FINALS OF THE HI-PRO & ICWI FAMILY POLO TOURNAMENT

The Finals of the season ending High Goal Section of the Hi-Pro & ICWI Family Polo Tournament took place on Saturday, August 1, 2009 at the St. Ann Polo Club in front of a huge crowd from all over the island that were rewarded with an action packed match that seesawed between the 2 teams.

The ICWI/Lalor team of The Hon. Dennis Lalor, Paul Lalor, Jorge Donovan and Jason Wates met the Hi-Pro/Wates team of Ricky Wates, Mark Wates, The Hon. James Robertson and Marc Melville and. in the true family spirit of the tournament, pitted son Jason against father Mark and uncle Ricky.

The ICWI/Lalor team came out firing as Jason Wates opened the scoring to knock off the handicap received by the Hi-Pro/ Wates team and Donovan scored 2 more to give them an early lead. However, Mark Wates clawed one back for the Hi-Pro/Wates team in the last 30 seconds of the chukka and they dominated the 2nd chukka as he scored again early on, quickly followed by goals from Robertson and brother Ricky while holding the ICWI/Lalor team scoreless to give them the 2 goal lead.

Play was more even in the 3rd chukka but Robertson and Ricky Wates scored for Hi-Pro/Wates, while Donovan pulled one back for the ICWI/Lalor team. Momentum then swung in favour of the ICWI/Lalor team again as Donovan converted 2 penalties and Jason scored again to tie the score. Dennis Lalor and young Wates collided towards the end of the chukka and Lalor flew off, landing on his shoulder but gamely got up and finished the chukka.

However, after riding back out for the 5th chukka he decided not to push his luck and had Junior Chin substitute for him. Jason scored twice to his father, Mark’s once for the ICWI/Lalor to take the lead again going into the last and Donovan put the game away by scoring late in the last chukka for the ICWI/Lalor team to win by 10 goals to 8.

The commemorative plaques were then handed out along with the beautiful Kay Sullivan sculpture of a mare and foal to the victorious team and Jorge Donovan was acknowledged as the Most Valuable Player and The Hon. James Robertson’s horse in the 4th chukka was adjudged Best Playing Pony.

After the Prize Giving everyone chowed down on the sumptuous dinner provided by the Chin family and boogied energetically to DJ Troy’s traditional session until the early hours to close the polo season out in fine style.

Copy and Images courtesy of Lesley Anne Masterton Fong Yee.
Image 1 - From left to right: The Hon. Dennis Lalor, Jason Wates, Jorge Donovan, Paul Chin.
Image 2 - From left to right: Junior Chin, Paul Lalor, Jorge Donovan, Jason Wates, The Hon. Dennis Lalor.

News from the ‘Emerald Isle’ of Montserrat

1. Fred. Olsen cruise to offer insight into life in Montserrat
Broadcaster and writer Sarah Dickinson will be giving four illustrated lectures about Montserrat during Fred. Olsen’s transatlantic Braemar cruise, which departs Dover for the Caribbean on October 27th 2009.

The four lectures will be titled I heard the mountain groaning, a brief history of Montserrat and the first eruption; Shovelling, about the history of the volcano and the Montserrat Volcano Observatory; Have a little faith, featuring songs, poems and art which emerged from the crisis; and Still nice, still home, on how Montserrat has come to terms with living with the volcano and the ten year plan to build its new capital.

Sarah Dickinson started visiting Montserrat with her husband John over 20 years ago following a near fatal car accident when they were searching for somewhere warm to recover.

The lectures will detail Sarah’s life on the island before and after the volcanic eruptions, which began in 1995.

The Braemar transatlantic Caribbean cruise will depart Dover on October 27th 2009 bound for the Caribbean. The cruise will dock at St Maarten, Antigua, St Lucia, St Vincent and Barbados during its voyage.

The cruise costs from £946 per person based on two sharing a twin cabin. This price includes accommodation; food and entertainment on board, including the lectures, port and airport taxes; and a return flight to the UK from Barbados. For more information visit www.fredolsencruises.co.uk


2. Montserrat to hold its first literary festival in November
Montserrat will be holding its first literary festival from 13th-15th November 2009.

The Alliouagana Festival of the Word will include presentations and readings by invited authors, storytelling under the stars, a calypso lime and cultural performance, open mike sessions and literary workshops.

The featured authors include Carolyn Cooper, Rachel Manley, Merle Hodge, Yvonne Weekes, Howard Fergus, Earl Lovelace, Hollis Liverpool and many more.

The Cultural Centre Court Yard will also hold daily activities including a craft market, food court, bookstall and pampering sessions.

For more information about the festival visit www.litfest.ms.


3. New Centre Hills guide launched
A new guide to the Centre Hills area of Montserrat has just been launched. The 140-page full colour book provides an insight to the unique flora and fauna that can be found in Montserrat, including the endemic Montserrat Oriole.

The guide also provides information about the eight hiking trails in the Centre Hills area, and what can be seen on each hike.

Steve Holliday from the Royal Society of the Protection of Birds (RSPB) authored the guide along with a number of supporting contributions from other writers.

Copies of the book are available for sale at EC$40 or US$15 (approx. £9) per copy. All proceeds from the sales will go towards maintaining the trails network in Centre Hills.

For more information on purchasing A Guide to the Centre Hills, contact the Montserrat Tourist Board on 001 664 491 2230 or email info@montserrattourism.ms.


For more information about Montserrat visit www.visitmontserrat.com or call 020 7928 1600.