Ballantyne out of Commonwealth Games line up

The speculations are over. It’s official. Pamenos Ballantyne will not be part of this country’s team to the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia next month.

The Caribbean’s premier long distance athlete did not find favour with the local selection committee, when the athletics team was announced last Tuesday.{{more}}

Reports are that the committee was concerned with Ballantyne’s heavy schedule during the last twelve months, which included three marathons, four half- marathons and several 10 K and 15 K events.

Ballantyne also participated in the Clico Trinidad and Tobago Marathon in late January of this year.

However, the committee’s concerns were never communicated to Ballantyne.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines will be represented at five sporting disciplines at the March 11-29 event. This will be the largest representation from this country in its sixth outing.

With Ballantyne out, the athletics component of the SVG squad will include Adonson Shallow, Kineke Alexander, Charmant Ollivierre and Casnel Bushay. Jacintha Ballantyne is the Athletics Manager, with Rawlson Morgan-Coach.

It will be the first time that a local netball team will be participating in a Commonwealth Games. They account for the major portion of the team.

The netballers making the trip are Dellarice Duncan-Captain, Joanna Christopher, Gailene Gordon, Michelle Wiseman, Leanna Lewis, Saskia Diamond, Annella Samuel, Nicole Sandy, Marcia Gordon, Annette King, Genella Andrews and Jacintha Adams.

Apart from the players, the official party has Doris Mc Intosh as Manager, Sonja Lewis – Assistant Manger, Godfrey Harry-Coach and Richard Cato as Trainer.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines has drawn in group A and will come up against England, South Africa, New Zealand, Fiji and Malawi. The netball competition runs from March 17 to 26.

Cyclist Marlon Antrobus will carry the torch in the cycling set for March 21. He will be accompanied by his manager- Allan Oliver.

Collin Alexander and James Bentick are the two Squash players selected for their event from March 16-26, while Joseph Carrington and Kalique Bailey will compete in table tennis, March 16-25.

Sean Stanley heads out as the table tennis manager.

Gloria Ballantyne is the Chief of Mission, Wayne Williams – Assistant Chief of Mission, Samantha Goodluck- Team Manager and Perry De Freitas – Team Doctor.