Monday, February 23, 2015

THE FREEPORT NEWS

15

SPORTS
http://freeport.nassauguardian.net

GBFFL hold elections,

Smith returned as
president
There were no shirts given out,
there were no motorcades and no
rallies, but luckily there was also
an absence of any ruckus as the
Grand Bahama Flag Football
League concluded it electoral
process on Wednesday, February
12.
With only two of the four executive positions being contested
the night went off as expected.
Forty delegates were invited to
participate in the process; however, only 31 showed up.
Officials said, once the process
was explained the voting process
was quick and to the point.
At the end of the night the results reflected the victors.
Incumbent George Smith was
returned as president; Chovez
McBride was elected as vice
president; Shari Seymour was
elected treasurer and Ivarene
Jones returned as secretary.
It is also understood that Vincent Marshall will be appointed
as Public Relations officer along
with a League Commissioner to
be named at a later date.
All in all the elected officials
now face the task of improving
on the successes of the previous
seasons, which saw the participation of 11 male teams and
seven female teams.
As the positions include a commitment that will cover a two
year period reflecting the 20152016 and 2016-2017 flag football seasons in Grand Bahama,
the president advised the elected
officers to get their ideas together as they all take office as
of March 1.
Smith also noted that it is his
hope to work closely with all to
ensure the continued successes
of the Grand Bahama Flag Football League.

aMBrose gouThro

sMooThProcess: The grand Bahama Flag Football League recently held its election of officer
and at the end of the smooth process, incumber george smith was returned as president.

When questioned as to what

new ideas can be expected for
the future of the GBFFL, Smith
would only say that he, would
be better situated to promote the
new ideals and expectations of
the GBFFL after he would have
met with the new officers and
they collectively decided on the
future in terms of growth, community service and how to improve the quality of the product
that we offer to the Grand Bahama Community in terms of
recreation and excitement.
It appears as though the GB
Flag Football League is moving
in the right direction as the president and his new team want T

ensure that a collective vision of

the future is considered as compared to any apparent singular
force behind the wheel.
Pressed for a comment about
the league and its future, treasurer elect Shari Seymour opined,
the GBFFL has been blessed to
have been able to have the sponsorship commitments in the past
for the teams and I look forward
to a renewal of sponsorships
from local companies such as the
GB Shipyard, Freeport Container Port, Bahamas Brewery
and Beverage Company, Frecon,
Zorbas, Brads Car Rental, Inchscape
Shipping
Services,
BORCO, Playtime Sports, the

Royal Bahamas Police Force,

Bahama Rock, Westminster Law
Chambers, and B&B Waste
Management.
Seymour added that she looks
forward to building a relationship with the contact persons
from each sponsor and potential
sponsor to ensure they feel confident in the league and the direction that they plan to venture.
Vice president elect would reflect the exact sentiment of the
president reiterating he, would
be more vocal once he along
with his fellow elected officers
had met with the President and
decided on the future of the
GBFFL.

Golf
celebrity
invitational
set for GB
G

olf is on the upswing in Grand Bahama. The situation

today is far removed from the 1970s and 1980s when
Grand Bahama was considered the golfing capital of
the Caribbean region.
Multiple courses, and a wide variety of celebrity golfers gave
Grand Bahama a special reputation for the sport.
At present, Ambrose Gouthro, a long-time golf stalwart is driving several initiatives designed to ignite the sport.
He was the co-chairman of the very successful Mychal
Thompson/Fred Higgs Invitational of 2014. The event at the
Grand Lucayan Reef Golf Course of Freeport, rekindled golf on
the island.
Subsequently, Chris Harris construction operation organized
the Grand Bahama Open. It was a success. The year closed out
with a lot of promise for the upsurge of the sport in Grand Bahama. Now, Gouthro is at it again. He is co-chairing the inaugural Grand Bahama Celebrity Invitational Tournament.
This event is slated for July 18 at the Grand Lucayan Reef
Course. The Grand Lucayan Resort has all ready come on board
as important sponsor.

The Saltwater World Championship

Sports
Battle in The Bahamas
Extreme Kayak Fishing Tournament series is proud to present
the second annual Battle in The
Bahamas taking place April 23 to
-26, 2015 in the beautiful Island
of Grand Bahama in the Bahamas.
This two day kayak fishing
tournament, partly sponsored by
the Grand Bahama Island
Tourism Board and Bahamas
Ministry of Tourism, will attract

anglers and their family members from all over the world for a
chance to win over $30,000 in
cash and prizes and all to help
raise funds for the Grand Bahama Childrens Home.
Event Details:
April 23
8:00 a.m. Anglers and companions will be transported on
the Balearia Bahamas Expresss
brand new 1000 passenger

Cruise ship.
6:00 p.m. Kickoff Party at
Flamingo Bay Hotel and Marina
and Taino Beach Resort and
Clubs on the beautiful Island of
Grand Bahama in the Bahamas.
April 24 and 25
Tournament days with a
6:30a.m. shoot off located at the
Flamingo Bay Hotel and Marina

and Taino Beach Resort and

Clubs directly on the beach outside Taino By the Sea Restaurant.
April 25
6:00 p.m. Awards dinner at
Taino by the Sea Restaurant located at Flamingo Bay Hotel and
Marina and Taino Beach Resort
and Clubs on the island of Grand
Bahama in the Bahamas.

Scope
By Fred Sturrup

We will assist with the tournament. It is good for Grand Bahama. We want to continue assisting, said Grand Lucayan Resort General Manager, Benjamin Davis. The tournament will
attract domestic and foreign visitors. Its marketing program will
stretch across The Bahamas. Sports and entertainment celebrities, local and foreign, will flavor the tourney.
In the main though, it will hike the interest of the sport in
Grand Bahama. Gouthro reminisces always about golf yesteryear in Grand Bahama.
This was the place. We had the best courses. The game was
very upbeat. Grand Bahama as a result of its strong golfing culture was producing the best young golfers in the nation and
Caribbean.
Several Grand Bahamians helped make up the legendary
Young Lions Unit. They were responsible for Bahamian golf at
its best.
I am happy to be associated with others in an effort to boost
golf in Grand Bahama. We hope to bring it all the way back.
Hopefully we will continue to have Solid support from the Ministry of Tourism, said Gouthro
The sports/tourism factor is part of the Grand Bahama
Celebrity Invitational template.
An array of special prizes and trophies will be up for grabs. A
bonanza awards presentation is scheduled at the end of the tournament in conjunction with a sports camp for youthful Grand
Bahamians.
To respond to this column, kindly contact Fred Sturrup at
sturrup1504@gmail.com

Dont just spectate,

participate in a sport
Thousands shoreline for the first sculling races of the season
of your choice.
Get involved today!
Thousands Line The shoreLine: The 28th annual st. Valentine regatta took place last week at Montagu Beach on Valentines
weekend. February 14, is the day for love, and many Bahamians and tourists alike braved the cool weather, to be with the beer they
love, sands Beer, and to watch the great Bahamian sport of sloop sailing and the return of Truly Bahamiansculling. Pictured is competitorsscullingthe boat.
(PhoTo courTesy oF BahaMian Brewery and BeVerage)

The 28th Annual St. Valentine

Regatta took place recently at
Montagu Beach on Valentines

weekend. February 14, is the day

for love, and many Bahamians
and tourists alike braved the cool

weather to be with the beer they

love - Sands Beer - and to watch
the great Bahamian sport of

sloop sailing and the return of

Truly Bahamian sculling.
(Continued on Page 20)