14 Friday 29th April, 2011

BY ROB STEWART seen it now and they want me to keep going. arney Gibson made histo- “I spoke to the head teacher, ry on Wednesday by who said she was really happy Bbreaking a 144-year old for me but told me not to forget record to become England’s about my school work. I’ve just youngest first-class cricketer. got to get on with it after we’ve Barney Gibson At the age of just 15 years eaten, but it would be nice to and 27 days, the Leeds-born watch a bit of the Barcelona- Gibson strode out to keep wick- Real Madrid game as well.” et for Yorkshire against Gibson is year 10 student Durham MCCU at the pictur- who has GCSEs this year and becomes England’s esque Racecourse ground. He next. Joanna Ruse, his head became the youngest county teacher, said: “He’s a very able cricketer, surpassing a record cricketer and a very able young set by Charles Young, who was man. We will be meeting with 15 years and 131 days old when Barney and his family next he played for Hampshire week to see how we can sup- youngest-ever county cricketer against Kent at Gravesend in port his and his studies. 1867. Following his polished debut and a momentous day, Gibson Cricket’s previous youngest Young played 38 matches for was struggling to come to gun... Hampshire over an 18-year terms with his niche in sport- If Charles Robertson period and his career came full ing history. “It feels excellent to Young’s career is anything to circle in his last match which have gone into the history go by then cricket should was also against Kent, his books — I really can’t describe become long and county’s final match as a it. It’s such a nice feeling. I just can’t believe it has happened to “I was astonished when I heard I me. It’s like a dream,” he said. “I was astonished when I was playing for the first team and Seven-year-old Hirun Samarasinghe, a heard I was playing for the first student of Lakeland Inter-American team and I just thought ‘right I just thought ‘right it’s time to School, Ratmalana, won a silver it’s time to step up to the mark’. medal for Kumite and a bronze medal I just got here today thinking it step up to the mark’. I just got for Kata at the recently held 4th Sports was a normal match and that I would play as I would else- here today thinking it was a nor- Master Athletic Cup 2011 International where. Karate Championship in Kuala “I had a rough idea that I mal match and that I would play Lampur, Malaysia, recently. was breaking the Yorkshire record [previously held by Paul as I would elsewhere.” Jarvis at 16 years and two months] but then when people also caught He’s a committed student, loyal Djokovic wins were saying it was the whole of Nathaniel Watkins to the school and very polite. England I didn’t know what to off David Wainwright, This is a proud moment for the say. It really shocked me. For vindicated Yorkshire school. We have many talented clay court the first couple of overs I felt a director of cricket Martyn students here but Barney’s bit shaky, but then I just tried Moxon’s decision to pick achievement is exceptional.” to be myself and do what I nor- him. “The first time I saw opener Gibson, whose cricket idols mally do — just stand there and him was two years ago in a BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Novak are and Adam catch it. practice match,” Moxon said. Gilchrist, spent four years on Djokovic cruised to his 25th consecu- Gibson, a pupil at Crawshaw “Barney came along to help us Leeds United’s books from tive win this season by beating School, Pudsey, was given per- out, made a massive impres- eight to 12 before focusing on Romanian qualifier Adrian Ungur 6- mission to take time off after sion on everyone, has pro- cricket when he became 2, 6-3 in his clay court opener in the being called into the team and gressed from there and has hooked on the sport while second round of the Serbia Open on he quickly showed the old ‘if earned his chance. watching his father Mark play you’re good enough you’re old “What caught my eye was Wednesday. for his works side. He started enough’ adage was true as he his enthusiasm, fearlessness The No. 2-ranked Serb is off to the playing with the Pudsey Congs dealt with the pace of and the fact he wasn’t fazed, best start to a season since Ivan club from the age of 10 before England’s Ajmal Shahzad despite being around first-team Lendl swept his first 25 matches in getting on to Yorkshire’s books. before being mobbed by his players, such as Michael 1986. He has won 61 of 67 sets and “I first started playing for team-mates after taking a stun- Vaughan. He wasn’t afraid to Barney Gibson four tournament titles on three conti- the Yorkshire Under-11 side ning catch in the 10th over to be very vocal, plus he nents, including the Australian and when I got to Under-12 I dismiss opener Luc Durandt off Anthony McGrath, so his abili- played for the Under-13s and Open, to take the No. 2 ranking from Oliver Hannon-Dalby. ty was quickly evident. ever since I have played for an Roger Federer — the last player to “On a normal Wednesday I “This has caused quite a stir pros- age group above,” Gibson said first-class county until the 1895 beat him. would have had science three but it’s typical of Barney that perous profession for Barney “Last year I played for the acad- County Championship. On Wednesday, Djokovic was bro- times, maths and RE so it was it has not distracted him. He’s Gibson. emy and that was a great expe- Young took a total of 149 ken twice in front of his home crowd not a bad day to miss,” Gibson smashing lad, very down to When he made his debut for rience because I never thought at an average of 21.86 said. “The school set me work earth, and, dare I say it, very Hampshire at the age of just 15 but never really looked in trouble it would come that early. This and he took ten wickets in a to do while I am here so I will professional. and 131 days, the left-handed against Ungur. year I got a call-up for the sec- match three times but mystery have to get cracking on some “For one of 15 that is fantas- batsman and left-arm medium “It’s tough to play on clay after ond team, which was astonish- surrounds Young’s later years, business studies tonight. tic. He has relished the big pace bowler made an undefeat- almost a year,” Djokovic said. “It will ing, and when I heard about with the dates and location of “A few of my close friends occasion. He loves being in the ed 20 while batting at No9 and take a bit to get used to it.” this last Thursday I didn’t his death unknown. knew about what was happen- thick of it.” his maiden was that of Earlier Wednesday, Spanish duo ing, but not a lot of people at know what to say.” Kent opening batsman George © The Telegraph Group, Albert Montanes and Feliciano school knew. They will have Gibson’s faultless display, he Bennett. London, 2011 Lopez both advanced to the quarterfi- nals of the tournament managed by Djokovic’s family. The fourth-seeded Montanes ral- lied to beat Michael Berrer of Germany 3-6, 6-2, 6-2, and Lopez Moratuwa YMCA conducts Open defeated wild card Fernando Gonzalez of Chile 6-4, 7-6 (4). Montanes won seven straight Junior Badminton Championship games starting at 2-2 in the second set, taking a 3-0 lead in the decider The first Open Badminton tournament Peter’s College, Colombo. before cruising to victory. for boys and girls was organised and con- Under-11- Girls Lopez broke for a a 2-1 lead in the ducted by the Moratuwa YMCA at its Winner - Hasini N. second set with a forehand winner recently opened indoor courts last month. Ambalangodage, Anula Vidyalaya, after chasing down a drop shot by The tournament, which was held under Nugegoda. Gonzalez. The Chilean, who was the auspices of the Western Province Runner-up - Geethmi M. Abeyrathne, playing his first tournament since Badminton Association, attracted a large Anula Vidyalaya, Nugegoda. returning from an eight-month number of up and coming players who injury layoff because of hip surgery, broke back immediately but couldn’t maintained a high standard of play. The Under-13 - Boys stop Lopez from converting his third winners and runners-up received valuable Winner - Stylinars Fernando, St. match point in the tiebreaker. gifts, medals and certificates. Among the Peter’s College, Colombo. Earlier, Blaz Kavcic of Slovenia several sponsors were Sanasa Runner-up – M. Harith Manjuka, Royal also advanced by beating Ricardo Development Bank and Astron (Lanka) College, Horana. Ltd. Mello from Brazil 7-5, 6-3 during Under-13 Girls another wind-swept day of the Serbia Winner – K. Thisuri Dihara Peiris, Open. Kavcic is to play Djokovic in Results: AnulaVidyalaya, Nugegoda. the quarterfinals. Under-11 - Boys Runner-up - Hasini N. “He beat me while we were 14- Winner - M. Janishika Perera, St. M. Safdar Ali and M. M. T. D. K. Marasinghe the men’s and women’s Grand Champions. year-olds, and it’s time for a Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa. Ambalangodage, Anula Vidyalaya, revenge,” Djokovic said. Runner-up - Benchard Fernando, St. Nugegoda. All Island Kudo C’ship 2011 held in Nuwara Eliya

The finals of the All Island Kudo conducted by the Kudo International Championship 2011 was held on April 24 at Federation, Sri Lanka branch, under the A bid to develop sports in North and East the Indoor Stadium, Nuwara Eliya. supervision of Shihan J. Mohamed Col. Thilak Amunugama, Commanding Mohideen, President and Chief Instructor Officer Sinha Regiment, Nuwara Eliya Due to the war that Eastern provinces have of Sports would like to and the Regional Director for South Asia. was the chief guest. The championship was worked off prevailed in the country shown a keen interest in emphasise that these The championship was organised by according to KIF (Kudo International for the past 30 years, sport activities. The min- sports officials will be Sensei Kumaradasa Sirisena, the KIF rep- sports in the North and istry believes that with playing a major role in resentative, Nuwara Eliya branch and Federation) rules. Eastern provinces was at proper training and guid- the ministry’s seven year a standstill. Under the ance, these talented national sports policy instructions of the youth from the North which is targeted Minister of Sports, and East will be able to towards the 2018 Mahindananda make it to a high level. Commonwealth Games, Final hole Aluthgamage, the For the first time, a set with the aim of sports Ministry of Sports has of national and interna- spreading to rural vil- appointed sports officials tional awardees as well lages and the participa- double Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, reacts after to the North and Eastern as sports diploma holders tion of talented youth in winning a game in the second set dur- provinces to develop have been appointed upcoming sporting bogey costs ing his match against Kevin sports and to identify tal- under the Department of events. The ministry Anderson, of South Africa, at the ented sportsmen and Sports Development as hopes to recruits more Sony Ericsson Open tennis tourna- women. Sports Officials to the sports officials in the Westwood ment in Key Biscayne, Fla., Since the end of war, a Northern and Eastern future. Wednesday, March 30, 2011. large number of youth provinces. The Ministry (Media release) SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — (AP Photo/J Pat Carter) from the Northern and World number one Lee Westwood ended the first round at the Ballantine’s Championship in South Korea Cricket coaching camp at Nawalapitiya gets underway May 3 on Thursday with a double Lee bogey to finish with an even-par BY S. LESLIE TUDOR SILVA collaboration with the Upcountry Lions Samarasekara, J. C. Gamage, fast bowl- Westwood 72. Nawalapitiya Corr. Sports Club. Cricket coaches from ing and fielding, Heshan de Mel, spin Starting at the back-nine in good conditions, the Englishman birdied The Sri Lanka Cricket Coaches’ Kegalle, Nuwara Eliya, Ginigathbena, and fielding, along with Central the 18th hole and was set for a 70 before his late slip at the ninth sent him tumbling down the leaderboard at the $2.8 million tournament held at Academy will conduct the ICC Cricket Gampola and Nawalapitiya have been Provincial coach Sunil Fernando are the Blackstone Golf Club at Icheon just south of Seoul. Coaches Award Course at Jayathilaka selected to participate at this pro- expected to attend as well as Sri Lanka gramme. cricket head coach Jerome Jayarathne. Local star Park Sang-hyun and Richard Finch from England made the Stadium, Nawalapitiya from May 3 to 6. early running, with both posting a 5-under 67. The four day course is organised in The batting coach will be Dulip