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Sports clubs count their lucky stars

A boundary wall at St. George's Cricket Club field collapsed during Hurricane Fabian.
Bermuda's sporting community seems to have escaped much of Hurricane Fabian's wrath.Two days after the raging storm ripped through the tiny island, many clubs and sports facilities reported little effect from the category-three menace.However, St. David's Cricket Club is the exception as boulders and sand from the nearby ocean washed onto the Lord's ground, almost as far as the wicket.

Bermuda's sporting community seems to have escaped much of Hurricane Fabian's wrath.

Two days after the raging storm ripped through the tiny island, many clubs and sports facilities reported little effect from the category-three menace.

However, St. David's Cricket Club is the exception as boulders and sand from the nearby ocean washed onto the Lord's ground, almost as far as the wicket.

"There's a good bit of damage down there, all over the eastern end. It will take a couple of days to clean up all that debris.

"We're having a meeting tomorrow night (tonight) about it and to see what assistance we can get," said executive member Delby Borden.

Asked if this situation would affect the club hosting the two-pronged Champion of Champions competition, he replied that "we would have to wait and see after the meeting".

Meanwhile, general manager of the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, Vernon Pemberton, said the harbourside venue weathered the hurricane practically unscathed.

"We've had no major damage. A few things blew loose - floating docks, little boats - but nothing major. We also lost a little portion of our roof but that's about it."

All appeared fine at the National Sports Centre also though repeated calls to manager Cliff Wade and trustees Dr. Gerard Bean and Sean Tucker yielded no confirmation of the position there.

President of St. George's Cricket Club, Neil Paynter, also indicated Wellington Oval was hardly affected except for the destruction of a perimeter wall.

"We're pretty much okay. Only a wall on the northern side of the club collapsed. Nothing happened to the clubhouse but we had some debris blow onto the grounds.

"A small section of our portable bleachers landed on the field but that's something that can be just picked up and put back. We feel very fortunate," he said.

Reports also indicated that Bailey's Bay, Western Stars Sports Club and Somerset Cricket Club received minimal damage.

"Maybe one or two windows are broken and the scoreboard got torn up. Nothing serious," said a spokesman at St. John's Road, giving an insight to the limited damage at Stars' home base.

Like St. George's, Somerset lost part of their guard-wall and also had debris scattered over the western ground. However, the field is now clear as members spent yesterday morning cleaning up.

"The one thing is that the electricity is not on yet but it should be in a day or two," said Somerset stalwart Winston Reid.

He also stressed that plans remained in place for the Barbados Select Cricket Tour to begin on the weekend. The triple-crown Caribbean champions are set to arrive on Thursday night for a four-match series, starting on Saturday.

"The tour is still on provided that the airport opens and the players can get into Bermuda. Everything is in motion and we're ready to go," said Reid, a member of the tour committee.