The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

IT IS not how you start, nor how you get there. Most importantly, it’s how you finish.

• The Finish Line, a weekly column, seeks to comment on the state of affairs in local sports, highlighting the highs and the lows, the thrills and the spills and the successes and failures.

THE WEEK THAT WAS

Let’s welcome the new Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Michael Pintard.

Having been sworn in on Monday night at Government House, a lot of sporting executives are waiting for their opportunity to sit down and give into details on the way forward for their respective organisations.

The Member of Parliament for Marco City brings a lot of youth and vitality to the triple ministry that has made an impact on the international scene in their assistance to the recently held FIFA World Cup and the IAAF World Relays.

The next major event on the agenda is the Commonwealth Youth Games that comes up in July.

But, in the meantime, Pintard should have his hands full as he has indicated that he would like to meet with all of the stakeholders to ascertain exactly where the ministry stands in their commitment to sports in general in the country.

So while we welcome Pintard, I think he should be given time to assess his ministry and the plans that he would like to implement as it pertains to the way forward.

I’m sure that he’s eager to get mobilised, so we should wait and see how he functions in the coming days, weeks and months.

Bahamian connection

Over the past few years, we have heard about the Bahamian connection at Auburn University with assistant coach Henry Rolle and the cadre of athletes who have excelled for the Tigers.

Some named to mention are Shamar Sands, Sheniqua ‘Q’ Ferguson, Leevan ‘Superman’ Sands and now Teray Smith and Janae Ambrose.

Purdue University

The Boilermakers continue to make headlines with their head coach Rolando ‘Lonnie’ Greene and his assistant Norbert Elliott. They have two talented young ladies in hurdler/sprinter Devynne Charlton and sprinter Carmeisha Cox as well as sprinter Keanu Pennerman and quarter-miler Kinard Rolle.

These are some of the athletes that could be in the spotlight this year when the Bahamas makes its assault on the IAAF World Championships in London, England.

Already the Bahamas has qualified for both the men and women 4 x 100 metre relays, based on their performances at the IAAF World Relays.

So there’s the consolation that with the team qualified without the services of the top collegiate athletes, including Keianna Albury, the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations should be able to field a solid team for the championships.

Of course, the athletes will all have to come home and compete in the BAAAs National Open Championships that will be heading back to Grand Bahama June 3-24.

There are sufficient athletes, especially on the women’s side, who can help the Bahamas to regain its prominence in the 4 x 100m relay.

THE WEEK AHEAD

Who will emerge as the champions of the Bahamas Bowling Federation’s 2017 BTC National Bowling Championships?

This past week, the bowlers were out in full force as they got their competitive juices flowing. Next week, they will determine who will head into the live TV roll off final on May 28.

The men and women defending champions respectively, David Slatter and Jonice ‘Joy’ Lockhart are right in the thick of things as they battle for the two spots on the QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup in Hermosillo, Mexico, November 4–12. 

The nationals, sponsored for a number of years by Rothmans before they were able to secure a commitment from BTC to come on board this year, has been keenly contested so far.

And if that’s any indication, the last week of competition should be something to watch at Mario’s Bowling. You won’t be disappointed.