As a result of heavy rainfall across the country that seems to increase as the days go by, sponsors, organisers and players were affected by the weather which left most the grounds and outdoor sporting venues across the country waterlogged and forced the postponement of matches.
The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) in collaboration with insurance giants Guyana and Trinidad Mutual Fire & Life Insurance Company (GTM) were forced to reschedule their 2013 Under-19, three-day, Inter-County cricket competition, a tournament that GTM has been sponsoring for 36 years.
After days of preparation and training the President’s XI and Berbice cricket teams were forced to abandon play at the Everest Sports Club ground after two days of constant rainfall earlier this week.
The second opening match of the tournament between Demerara and Essequibo played at the Wales Community Center Ground managed to sneak in an hour of play before the heavens opened and halted proceedings for the second time in the day.
As a result, the organisers and sponsor were forced to reschedule the entire competition and matches are scheduled to recommence this week, that is, with the permission of the weather.
The Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA)/New Building Society (NBS) also had to reschedule its fixtures for their second annual, second-division limited overs tournament.
The competition got underway with a few games but as the showers prevailed, venues were rendered useless, forcing the organisers and sponsors to cross their fingers in hope of good weather.
Cricket was not the only sport at the mercy of the Mother Nature, football, a sport which is played under the worst of on field conditions, was also forced to be abandoned until further notice.
The Scotiabank/Pepsi School football academy tournament had a number of scheduled matches under its belt before the weather stepped in forcing the organisers to place the remaining games on hold indefinitely while yesterday’s Guyana Football Federation Super League matches were also cancelled.
The discipline of Track and Field was also affected with the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) Athletics having to postpone its National Senior athletics championships scheduled for the Guyana Defence Force ground, Camp Ayanganna, yesterday while the John Fernandes Insurance Services second division hockey which is played on weekends at the St. Stanislaus College Recreational ground, on Carifesta Avenue, was forced to call off last weekend’s matches.
The Sport of Kings was also affected with organisers of the Rising Sun Turf Club’s one-day horse race meet scheduled for yesterday at Arima Park, West Coast Berbice, having to be postponed.
Softball too was affected as the inaugural 12/12 tournament scheduled for the Everest Cricket Club ground had to be postponed by the organizers the Georgetown Softball Cricket League (GSCL).
One activity that managed to take place yesterday was the Pepsi Sonics Basketball Club’s Hoop Fest. Initially scheduled for the outdoor court at the National Gymnasium the event was held inside the gymnasium.
The new week promises a lot of suspense as sports personalities, players and organisers hope for significant changes in the weather pattern so that competitions that are currently placed on hold will resume immediately and those commencing soon will be able to start without interruption.
