Opines Treiston Joseph
The National School Championships is just over a week away and the biggest rivalry will play out once again on the grandest stage of them all: North Georgetown (District 11) versus Upper Demerara/Kwakwani (District 10).
It is no secret that both teams have never really seen eye-to-eye and with both districts tied on 13 championships, whoever comes out with the championship trophy will hold the title of most championships at the longest running sport in event in Guyana’s history.
While there can be a few out of the 15 districts with a chance to upset the two giants such as West Demerara (District Three) or even South Georgetown (District 13), all eyes will be on the two powerhouse squads who have continuously over the years battled for supremacy.
Both teams have history with each other with North Georgetown in 2008 upping the intensity with a ‘Rest in Peace’ designed coffin dedicated to Region 10 during the march past of that year’s National School Championships.
With that being said, North Georgetown is in prime position to walk away as 14-time champs ahead of their main rival.
Why? Well for starters the purple and white wearing squad are almost guaranteed the swimming championships which is one of the first championships at the event to be held which gives them momentum and a slight edge going into the track and field championships.
With the races for the cycling championship switching from grass to strictly road cycling, North Georgetown might just have the advantage over their Region 10 counterparts as well even though both teams will boast some of the top junior cyclists in the country.
The track and field will be a slugfest between the two squads but with North Georgetown boasting sprint ace Kenisha Phillips along with the likes of Claudrice McKoy and Samuel Lynch in the varying categories it almost guarantees that championship will come down to the teacher’s championship.
However, North Georgetown has always managed to keep a strong base and should they finish high in the teacher’s championship they might just take back the title they lost to Region 10 last year in comprehensive fashion.
Nevertheless, North Georgetown is probably the only team with the strength to top District 10 and the battle between the two will be one of the highlights of Nationals and North Georgetown is primed to walk away as the 2016 champs come November 21-25 at the National Stadium, Providence.
