The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

AS a part of the Bahamas’ 42nd Independence celebrations, the All-Andros Regatta will take the spotlight this weekend when the competition takes in Morgan’s Bluff. And the Gladiator Championship Wrestling will be back to make another appearance during the onshore activities.

Rev Dr Philip McPhee, one of the organisers, said they are looking forward to having a number of B and C class boats as sailing remains the premier sporting event since the Bahamas gained its independence from Great Britain in 1973.

“We are carrying C and B classes, but we are looking at some of the fastest boats competing,” McPhee said. “We are expecting some tremendous excitement.”

The sailing competition is scheduled to start Friday and wrap up on Saturday when the Gladiators Championship will sponsor a trophy for the final race in the C class. McPhee said they are looking forward to all of the sailors wearing T-shirts by the G and they even anticipate having each of the competitors sail on one of the boats.

“We’re going to Bahamianise them and get them excited about the Bahamas,” McPhee said. “We are expecting some great things and will even see if we can get an Androsian strong enough to handle them in an arm-wrestling competition. But the sailing is going to be exciting because we will have some of the top skippers there and so we expect a great event.”

Among the list of boats expected to compete are the Sweet Island Gal, Asue Thunderbird, Dream Girl in the B class and the Revelation 3:19, Whiplash, Eudeva, Heathcliff, Melba B and Ants Nest.

McPhee, however, said they are hoping that a boat from Andros can win so they can really celebrate Androsian style.

By bringing the Gladiators, he said they will also have a large following of persons and the American media who tend to cover them whenever they compete, so the Bahamas should be able to gain some additional exposure.

Rita Grant, chief executive officer of Solar Verde Bahamas Limited, whose company is responsible for bringing the GCW to the Bahamas, made a cheque presentation to BTC union president Bernard Evans, newly appointed chairman of the All-Andros Regatta committee.

“We want to thank the GCW for this gift to us,” Evans said. “We understand that you will also be bringing about nine wrestlers back to Andros and so we are already calling on our strongest men in Andros to challenge them to an arm-wrestling competition.”

Evans noted that in addition to the GCW, there will be a number of activities taking place on the shore, including some of the best in entertainment with a wide array of musicians performing from the gospel concert Thursday night to the final concert on Saturday night.

Grant, who was accompanied by Regina Whylly, the director of Exceptional Entertainment, said they are looking forward to returning to Andros after spending some time in South Andros when they had their homecoming celebrations a couple weeks ago.

She said GCW is eager to return and make another impact on the island before they hold their major in August.