Queen’s-Grace Jackson organisers expect bigger, better meet
With The Queen’s School still Jamaica’s only all-female institution to host an annual development meet, the organisers are hoping this year’s 15th staging of the Queen’s-Grace Jackson meet will be their biggest, most memorable and most spectacular to date.The event, slated to begin at 8:30 a.m. next Saturday inside the National Stadium, was launched at the Queen’s School board room on Central Avenue, St Andrew, yesterday.The event, a qualifier for the ISSA-GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Championships in March, is expected to attract as many as 2,400 athletes. It will cost $500 for adults to enter while children with school identification and under 12 will pay $200.Honorees at this year’s meet will be recent graduate Danielle Williams, who won the 100m hurdles gold at last year’s IAAF World Championships and Wayne Long and Winston Harvey for their long-term contributions as track and field officials.five scholarshipsMeet patron, Olympian and past student Grace Jackson, highlighted the fact that five scholarships worth $15,000 each will be given to qualified Queen’s student athletes.”I would like everybody to come out to the stadium and watch the show. We are going to have excellent performances,” Jackson said.Meanwhile, telecommunications provider Digicel are on board for the first time, courtesy of their Digicel Grand Prix series, which sponsors a number of development meets.Main sponsor, Lucozade, has pumped in $650,000 in cash, products and special prizes for athletes and supporters.Meet manager Olive McNaughton stressed that the meet is about the development of athletes.”This meet is not just for the stars. This meet is for development, I think the Queen’s-Grace Jackson Meet has done its part in terms of development in Jamaica,” McNaughton said.Competitors will come from some of the major track and field clubs including MVP/UTech, Racers Track Club and G.C. Foster, as well as from high schools across Jamaica. Teams from Cayman Islands, The Bahamas and St Lucia are expected to compete for the first time.The events down to be contested include 200m for all classes, 400m hurdles, the 400m for clubs and institutions, field events including triple jump and discus while the organisers are also hoping to have the shot put and a special 60m event.The 4x400m relays are scheduled to bring the curtains down at 6 p.m.
Ninth Annual Jamaica Bicycle Bash Bicycle enthusiasts from across the island are expected to converge at James Bond Beach in St Mary on Sunday, May 29, for the 9th Annual Jamaica Bicycle Bash. Whether taking part in the many games and competitions, showing off their bicycles, or simply enjoying the vibe with other cyclists, the day is designed to provide a fun-filled family atmosphere for riders of all ages. Crowd favourite “Rambolyimpics” will once again be a centrepiece of the competition schedule, along with the “Bunny Hop”, “Slow Race”, “Eliminator”, “Gladiator Circles”, and many others! Guests will also be treated to stunt demonstrations from the island’s best BMX stunt riders. Entry fee is $200 with a bicycle and $300 without. Gates open at 10 a.m. Russian tennis head backtracks MOSCOW (AP): The head of the Russian Tennis Federation backtracked on his comments yesterday, saying he didn’t mean to suggest that Maria Sharapova’s failed doping test could spell the end of her career. Russian news agency R-Sport had quoted Shamil Tarpishchev yesterday as saying that Sharapova’s situation is “bad” and that it is “very doubtful” that she will resume her career. “I only said that she can’t play now because no ruling on her case has been issued,” Tarpishchev later told the Tass news agency. Sharapova tested positive for meldonium at the Australian Open in January. She said she had taken the drug for a decade for medical purposes and didn’t know it had been banned for 2016. Sharapova remains provisionally suspended from competition pending a ruling from the International Tennis Federation. Kaka tops MLS salary list BETHESDA, Md (AP): Kaka remains Major League Soccer’s highest-paid player at just over US$7 million, and American goalkeeper Tim Howard will earn slightly more than US$2.5 million in his return to the league. Kaka, the former AC Milan and Real Madrid star, is earning a base salary of US$6.6 million from Orlando City, according to figures released yesterday by the MLS Players Union. Including a prorated share of compensation not specified to a specific year, his total earnings remain a league-record US$7,167,500. Toronto’s Sebastian Giovinco, the league’s 2015 MVP, has a US$5.6 million base and total compensation of US$7,115,556. US national team captain Michael Bradley, in his third season with Toronto, has a US$6 million base and US$6.5 million total earnings. Howard, the US starting goalkeeper at the past two World Cups, is joining Colorado next month after a decade at Everton. He has a US$2.1 million base and US$2,575,000 in total compensation. Steven Gerrard, the former Liverpool and England captain now with the Los Angeles Galaxy, has a US$6 million base salary and US$6,132,500 in total earnings. Former Chelsea and Manchester City midfielder Frank Lampard, who has yet to play a match for New York City this season, has a US$6 million salary. He is followed by teammates Andrea Pirlo (US$5.6 million, US$5,915,690) and David Villa (US$5.61 million).
Japeth Aguilar embraces role, gets rewarded with Finals MVP plum Lights inside SMX hall flicker as Duterte rants vs Ayala, Pangilinan anew The bout will headline the UFC’s 25th-anniversary fight card in Denver on November 10, reflecting Chan’s stature and the sport’s global reach.If he finds a way past the American veteran, the Korean fighter is expected to get a second shot at the featherweight title –- and the chance to become the UFC’s first Asian world champion.“Fighters are emerging from all over Asia, and from South Korea,” said Chan. “The image of the sport has improved and it is up to us as martial artists to make sure this continues.”A ‘positive’ forceChan’s “Zombie” tag comes from his ability to keep moving forward into battle, even when under a barrage, and he is level-headed about the challenge posed by Edgar.ADVERTISEMENT Gretchen Barretto’s daughter Dominique graduates magna cum laude from California college Will you be the first P16 Billion Powerball jackpot winner from the Philippines? LATEST STORIES Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. Coach Kobe: Bryant shares philosophies on how to reach kids MOST READ “I know he will try to wear me down, try to exhaust me, but I am ready for that,” said Chan. “My stamina is very good.”Chan seemed destined for the top after joining the UFC in 2011, after starring on the domestic scene in South Korea.He went 3-0 before losing to then-featherweight champion Jose “Scarface” Aldo, dislocating his shoulder throwing a huge right before losing via TKO in the fourth.Following South Korea’s compulsory military service and a knee injury, Chan exploded back on to the scene with a first-round knockout of Dennis “The Menace” Bermudez in February 2017.Now with a career record of 14 wins and four losses, Chan will be faced with his biggest challenge yet against Edgar (23-6-1), the 36-year-old former UFC lightweight champion.But Chan said his time away from the cage –- which also brought the birth of three children, aged four to three months –- had put life into perspective.At the Angel’s Fighting event, Chan was in the corner for a fighter from his gym. He said such charity initiatives showed MMA could have a positive impact.“In the past the image (of MMA) has not been great but we are seeing this change, and everything is looking positive,” said Chan.“A while back I used to fight for myself, for fame. But now family overrides that and I am fighting for my family.” Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard PLAY LIST 02:14Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard02:56NCRPO pledges to donate P3.5 million to victims of Taal eruption00:56Heavy rain brings some relief in Australia02:37Calm moments allow Taal folks some respite03:23Negosyo sa Tagaytay City, bagsak sa pag-aalboroto ng Bulkang Taal01:13Christian Standhardinger wins PBA Best Player award
Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next “We should be inspiring kids and not shocking them,” the Seoul-based featherweight said ahead of this week’s Angel’s Fighting MMA event in Seoul, where all profits pay medical expenses for terminally ill children.“As martial artists we are role models,” added Chan, who is ranked 10th in the world by the UFC in his weight division.FEATURED STORIES SPORTSGinebra beats Meralco again to capture PBA Governors’ Cup titleSPORTSJapeth Aguilar wins 1st PBA Finals MVP award for GinebraSPORTSGolden State Warriors sign Lee to multiyear contract, bring back Chriss“Hyping up the fight is understandable but violence outside the cage is a no-go. We are adults and should remember the impact what we do has on kids.”Chan was speaking at his Korean Zombie Gym in Seoul as he prepared to fly out for his next fight, against the UFC’s former champion and third-ranked featherweight Frankie “The Answer” Edgar. Nadine Lustre’s phone stolen in Brazil Lights inside SMX hall flicker as Duterte rants vs Ayala, Pangilinan anew Tim Cone, Ginebra set their sights on elusive All-Filipino crown Allen Durham still determined to help Meralco win 1st PBA title Gov’t to employ 6,000 displaced by Taal FILE – Chan Sung Jung of South Korea celebrates after defeating Dennis Bermudez in their featherweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event at the Toyota Center on February 4, 2017 in Houston, Texas. Tim Warner/Getty Images/AFPAsia’s highest-ranked mixed martial artist said fighters must remember they’re idols for children as he slammed last week’s “shocking” scenes after Conor McGregor’s defeat to Khabib Nurmagomedov.Chan “The Korean Zombie” Sung-jung said the post-fight violence, when Nurmagomedov and his team attacked McGregor and his entourage in images beamed around the world, had set back attempts to clean up MMA’s image.ADVERTISEMENT View comments
The African Development Bank (AfDB) and AccessBank Liberia Ltd (ABL) have signed a technical assistance partnership agreement that would boost small and medium sized (SMEs) businesses in the country.The agreement is expected to enhance ABL’s reach to Liberian Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), and is supported by a grant from the Fund for Africa Private Sector Assistance (FAPA). FAPA is a multi-donor thematic trust fund that provides grant funding for technical assistance and capacity building to support implementation of the Bank’s Private Sector Development Strategy. The Governments of Japan and Austria and the African Development Bank are active contributors to the fund, which to date has provided over 46 Million to 57 projects in 38 countries across the African continent. The FAPA portfolio includes regional and national projects aimed at improving the business environment, strengthening financial systems, building private sector infrastructure, promotion of trade and development of SMEs. At the signing ceremony yesterday, Ms. Margaret Kilo, Resident Representative of the AfDB in Liberia, revealed that there are around 10,000 formally registered SMEs operating in the country, while many of them (SMEs) continue to operate informally.Ms. Kilo said that Liberia’s MSMEs face a number of constraints to profitability and growth including a lack of access to finance. Without such finance, these firms face significant difficulties to expand and enhance their operations, which would allow them to employ more individuals and contribute towards Liberia’s development and growth. She asserted that the Ebola virus exacerbated the challenges faced by Liberian MSMEs, and this support will help reinvigorate the sector. “It will also increase the capacity of the SME sector to provide services to the government and concessions sectors.” Commenting further on the partnership, Ms. Kilo said: “We look forward to continuing our partnership with Access Bank Liberia, to help address the challenges MSME faces in accessing finance. She indicated Access Bank provides loans and banking services that help develop a vibrant private sector and increase incomes and employment.The acting CEO of AccessBank Liberia, Dusko Dimitrov, said that: “AccessBank Liberia would like to extend its deepest gratitude for AfDB’s ongoing support of AccessBank and the MSME sector in Liberia. These funds will allow the Bank to extend its outreach as the only dedicated MSME lender in the country. AccessBank sees access to finance as an essential point of development for Liberia and its citizens and will continue to strive towards making banking services available to all members of society.”The partnership with ABL falls under the AfDB’s overall Financial Sector Development Strategy (2014-2019), which focuses on accelerating Africa’s transformation. The strategy seeks to: expand access to basic financial services; provide financial products and services to support the gradual transition to green growth of the real economy; improve financial infrastructure; enhance regional financial integration; enrich corporate governance; focus on entrepreneurship and innovation to foster private sector development; and build financial skills.Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
“The IFL team concept fits into our architecture of being a regional channel first and a national network second. Now each region has a team that the FSN station can promote, like their local MLB, NBA or NHL team.” The male 18-to-34 age demographic that devours this kind of stuff might actually be skewing younger here, Thompson says. Noting the success of video games like “Mortal Combat,” which is a version of mixed martial arts, Thompson thinks that programming like the IFL translates to the TVscreen for the gamer generation. The IFL, which debuted last Friday on FSN and airs a new show tonight (FSN West, 11 p.m.), has a minimum of 11 fights per hour-long broadcast. As in other team sports, the season will climax with a Sept. 15 final set for the Forum in Inglewood. The shows produced by the IFL includes MMA star Bas Rutten (the coach of the Los Angeles Anacondas) as a broadcaster and gives FSN 22hours of original shows, up from 13 last year. 160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set! If there’s a mixed message out there about the sport of mixed-martial arts, it’s that bludgeoning an opponent into the fetal position is OK because, before long, it’ll be drawing bigger audiences than boxing or fake wrestling. The pay-per-view phenomenon of the past few years readies for another huge payday, as Ultimate Fighting Championship 68 is set for Saturday in Columbus, Ohio, with a retail price of $39.95. But the real growth has come from the acceptance of it on mainstream TV. Lately, it’s the International Fight League’s new arm-twist on the every-man-for-himself concept: A 12-team league competition, giving cities like L.A., New York, Chicago, Seattle, San Jose and Portland a rooting interest. That plays right into the philosophy of Fox Sports Net, which reaches 82million homes through 25 regional channels (including both FSN West and FSN Prime Ticket in Southern California) and is banking on this IFL tribal format to set itself apart from MMA events on Spike TV, Versus, HBO or Showtime. “We’d been doing mixed martial arts programming for about five years, going back to the old UFC days and continuing with Pride Fighting,” said Bob Thompson, president of all of Fox’s cable sports networks, which include Speed, Fox Soccer and Fuel TV. “One of the things we’ve always noticed is that any time you put it on, there’s a decent ratings pop regardless of what it’s up against. That alone led us to believe we have a diehard audience for the product and if we grow it, we’ll have something good here. 
2. Spending £35m on Andy Carroll (January 2011) – In what was FSGs first real statement of intent at the club, they had already sanctioned a £22m deal for Luis Suarez before they decided to go back into the market. With an eye-watering £50m profited from the sale of Fernando Torres to Chelsea, the Reds owners contrived to spend £35m on Andy Carroll a player who had scored just 14 top-flight goals in his career. The move proved an unmitigated disaster, with the hefty price tag seen as a benchmark and a catalyst to inflated prices for English players ever since. He was shipped off to West Ham in August 2012 after the arrival of Brendan Rodgers. 7 7. Blackpool completing the league double over Liverpool (2010/11 season) – Liverpools league performances in the 2010/11 season left a lot to be desired after the dreadful and short lived Roy Hodgson era. Promoted side Blackpool, despite going straight back down, earned a pair of 2-1 league wins over the Reds, including at Bloomfield Road (pictured) in January 2011. 7 7 5. Luis Suarez racially abusing Patrice Evra (October 2011) – An unsavoury incident that would linger and ultimately undermine the brilliance of Luis Suarez, with his naïve choice of language in October 2011 costing Liverpool his services for eight games. Their vociferous support for the Uruguayan following the incident further tainted the clubs image. 7 7 Today marks the fifth anniversary of Fenway Sports Group’s takeover of Liverpool.In 2010, the American owners arrived with a vision and ambition to restore the Reds to their place amongst the elite of European football after a spell of instability under previous incumbents Tom Hicks and George Gillett.Liverpool have experienced some intense highs and some devastating lows – something so synonymous with being a follower of the Merseyside club – in that five-year period.The Baseball tycoons have, after last week’s appointment of Jurgen Klopp, worked closely with four managers, with Roy Hodgson, Kenny Dalglish and Brendan Rodgers all shown the Anfield exit.talkSPORT has collated seven of the lowest moments at Liverpool under FSG’s ownership – click the yellow arrow above, right, to see our list… 6. FA Cup semi-final defeat to Aston Villa (April 2015) – The Reds wholly underwhelming 2014/15 season hinged on appeasing the fans with some cup success, so an FA Cup semi-final against a beleaguered Aston Villa side offered a great opportunity to reach a major final. They were convincingly beaten at Wembley, though, as Brendan Rodgers became only the second manager in Liverpools illustrious history not to win a trophy during his managerial reign. 7 7 4. Crystal Palace 3-3 Liverpool (May 2014) – Liverpool then crumbled at Crystal Palace 3. Replacing Luis Suarez with Mario Balotelli (August 2014) – Liverpools transfer activity in the summer of 2014 has come under extreme scrutiny after the £75m sale of Luis Suarez, with more than £100m reimbursed on supposedly establishing a squad capable of building on their second-place finish the season before. After missing out on prime target Alexis Sanchez, the Reds infamous transfer committee plumped for the even more infamous Mario Balotelli as an alternative. One year and one Premier League goal later, Balotelli was on his way out of Anfield on loan. 1. Stoke 6-1 Liverpool (May 2015) – A dismal end to a forgettable season, Mays 6-1 humiliation at the Britannia Stadium was the first time the Reds had conceded six goals in a league game in over 50 years. What was supposed to be a fond farewell to arguably the clubs greatest ever player, Steven Gerrard endured a swansong to forget as the Reds conceded five first-half goals for the first time in the Premier League era. It came as a major surprise that Brendan Rodgers wasnt relieved of his duties by FSG immediately afterwards.
Donegal County Childcare Committee staff Oran Sweeney and Avril McMonagle delivering gifts collected for the Percy Appeal to Anne McGettigan, Donegal Women’s Domestic Violence Service. Pic Clive WassonThe staff team at Donegal County Childcare are delighted to reveal the final tally on the Presents for Percy Appeal is a massive €14,000.All donations have been distributed within County Donegal to help a staggering 130 local families in need of a little help with meeting Santa requests for their children this Christmas.Avril McMonagle, Manager of DCCC said today: “The Presents for Percy Appeal was under pressure from the word go as the request lists from families more than doubled for Christmas 2012. “But the team upped their efforts and thanks to a range of individuals, agencies, local businesses and early childhood services the final tally also more than doubled the 2011 total.”Over the past week the DCCC team have purchased a range of toys and vouchers to match the Wishlists of 130 families and approximately 400 children.Due to unprecedented demand from parents, the appeal also purchased a range of vouchers for food and clothes that can be used in local stores.To ensure that all donations are targeted to those most in need of support, all purchases were distributed through local agencies all over the county including Parentstop, Cara House, Donegal Women’s Domestic Violence Service; Letterkenny Womens Centre, Action Inis Eoghain, St Vincent de Paul Falcarragh, Castlefinn, Stranorlar, Mountcharles, Clonmany, Killygordon, St Johnston Family Resource Centre and a number of individual parents and families who approached DCCC privately. DCCC would like to thank all those who supported the appeal – regardless of how large or small your donation it made a real difference, your efforts will ensure at least 400 smiles this Christmas morning! A public acknowledgement of all those who helped us out will feature in local press in the New Year. Percy with Donegal County Childcare Committee staff as they deliver gifts collected for the Percy Appeal to Pic Clive Wasson CHRISTMAS ‘THANKS’ AS PERCY APPEAL RAISES MASSIVE €14,000 was last modified: December 19th, 2012 by BrendaShare this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window) Tags:000CHRISTMAS ‘THANKS’ AS PERCY APPEAL RAISES MASSIVE €14
Minister for Health Dr James Reilly has opened two new health centres in the county today.Glenties Primary Care Centre, located in the town centre, represents a €1.7 million investment by the HSE in providing health care in the region.It will feature a GP Practice with a range of HSE health professionals, including Public Health Nursing, Dentistry, Physiotherapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Dietician, Addiction Service and Chiropody. All of the HSE services at the Centre will be available to the population of the area including those attending other GP practices.Dungloe Community Hospital is part of HSE Older Person Services.The hospital has 35 beds including continuing-care beds, respite care beds, convalescent care beds and palliative care beds. Some €500,000 was spent on the new accommodation consisting of 4 single high dependency rooms with en-suite facilities, a patients’ dayroom, a new disabled WC and a hairdresser’s room.An enclosed garden with soft-pour pathways was designed between the new day room and the new four-bedded extension; funding for the garden was provided by local fundraising and the Hospital Golden Jubilee Committee. MINISTER FOR HEALTH OPENS TWO HEALTH CENTRES IN DONEGAL TODAY was last modified: May 28th, 2012 by StephenShare this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window) Tags:Minister James Reilly
Red Bluff >> The Red Bluff Lady Spartans softball team gave up a pair of runs each in the first and second innings and couldn’t generate enough offense to close the gap, falling 5-2 at home to the Chico Panthers.After giving up 2 in the first, Allyson Drury led off and reached second on an error, but was followed by a strikeout, pop fly and ground out to third to end the inning. Down 4-0 in the second with one away, Alexis Zamora walked and stole second and Elizabeth Baccala singled to give …
Now that the football season is in and world cup fever is prevalent, has anyone ever wondered what the favorite football moves of our netas are? Ashwin S. Kumar of The UnReal Times brings you this exclusive compilation:Arvind Kejriwal – Bicycle KickNo surprises here. Quite like his politics, Kejriwal’s favorite football move is the one where you do a palti (turn upside down) and kick the ball strongly to score a goal, after teaching to fellow footballers that they should block the ball with their chests, get it down and kick straight.Priyanka Gandhi – Penalty kick at the shootout stageQuite like her political stints, Priyanka loves to come in right at the very end of a contest, steal all the limelight and try to get a few balls into the goal post.Rajeev Shukla – HeaderQuite like how it is in real life, where Rajeev Shukla is seen butting his head into a plethora of scenarios, be it being a politician or a BCCI honcho or a journalist or a movie financier or a..(well, the list is endless), Rajeev Shukla’s favorite football shot is to stick his bulky head out and use it to steer the ball, regardless of which football team he plays for.Rahul Gandhi – Pass Rahul Gandhi is consistent everywhere and understandably, on the football field too, it is not surprising that he just loves to pass the ball to the nearest available team-mate each time it comes to him. Often, his own team mates prevent the ball from coming to him though.Narendra Modi – Free kickadvertisementNarendra Modi is someone who loves scenarios where the stage is all set for him to come and deliver a mighty blow, while his team-mates and subordinate toil hard and get their hands, err..feet dirty. Evidently, even in football, Modi loves the ball being set up for him at a vantage point, from which he has to strategically pass it on to his striker, as in a free kick. Otherwise, he loves to block the ball by exposing his full 56-inch chest and getting it on the ground.Lalu Prasad – Pull backLalu Prasad has been infamous for pulling things backwards when he’s at the helm and it is no different in football too – a master of pulling the ball back skillfully.Sanjay Jha – Self-goalEach time he comes on TV to defend his party, he costs it a few more votes, thanks to his amazingly crafted self-goals. It is a similar situation on the football field too.