Winfield Braithwaite School Boys and Juniors: Guyana grabs 6th consecutive title

For the sixth consecutive year, there was much to celebrate for the Guyanese contingent, as they defended their home turf and their Winfield Braithwaite School Boys and Juniors title.
Guyana again secured the top spot, while second place went to Trinidad and Tobago and third overall to Barbados.
The final day of the three-day competition, on Sunday at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue, Georgetown, saw Guyana adding several gold medals to the 5 they picked up on Saturday night, on their way to the overall win. The most glittering of the lot was a spectacular display from Guyana’s Shakquain James over Trinidad’s Michel Medica in the Youth Welterweight 67kg final. James’s points victory was exceptional enough to have him being deemed the best overall boxer at the tournament.

“It feels really good. I promised I would knock he out, but I see like he was going down a little bit, so I had to pressure he more before I knock he out. But he strong! He had balance, and so I had to pressure he more and pressure he more until I could try to knock he out; but it didn’t happen,” James shared with this publication about his expectations for the fight.
“I think I had it. I think they would stop the fight cause of the power in my hand I was knocking he with,” James added about his thoughts after forcing his opponent into an 8-count.

“Gold again! It feel great to me, and I trust The Father so,” the youngster added.
In other bouts on the final night, Guyana’s Tiquan Sampson, out of the red corner, defeated Trinidad’s Prince Charles in the Junior Lightweight 60kg final, while Raheem Peters added another gold to Guyana’s tally by way of a victory on points over Barbados Abisihai Baptiste in the youth welterweight division.
Akeila Vancooten clinched a gold medal of her own following a riveting encounter with Trinidad’s Shania Nunez. After enduring several unsporting attempts, Vancooten fought back to take the win on points in the Junior Girls’ 60kg final.
Guyana’s Tianna Moore was not as fortunate in the Girls’ 80+kg final, and had to settle for silver against Nordisha Williams.
Also in the winners’ row for Guyana on Sunday night were: Leon Albert, following a victory on points over Jazari Narine Mayers of Barbados in the Youth Bantamweight 57kg final; and Matthew Thomas, who pulled off a win over his countryman Wayne Castillo.
St. Lucia picked up two gold medals on Sunday, as John Dedier, in the Youth Light Heavyweight 80kg final, pummelled Trinidad’s Joshua Lewis, and Kyle Marcel overcame local boy Kaiden Weithers in the Youth 75kg class.
Over in the Schoolboys 57kg final, Makieve Bellille secured the Gold for his country with a victory over Barbadian Jaquan Grant.