The youngster is the son of Michael DeCosta, the driver of track record holder Nateway, but will be driving his own newly arrived pony TW Second Try. At press time the pony had not timed in but it is anticipated they will race in the slowest time bar.

Nicholas has been driving ponies for quite a few years, showing in Hackney classes and pleasure driving classes and he helps his father train their stable of racing ponies. The governing body of harness racing have given permission for Nicholas to race as a capable, responsible and experienced young driver, despite his young age.

TW Second Try was driven in the States by an 11-year-old and is considered a very safe pony.

Another new pony makes his debut on Sunday and that is Charles Whited's new pony, Ralph L. Time. Ralph was bought at the ITPA Fall Sales and arrived in Bermuda about eight weeks. Again, at press time, this pony has not been timed in, but going by training times will be in either the 1:16-1:18/4 bar or the 1:19-1:24.4 bar.

Bill Booth also makes his debut on Sunday, driving Starfire Abbe. This is a welcome return to the track for this mare who has been out of racing for well over a year.

Because of her new driver, she has been given a setback of five seconds and will be racing in the 1:19-1:24/4 bar.

Another new driver-pony combination is that of Murrey Terceira and Bermuda Warrior. This will be Murrey's first race at Vesey Street.

Yet another new driver-pony combination will be John Flood and Sandtrap. Flood is another experienced driver and the combination with Sandytrap should be a good one.

NETBALL NET AICO moved two points clear of idle Netts in the Netball First Division last weekend following their 61-21 hammering of North Village.

Deborah DeShields led the AICO scoring with 49 goals while her new shooting partner Zolita Dill supported with 12. Alex Dowling was top scorer for North Village with 17.

Coca Cola and PCC closed the gap on Netts, who have played one game less than the other teams, with their 37-24 and 43-23 wins over bottom teams Olympic Panthers and Hamilton Parish.

Carol Bean led the Coke scoring with 23 goals while Wenda Godfrey scored 14.

In a losing cause Kelly Trott (11), Nyland Adams (6) and Dawn Symonds (7) were the Panthers scorers.

Sheena Maybury sunk 23 goals and Leeanne Brangman 20 to lead PCC over Parish, for whom Jadtheda Harvey (13) and Davita Gibbons (10) were their scorers.

The experienced Denise Perinchief was the top scorer in the Second Division on Sunday when she scored 25 times to lead unbeaten leaders Netts Whites to a 31-10 win over AICO.

The win gives Netts Whites maximum points from nine matches and leaves them seven points ahead of nearest rivals Olympic Panthers who beat PCC by default, getting a 30-0 win in the process.

Boulevard beat Wolves 26-22 but had that win converted to a 26-0 margin after Wolves had their 22 goals taken away for not having their umpire appear to officiate in the following match.

Netts Greens and Warwick Redbirds drew 21-21 with Shallan Dennis (10) and Tyra Simmons (11) scoring for Netts and Debra DeShields (14), Karen Trott (4) and Denise Booth (3) for Redbirds.

Weekend schedule: First Division: Netts v Ham. Parish (12.45); PCC v AICO (2.00); North Village v Olympic Panthers. All matches on Bernard Park east courts.

Second Division: Warwick Redbirds v Netts Whites (9.45 east); Olympic Panthers v Netts Greens (9.45 west); Boulevard v AICO (11.15 east); Wolves v PCC (11.15 west).

BOWLING BOW Kevin Minors had a 563 men's high series and high game of 219 but despite this fine effort his team Dolphins still went down to a 3-1 defeat to E and C Well Drilling in Mixed Majors Bowling league play this week.

D and D Rollers romped to a 4-0 victory over Strikers with Barry DeCouto turning in a men's second high series of 539 while Margie Lynch had a women's third high game of 195.

Untouchables trounced Dynamic Four 4-0 with Howard Francis leading the way with a men's second high series of 539 and second high game of 212. Teammate Millie Waldron also contributed with a women's second high series of 538 while Vivian Griffiths followed with a third high series of 521.

Mix-Ups had an easy time winning 4-0 against Troublemakers with Peaches Perinchief rolling a women's high series of 601 and high game of 232 as well as secon high game of 205. Michael Glasgow led the losers with a men's third high game of 210.

In other games D and D Rollers defeated Strikers 4-0 and B's and G's got over Last Minutes 3-1.

Next week: Untouchables v Troublemakers, Last Minutes v D and D Rollers, E and C Well Drilling v Dynamic Four, Strikers v Mix-Ups, B's and G's v Dolphins.

Hank Rawlins had a 610 men's high series and second high game of 220 to lead Sparks to a 21-6 victory over Mini Forwarders in the Mott's Sportsmen's Bowling League on Saturday.

Although Mansfield Allen contributed a fourth high series of 574 it was not sufficient to keep Sparks at bay. Dean Lightbourne had a 223 high game and second high series of 601 as Pembroke Juniors trounced Young Blood 25-2 while Kevin Minors had a third high series of 588 and fourth high game of 218 to lead Buy and Sell to a 18-9 victory over Social Club. The other game saw WW Whites beat WW Reds 19-8.

Saturday's schedule: WW Reds v Sparks, WW Whites v Mini Forwarders, Pembroke Juniors v Buy and Sell, Social Club v Young Blood.

ATHLETICS ATH A record 360 entries have been received for the Bank of Butterfield Mile trials to be held at Saltus School field tomorrow starting at 1 p.m. and Sunday at 10 a.m.

Order of events: Primary Girls: Saturday, 12 p.m; Sunday 10 a.m.

Primary Boys: Saturday 2 p.m; Sunday 10.25 a.m.

Secondary Girls: Saturday 3 p.m; Sunday 11.15 p.m.

Secondary Boys: Saturday 3.15 p.m; Sunday 11.30 a.m.

Ladies' and Men's races will follow.

LOCAL SOCCER SOC Prison Officers have forfeited their Commercial League Group B match on December 12 against St. George's. The December 19 Commercial League Cup matches originally scheduled for BAA will be held at PHC Stadium.

The Second Division game pitting Social Club and Southampton Rangers on December 20, has been moved to 3 p.m. and a Premier Division youth match involving PHC and Devonshire Colts will start at 1 p.m.