rodney Julien by finishing ahead of him by .58 seconds.

In this race Mc Leish and Julien had a head to head confrontation from about the 2.5 mile marker,  Julien catch Mc Leish and it was a ding dong tussle until Mc Leish finally surge to the finish line to put the contest to rest with Mc Leish finishing in 18.19 and Julien in 18.22
This is quite an interesting affair the two most visible and active male runners

 in the financial services sector is not afraid to challenge each other in head to head situation.
Stays tuned to this blog and get all the latest development as they happen and when they happen, read it first here.
I personally can’t wait to see how things unfold in the next five weeks as one of the best organized road and better attended races take place, I am talking about the UWI half marathon. It has that local and international flavor to it as competitors would be coming in from Kenya and other European countries.