JAMAICA will field a mixed team, winners at the inaugural Jamaica Dragon Boat Festival in June, at the Bahamas International Dragon Boat Festival at Goodman’s Bay, Nassau from August 30 to 31.

Members of the team have been in training at Port Royal for the Bahamas International, which is expected to draw participation from teams across the Caribbean and North America, including a high-school team from Trinidad and Tobago, and competitors from Oregon in the United States.

Sponsored by McKay Security, the Jamaican team has seven International Sport Kick-Boxing Association’s Amateur Members Association (ISKA AMA) World Championship gold medallists in its line-up, including three current world champions — Akino Lindsay, Richard Stone, and Akeem Lawrence — captained by former fighter Jason McKay.

The team will also include two footballers from the St Catherine Football Association’s leagues.

Oshane Wilson, a powerlifter and police officer, joins the team with navigator Gregory Forsythe. Neil Yap Sam, vice-president of the Jamaica Dragon Boat Federation, has been named helmsman of the tailored squad.

Featured members

Rushaine Tyrell

Next-heaviest member of the team and also sitting mid-boat, Tyrell, a footballer, plays in the St Catherine Football Association leagues. Similar to Wilson, Tyrell provides power needed at the oars.

Oshane “Hulk” Wilson

Sitting mid-boat, third right, Wilson a powerlifter, weighs more than 300lbs. Being one of the heaviest and strongest, his placement provides raw power to the boat.

Leighton Scott

A former footballer, who played in the St Catherine Football Association leagues, Scott will be seated second on the right side of the boat. He is expected to synchronise with Lindsay while providing the power required to propel the boat over the 200 metres. Scott was a pivotal member of the McKay Security team which won the mixed event at the recent Jamaica Dragon Boat Festival.

Arthur Barrows

A legend of Jamaica’s martial arts scene for decades, Barrows is a winner of multiple International Sports Kickboxing Association United States Martial Arts Open gold medals and former member of Jamaica’s combined martial arts team of more than a decade. Barrows is among few Jamaican fighters to have won medals at International Taekwondo Federation world competitions. Barrows sits second on the left of the boat. He complements the pace, synchronising with fellow martial artists, Stone and Lyndsey, who are to the front. Though new to the sport, Barrows has put in the time to train and is prepared to be part of history.

Neil Yap Sam

Meet the helmsman. Whereas his 10 teammates provide power, Yap Sam provides steering skill, which will be the determining factor in how Team Jamaica performs. Prior to the recent Jamaica Dragon Boat Festival staged by the Chinese Benevolent Association, under the banner of the Jamaica Dragon Boat Federation, Yap Sam was the country’s lone helmsman. He has since trained four other persons in the critical role of helmsman.

Rushaine Tyrell 

Oshane “Hulk” WilsonOshane “Hulk” Wilson

Leighton Scott

Arthur Barrows