Windward Road confident of taking crown

THE 40TH and final staging of the INSPORTS All-Age and Junior High Athletics Championships takes place tomorrow and Friday at the National Stadium, starting at 9 a.m. each day.

But while Oral Whilby, coach of defending champions Windward Road, is confident of retaining the championship and winning a fifth successive title, Ransford Spaulding, the coach of former champions and main challenger John Mills, is hopeful they can end their illustrious appearance at the championship on a successful note.

“We won 19 years straight (titles) and 22 overall. Since they (INSPORTS) have added the smaller age groups, their (Windward Road) advantage is more significant than ours because they have about five classes (for each grade) and we have just one each in our primary section,” said Spaulding.

However, Whilby is oozing with self-belief that they can lift their fifth straight crown.

“Windward Road are in good stead, we have a competent team to defend the title. It is the last championship and we want to get our name of that trophy. We are well prepared, we have a strong unit and we should turn away all-comers come Thursday (tomorrow),” he said

This year, INSPORTS has allocated $825,000 in prize money for the championships, which will have 10 participating schools, a reduction from 16 last year.

The winning team will take home $150,000; second place will get $100,000 and third $75,000; while $50,000 will be given to each school to assist with other expenses.

With the abolition of allage and junior high school system, the championships, which has been held at the National Stadium East for the last few years will be staged inside the National Stadium on its last occasion.

“Windward Road are in good stead, we have a competent team to defend the title. It is the last championship and we want to get our name of that trophy. We are well prepared, we have a strong unit and we should turn away all-comers”