BRTA proposes Caribbean coaching drive as federation plan advances

by Michael Bascombe

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, October 17, 2026 - The Barbados Road Tennis Association has proposed a regional “coach the coaches” programme as the first step towards establishing the island’s indigenous game across the Caribbean.

BRTA President Frederick Blunt told Saturday’s TalkSports programme that training local coaches would provide a more sustainable foundation than relying on occasional demonstrations by visiting Barbadian players.

“You just don’t go and do an exhibition, and then after we leave, road tennis stops,” Blunt said.

He proposed bringing small groups of coaches from territories including Grenada, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and St Lucia to Barbados for approximately two weeks of instruction. They would then return home to introduce the sport in primary and secondary schools and community programmes.

“The first thing is to get our coaches to coach the coaches in the Caribbean islands,” he said. “Once we have that format, then it will grow in those islands as well.”

Blunt said Barbados’ Ministry of Sport was developing a formal coaching-certification programme open to candidates from the Caribbean and farther afield. He gave no date for its introduction.

The initiative would complement the government-led effort to establish an International Road Tennis Federation. Sports Minister Charles Griffith announced in August that the proposed body would be based in Barbados and was targeted for launch before the end of 2026.

Blunt said the BRTA’s immediate responsibility remained domestic development, while the ministry handled the international structure.

“Once the plans for the International Road Tennis Federation are rolled out, that is the genesis to get road tennis into the wider world,” he said.

Blunt identified the CARIFTA level as a possible long-term regional target but said the sport must first become competitive in other territories.

“It wouldn’t make any sense if we had it in CARIFTA where only Barbados is dominating,” he said. “We still want equity and fairness.”

He said the BRTA was prepared to assist interested countries with coaching, equipment information, and guidance on the rules.

BRTA seeks permanent home, school role for road tennis

by Michael Bascombe

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, October 17, 2026 - The Barbados Road Tennis Association (BRTA) is working with the Ministry of Sport to secure a permanent home for the indigenous game while seeking its inclusion in the national school curriculum, President Frederick Blunt said on Saturday.

Speaking on the TalkSports programme, with host Michael Bascombe, Blunt said Barbados had expanded access to road tennis through community facilities but still lacked a dedicated centre for coaching, regular training, and elite-player development.

“The main thing is for us to actually have our own home, because that is what is lacking,” Blunt said.

He estimated that more than 300 road-tennis courts had been marked across Barbados. Many, however, are on multi-purpose hard courts shared with other sports.

The semi-finals and finals of the Barbados Road Tennis Open are staged at the Garfield Sobers Gymnasium, but Blunt said a permanent base would allow players to practise consistently and work with coaches.

“What we are looking at, working with the Ministry of Sport, is actually having a home for road tennis where people could go and practise in the evenings,” he said.

Blunt did not identify a proposed site, budget, or construction timetable.

The BRTA’s junior programme, now in its sixth year, caters to players from age seven to 21. The National Sports Council also stages a primary-schools competition, while Blunt said discussions were under way with the ministry about introducing a secondary-schools tournament.

“I’d like to see road tennis being taught in the schools, in the curriculum,” he said. “I’d like to see a road tennis court in every single school in Barbados, from primary to secondary.”

Blunt said three clubs had been registered and another three were completing the process, marking a shift from the informal community “camps” traditionally associated with the sport.

He also said female participation remained below the level the BRTA wanted and identified more school programmes and women-only competitions among the proposed responses.

John says historic Masters gold capped ‘long journey’

by Michael Bascombe

NEW YORK, Oct. 10, 2026 - Nigel “Bunto” John has described Grenada’s first World Masters Athletics Championships gold medal as the emotional reward for years of work, dedication, and resilience.

John won the men’s M50 long jump in Daegu, South Korea, on August 25 with 6.64 metres, breaking the previous championship record of 6.59m.

“I kind of get emotional about that because it’s been a long journey,” John said on Saturday’s TalkSports programme.

“I put in a lot of work, dedication, and resilience into whatever I was doing to reach that point. It was surreal, and I was thinking not only about myself but about Grenada as a whole.”

John edged France’s Bakri Daroueche, who took silver with 6.63m. Former Jamaican Olympian James Beckford secured bronze with 6.33m.

John said he entered the competition believing a record was possible, although the long jump has been secondary to his preferred event, the 400 metres.

“I’m predominantly a 400 runner,” he said. “I eat, sleep, and wake up every morning thinking about the 400. Since I was small, the 400 was my thing.”

He said he added the long jump to his programme to contest a field event in club competitions, choosing it ahead of the high jump while maintaining his focus on running.

John and Curtis Brereton represented Grenada at the championships, which were held from August 22 to September 3.

John also acknowledged the Government of Grenada for helping the two athletes attend the championships.

“I was able to write letters and get some assistance from the Grenadian government,” he said. “They have been wonderful in assisting me in attending those championships.”

John specifically thanked Permanent Secretary Kim Frederick and the Ministry of Youth and Sport for their support.

Guyana targets regional sports-hub status with new training centre

by Michael Bascombe

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Sept. 19, 2026 - Guyana is finalising plans for a multi-sport high-performance centre at Good Hope before taking the project to tender, as the government seeks to establish the country as a regional training hub.

Minister within the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Steven Jacobs, said the proposed complex would include three playing fields, an indoor training facility, a performance laboratory, a strength-and-conditioning gym, and accommodation for athletes.

“We’re still going through the design as we speak,” Jacobs said on Saturday’s TalkSports programme. “The consultant is to reach us next week so that we can finalise and then move out to tender to get this up and running.”

Jacobs said work was already taking place on the fields at the proposed site, but the wider complex remained at the design stage.

The plans also include nutrition and recovery areas, an auditorium for classes, and athlete testing services intended to support sports science and biomechanics assessments.

“We want Guyana to be positioned as a sporting destination, as a sporting hub, where we can provide a space and opportunity for sportsmen and women around the entire region and also internationally to come to this country and get the necessary training,” Jacobs said.

He said athletes using the centre would be assessed and provided with individual training and development plans.

“You’ll have something that is complete that will make sure that when people go there, they can actually leave with a programme and plan,” he said.

According to Jacobs, the government examined high-performance facilities in other countries while developing the concept, with particular attention given to centres that combine training, testing, recovery, nutrition, and accommodation in one location.

The proposed centre will form part of a wider sports academy and three-field complex at Good Hope.

Jacobs also disclosed that approximately 25 athletes had been selected for an existing elite programme aimed at preparing competitors considered capable of reaching the Olympic level.

“We have an elite programme for a selected group of athletes that we think have the necessary potential to go to the Olympics - about 25 people,” he said.

Hotel, tourism packages planned for 2027 CARIFTA Games

by Michael Bascombe

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Sept. 19, 2026 - Guyana is preparing hotel capacity and tourism packages for a potential influx of thousands of people, including athletes, scouts, and spectators, during the 2027 CARIFTA Games, Minister within the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport Steven Jacobs said Saturday.

Speaking on the TalkSports programme, Jacobs said a local organising committee and secretariat were already working on arrangements for the March 27–29 regional junior track and field championships.

He said the Guyana Police Force, Ministry of Tourism, and other government agencies were involved in planning for security, accommodation, and the movement of visitors.

“For the CARIFTA Games, we have the potential of bringing a thousand-plus persons here, including athletes and persons coming in to watch the Games, scouts, and so forth,” Jacobs said.

“We’re already starting to work on hotel rooms because these are things that we need. It’s an Easter weekend, and we understand what may happen.”

Jacobs said visitor packages would be developed in consultation with the Ministry of Tourism, allowing those travelling for the Games to experience other parts of Guyana during their stay.

Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle and Athletics Association of Guyana president Sheryl Hermonstine are involved in the preparations, he added.

North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) president Mike Sands and technology commission chairman John-Paul Clarke inspected the National Track and Field Centre at Leonora in August.

“Recommendations were made. The layout of the facility was already completed,” Jacobs said. “We’re working to make sure that it’s a smooth process, and that CARIFTA Games 2027 could be something to be remembered.”

The Leonora facility will be the principal venue for the Games, which Guyana will host for the first time.