Aaron Lugo Jr

Age: 10

School: Francis Patton Primary School (lighthouse leader & red house vice-captain)

Hobbies: Aerial yoga, track, martial arts & cricket

Aaron has been doing Jiu-Jitsu for one and a half years and is currently a first degree yellow/black belt. Aaron’s goal is to get his next stripe to become a second degree yellow/black in the next few months. He currently trains every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. Aaron aspires to obtain his black belt, to compete in different places around the world, and to meet other people.  Aaron likes Jiu-Jitsu because he loves to learn the different self-defense techniques. His two favorite moves are the arm bar and the guillotine choke hold.  He also enjoys the warm ups that he does in the class. In the world, he would like to see peace and joy, and he thinks there should be chocolate included in every store!

Evelyn Czember

Age: 9

School: Saltus Grammar

Hobbies: Baseball, golf & is learning piano

Evelyn’s Jiu-Jitsu journey commenced in September 2018 and it has quickly become her favorite sport. She trains 3 days a week and would train all 7 if her schedule permitted. She also enjoys helping Sensei twice a week with the beginner class her younger brother attends. She likes Jiu-Jitsu as it “teachers her self-defense, but I don’t have to break boards”. The main reasons she enjoys training are Sensei Cyril and her training partners, who have become her friends. She says, “Sensei Cyril is nice, fun and teaches us lots of cool stuff” and the kids are “kind, fun, caring and sometimes funny”. Evelyn thinks it is “really cool that boys and lots of girls are in Jiu-Jitsu”. She prefers training with the girls but says “it is more fun to beat the boys”. Evelyn’s favorite submission is an arm-bar and she would like to keep practicing Jiu-Jitsu until she is very old and becomes a Sensei.

This article was originally published in the 2019 edition of the RG Kids Magazine.

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Thursday, April 26

What: World Triathlon Harbour Nights. Where: Front Street, Hamilton. When: 7pm to 11pm

The weekend’s festivities begins with the official opening of the MS Amlin World Triathlon Bermuda, featuring a special triathlon-themed Harbour Nights Pasta Party that will take place in the heart of the event venue on Front Street. This will be the public’s first look at the venue and the World Triathlon Expo, with the street alive with music, visiting athletes enjoying local cuisine and each vendor offering a ‘carb’ meal option, a tradition for athletes before a big event.

Friday, April 27

What: Tokio Millennium Re Kids Race. Where: Front Street, Hamilton. When: 7pm to 9pm

Friday night will again see Front Street filled with crowds to cheer on local and visiting young athletes in the Tokio Millennium Re (TMR) Kids Race at 7pm. This will be a duathlon, open to children aged 7 to 15 to run and bike along Front Street, using part of the same race course that the world’s top triathletes will race on the following day, including the famous blue carpet finish.

Saturday, April 28

What: Race day. Where: Hamilton. When: All day.

Age Group Races, Olympic Distance and Sprint Distance. First wave, 6.45am

Elite Men – 1.06pm

Elite Women – 4.06pm

Triathlon Expo, No 5 Car Park, Front Street, 7am to 6pm

What: Digicel Feather Mile & Street Party. Where: Front Street, Hamilton, When: 9pm to 12pm

Bermuda Heroes Weekend fans and party-goers are invited to strut their stuff in a Carnival-style Street Party on Front Street after the Kids Race. It kicks off at 9pm with the Digicel Feather Mile, a joyful untimed run or walk to music, followed by a party until midnight. This free public event is a prelude to Bermuda Heroes Weekend and all Carnival bands are encouraged to participate.

Sunday, April 29

What: Hangover swim. Where: TBD. When: 9am to 12pm

Locals will have a chance to mix and mingle with visiting athletes at a public beach for a casual gathering where competitors will relax after their hard work the day before.

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Locals traveled to Reston Virginia to compete in the World Cup Martial Arts Championship (WCMAC), promoted by John Chung, a former national and international champion in all forms of fighting.

The Bermuda Karate Institute has sent competitors from Bermuda for several years, this year is the largest delegation so far.

John Chung World Cup Results 2019:

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Where do you live?

I train in both Wesley Chapel, Florida and Paris France; and during the season, from October to March, I’m in a different country every two to three weeks.

We know that Bermuda will always be home, but what is your favourite city?

I miss Bermy, most of my family is there, but I really love Europe. My favourite city is Paris. I just love the architecture – the old castles, churches, not to mention the food and the cheese. We don’t get to experience that in the US.

What is your schedule like?

Pretty busy! We train from 9 AM to 4 PM, with a few breaks in between. The hardest part is travelling so much during the season.

Your greatest achievement to date?

For most, the Olympics is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I have been lucky enough to experience three! I would have to say my biggest achievement is, with my partner, becoming the 2018 Olympic World Bronze Medallist.

What do you enjoy the most about the Olympics?

I love the coming together of all different sports and disciplines in one country. Cheering on your fellow countrymen. Also, the fact that it not only brings athletes together, it brings the world together. Wars and politics seem to stop, and it’s all about the Olympics, hard work, determination and dreams coming true.

Who inspires you?

My coaches. They have families and hardships that they never talk to us about, but they come the rink every day with smiles on their faces. They continue to try to make us, not only the best athletes, but the best people that we can be, prepare us for the rink, and for life, really. What they don’t realise is that we learn by example and they are some of the greatest examples of kindness, empathy, passion and determination.

Who do you hope to inspire?

Most people believe in what they see. I never saw other black figure skaters growing up. Although I’m proud to have come so far without that idol, I hope to make it easier for other young girls that look similar to me, to believe in themselves and in their dreams. To believe their parents when they tell them that anything is possible.

What’s next for you?

My short-term goal is to be in the podium at the Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final. My long-term goal is to win 2018 European Championships and World Championships.

If you were not a figure skater, what would you be?

I would be a tennis player or a paediatrician. I love children!

24 hours in Paris

The best place to eat healthy food

I feel like most places in Paris are healthy. In France and in Europe, in general, the portion size is considerably smaller. The meat laws are stricter. I often lose weight quickly when I am in Paris without trying.

The best place to train

At my home rink in Bercy, Paris. About 15 metres away from the rink is a sports and medical school. We train there off the ice, and we can get treated for any pain or injuries we may have.

The best place to experience

The best experience I had in Paris was when my partner surprised me and took me to the Eiffel Tower for the first time. We went all the way to the top – an absolutely breath-taking moment.

The best spot for shopping

The best place for shopping is on the Champs-Élysées. It has anything that you’re looking for, great shopping with an even better view.

The best place to wander off the beaten path

Le Marais. It’s a cute and chic place for pedestrians only and has these charming cobblestone roads. It has small unique clothing boutiques, cool lounges and amazing restaurants.

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Photography by Akil Simmons

Mark Wade, president of the Bermuda Football Association, is in no doubt about the significant role that football plays in Bermudian culture. For men and women, for girls and boys, the sport is an integral part of the cultural milieu.

“It’s the first sport that most kids play – it was for me,” says the former player with Pembroke-Hamilton Club (PHC). “I played in kickarounds at school, and in the neighbourhood before I joined PHC at age 14.

“We even used to call part of my yard ‘Wembley’,” he says, referring to the iconic English stadium. “Football is the biggest sport in the world, and it is the biggest in Bermuda, too.”

The numbers support that view

The BFA’s most recent strategic planning exercise pulled together figures that demonstrate the vital role that football plays in Bermuda. For example:

• The BFA organises some 2,500 matches annually involving more than 3,000 registered players over a 32-week season that runs from September to April.
• Some 47 male senior teams and 95 male youth teams, are registered with the BFA for the current season, and there is an active – and growing – level of participation among girls ages 6-17. Most encouraging for the future of girls’ football was Bermuda’s Division Two championship at the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) under-15 girls’ tournament in August.
• Some 30 nationally registered referees participate in an average of three matches or training sessions weekly.
• More than 300 BFA and club administrators contribute approximately four hours per week to football. That translates to 1,200 hours per week, and 38,400 hours per season.

The BFA reckons that, together,

administrators, referees, players, coaches, and spectators, contribute nearly four million hours of football activity annually in Bermuda.

“Four million hours is actually on the low side,” Wade says. “That’s only for football under the BFA umbrella. That’s the bulk of it, but there are players in our sister leagues – the Corona League and Sunday Morning League that are independent of the BFA – and then there are the pick-up games, the kickarounds in neighbourhoods, kids playing at primary school and middle school. To say that football is an integral part of life in Bermuda is understating it.”

David Sabir, the BFA general secretary, heads up the organisation’s day-to-day operations.”This is how important football is generally,” Sabir says. “Football is almost embedded in our DNA. Before a baby is born, mothers would often say ‘I can feel my baby kicking!’ This is an exciting moment! Emotional moment! This is football! The expectations that we place on football, the core values of respect, fair play, teamwork, commitment, dedication, integrity, etc. is what we desire in life generally.

Football is a game of life!

For a select few, the sport has offered a career path – as the current season began, Bermudians were playing at professional clubs in England, Spain, Holland, Iceland, Sweden, Finland, Estonia and the United States.

Many more go away to US prep schools, and then perhaps on to university, on scholarship.

Twins Richard and Robert Calderon have been helping players to obtain scholarships to American high schools for some 20 years. In that time, Richard – a former president of the BFA – says that they have helped 48 student-athletes acquire scholarships with a total value in the millions of dollars.

“I would never suggest that someone should not pursue a professional footballing career,” Richard says, “but the more realistic and safer goal is to use football as a means to a college education. My brother and I are tangible evidence that it works as we both attended prep school in the US, and then the University of Alabama, on scholarships. Today, a significant percentage of players who are doing well in football in Bermuda have partially developed at the prep school and college level.”

Many of those players eventually return home and find that the US college game is excellent preparation for life on and off the field in Bermuda.

“The qualities that make someone a good footballer – teamwork, respect, fair play and co-operation – are also the qualities that employers look for in the workplace,” says Wade, who has spent his career in the telecommunications field.

Of course, there is also a commercial angle to football in Bermuda as any visitor to The Robin Hood, Docksider, Flanagan’s Outback, Astwood Arms, Bulldog’s Sports Bar, either of the two Swizzle Inns – or any number of other sports bars and pubs that screen football matches — can attest. Seats can be hard to come by during the quadrennial World Cup, annual mid-week Champions League matches or English Premiership matches.

“Football brings a significant amount of business to many of Bermuda’s pubs,” says Jay Correia, owner of the Swizzle Inns. “While the NFL, MLB, NHL and rugby have their supporters nothing equals the attraction of ‘footy’.

“In recent years, pubs have taken to becoming the home of certain teams like Chelsea at Swizzle Inn and Liverpool at Docksider. While many games can be watched at home the atmosphere of a pub crowd cheering their favourite team wins out for many people.”

Even Bermuda’s outgoing Chief Justice, Ian Kawaley, said his farewells at a special sitting of the Supreme Court in July of this year with a not-so-subtle mention of the side he supports, Manchester United, by saying that he “hopes the Bermuda Bar will in future be…United!”.

So, whether it’s on the field, in the classroom, in the bar – or in front of the Bar – it’s undeniable that Bermudians view football as an essential part of their lives.

Duncan Hall also finds football indispensable. He has attended four World Cups, two Euro tournaments, two Champions League finals, and once joined a group led by legendary Bermudian footballer Clyde Best that travelled to Buenos Aires to watch Argentina play Brazil.

The post Football: A game for forward movement appeared first on RG Magazines.

1. The Hospitality

From parking, to security and admission, navigation and crowd control around the tents is airtight – key and too-often missed aspects of a major event. Driving up the hill, excitement builds the minute the National Sports Centre floodlights come into view. The organised welcome from the marshals and volunteers, the seating arrangements, and tremendous ice sculpture near the tent entrance extends that happy feeling. The one that makes you look to your partner in crime and say, “Tonight’s gonna be a good night!”

2. The Food

They market it as a “buffet” – an understatement. The options are to your heart’s desire and of remarkable quality, as is to be expected from Fourways – one of the best corporate caterers on the island. Whether you enjoy a gourmet salad or feel the atmosphere lends to a giant plate of fish and chips, fresh-cut piece of beef or chicken, no one leaves hungry or unsatisfied.

3. The Booze

You might want to feed your alter ego before it comes to life in the Member’s Tent. The hours for the open bar alone, make you snuggle into your seat – from one hour before the first game to one hour after the final whistle. First-class wines, premium vodka and rum from Goslings, plus endless canned beers such as Magners, Bud Light, Corona, Boddingtons and Dark and Stormy. For non-drinkers – or in-between drinks – you have a choice of still or sparkling Pellegrino, soda and juices.

4. The People

This is most certainly the place to entertain corporate clients, meet industry professionals, or rub shoulders with politicians. Having said that, the Member’s Tent is the most relaxed atmosphere for these connections to happen. Whether from the booze or the excitement of the game, there’s a buzz that bring walls down and opens the room up for opportunity.

5. The View

Get the best view of the scrums and biffs from behind the goal line. The Member’s Tent allows you to really soak in the heart, sweat and emotion of the game. Don’t miss an opportunity to really experience rugby the way it should be. In the words of Steve Smith, former Captain of England, “I have no doubt that, during the next week, many tales will be told on many parts of the Island. For us veterans of the Island, it is great to be back amongst such crazy people. For the “Island Virgins” (first trippers) hold on to your hats!”

Go to www.worldrugby.bm for more on the Member’s Tent admission, games and tickets.

The post 5 Ways the WRC Member’s Tent is Everything appeared first on RG Magazines.

The 52nd annual Royal Gazette Wahoo Tournament was a huge success on September 9, despite fears of the effects of Hurricane Florence.

Here are the highlights from last night’s prize presentation at Spanish Point Boat Club.

Winners:

The post The Royal Gazette Wahoo Tournament appeared first on RG Magazines.

Results:

Forms

BLACK BELT WOMEN 40+

1- ANDREA MCKEY

2- SUZANNE ERICSSON

INTERMEDIATE WOMEN

1- JASHAE ALLEN-LAMONTAGNE

NOVICE MEN

1- ORANTHUS TURNER

BLACK BELT MEN

1- KAELIN COX

2- KENT BEAN

BLACK BELT MEN 40+

1- DAVID SIMONS

BLACK BELT MEN G/C

DAVID SIMONS

WOMEN WEAPONS

1- JASHAE ALLEN-LAMONTAGNE

BLACK BELT WOMEN WEAPONS 40+

1- ANDREA MCKEY

WOMEN WEAPONS G/C

JASHAE ALLEN-LAMONTAGNE

BLACK BELT MEN WEAPONS

1-KAELIN COX

2-KENT BEAN

BLACK BELT MEN WEAPONS 40+

1- DAVID SIMONS

BLACK BELT MEN WEAPONS G/C

DAVID SIMONS

NOVICE BOYS UNDER 16

1- AMIEL TROTT

INTERMEDIATE BOYS UNDER 10

1- DASH BAILEY

2- DAVONTE RICHARDSON

INTERMEDIATE BOYS UNDER 16

1- ASHTON EATHERLEY

2- AIDAN EATHERLEY

3- DALHARI BAILEY

4- KHWAI MENDOZA

INTERMEDIATE BOYS GRANDCHAMPION

DASH BAILEY

ADVANCED BOYS

1- KENTARO BEAN

NOVICE GIRLS UNDER 10

1- FANCIE TUCKER

NOVICE GIRLS UNDER 16

1- ARIMA TURNER

NOVICE GIRLS G/C

ARIMA TURNER

INTERMEDIATE GIRLS UNDER 10

1- CALLAHJ SIMONS

INTERMEDIATE GIRLS UNDER 16

1- MILAHN POWELL

2- KIANNA VAUGHANS

INTERMEDIATE GIRLS G/C

CALLAHJ SIMMONS

JUNIOR WEAPONS

1- MILAHN POWELL

2- KENTARO BEAN

3- AIDAN EATHERLEY

4- ASHTON EATHERLEY

Sparring

BOYS 5-6

1- JONATHAN TROTT

2- YUSUF TALBOT

3- KHAYDEN NISBETT

BOYS 8-9

1- KHAMARI NISBETT

2- EZRA DYER

3- AARON LUGO

4- IBRAHAM TALBOT

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In November of last year, vice-president of Somerset Cricket Club, Vashun Blanchette succeeded Alfred Maybury after his seven-year term and became the club’s youngest president. The 32 year-old, has been involved with the club for the majority of his life — starting as a child and serving on the executive side of the club since 2009. Now … an added level of responsibility as his first term also happens to be a Cup Match year in Somerset.

Mr Blanchette “never had dreams of becoming the president” but has always gravitated towards the role. “I’ve been around the club my whole life, starting as a pewee footballer in the early 1990s”, he said. “It was always an environment where I was able to be around my friends having a good time under the guidance of positive role models”.

“I grew up in the Somerset football and cricket programs — playing football right through to the senior team. I didn’t really play much cricket as I got older. I’ve actually had to fill in for a couple games for the senior team in the last couple of years, but I wouldn’t classify myself as a cricketer.”

Although, not a big player, Mr Blanchette recalled many weekends at the club watching the sport. “One Cup Match in Somerset, I must have been about 9 or 10, I actually did the scoreboard. Now it’s is all electronic, but before it used to be rolling pins and metal sheets that you used to ‘have to hang up. I was standing on a milk crate putting all the numbers up. So, I understand cricket, I just never really played it at a higher level.”

Months before the Island’s most-anticipated, two-day emancipation celebrations, Mr Blanchette describes the preparations as “organized chaos”, saying that “it really is a full-time job” outside of his career at the Bermuda Monetary Authority.

“There’s just so much to do and it’s a collaborative effort. With Cup Match, I feel like you run through the finish line and then you’re still sprinting. It really involves that much co-ordination with security firms, police, caterers, decorators, scaffolding, organizing staff for gates and bars, getting the vendors and you need electricians, plumbers, its endless. It’s a lot that goes into the biggest event in Bermuda.

“Over 2 days we attract upwards of 15,000 people so that gives it some context. It we have 60,000 residents that 25% are coming through those gates for 2 days.”

Blanchette’s main objective this year? That everyone comes to SCC and has a “safe and enjoyable holiday, incident free”.

“Often times Cup Match is the place where you see people you haven’t seen all year or since the previous holiday, right? So, it is a time for family and friends to come together. But also, an opportunity for us to reflect on why we really celebrate.

“Yes, the cricket game and the social aspect around it is what we come through the gate for, but the historical context and the abolition of slavery is important and we should use it as an opportunity to reflect.

With the game — the intent is to always win, but if we can’t win… don’t lose. I don’t want that on my resume: “became president when Somerset lost the cup”, he joked.

Discussing the future of his club, Mr Blanchette expressed that re-establishing SCC as the center piece for the Sandy’s community is his teams’ top priority. “We also, want to continue to strengthen our youth programs. We are probably one of the only clubs, that have a football and cricket team in every age group. So, we want to continue to have a thriving program where parents feel or see value in bringing their child.”

He is adamant that the club’s responsibility is focused on building individuals through sports. “Now if we get a professional then great, but I don’t think that’s our objective. It’s to help mold upstanding citizens who ultimately go on to do good things. Whether they go away to school and come back, or don’t go away at all — but we equip them with tools they need to be their own boss, entrepreneurs or whatever they decide to pursue.”

When asked what he would say to younger people, admiring him in his new position, Blanchette said he would tell them to “simply be yourself. Follow your instincts, let your conscience guide you and obviously not be naive. We are living in times with distractions and outside influences, but you know be diligent and dedicate yourself towards whatever positive goal you wish to achieve”.

This article was originally published in the 2018 edition of the RG Cup Match supplement.

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Luckily this is Bermuda and you will always find people who will patiently explain this wonderful game. The host club will always have experts on hand who will enthusiastically tell you the “ins and outs” of Cup Match.

Here are 9 facts about cricket, as it pertains to Cup Match:

1. The team:

Each team has a total of 11 players, however, there will never be more than 13 players on the field — 11 payers from one team (nine fielders, on bowler and one wicketkeeper) and two batsmen from the other team. The objective of the game is to score the most runs, and the team that does that wins the match. Although at Cup Match if it ends in a draw the team holding the cup “wins”.

2. The Batsman:

The batsman’s job is to score as many runs as they can for their team. They can do this through three means — running between stumps after hitting the ball to any part of the field, hitting the ball along the ground to the boundary rope (four runs), and hitting the ball over the boundary rope (six runs). You will no doubt hear air horns going off at Somerset Cricket Club when a six is hit.

3. The Bowler:

The bowler’s job is twofold: restrict the number of runs and get the opposing batsmen out. In Cup Match, he has an unlimited number of overs (a set of six tries). He can also get the batsmen out by knocking down the stumps, hitting the batsman on the pads if it is in line with the stumps (lbw), or inducing the batsman to hit the ball straight to a player who catches it. Again, when the bowler gets someone out, air horns blast from the crowd.

4. The Fielder

The Fielder’s job is to help the bowler restrict the number of runs, and helps to get the batsmen out by catching a ball hit by them or by throwing the ball at the stump while the batsmen are running

5. The Wicketkeeper:

The Wicketkeeper’s position behind the stumps allows him to catch the ball or effect a stumping (knocking the stumps out of the ground when the batsman is out of his crease). He also plays the main cheerleader for his team.

6. The Umpire:

There are two on-field umpires who make the calls.

7. The innings:

The inning is complete when 10 of the 11 members of the batting team have been dismissed (all out— although one always remaining “not-out”), or when the batting team declares they have made enough runs — something which happens fairly often at Cup Match.

8. Runs:

Getting 50 runs is good for an individual batsman, getting one 100 (or a century) is better! And when that happens at Cup Match you will often see members of the crowd running out to give the batsman money — something you never see in games around the world. It is one of the things that make Cup Match fun and unique.

9.   Tea Time:

Of course, cricket would not be the great game it is without tea time. This is a break in play which allows the players to take on liquids and the like. They don’t actually drink tea but cool refreshments to help them stay hydrated. With the heat bearing down they really need those liquids. The tea break owes its origins to the tradition of English high tea that was usually taken at the particular time of the day and yes, it is possible that the cricket players actually drank tea during this break back in the day.

This article was originally published in the 2018 edition of the RG Cup Match supplement.

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