Hollywood Actress, Gabrielle Union Returns for 2005 Carnival Charity Golf Classic (12-01-05)

Gabrielle Union

There’s an old saying that goes “if something is nice do it twice,” and this is exactly what Hollywood actress Gabrielle Union is doing when she returns to Trinidad and Tobago for the 2nd Annual Carnival Charity Golf Classic. A project of Islandevents, in conjunction with the Tobago House of Assembly, the Classic is scheduled to take place from February 9 to 12 at the Tobago Plantations Golf Course.

Union and her husband, NFL Football star, Chris Howard, flew to our beautiful twin island republic last year and immediately fell into the Carnival mix which culminated in their playing mas’ on Carnival Monday and Tuesday with Islandevents’ section in Poison, “Jungle Fever.”

This year, Union will be joined by Hollywood heart-throb, Shemar Moore, better known as Malcolm Winters on “The Young and the Restless;” as well as Janice Coombs, mother of popular rapper and designer Sean “P’Diddy” Coombs.

Another second-timer will be West Indian cricketing legend, Desmond Haynes, who made good on his promise to return for this year’s tournament.

The inaugural event was held last year at the Tobago Plantations resort from February 26 to 28 and funds were raised for the Tobago Oasis Foundation; a peer support group for persons infected or otherwise affected by HIV/AIDS; and the Cotton Tree Foundation, a Trinidad-based organization which focuses on the poor and disenfranchised.

Proceeds from this year’s Classic will go towards The Hibiscus Foundation, a non-profit charity organization geared at supporting children affected with the deadly HIV/AIDS virus.

DESMOND HAYNES

Desmond Haynes

A former opener for the West Indies cricket team, Desmond Haynes is well known for his easygoing, good-spirited ways. Commentators called him the man with “happiness” in his cricket.

Christened Desmond Leo Haynes, this Barbadian played cricket with teams such as Barbados, Middlesex, Western Province, Scotland and the West Indies during his career.

Haynes made his Test debut on March 3, 1978 against Australia in Port-of-Spain. The West Indies team of 1974 was the nucleus of the world-beating team of the 1980S and Haynes, though a couple of years later than his teammates, was quick to establish himself.

He will always be remembered for his team spirit and an opening partnership with teammate, Gordon Greenidge, which lasted 13 years and was the West Indies’ most successful pairing.

Haynes and Greenidge forged a partnership that is not part of cricketing lore. Together, they played 89 Test matches and walked out to the middle together 148 times, staying unseparated on 11 occasions. This enterprise yielded 6,483 runs at an average of 47.32, inclusive of 16 centuries, the best being against England in Antigua in 1990.

Haynes made his last international appearance against England at Bridgetown, Barbados on April 8 1994 and retired from the game on March 10, 1997.

HAYNES’ STATISTICS

Test Matches:
116 Tests; 202 innings 25 not out; 7,487 runs at 42.29. Eighteen centuries, highest 184 v England, Lord's 1980

Bowling:
1 wicket at 8.00, best 1-2 (Sarfraz Nawaz, ct Garner), Lahore 1980
12th highest run scorer in Test history

One-Day Internationals:
238 matches; 237 innings, 28 not out; 8,648 runs at 41.37.
17 centuries, highest 152 not out v India, Georgetown 1989. Highest run scorer and easily the most centuries in one-day international history.

First-class cricket:
376 matches; 639 innings, 71 not out; 26,030 runs at 45.91. Sixty-one centuries, highest 255 not out, Middlesex v Sussex, Lord's 1990, 138 half-centuries.
Eight wickets at 34.88, best 1-2 as above. Caught 201, stumped 1.

Eighth highest run-scorer among West Indians in first-class cricket (after Greenidge, Richards, Roy Marshall, Kallicharran, Lloyd, Kanhai and Sobers).

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Shemar Moore for Carnival Charity Golf Classic (31-12-04)

Shemar Moore

The Trinidad and Tobago Carnival Charity Golf Classic is on the calendar once again and this time Island Events is happy to announce that Shemar Moore (better known as Malcolm Winters of the popular daytime soap opera, The Young and the Restless) has confirmed his attendance for the 2005 tournament.

The tournament will be held at the Tobago Plantations Beach and Golf Resort from February 9 to 12, 2005, in conjunction with The Tobago House of Assembly.

It follows on the heels of Carnival and is intended to appeal to Carnival revelers, celebrities and visitors who will be in Trinidad after Carnival. This is the perfect, ‘cool down.'

It is a four-day event tightly packed with professional golfers, local and international celebrities and a whirlwind of social activity. The weekend includes golf clinics for kids and fun competitions on the driving range, practice greens, live entertainment and jot events every evening such as the Welcome Cocktail Reception, a Charity Auction Show and a spectacular Gala Award function followed by an exciting after party.

The Classic was borne out of the desire to aid local charities while simultaneously drawing international attention to Trinidad and Tobago by creating a high quality, high profile social event unlike any other on the regional calendar. Proceeds from the 2005 event will go towards the Hibiscus Tree Foundation, a local charity founded to assist children living with HIV/AIDS.

Last year's tournament was a resounding success, raising over $100,000 for charity and seeing a turnout of local, regional and international celebrities, including Hollywood stars Gabrielle Union and Dorien Wilson as well as MTV VJ, Ananda Lewis, who teamed up with our own stars like Brian Lara, Ian Bishop, Desmond Haynes and Richard Smith.

The tournament is open to individuals as well as teams and participants will vie for the Jean Inniss Challenge Trophy as well as attractive cash prizes. Team sponsorship is US $1000.

Hope to see you there!