Golden Jubilee Cricket Match for Jamaica and Trinidad's Cricket Teams

When the national cricket teams from Jamaica and Trinidad arrive in South Florida this week,they will have more than winning on their minds, in fact, this historic match will celebrate each country’s golden jubilee of independence.

The athletes and organizers of the match which scheduled Central Broward Regional Park say they hope to do what Federation of the West Indies  failed to do politically 50 years earlier: unite the English-speaking Caribbean.

“Cricket isn’t just a sport,” said Anil Ramnanan, consul general for Trinidad and Tobago in Miami, whose consulate is promoting the event along with Miami’s Jamaican Consulate General. “Cricket is a language and the history of the West Indies could be told in the tale of cricket.”

Indeed, in a region separated by an ocean and dialect, but united by a common history, cricket has been a unifying force: The West Indies cricket team consists of players from across the English-speaking Caribbean.

“The only time we come together as one nation is West Indies cricket,” said Kamal Abdool, who is organizing the Friday and Saturday matches with help from the countries’ diaspora groups. “The one thing that is a common thread throughout the English-speaking Caribbean is cricket.”

Retired Jamaican-born cricket player Lawrence Rowe agrees.

Now a Miami resident, Rowe holds a 40-year-old cricket record after scoring a triple century — 302 runs — in his first Test Match.

“Jamaica got independence on Aug. 6, and Trinidad on Aug. 31. In the English-speaking Caribbean, we were the first,” said Rowe, who is expected to captain the Jamaica Consul General team as it plays “a friendly” match against the Trinidad and Tobago Consul General team before the national teams debut on the field.

“That is what we are celebrating,” said Rowe. “It’s not about the competitiveness of the two islands.” Sandra Grant Griffiths, Jamaica’s consul general in Miami, is already calling the winner. “We’re sure we are going to win, and they are sure they’re going to win,” she joked.

The friendly challenge on U.S. soil in Broward, considered the seat of the English-speaking Caribbean in Florida, is just one of many activities planned to celebrate both islands’ 50th anniversary of independence from Britain.

Miami’s Jamaican Consulate General has designated Monday Flag Day in celebration of Jamaica’s being the first and largest of the Caribbean nations to end British rule, on Aug. 6, 1962. The country’s easily recognizable black-gold-and-green flag will be on display throughout South Florida, including at the Miramar Town Center.

The iconic Miami Towers at Southeast Second Street and First Avenue in downtown Miami also will be lit in the island’s colors. Additional events for Jamaica50 include church services, cultural celebrations and an Aug. 18 anniversary gala in Miami featuring Jamaica’s Governor General, Sir Patrick Allen.

“What we want to say is that we are a nation of achievers and achievements,” Grant Griffiths said of Jamaica, whose strong sense of identity is lauded in its music, culture and reputation as a track-and-field powerhouse. “We have accepted our challenges the world has thrown at us, and responded accordingly. And we are prepared to use all of our experiences to move forward.”

• Like Jamaica, the local Trinidad and Tobago’s Consulate General will also host a gala to highlight the nation’s achievements and nationals who have made worthy contributions in academia, art, culture, music, business, community service, health and sports. The invitation-only, black-tie event will take place Aug. 12 at the Broward County Convention Center.

“Fifty years is a very young state in the development and governance of any country,” said Ramnanan, the consul general. “By no means, is it a very long time. But we would like to learn from some of the lessons coming out of that 50 years and celebrate the successes.”

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/08/05/2934791/cricket-unites-an-independent.html#storylink=cpy

Mount Bay Rum Sails Across The Pond For Cowes Week

Mount Gay Rum will once again be bringing a Caribbean vibe across the Atlantic Ocean from the Island of Barbados to the world famous sailing regatta, Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week.   This larger than life sailing event will sail into town August 11 – 18^th and is jammed packed with fun activities, entertainment and the food and drinks of course.   Mount Gay Rum is a key sponsor and it’s only fitting that they join forces with Cowes, as they have also been around for a long time. 

As thousands of competitors in hundreds of boats challenge each other in the Solent waters, famed for its nautical legacy, strongly linking Cowes, the Isle of Wight sailing Mecca with its more tropical counterpart, Barbados, the coral reefed Island and birthplace of rum.  Brand Manager, Alvin Saal  said that he is delighted to be associated with one of the UK's most successful sporting events, particularly in this Olympic year.

"It's a great opportunity for us to connect and reward our loyal followers: the sailing community and also introduce the premium rum brand to new consumers. Mount Gay Rum has long been associated with sailors and the sea and as the official 'Regatta Rum', competitors can enjoy their favorite Mount Gay Rum after a competitive day on the water."     

 

With its official 'Regatta Rum' status, Mount Gay Rum will also be supporting and sampling both Mount Gay Eclipse Rum and Mount Gay Extra Old Rum at a number of events and hosting consumer, trade and yachting press. Competitions in local and national print media and radio, as well as sampling activities, Caribbean music and Mount Gay Rum being served at venues throughout the town, will bring a real Bajan feel to this year's Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week.

 

As much as sailors love Mount Gay Rum, they love Mount Gay Rum Red Caps from regattas around the world as much. Many aspire to collecting one from every regatta they have sailed in. This year, the first 500 competitors to enter The Mount Gay Rum Red Cap crew party at Peppermint Shepard's Wharf on Thursday 16th August, will be rewarded with one of the most cherished mementoes of any regatta - the coveted Mount Gay Rum Red Cap!

Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week Is Coming

Sailing will be a headliner this summer when, Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week, organised by Cowes Week Limited will be held  August 11-18, 2012. Competitors from across the globe, will enjoy the fun and festivities of this year’s Cowes Week in what is a very special year for Great Britain.  Early entries include  Antigua and Barbuda,  Australia, Belgium, France, the Netherlands,Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the USA; all helping to give the regatta its international flavour.

Since 1826, the Cowes Week Regatta has played an integral part of Britain's summer sports calendar and is considered to be one the longest running and most successful sporting event in the UK.   This mammoth sailing event stages up to 40 races daily, with about 1000 boats, making it the largest sailing event of its kind in the world.

The regatta which is over 180 years old and now known as Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week offers a great mix of competitive sailing, social activities and entertainment.  Over the week of competition, over 8500 competitors ranging from olympic and world class caliber to recreational sailors, mingle with an excess of 100,000 spectators who are out to have a great time at this one of kind event.

United States skipper Ted Sawyer will be in Cowes for the first time since breaking his neck during the Dragon Edinburgh Cup, in Cowes six years ago! The event will be the swan song of his wonderful cold-moulded Petticrow Dragon Clairvoyant, which will be sold after the event. As Ted will be 80 years old in 2013, Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week will probably be his last major UK regatta in the Dragon class.

Between them, Ted’s two professional crew, Stavros (Martin Payne) and Pedro Andrade have won over 15 International & National Dragon titles and are threatening to give local favorite, Graham Bailey, a run for his money!

Closer to home, Brian Cooper of East Cowes was the fastest out of the blocks with his entry for Little Spirit being the first received by Cowes Week Limited. Home-grown Island talent will feature strongly among those battling for pole position at this year’s regatta, and the Island contingent will be hoping their local knowledge will provide an advantage in August.

The new Aberdeen Asset Management youth scheme has proved very popular with the offer of funding support to the first ten entries, with a full crew complement of under 25 year-olds being snapped up.  Among those contesting for the Aberdeen Asset Management Under 25’s Trophy are the Davies brothers at 16, 17 and 18 years-old who will be racing their XOD Westwind.

There are three entries from the British Keelboat Academy; a partnership between the United Kingdom Sailing Academy (UKSA) and Royal Yachting Association (RYA) designed to support young people aged 18-24 in developing the skills needed to take their keelboat racing to a professional level. From further afield, the Welsh crew racing in the Etchell’s class on Darling S, kindly loaned to them for the season by Ted Fort, will be making the journey to Cowes in August. Additionally, a team comprised entirely of Newcastle University students from the School of Marine Science and Technology will be racing in the ISCRS class in their aptly named boat, Newcastle University.

This year’s regatta promises to be better than ever with celebrations of Olympic proportion’s, as the country celebrates a summer of royal heritage and sporting prowess. So, for those that are deliberating entry for this year’s Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week,should not procrastinate too long.