Tortola, British Virgin Islands, December 30, 2009 - The Shell ‘Power Up 2 Win’ campaign came to a close on the afternoon of Wednesday, December 23, 2009 when Mr Henry Kettle, manager of the Shell Botanic Service Station, drew the promotion winner's name. Ms Deborah Benjamin, country manager, Sol St Lucia Ltd (BVI Office), announced Mr Myron Rubaine of Tortola the owner of a brand new, Suzuki Grand Vitara 2009.
ZROD FM was on the scene and called Mr Rubaine to break the news live on air. Stunned and doubtful of the authenticity of the call, Mr Rubaine drove to the Botanic Service Station to verify the message. Mr and Mrs Kettle and Ms Benjamin were at the station to greet Mr Rubaine on his arrival.
"I still can't believe it!" said Mr Rubaine addressing the gathering. "I'll know it's true when I get in the driver's seat!"
Ms Benjamin congratulated Mr Rubaine and invited him to fill up his new car with Shell V-Power® fuel.
Tortola, British Virgin Islands, December 21, 2009 - A team of volunteers from FirstCaribbean International Bank came together recently to help spruce up the grounds of the Ebenezer Thomas Primary School in Sea Cows Bay. The efforts were undertaken as a practical component of the relationship between the bank and the school. The two institutions became linked when the bank adopted Ebenezer Thomas Primary at the beginning of the academic year as part of the government’s Adopt-a-School programme.
The volunteers met on a Saturday with Mr. Earl Forbes, president of the Ebenezer Thomas Primary PTA, and spent that morning painting planters, hoeing and weeding the vegetable plot and cutting the grass in the school grounds. The exercise was much appreciated by the school’s principal, Mrs. Sybil Hodge, who expressed her thanks on behalf of the faculty and students of the school.
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Tortola, British Virgin Islands, December 18, 2009 – There are just two days remaining for the public to fuel up their cars and enter a free draw to win a brand new, Suzuki Grand Vitara 2009. Drivers topping up at participating Shell service stations can hand in an entry slip for every $25 of Shell V-Power® or Shell Diesel purchased. The Power Up 2 Win promotion ends at midnight, Saturday, December 19. The winner's name will be drawn at 4.30pm on Wednesday, December 23, 2009 at the Botanic Service Station.
Sol launched the region-wide promotion at the end of October this year. The promotion focuses on reducing the impact of fuel emissions on the environment and optimising engine efficiency. Both Shell V-Power® fuel and the 2009 Grand Vitara meet the criteria of offering a cleaner and more economical option for drivers.
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Tortola, British Virgin Islands, December 8, 2009 - Monday, December 7th marked the official opening of the FirstCaribbean International Bank BVI Tennis Championships 2009. The fifth annual event was in full swing at the Tortola Sports Club (TSC) when Mark Chapman, President of the Club, made his brief remarks to the players and supporters gathered at the Clubhouse that evening.
Ken Dawson, transactional banking manager for FirstCaribbean International Bank, was also present at last night’s opening and was invited to say a few words. Mr Dawson expressed the Banks’ pleasure at sponsoring the event. He went on to commend the players on their participation in the tournament and encouraged them to enjoy their matches in good, competitive spirit.
The first round of the Championship matches had to be scheduled to start on Sunday December 6, a day early, to accommodate the number of players registered in the men’s division. The second round for the men’s division Championship title and Plate quarterfinals were played on Monday.
Contenders for the men’s division Championship will play their quarterfinal matches on Wednesday and the semi-finals will take place on Thursday. Winners of the Plate quarterfinals will go on to play the semi-finals on Friday.
Tortola, British Virgin Islands, November 23, 2009 - After numerous line honours in the Round Tortola Race since her arrival in the BVI in 1997, Triple Jack managed to claim overall victory on the fortieth anniversary of the Peg Legs Round Tortola Race held Saturday, November 21st. In conditions seemingly made for this trimaran, she circumnavigated Tortola in three hours, thirty-three minutes and twenty-seven seconds beating closest rival Jurakan, a Melges 32, by 42 minutes across the line.
With the wind blowing from the south-south-east, unheard of in its 40-year history according to race veteran Peter Haycraft, the fleet was predominantly able to sail directly to Beef Island and once on the north side reach directly to Soper’s Hole. Once there, however, the lottery of the fickle winds played havoc with some competitors’ finish times but not Triple Jack’s - she “rattled through” in three painless tacks.
Tortola, British Virgin Islands, November 17, 2009 - A week of strong northeast winds propelled the 54 sailboats in the 20th Anniversary Caribbean 1500 fleet from Hampton VA to Tortola, BVI. In as few as six days, the boats hugged the rhumb line and sailed on a single port tack for the entire passage. Bojangles IV, a Gulfstar 50 Ketch, owned by the Kilgour family from Toronto, Canada, took Overall Handicap Honors. First to finish was Crazy Horse, a Sundeer 60 owned by Bill and Rosemary Thomas of Middletown MD, who completed the passage in 6 days 9 hours and 15 minutes.
The Caribbean 1500 Rally, managed by the Cruising Rally Association, left Hampton VA on November 2 after a week of preparatory briefings, safety inspections, and gala social events. The Caribbean 1500 fleet arrived at the official host port and sponsor, Nanny Cay Resort & Marina, 6-10 days later with many veteran skippers recording "personal best" passage times.
"It was great to welcome the Caribbean 1500 fleet to Nanny Cay for the first time, particularly for the 20th anniversary of the event," said Miles Sutherland-Pilch, general manager of Nanny Cay. "Our staff and facilities got a great reaction from the rally fleet and we look forward to welcoming them back next year. And of course, we'll be seeing off the return rally, the Atlantic Cup, on May 2 next year from here."
Tortola, British Virgin Islands, November 17, 2009 - The fifth annual FirstCaribbean International Bank BVI Tennis Championships will take place from December 7th-12th, 2009, at the Tortola Sports Club (TSC). The final BVI tennis tournament of this year is open to all levels of tennis players ages 7 and up in the BVI.
The week long event seeks to promote the game of tennis throughout the community by encouraging all tennis players to participate in the Championships. The divisions include Junior Singles for youths ages 7 - 14, Ladies Open Singles, Mens Open Singles, and Mixed Doubles. Players will be seeded according to their standard level.
"The Championships have always delivered competitive, sporting fun," said Ken Dawson, transactional banking manager, FirstCaribbean International Bank. "As a community bank, we are pleased to be involved with a growing sport that is accessible to all and that encourages a healthy lifestyle and general well being. We are particularly pleased to support an event that includes not just adults but the Territory's youth as well."
Tortola, British Virgin Islands, November 11, 2009 – Dean Greenaway, president of the BVI Athletics Association (BVIAA), today received a cheque for $2,500 from Sol St Lucia (BVI office). The presentation of the funds follows the supportive partnership agreement made between the two entities in June this year. By the terms of the agreement, the BVIAA will receive a quarterly donation from every gallon of Shell V Power or Shell Diesel sold at participating Shell Service Stations.
Dean acknowledged the importance of the partnership and the financial benefits which will help to offset the ongoing costs of promoting and training the athletes of the BVI.
“In December we will host the first of six athletic development meets of the season,” said Dean. “We will be preparing our athletes for the tough, international events that they will compete in for 2010. This partnership with Sol ensures that we have incoming funds throughout the year to help with the expenses involved in training, travel and accommodation.”
Surrounded by athletes and members of the Top Notch Track club, Deborah Benjamin, country manager for Sol, presented Dean with a symbolic cheque for the first quarter.
“Sol is pleased to support the BVIAA through this partnership,” said Ms Benjamin. “We commend the athletes in their efforts and encourage them to continue do their best. I would also like to encourage everyone to help contribute to the development of the BVI’s athletes by remembering to fuel up with Shell V Power or Shell Diesel.”
Tortola, British Virgin Islands, November 10, 2009 - The Peg Legs Round Tortola Race will take place on Saturday, November 21st. This 36-mile event is in its 40th consecutive year of running and more than ever before bragging rights are on the table. This will be the second year in a row that the fleet will undertake a complete circumnavigation of Tortola, starting and finishing off Nanny Cay.
Records on the best times are a little sketchy but Triple Jack's 2002 time of 3 hours and 55 minutes from Road Town to Nanny Cay, and just shy of a complete circumnavigation of Tortola, is the target. Sprightly 30-year old Triple Jack, a Kelsal 47, is expected to compete this year along with last year's overall winner, Willy T (Olson 30) and fastest boat, Jurakan, a Melges 32.
All classes will start in the Sir Francis Drake Channel off Nanny Cay and then head anti-clockwise around Tortola. After the beat East up the Sir Francis Drake Channel, the fleet will turn the corner at Great Camanoe and head on a downwind run to West End where, after a quick wiggle through Soper's Hole, it will be a beat back to the finish off Nanny Cay.
