The T&T Defence Force and the Police Youth Club were both victorious on day two of the Quadrangular Games at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port-of-Spain, on Saturday.The day, which saw exciting competition among youth groups and clubs in the first segment, also showed the dominance of the T&T Defence Force as they soldiered on to register their first victory in the updated Quadrangular Games.
This ensured that the Police Youth Club and the T&T Defence Force have bragging rights after 36 years. In the first event, Cheziah Phillip of the Police Youth Club won the girls' Under-18 100-metre sprint event from Andrea Phillip of Fire Youth Club and Mary Mathison of Prison Youth Club in a time of 13.08 seconds.The second event went to Kendall Lewis of the Youth Training Centre (YTC), who got the better of Police Youth Club representative Tyrell Edwards, with Andrew McLeod of Specialised Youth back in third. Elia Nero, Francis Louis and Victor Issac all kept up the winning form of the Police Youth Club. In the Under-23 girls category Avionne Mark of the Cadet Force was unstoppable.
Then, it was the turn of the security services (Defence Force, Police and Fire Service) in which Fire Services' Raymond Smith and Irvin Thomas finished first and second respectively with Defence Force Sherwin Marshal third in the Over-50 100m sprint event.Police captured its first gold medal at the Games thanks to WPC Maule, who outran Yvette Lyons-Fraser of the Fire Service to take the women's Over-50 dash.Former national champion and olympian Angela Joseph Dareuil then started the run of successes for Defence Force. She whipped Susan Bobb-O'Brien of the Fire Service, with Joan Hospedales (Fire) back in third.
Other standouts for the Defence Force were Norton St Louis, Kevin Haynes, Abiola Glasgow and Deverne Charles. Fire had excellent performances from Karla Hope and Apphia Glasgow.Police Youth Club were crowned champions in the youth category, with Fire Youth in second and Specialised Youth Services in third. The T&T Defence Force tallied 225 points to win the inter services category, ahead of Fire Services and the T&T Police Service.Minister of National Security Senator Gary Griffith handed out the major trophies before addressing the gathering. Chief of the Defence Force Major General Kenrick Maharaj, Vice Chief of the Defence Force Brigadier General Anthony Phillips-Spencer, Acting Commisioner of Police Stephen Williams, Comissioner of Prisons Conrad Barrow and Acting Chief Fire Officer Roosevelt Bruce were all on hand to give out awards at the Games.
One of the highlights of the day was the honouring of former top athletes of the Defence Force, Police Service and Fire Service. The closing ceremony was fantastic with the music of the Fire Service Band. The drum line and the drill display of the Combined Youth Team had all spectators begging for more. Blaxx, the entertainer, wowed the crowd before a fireworks display signalled the end of the Games.
Results
Youth Clubs Combined Team Scores
1 Police Youth Club 186
2 Fire Youth 135
3 Sepcialised Youth Services 110
4 T&T Cadet Force 101
5 Youth Training Centre 78
6 Prison Youth Club 4
Inter Services Combined Team
1 T&T Defence Force 225
2 T&T Fire Service 177
3 T&T Police Service 164
4 T&T Prisons 7