media_artricles :: 2015

Ballantyne, Cox to run Venture 5K

THE 16TH Annual Venture Credit Union Co-operative Society Limited 5K Run and Fun Walk is scheduled to be run off on Sunday, September 13.

The theme for this year’s event will be “Courage, performance and prosperity.” The event’s media launch was held on Wednesday, at the boardroom of the Credit Union’s offices along the Southern Main Road, Couva.

Venture’s 5K Chairman, Desmond Baxter (MOM), announced that the starting time of the race is 7 am. The company’s president, Charles Percy will once again be sounding the horn to start off the 5k and fun walk.

Baxter said that this event is one of the biggest on the country’s athletics calendar, with a budgeted cost of $322,000.

The CUNA Mutual Group is partnering with Venture in the project and has donated $25,000; Athletics Central is once again involved in the technical aspect of the event.

“For the past years,” Dexter stated in his address, “Venture have been focused and committed to the financial, social, educational and sporting development of its members and the people.” He added that due to the partnership with CUNA, the event this year has attracted international and Caribbean participants.

Baxter also announced that last year’s wiñner, Pamenos Ballantyne of St Vincent and the Grenadines will be defending the men’s title. He added that Ballantyne will face strong competition from international runners such as Kenneth Rotic of Kenya, Cleveland Forde of Guyana and Cuba’s Levi Luke, as well as top locals like Curtis Cox, Kelvin Johnson and Lyndyon Bacchus, all vying to cop the top prize.

In the women’s division, Tonya Nero, the national champion and winner of the event for the past three years will compete against Kenisha Pascall of Grenada, Elsida Toemere from Suriname and Venture’s Samantha Shukla, who was 2nd last year.

Officials are expecting a large entry and an exciting 5K, with teams from rival credit unions and other financial institutions expected to participate; they are also expecting firms from the Point Lisas Industrial Estate to compete in the category for company teams.

On the morning of the walk/ run, there will also be a cultural event, with the Couva Jab Jabs providing some colour; participants will also be offered blood sugar and blood pressure testing.

Registration for the event has already begun at the Credit Union’s Offices, in Arouca, Couva and San Fernando.

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