The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

While this is the fifth year that the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture has renamed the National Primary School in his honour, Frank 'Pancho' Rahming said he's just pleased to have been able to get it started some 30 years ago.

Once known as the Ovaltine and Milo National Primary School Meet, the three-day event at the Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium has evolved to the point that there are a lot more schools coming in from the Family Islands to participate. "I'm still not pleased with the participation of the government schools in New Providence," Rahming said. "I know they had their New Providence Primary School Track and Field Meet because I officiated for two-three days.

"They had a lot of schools and a lot of athletes participating. But I think there are only about four or five government schools from New Providence. I don't know why and I'm not speculating, but we need to find out so we can get all of the schools out."

Despite the decline in government schools from New Providence participating, Rahming said there was an increase this year in the Family Islands with a lot of them bringing their individual schools rather competing as an all-island team.

The meet was officially opened by Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Michael Pintard on Wednesday at the Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium and will wrap up today as Rahming celebrates his birthday - he is in his 70s.

Meet director Michael Sands said the meet is going on very well, despite a little hiccup that they experienced at the start of the day on Wednesday. "You could feel the enthusiasm from these young people from the Family Islands," he said. "We have over 1,500 kids competing from 59 schools. We have several schools competing for the first time and we welcome them."

At the end of today's session, Sands said they will determine the overall champions, but throughout the three days of competition, there were individual champions crowned in their various events.

One of the top performances turned in so far, although the official results were not available, came from Jason Woodside Jr. The Claridge Primary sixth grader won the A boys triple jump for the third consecutive year.

"It was good," said the 11-year-old Woodside Jr, who competes for Swift Athletics and hopes to continue his education at St John's College in September. "I met a lot of new people and I had a lot of fun."

Woodside, following in the footsteps of his father, Jason Woodside Sr, is the deputy head boy and is the Student of the Year. He credited his success in the classroom to his mother, Valderine Woodside.

Sands said it's a fitting tribute to recognise Rahming. "It's very important that we as a people, recognise those persons who would have made contributions in their area of profession," Sands said. "There's no doubt in my mind that Frank Rahming is one of those persons, who has given and continues to give advice and guidance in track and field.

"I venture to say that I don't think that there is anyone in the region who is more technically sound than Pancho. So I think it's only fitting that someone's legacy is appreciated while they can appreciate it and not wait until they are gone."

Vogal Williams, who has spent more than 50 years coaching, is now in Abaco where he is a supply teacher for physical education at Central Abaco Primarym who brought in about 30 athletes.

Cooper's Town Primary, Treasure Cay Primary, Crossing Rock Primary, Agape Primary and Sandy Point Primary are all here representing their schools in Abaco. "It's best that we give it to him now and he sees it while he is living," said Williams, of the honour for Rahming. "When he's dead, it don't make any difference to him what's going on. So give his apple to eat now. Even give him his ice cream that he can enjoy it."

As the organiser of the North Andros Invitational more than 20 years ago, which was called off to this year as plans were afloat to renovate the track, Williams said he's hoping that one day he will be recognised for what he has done in track and field. "What I would like for them to do is to fix the track in Abaco so I can put on a good track meet down there like I did in Nicholls Town, Andros," said Williams, who has been a household name wherever he went to coach.

Dexter Cambridge, a former National Basketball Association player, is giving back to his island of birth, Eleuthera, where he's now in the coaching system at the primary school level.

"It's a good learning experience and exposure for these kids," said Cambridge, one of the coaches from the North Eleuthera High School where they have 43 students from Palmetto Point to Spanish Wells competing.

"These kids only get to run one or two meets in Eleuthera, their house meet and their district meet. So to come to New Providence, they get to see where they are."

As for the meet named in honour of Rahming, Cambridge said he concurs.

"Some people in this country are still not being honoured or recognised for their accomplishments, but life goes on," Cambridge said. "They haven't done anything in Eleuthera as yet, but something is being planned."

From as far as San Salvador, Stephen 'S' Brown and their coaching staff brought in 19 athletes to try and get at least two athletes to compete in an event.

"For me, this is a feeder system and I think if I can get them in and competing, I feel in the near future, we should have a pretty good track team," Brown said. "From the facilities that we have and the practice sessions that they have done, I think we are doing very well.

"Winning first, second or third is alright, but I'm looking at the way they are performing. I think when I look at the strategies that I have used on them in practice, I can give them an A-plus for their efforts."

Having spent a great deal of time working with Rahming when they were both at the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, Brown said having the meet continued to be named after Rahming is something that he will endorse.

"Mr Rahming has done wonders," Brown pointed out. "I remember working under him and I was sitting in the office when this same meet, which was the Ovaltine at the time, was held and he had athletes like Debbie Ferguson at Oakes Field who excelled in this meet. Now look at what she has done. I think this is really good for him."

Also on hand was Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations' president Rosamunde Carey. "I am really impressed with the amount of schools participating, especially from the amount that we have from the Family Islands," she summed up. "I think it all bodes well for our national development programme.

"It speaks to the fact that even though we don't have the proper facilities on those islands, as long as there is a grass surface, the kids can go out there and do whatever they can to train. I think they are having fun and we are seeing some diamonds in the rough."

Next month, the focus will shift to the BAAA holding both the Junior and Senior Nationals where the more seasoned athletes will be competing for spots on the various national teams travelling this summer.