Top Ten Local Sports Events in 2015

Team-wise, Dominica could count the men's national cricket team for carrying the day in the Windward Islands cricket competition in 2015. The next best team effort was the triumph of the Windward Islands Under-17 cricket team's success in Tobago. Then there was the Under-16 netball team placing second in the regional competition for its best showing ever.

The brothers Leonard St Bernard and Anselm St. Bernard won the $10,000 regional domino prize in St Vincent & the Grenadines.

At the individual level, Special Olympics (Claudius Shipley and Stephanie Laronde) copped three goal medals in Los Angeles while triple jumper Yordanys Garcia also won gold for Dominica overseas.

Here are the top ten local sports events of the year:

1. The Dominica Cricket Academy came out on top in their inaugural season in the Augustus Gregoire DIGICEL premier division of the DCA at the Windsor Park Sports Stadium. Devon Smith of the Volcanoes led from the front for the Academy, batting for the whole of the first day in the two-day final versus Dublanc for 202 in a total of 336 runs. Dublanc replied with 172 to concede first innings lead and the championship. Brian Joseph contributed 72 with Damian Dumas taking 4 for 74 for Dublanc. Another Volcano player, Emanuel Peter got 61 for Dublanc. Kassim Peltier returned 5-27 for the Academy.

2. A High Court decision declared that elections for a new president should be held following a court challenge on the legitimacy of the office by former president Dexter Francis after Etienne assumed that office after FIFA, world governing body for football banned former president Patrick John from any role in football for two years. When the election was eventually held Etienne won easily.

3. Dominica's U-16 netball team came second in the Caribbean Netball Association Jean Pierre championship in St Lucia. Dominica edged out Grenada by 0.15 point for that position. Barbados were champions. Jeanne Seraphine was Dominica's MVP.

4. Claudius Shipley won 100 and 200-metre gold medals at the Los Angeles Special Olympics. Stephanie Laronde also copped gold in 50 metres; and Andrina Aaron got a bronze in female bocce. Digicel Dominica gave the local Special Olympics Committee $4,000 to help them attend the Los Angeles Games.

5. Former Ministry of Sports Male Athlete of the Year Dillon Simon set a new mark of 19.03 metres in shot put for a new national record. That distance put him in the top two spot in the English-speaking Caribbean and fourth among all college athletes in the US.

6. Shanee Angol with bronze in javelin throw was Dominica's only medal winner at the 44th CARIFTA Games in St Kitts among girls' U-18 years. Jamaica won 85 medals.

7. Portsmouth Breakers won men's title in the PetroCaribe Volleyball League with victory over LIME Wolf Pac by three sets to two in the final. Breakers knocked out former champions Young Stars in the semi-final with Wolf Pac taking out former champions Marigot Cooperative Credit Union Sunrise in the other semi-final.

LIME Strike Force beat Signman Celtics 2-0 for the women's championship.

1. 16-year old Portsmouth Secondary School student Alijah Prince won the women's open championships of the DTTA first national championships in seven years. Alijah beat former champion Laryssa Dover in five sets at Goodwill Primary School. Scores: 7-11, 11-6, 6-11, 11-6, 11-8.

Veteran Donald Corriette won the men's title against Dane Taylor in straight sets 11-8, 11-8, 11-1. Samuel Steven won open 8-12 year olds; Trish Dorsette won girls' 17-20 with Desmond Boney taking the boys' category. Clifton Lewis (deceased) won the veterans 45 year plus group and then teamed up with Peter to win the men's doubles. Gem Eloi and Laryssa won the ladies' doubles. Gem teamed up with Mahlon Dyer to win mixed doubles.

1. Basketball: Elijah Law Chambers Thunderers of Grand Bay beat Kairi Ole Skool by three games to one to win the Dominica Amateur Basketball Association (DABA) division one championship.

D-Tread Blazers won the premier division by the same margin vs Fast Cash Prowlers of Trafalgar for their third successive championship.

Lady Panthers won women's basketball from a field of three including Northern Stars and Lady Maggnificos.

1. Martial Arts: Universal Martial Arts Academy founded by Sensei Shana Robin held its first grading ceremony at Garraway Hotel in October.